Questions???? One for Andrees

[Nick]

You are more than welcome for the Christmas bash Dave and Charlie and I hope the circuit stays clear for you,Not vwanting to tread on all that Andrees has provided...I am sure he can give you details re guide and porter...If he is too busy drinking that German pils stuff I can help out most days before seven p.m.!!!

[Andrées]

Dear Dave,
My friend Bachan is actually trekking with some friens of mine around Annapurna, I guess he will be back around 3th of december in Pokhara, but I dont know if he has allready someone else to go with. His Email is bachanRai4@hotmail.com and he is very nice and reliable. He has also some friends, I liked very much Kumar, young and alltime smiling and joking and Muthi, 40 years , familyfather and also very nice. So you can try, but i cant guaranty if you will reach him in time. But you will allways find many good porter/guides in pokhara within a day.
Please make sure, that your porters have a warm jacket ( down jackets would be best for You and them, and you can rent them for 1/2 US$ a day) and that they have dry leather boots. In december thorong la can get awfully cold and I have seen many people with frostbites and one german with both feets frozen.
When this happens to your porter, because he has no warm enaugh clothes or just cloth-shoes, you have nearly the same problems as if it would happen to yourself. Bring also a lot of good mountain boot shoecreme with you.
In Pokhara I stayed the last times in Hotel Gaurishankar, thats on Lakesie near the royal house. The have a exuberant garden and cheap rooms with attached bath. This mor eastern part of Lakeside is more quiet than the newer one. And there are many other very nice and quiet hotel all around these sidestreets. If you stay there, have also a try to the restaurant "caffee concerto, my friend Monica from Venice makes the best expresso of Nepal (they use organic grown nepali coffee!) try the terasse with Annapurna and Fishtil view at the roof.
good luck Andrées