Page 33 - Bhutan: Hidden Kingdom of the Himalayas

• Bottled drinks and juices, and hot drinks that have been boiled, are safe to drink.

• Carry a handkerchief to dry the tops of bottled drinks before and after opening.

Food
• We’ve carefully chosen the restaurants for your group meals.

• Carry a handkerchief to dry any wet utensils or plates.

• Be very careful with food sold from vendors on the street, and with uncooked fruit and
other foods. Fruit that you peel yourself is usually safe.

Electricity Supply

A constant electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. Travelers
dependent on electricity supply for health reasons (as in the case of those with sleep apnea)
XLd bLY_ _Z NZY^TOP] L OTʬP]PY_ : , ? LOaPY_`]P

Altitude Illness

/`]TYR _ST^ LOaPY_`]P dZ` bTWW []ZMLMWd QPPW ^ZXP PʬPN_^ Q]ZX _SP STRS LW_T_`OP^ ,^ L
reference, Thimphu and Paro in Bhutan are both over 7,000 feet and some mountain passes,
like Lawala, can even be as high as 11,300 feet. Locations on the optional extensions are
equally high—parts of Dharamshala, India are 7,717 feet above sea level; Kathmandu, Nepal is
4,593 feet.

0aPY TQ dZ`ɪaP MPPY _Z STRS PWPaL_TZY^ []PaTZ`^Wd dZ` NZ`WO SLaP L OTʬP]PY_ ]PLN_TZY _ST^
time. For most people, the symptoms are mild, and will pass in a day or so. The most common
symptoms of altitude sickness are lightheadedness, shortness of breath, headache, nausea,
sleeplessness, and loss of appetite. You should take it easy, avoid smoking and alcohol, and
O]TYV [WPY_d ZQ ʮ`TO^ BP ^`RRP^_ _LVTYR L ]P^_ ZQ L NZ`[WP SZ`]^ bSPY dZ` ʭ]^_ L]]TaP _Z
acclimate yourself. Some people take a prescription medication starting when they arrive or
one day before. Don’t take sleeping medications, as they suppress respiration. Even though
you may experience a decreased appetite, force yourself to eat soups and other light foods.

If these ‘normal’ altitude symptoms become unmanageable, it is critical that you inform your
Trip Leader. Please let the Trip Leader know if you experience any of the following: serious
OTʯN`W_d M]PL_STYR XPY_LW NZYQ`^TZY L ^PaP]P LYO `Y]PXT__TYR SPLOLNSP NZY_TY`PO OTʯN`W_d
breathing after a period of rest, or poor physical coordination (ataxia).

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