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Ten of the best books ever written about Nepal
- Everest: The Challenge by Sir Francis Younghusband
- Annapurna by Maurice Herzog
- The Snow Leopard by Peter Mathiessen
- Upside Downside: An Account
- of an Early Trekking Adventure in the Kingdom of Nepal by Winona G. Campbell
- Forget Kathmandu by Manjushree Thapa
- Touching My Fathers Soul: A Sherpas Journey to the Top of Everest by Jamling Tenzing Norgay with Broughton Coburn
- Culture Shock! Nepal by Jon Burbank
- Into Thin Air by John Krakauer
- Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal by Conor Grennan
Some recommendations courtesy of Pilgrim's Books in Thamel, Kathmandu (recommended by ITrekNepal guests as the best bookstore in Nepal)
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Nine things do before or after your trek
- River rafting - An amazing variety of rivers, from the gentle Trisuli to the rugged rapids of the Bhote Kosi.
- Paragliding - All you have to do is be willing to jump, then relax and soar silently over the Himalayas with the hawks.
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- Massage - Your muscles will tell you this is what you need to do before you get back on the plane, whether in Pokhara or Kathmandu.
- Canyoning - Like zip lining except in a downpour.
- Volunteering - Teaching at a village school
- Jungle Safari - Chitwan for comfort and rhinos, Bardia for the real jungle and Bengal tigers
- Celebrating in Thamel - There's Rum Doodle, Kilroy's, Sam's Bar or wherever and with whomever you might bump into.
- Yoga and meditation - Two week retreat at Kopan monastery or day classes in Pokhara.
- Contribute - to the education fund for the children of iTrekNepal porters.
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Four great treks you may never have heard of
- Tsum Valley - Opened to trekkers in 2008, its name means "vivid"
- Tamang Heritage - On its own or as an extension of the Langtang Valley trek
- Rara Lake - Hard to get to and hard to forget
- Balthali Village - "One of the five best low altitude treks in the world" - Lonely Planet
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Nine unique restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Krishnarpan - Traditional Newari cuisine authentically and graciously presented, inside the World Heritage Dwarika's Hotel.
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Kaiser Cafe (Garden of Dreams) - An oasis in a classical European garden setting; best for lunch and a stroll around the gardens.
Rum Doodle - The place to go to share trek memories and let loose on your last night in Nepal; it's all about the ambiance and trekking lore.
OR2K - The most creative, best-tasting vegetarian dishes with a Mediterranean flair and backpacker ambiance.
Chez Caroline - In Babar Mahal Revisited, a renovated Rana palace where you can also window-shop, or explore the eclectic assortment of restaurants and bars scattered throughout the complex.
Moondance - The place to go at lakeside in Pokhara after your trek. Wonderful ambiance, great food and warm-hearted Nepali hospitality.
Mike's Breakfast - For breakfast, lunch or dinner, but especially for breakfast right by the lake in Pokhara.
Fire and Ice - On the outskirts of Thamel this is where you'll find the best pizza in Kathmandu.
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Top 5 treks in Nepal for:
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Seven great exercises to prepare for a trek
- Leg presses and squats- to build your quads for long descents, and "low profile" toilets at the teahouses
- Elliptical trainer or Stairmaster - at maximum ramp and resistance
- Climbing stairs - ascending as quickly as possible and descending as slowly as possible
- Hiking - anywhere on steep trails with up to 10 kg (22 lb) pack
- Deep breathing - practice until it becomes a habit
- Yoga - one hour of sweat-inducing hatha practice daily with good breathing technique
- Tai Chi - for combining leg strength, balance, and slow motion
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The most popular (and exciting) festivals in Nepal
Shivaratri - late February/early March - millions of Hindus throng Pashupatinath to worship Shiva with the help of local weed
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Holi (March) - at the full moon in March, colors and water everywhere to celebrate the arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil.
Bisket Jatra (April) - Bhaktapur's great festival where the great chariots are pulled through town and young men climb teetering poles to snatch a prize flower. Phallic symbolism and raucous behavior.
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Dashain (October) - Celebrated in Bhaktapur like no where else - animal sacrifices, Newari feasts, and worshipping everything that moves.
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Tihar (late Oct/early Nov) - the festival of lights, a Nepali Christmas
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The top 10 movies about the Himalayas
- Everest by Mac Gillivray Freeman
- Seven Years in Tibet by Jean Jacques
- Into Thin Air by Robert Markewilz
- Himalaya (Caravan) by Eric Valli
- Honey Hunters of Nepal by Eric Valli
- Shambala by Fidel Devkota
- Samsara by Pan Nalin
- Kundun by Martin Scorcese
- The True Heroes of Mt Everest by Senn, Thapa and Honegger
- Little Buddha by Bernardo Bertolucci
Recommendations courtesy of Music 'n Video Expression in Thamel, Kathmandu
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