Touts and Other Middlemen
Indian-style hustle is on the rise in Nepal. You'll get a major dose of it at the airport or any major bus station, where packs of touts lie in wait to accost arriving tourists with guest-house cards. They also cruise the tourist strips of Kathmandu, offering drugs. However, Nepali touts for the most part aren't as parasitic as their Indian brethren, and if you're entering Nepal from north India, where aggressive touts have to be dealt with firmly, adjust your attitude: they'll usually leave you alone if asked nicely, whereas they'll take a rude brush-off personally. That said, many touts in Nepal these days are in fact Indian, and may require more drastic measures. Kathmandu and Pokhara are full of other lone entrepreneurs and middlemen - touts by any other name. Ticket agents, riksha wallahs, innkeepers and guides are ever anxious to broker services and information. Naturally they take a cut, but as with touts, they usually get their commission from the seller; your price is bumped up correspondingly. Is it a ripoff? Rip-off is a relative term. If you don't know where to spend the night or change money, a tout's services are certainly worth a few rupees. In general, though, cutting out the middleman gives you more control over the transaction. You should find, without being too mercenary about it, that a few rupees (and smiles) given to people whose services you may require again will grease the wheels and make your stay much more pleasant.
www.hardrocktreks.comLaxman says "Nepal is the best adventure travel destination offering wide range of trekking, rafting, and cultural tours. Birth place of lord Buddha, the land of Mount Everest and the holiest pilgrimage destination for the Hindus is an another identity of this country.
" Trekking in Nepal Himalayanepalguidetrek says "Nepal guide trek offer trekking and tour in nepal himalya, trek to tibet, everest base camp trek, annapurna trek, langtang trekking" www.nepaltravellers.comYour Guide To Himalayas: says "Kathmandu-based tour operator provides trekking and adventure tours in Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, and Indian regions. Includes camping, peak climbing, jungle safaris, and rafting." Nepal LoverPatric Lee says "Nepal is a simple country with poverty and unemployment its main concerns. Vist Nepal with an open heart, learn to love its people who are overly-hospitable, cheerful and helpful. A few simple Nepali phrases would get you around such as Dhanybad (thank you), Kati-ho (how much) also learn the numbers 1-1000, it would prove useful when you ask for the price or try to bargain down. Always have a ready smile and do not bear grudges. Because of poverty, businessmen and taxi-drivers will try to fleece you for as much as possible. Be aware of the prices of taxi trips to and from your hotel so you do not get fleeced. Ask your reception desk for the amount needed to travel to town or the next village etc. Be easy going and life will be a breeze there. The country is so beautiful you will not want to leave, but of course the villages are always dirty and littered with rubbish. Just bear with it and you will have an enjoyable time."
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