I'm heading there next week. I'll let you know how it goes. )

I`ve been in the Solo-Khumbu region for the past 5 weeks. No problems, you should come. We needed to pay a 5000 NRP donation per person near Khote in the Hinku valley, but that was to be expected.

I was there in October - the maoists are on a 3 month cease fire. I didn't run into a single one of them. The only "issues" with traveling there seem like they are the same "issues" all the time - it's very lacking in the effeiciency dept. and it really pays to know people. (It took us 4 days to get out of Kathmandu to Lukla- on the third day we accidentally met Angrita Sherpa, he needed help with his digital camera, and he hooked us up on a different flight for the fourth day) it's very corrupt (my friend lost his life savings by carrying too much cash through the airport, the US embassy can't help if other countries want to extort you), and everyone wants to rip you off a little. But it really is a fantastic place and if you are smart to all this, it's much easier to negotiate your way around. Also, a side bit of advice - do NOT by hash from ANYONE. The gov't pays people to sell hash to westerners and then go snitch on who has hash - there is a good chance you'd end up in jail which has been described to me as pretty terrible.

Happy trekking! )

crazy - I think I may have met your friend in Namche. Did he also go to Kathmandu jail for a few days with his bail amount being the same exact amount of his undeclared cash that they confiscated? And I believe he said he was going to climb Ama Dablam.

And as for problems in Nepal, I spent all of October in the Khumbu region and did not encounter any. Of course when traveling in any third world country where there is such poverty you must be particularly aware. In the end, Nepal is a breathtakingly beautiful place with some of the most real, genuine, and humble people I have met anywhere in my life.

Yeah that's the guy! He was in Namche for almost a week waiting for us (since our flight to Lukla got canceled 3 times) - he had to go to jail because of the time difference for wiring money from America to Nepal. (Note: You must declare any amount of money more than $2,000 US)

He (Mjollnir here on SP) and Tauru007 were a part of Tim Mosedale's group and successfully summitted Ama Dablam on November 12th. The photos are fantastic and make me want to jump in on the next expedition!

Agreed- the Khumbu is a true wonder of the world and needs to be seen by all, and the people there are positively sweet. Don't be frightened by exoticism, ebrace it. )