Contributed by: Daniel Hofbauer | Last Date of Travel: November 2010

Kosher Info:
The only kosher restaurant in Nepal is by the Chabad of Kathmandu (contact info below). They serve from late morning until the evening and the food is good. You can also cook yourself and just pay for ingredients. I was pleasantly surprised to find some kosher (OU certified) items such as Walkers Shortbread biscuits and Nature Valley granola bars in the supermarket.

Most people come to Nepal for the unbeatable trekking in the Himalayas. The most popular treks, Annapurna Circuit and Everest Base Camp take at least 10 days and potentially as long as 3 weeks. This brings unique challenges for the kosher traveler.

What to bring? Pretty much the same as any trek. A lightweight pot(s), a set (per person) of plastic traveling cutlery, bowl, cup & plate, brush to wash up with and a backpacking portable stove (the gas canister you can get in Kathmandu in one of the many trekking equipment stores). In terms of food, my main supplies were Quaker Instant Oatmeal (1 or 2 packets make a great breakfast), Osem Manot Chamot (instant meals like couscous, rice etc), granola / energy bars, loaf of bread (lasted me a week), crackers, peanut butter and more. For Shabbat on the trek, I recommend matzah (to make Kiddush/Hamotzi on) and, for a taste of meat, some kabanas which supposedly keep for a couple of weeks.

When arriving at a village at the end of the trekking day, after checking out a lodge’s room, I would explain that I need to cook myself as I am a religious Jew and ask if this would be ok. Most places were fine with this, but some weren’t, in which case you move on to the next lodge. There is an unofficial “Israeli deal” (on the Annapurna Circuit trek at least) whereby Israelis try and get their room for free and pay for meals (where the lodge makes most of their money). I decided not to haggle and simply pay for lodging as I would need the lodge owner’s cooperation on the cooking front and they would be making less money from me, a kosher traveler.

For dinner I would either prepare an Osem instant meal or buy ingredients from the lodge. Given that dahl baht (rice and lentils) is the main stable in Nepal, you will find yourself eating a lot of rice. Bugs are very common so one needs to check the rice carefully. To avoid bishul akum while using the lodge’s stove, one needs to be involved in the process by either lighting the stove or mixing the rice intermittently, etc. (ask your local Rabbi if you prefer). I was warned by another kosher traveler to be respectful in their kitchen, as its their own private space they are letting you into. The kitchen can get hectic at meal time, so you may want to cook early before the rush. I recommend taking a camping stove – this way you are not dependent on anyone and have the option to cook in your room or outside, whatever and whenever you want. Also, with an instant meal you don’t have to spend the time checking rice – it may be the last thing you want to do after hiking 7 hours.

Tourist Info:
If you are traveling kosher and going on a trek for longer than a few days, I really recommend taking a porter. If it wasn’t for the food I wouldn’t have taken one but with 2 weeks of supplies, you can easily get to 20kg. Also, the trail isn’t always clear and a porter with experience will know exactly which way to turn. If you want to spend more, you can hire a porter-guide or certified guide. I arranged my porter, Nyma, through Swissa (see below) and he was great. Swissa knows all about kosher and Shabbat and can educate your porter before you leave. Having said that, Nyma would offer me some of his food every day so not sure if he quite got it…

People recommended me to spend time in Kathmandu. Leave a cushion after your trek before your flight out and aim to spend 2-3 days in Kathmandu. But no need to spend too much time there – can get some good bargains there, but there are a lot of temples (read: avodah zara), and annoying street salespeople. Pokhera is meant to be nice and have a relaxed atmoshpere.

Swissa is the agency most of the Israelis use. They are really helpful, know their stuff and have the best prices (even for converting $ to Nepalese Rupees).

For buying or renting trekking gear, there are loads of stores in Thamel. I used Everest Trekking Store. The guy there gives special prices to Israelis (so brush up on your Hebrew) and speaks the lingo a bit (mechir tov…sababa egozim). Its hard to explain where he is but ask Swissa or call the store (+1 444 3708).

There is an international standard clinic/hospital in Kathmandu. Hopefully you won’t need but its good to know about it – CIWEC Travel Medical Center+977 1 442 4111 (opposite British Embassy, 5 mins cab from Thamel).

>> Other Tips….

If you do the Annapurna Circuit, you need a rest day for acclimatization at Manang. If you leave for the trek on Sunday, you can get to Manang by Friday and then rest on the real rest day.

For reading up before, besides Lonely Planet and Lametayel (for Hebrew speakers), Rob’s Nepal site has tips at the bottom of the page which are a great resource.

Make to sure to start vaccinations at least 3-4 weeks before travel and if flying via India, also sort out your visa early. I decided on my trip 3 weeks before and it was borderline. Visa for Nepal you get at the airport but you need passport pics. You can download the form ahead of time to beat the queue.

You can ask the agency you are using to get you TIMS and permit ahead of time for a small fee.

Make sure to have warm clothing (it is freezing up high) and the whole suite of medicines recommended (in the Lonely Planet book or wherever). Also, double check your travel insurance covers helicopter evacuation from the trek (just in case…you don’t want to be stuck with a $3,000 bill).

For places to stay in Kathmandu or Pokhara, check out TripAdvisor’s most recommended or if you are on a tight budget, ask people in Chabad for recommendations (you can pay as little as 300 NPR a night in Kathmandu…that’s $4)

Haggle…negotiate…hundel… – however you call it, do it….in most places.

Jewish Info:
The Chabad house is spacious and welcoming. They have meals & services on Shabbat and a restaurant during the week with a good choice including meat. Their Seder on Pesach is apparently the place to be in Asia. They have a good library of Jewish, Israeli and travel books as well as a collection of tips on Nepal and surrounding countries left by travelers. There are also classes during the week.

Chabad of Kathmandu: Rabbi Chezki & Chanie Lifshitz. Tel: (+977 1) 4701886 Mobile: (+977) 9803241294 Email: chabadnepal@hotmail.com. It is located in the Thamel area, opposite the Marshyangdi Hotel.

Contributed by: Dani Klein | Last Date of Travel: August 2009

Kosher Info: Vancouver was a city I did not expect to find many kosher options, and was surprised to have a found a few.
One thing to keep in mind: most, if not all of the places I will list, close early – especially if you’re from New York or Toronto. Really early.

I met a few friends and colleagues at Sabra Glatt Kosher Restaurant & Bakery (3844 Oak Street), which has a sit down meat restaurant, and a take out section as well. The food has a mix of Israeli with other Middle Eastern flavors. The soups were good, and the main dishes were pretty tasty as well. This was not a fancy restaurant, but good enough to hit the spot when on vacation. Sabra closes at 8pm or earlier, so check in advance.

Pini’s Kosher (729 West 16th Ave.) is a pizza place and a kosher market combined. The pizza slices were quite small, and the flavor is nothing to write home about. I guess you cant complain about kosher pizza when traveling far from home. The market carried many American and Israeli kosher products.

On our last day in Vancouver, we headed to the JCC for lunch. Nava is a Dairy Restaurant located in the lobby of the JCC (950 West 41st Ave). They had pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and soups. Although it was a fast food sort of cafe, the food was relatively fancy and tasty, and I highly recommend eating there. The cafe also has to abide by the hours of the JCC, so call in advance for their schedule.

Sadly, there were some places I did not get to try when in Vancouver:

• Maple Grill seems to be a meat restaurant that is a fusion of multiple cuisines (1967 W. Broadway).
• Falafel Plus & Catering (446 W 8th Ave)

Please keep in mind that none of the kosher restaurants are in the downtown or West End area of Vancouver, which is really the nicest place to stay. You’ll need a car to access the restaurants, which is relatively close by, all under a 15 minute drive from the West End neighborhood (where we stayed).

For an up to date list, contact the Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia (BCK) before you travel.

Travel Info: Vancouver is an amazingly beautiful and clean city. There is a hustle and bustle, yet looking at the nearby mountains makes it serene. In fact, many films (portraying large cities) are filmed there.
I loved exploring the streets and parks of Vancouver, especially Stanley Park on the tip of the West End. Stanley Park is an amazing place to walk, jog, roller blade, or ride a bike. We decided to rent bikes nearby and take the path around the seawall of Stanley Park. The views of the city, and the mountains were amazing. The seawall actually extends beyond the limits of the park into the city, allowing all those who stroll along to take in it’s amazing views. Many tour guides and books actually recommend biking the seawall as one their top things to do in Vancouver, and I agree.

Another great place to visit and explore is Granville Island, situated directly across from downtown Vancouver. Granville Island, actually a peninsula, is a former industrial manufacturing area, but is now a major tourist destination, with amenities such as a public market, a large marina, a hotel, and a major shopping area. Granville has shows and a nightlife as well. We had a great time exploring the Granville shops, the fresh food market, and the views of downtown Vancouver.

Directly north of the city is Grouse Mountain, a great place to escape the steel and pavement and experience nature. Driving to the foot of Grouse Mt. takes less than 15 min from downtown Vancouver without traffic. On the way we stopped by the Capilano Fish Hatchery, which produces 3 million salmon each year. Nearby is the Capilano Suspension Bridge (which we did not get to experience) which has breathtaking views and gives you insight into rainforest trails through magnificent evergreens and the unique perspective of a walk high in the trees.

Once you’re at Grouse Mountain, you have a bunch of options, depending on the season. During the summertime, you’ll enjoy the SkyRide to the top of the mountain, giving you amazing views of the entire city of Vancouver. When we arrived to the top, we were greeted by thick morning fog which did not allow us to see more than a few feet ahead of us (that eventually cleared around 12pm). Every hour or so there is a hokie but cute lumberjack show, which the kids will definitely find enjoyable. There are 2 grizzly bears that live at the mountain’s wildlife refuge. A tour guide gives you some background as to how they got there. For extra fees, they offer ziplining between mountains, paragliding, and other outdoor activities. Word of advice to those visiting Grouse (especially in the summer): no matter the time of year, dress warm. It is at least 10-20 degrees colder at the top than the bottom.

In the wintertime, Grouse Mountain is a ski resort. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and skiing / snowboarding the slopes. Grouse is probably the closest ski resort to any major city I can think of. Grouse Mountain is hosting some events for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

An off the beaten place we found in Vancouver was the University of British Columbia (UBC) Museum of Anthropology. It was a very educational and fascinating museum, with many statues and artifacts about the Native Americans / Canadians whom are called “First Peoples” as well as British Columbian anthropological history and culture.

Jewish Info: While we did not spend Shabbat in Vancouver, or stay in the Jewish community there, the Jews we did meet were very friendly and warm. We also saw many Israelis around the city which wasn’t expected. If you are looking to spend Shabbat there, contact the Chabad which has centers Downtown, Vancouver’s residential area, and out in the burbs in Richmond: Chabad of British Columbia.

Contributed by Dani Klein | Last Date of Visit: August 2009

While a post on Seattle was posted this past January, my recent trip there was so great, I wanted to highlight some of the points from the previous post: http://yeahthatskosher.com/2009/01/seattle-wa

Kosher Info: Whilst in downtown Seattle, we had a late night dinner at Bamboo Garden, a great kosher vegetarian Chinese place in the Seattle Center, walking distance from the Space Needle. I highly recommend the corn chowder as an opening appetizer. I didn’t expect anything to be open late, but they were open until 10pm (not quite as late as in larger cities, but just late enough).

On Mercer Island there’s the highly acclaimed Island Crust pizza. Also on the island is Albertson’s ( what locals call “Albertstein’s” for their large kosher section), a large supermarket chain.

We also had an amazing dinner at Pabla Indian Cuisine in Issaquah. They also have a location in Renton south of the city.

Tourist Info: On our first full day in the area, we spent the day outside of Seattle, in the “Olympics” or the Olympic Peninsula or Olympic National Park. Getting there from Seattle is interesting. You can drive around the Puget Sound, or you can take one of many ferries across the sound which take about 20 minutes. It’s a really beautiful ride.

Driving through the woodsy Olympic Peninsula, we stopped in the small town of Sequim, WA (pronounced Squim). The town is known for its lavender farms, of which there were many. Our trip at the end of August was about a week or so after they had harvested the majority of their lavender. We visited the Lost Mountain Lavender Farm, which had a store for us to purchase lavender products, and many different types of plants unharvested. There are dozens of lavender farms in and around Sequim, and I definitely recommend checking them out. There is also an annual Lavender Festival in the summertime.

Our next stop was Port Angeles which is the largest town on the Olympic Peninsula. From there you can hop on a ferry to Victoria, BC or stop in the Olympic National Park Welcome Center. A 40+ minute winding drive uphill from the welcome center is Hurricane Ridge. From there you have beautiful views of the Olympic Mountain Range and multiple hikes ranging from 20 minutes to a few hours. . You can also see across the Puget Sound to the tip of Vancouver Island, Canada or find some wildlife.

Olympic National Park is known for it’s massive redwood trees which stand hundreds of feet tall and are hundreds of years old. The park also boasts a few waterfalls. Some are accessible right off the road, others after 30+ minute hikes. Lake Crescent is a crystal blue lake surrounded by mountains. We decided on a whim to just jump in – and boy what is it refreshing. Cold — but refreshing.

Further West toward the Pacific Ocean is the town of Forks, where the Twilight book series is set.

The next day we spent time in downtown Seattle. In the morning we had breakfast at the famous Pikes Place Market, home of the original Starbucks. We found tasty organic vegetables and vegan pastries. At the market we also found unbelievably beautiful flowers for super cheap – a great place to buy your Shabbat hosts a bouquet of flowers.

Other places in Seattle I recommend visiting:

• The Seattle Underground Tour – learn the history of corrupt Seattle
• Kerry Park – an amazing lookout point in a beautiful neighborhood
• Gas Works Park – a Gas Plant turned Park – strange but fun

Seattle is also know for its glass blowing studios. There are a few here and there, so if you find one, pop in and watch them make really cool glass. Just search for “Glass Blowing Studio Seattle“.

Jewish Info: The Jews we met in Seattle were so friendly and inviting. We spent the Shabbat on Mercer Island – which is absolutely stunning, with views of Mt. Rainier in the distance. We went to shul at Shevet Achim, which is in the middle of Mercer Island.

The largest Jewish community in the Seattle area is in Seward Park, which we did not get to visit.

We really enjoyed our visit to the Seattle area, and look forward to going back.

This is a re-post from CheapOair’s blog: http://cheapoair.wordpress.com/2008/10/27/ten-tips-for-backpackers/

Traveling abroad excites most of us, but it can be difficult to read situations in another country, with its different languages and customs. So, whether you’re a young traveler or a retiree, there are a few more things apart from passport, tickets and packing your bags, you should do to make your trip as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible.

1. Research your destination: Before you depart, it’s a good idea to do some research on your destination and make sure you have the necessary documentation and items you need. Collect all the necessary information on the safety and security situation of your destination.

2. Travel light: For reliability and ease, a backpack is still the best friend of those interested inbudget travel’s. But don’t pack what you don’t need. There is nothing worse than lugging around a cumbersome pack while trying to find a place to stay. Whatever you think you’re missing, you’ll certainly be able to buy it on the road.

3. Beat up your pack: This might sound a little crazy, but if your backpack looks as though it has been around the block a few times, would-be thieves are more likely to avoid it. They’re bound to go for the brand spanking new pack next to yours which they’ll think contains lots of expensive high-tech gizmos.

4. Don’t over-plan: The basic rule for backpacking is to be as flexible as possible. You’re bound to meet new friends on the road, so don’t plan your route too far in advance. That said, booking a hostel bed for the first few nights in a new city is a good idea. As for the rest, be spontaneous and have fun!

5. Wear comfy shoes: Comfortable shoes are a must! But they’re bulky and awkward to carry, so limit what you take — perhaps just a good pair of lace-up boots or trainers for hiking and a casual pair of sandals. And don’t forget your flip-flops — they’re a must-have for public showers.

6. Don’t carry too much cash: Never carry huge amounts of cash. Beside the possibility that you could be robbed, you may simply lose it. So if possible only carry a couple of days’ worth of money, kept in small denominations. Take a variety of money options such as credit card, some cash and perhaps some travelers’ cheques. And whatever you do, don’t keep all your money in the one place.

7. Sleep on it: Money belts are great for concealing your cash and passport. But if you’re worried about someone swiping it while you sleep (or even if you’re not), keep it in your sleeping bag or tuck it in your pillow case. It’s unlikely any thief would be brave enough to look for it there!

8. Keep a travel journal: Unfortunately, memories fade with time. So keeping a travel journal is a wonderful way of recording your activities, storing photos and mementos and collecting information to share with others when you get home.

9. Take a guide: While a guidebook certainly shouldn’t be considered the “Bible”, they do give extensive rundowns on accommodation, transport and sightseeing and also offer heaps of information to help make backpacking easy. If nothing else, reading your guide will help pass the time while you wait for the next bus.

10. Get connected: With Internet cafes sprouting up like mushrooms in almost every city and backwater town around the world, it has never been easier to stay in touch. Not only is it vital to have a few regular contacts at home who can keep tabs on you, but they’re great places to meet fellow travelers.