Sunday 21st October, 2007
Some slight improvement but still very painful and volume way too low. Dominic phones the CIWEC clinic in Kathmandu and is fortunate to talk to one of the doctors. He gets me an appointment for 11am tomorrow (Monday). The doctor confirms that the antibiotics I am using should be sufficient to do the trick so we'll just have to wait and see how it goes.
Monday 22nd October, 2007
There has been no real improvement in my condition since yesterday so its off to the clinic in a taxi. The guy who runs the guest house takes us down to the main road as I am really not up to walking far at all.
Arriving at the clinic which is just across the road from the British Embassy, I am attended to quite quickly. The nurse takes vitals Pulse - 88 (high), BP - 120/70 (good), temp - 38.7 (high) plus a urine sample which is a huge effort. After seeing the doctor (David K.) I'm taken in for xray and ultrasound. Because of the obvious urinary tract infection I'm put on a saline IV. Since the Norfloxacin hasn't worked they zap in some Gentamycin via the IV and I just rest for most of the rest of the day. They also gave me paracetomol to break the fever and for some time I'm lying in bath of perspiration.
It doesn't take too long for the Gentamycin to start working its magic and I'm able to pass more of a normal volume for the first time in a few days - wonderful. Dr David wants me to be available to attend the clinic over the next few days so suggests two possibilities. First would be to check me into the clinic hospital wing. Second option is to go into a local hotel for a few nights. I choose the latter so we end up in the Radisson which is just five minutes walk away. In this state I'll worry about the cost later.
Sunday, 24 February 2008
Sunday, 17 February 2008
Himalayan Odyssey(19)
Saturday 20th October, 2007
Woke up very tired after a truly rotten night. Very painful to urinate and little output. I had woken up in a lather at one stage and even had to change pillows because the one I was using was soaked through. However, I get up for a light breakfast as Tulsi and Bhimal are to take us into Bhaktapur to look at some of the Dashain festival celebrations. After walking down the hill and across the main road we stop to have a look at a Temple where there were many people queued up to get their sacrifices blessed.
People queued at the Temple to get their sacrifices blessed
(Outskirts of Bhaktapur)
It is quite warm and I am very thirsty, needing to urinate, and getting very cranky at Barry who keeps hanging around the temple rather than carrying on which is what I want to do. I realise, however, that it is not his problem but mine so I decide to go back to the guest house and let them enjoy the day without me acting the misery guts.
I spend the rest of the day in bed. When Dominic gets back from the excursion we look up the book and decide that a course of Norfloxacin is in order. Fortunately we have plenty on hand so I start off on a course of it.
All in all it has been a pretty awful day but hopefully the antibiotics will do their job and tomorrow will be better.
Woke up very tired after a truly rotten night. Very painful to urinate and little output. I had woken up in a lather at one stage and even had to change pillows because the one I was using was soaked through. However, I get up for a light breakfast as Tulsi and Bhimal are to take us into Bhaktapur to look at some of the Dashain festival celebrations. After walking down the hill and across the main road we stop to have a look at a Temple where there were many people queued up to get their sacrifices blessed.
People queued at the Temple to get their sacrifices blessed(Outskirts of Bhaktapur)
It is quite warm and I am very thirsty, needing to urinate, and getting very cranky at Barry who keeps hanging around the temple rather than carrying on which is what I want to do. I realise, however, that it is not his problem but mine so I decide to go back to the guest house and let them enjoy the day without me acting the misery guts.
I spend the rest of the day in bed. When Dominic gets back from the excursion we look up the book and decide that a course of Norfloxacin is in order. Fortunately we have plenty on hand so I start off on a course of it.
All in all it has been a pretty awful day but hopefully the antibiotics will do their job and tomorrow will be better.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Himalayan Odyssey(18)
Friday, 19th October, 2008
After a nice quiet night's sleep we only have time for a cup of coffee at 7am before Tulsi arrives at 7:30 to take us to the Shiva Temple. The walk up the hill is quite pleasant in the early morning. At the beginning of the Temple grounds there are two paths up to the Temple. One through a formal gateway and up flights of steps to the top of the hill and the other up a slightly less steep set of steps. We chose the less steep path ;-)
Gateway on path leading to Shiva Temple, Bhaktapur
Detail of carved wooden plaque in Temple gateway
Shiva Temple, Bhaktapur
After visiting the Temple its back to Tulsi's house where we meet his lovely wife and have another cup of coffee and then back to the guest house for breakfast.
Dominic and I head into Kathmandu by catching a local bus at the bottom of the hill for 50/= Rs. After getting off the bus in Kathmandu its a 2km walk to the Thai Air office - arriving at about 12 noon and they close for lunch at 1pm. The office is packed and they have a ticketing system so that they can deal with people in proper order. My ticket is 26 and they are currently serving number 7! However, we get to the counter just before the 1pm close only to find that there is no way to change my flights to get back to Aus and earlier. Dominic gets waitlisted for 31 October - hopefully to fly out with me but we will just have to wait and see.
After the 'excitement' of the airline office we walk into Thamel and, appropriately, have a Thai lunch at 'Yin Yang'. AFter a bit of shopping we pick up the rest of our belongings from the Yanki Hotel and taxi back to the guest house at Bhaktapur for 1500/= Rs. This tariff included the taxi-driver carrying the suitcase up the hill because his taxi couldn't make it.
After a nice quiet night's sleep we only have time for a cup of coffee at 7am before Tulsi arrives at 7:30 to take us to the Shiva Temple. The walk up the hill is quite pleasant in the early morning. At the beginning of the Temple grounds there are two paths up to the Temple. One through a formal gateway and up flights of steps to the top of the hill and the other up a slightly less steep set of steps. We chose the less steep path ;-)
Gateway on path leading to Shiva Temple, Bhaktapur
Detail of carved wooden plaque in Temple gateway
Shiva Temple, BhaktapurAfter visiting the Temple its back to Tulsi's house where we meet his lovely wife and have another cup of coffee and then back to the guest house for breakfast.
Dominic and I head into Kathmandu by catching a local bus at the bottom of the hill for 50/= Rs. After getting off the bus in Kathmandu its a 2km walk to the Thai Air office - arriving at about 12 noon and they close for lunch at 1pm. The office is packed and they have a ticketing system so that they can deal with people in proper order. My ticket is 26 and they are currently serving number 7! However, we get to the counter just before the 1pm close only to find that there is no way to change my flights to get back to Aus and earlier. Dominic gets waitlisted for 31 October - hopefully to fly out with me but we will just have to wait and see.
After the 'excitement' of the airline office we walk into Thamel and, appropriately, have a Thai lunch at 'Yin Yang'. AFter a bit of shopping we pick up the rest of our belongings from the Yanki Hotel and taxi back to the guest house at Bhaktapur for 1500/= Rs. This tariff included the taxi-driver carrying the suitcase up the hill because his taxi couldn't make it.
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Himalayan Odyssey(17)
Thursday, 18th October, 2007
Because we were told that we would fly out at 9am we are up and packed ready for breakfast by 7:30am. It is a brilliantly clear day so everyone expects the flights to be on time. Of course - we don't know what conditions are like in Kathmandu. After waiting a while the lodge Didi tells us that Kathmandu is fogged in.
So we waited (and waited ...) at the lodge until eventually, just before midday, we are told to make our way to the Airport (this is about a 150m walk). While waiting we had watched some of the planes landing and taking off on the short airstrip.
Plane landing at Lukla
Plane taking off at Lukla
One pilot left his touchdown a little late and used all of the strip plus the turnaround area at the top to be able to stop before ploughing into the concrete wall which stops the planes from coming into our hotel.
Eventually our flight leaves at 13:05 arriving in Kathmandu with no dramas around 13:40. Since we had previously agreed and arranged that we would go to Bhaktapur for a few days - where Barry's friend Tulsi lives - he (Barry) has to contact Tulsi to let him know that we have arrived and need to know how to get to Bhaktapur. The deal turns out to be that we are to wait for Bimhal - Tulsi's son - to meet up with us. Barry and Dominic had to go down to the main gateway to the airport to meet up with him otherwise he would not be allowed into the area. Eventually the three of them come back - Shirley and I had been minding the bags - and arrange a mini-bus to take us to the Bhaktapur Guest House which is owned by Tulsi's uncle.
The trip out was uneventful but the guest house is at the top of a hill and we have to walk up because the mini-bus can't make it up the steep, rough track with a full load.
The guest house is a large modernish complex generally used for conferences and as a training venue. It is currently empty and we have good clean rooms over the dining room. There is electric light, hot water any time for the en-suite shower, and even TV - what luxury!
After getting settled in Bimhal takes us to meet up with his father and sister Tripti at their house which is just behind the guest house. They are a very nice family and very friendly. Barry and Shirley met Tulsi when he was at the ANU in Canberra while Bimhal and Tripti were only about 5/6 years old. Since Bimhal is now about 17/18 that puts it at about 12 years ago.
(Dominic) Tulsi, Bimhal and Tripti at the house near Bhaktapur
Tomorrow Tulsi is going to take us up to the Shiva (Hindu) Temple which is a bit further up the hill behind the guest house.
Being so far away from the main road it is very quiet and peaceful up here at the guest house - a total contrast to the noise and confusion of Kathmandu which is only about 45 minutes drive away.
The rest of our gear is still at the Yanki Hotel in Thamel so we plan to pick it up tomorrow. I also want to go into the Thai Air Line office to see if I can get an earlier flight back to Australia - there is no point in me hanging around here. If I can get back earlier Pat and I might get away elsewhere for a few days before I have to go back to work.
Because we were told that we would fly out at 9am we are up and packed ready for breakfast by 7:30am. It is a brilliantly clear day so everyone expects the flights to be on time. Of course - we don't know what conditions are like in Kathmandu. After waiting a while the lodge Didi tells us that Kathmandu is fogged in.
So we waited (and waited ...) at the lodge until eventually, just before midday, we are told to make our way to the Airport (this is about a 150m walk). While waiting we had watched some of the planes landing and taking off on the short airstrip.
Plane landing at Lukla
Plane taking off at LuklaOne pilot left his touchdown a little late and used all of the strip plus the turnaround area at the top to be able to stop before ploughing into the concrete wall which stops the planes from coming into our hotel.
Eventually our flight leaves at 13:05 arriving in Kathmandu with no dramas around 13:40. Since we had previously agreed and arranged that we would go to Bhaktapur for a few days - where Barry's friend Tulsi lives - he (Barry) has to contact Tulsi to let him know that we have arrived and need to know how to get to Bhaktapur. The deal turns out to be that we are to wait for Bimhal - Tulsi's son - to meet up with us. Barry and Dominic had to go down to the main gateway to the airport to meet up with him otherwise he would not be allowed into the area. Eventually the three of them come back - Shirley and I had been minding the bags - and arrange a mini-bus to take us to the Bhaktapur Guest House which is owned by Tulsi's uncle.
The trip out was uneventful but the guest house is at the top of a hill and we have to walk up because the mini-bus can't make it up the steep, rough track with a full load.
The guest house is a large modernish complex generally used for conferences and as a training venue. It is currently empty and we have good clean rooms over the dining room. There is electric light, hot water any time for the en-suite shower, and even TV - what luxury!
After getting settled in Bimhal takes us to meet up with his father and sister Tripti at their house which is just behind the guest house. They are a very nice family and very friendly. Barry and Shirley met Tulsi when he was at the ANU in Canberra while Bimhal and Tripti were only about 5/6 years old. Since Bimhal is now about 17/18 that puts it at about 12 years ago.
(Dominic) Tulsi, Bimhal and Tripti at the house near BhaktapurTomorrow Tulsi is going to take us up to the Shiva (Hindu) Temple which is a bit further up the hill behind the guest house.
Being so far away from the main road it is very quiet and peaceful up here at the guest house - a total contrast to the noise and confusion of Kathmandu which is only about 45 minutes drive away.
The rest of our gear is still at the Yanki Hotel in Thamel so we plan to pick it up tomorrow. I also want to go into the Thai Air Line office to see if I can get an earlier flight back to Australia - there is no point in me hanging around here. If I can get back earlier Pat and I might get away elsewhere for a few days before I have to go back to work.
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