How to Shower in Ice Cold Water

When I was in Dhunche, a small town in the Langtang region of Nepal, I stayed at Hotel Himalayan Legend ...

... which didn't have hot shower. There were solar panels on the roof but the guesthouse owner claims they were not working. 

I know there're trekkers who don't bathe throughout the duration of their trek which can last for days. But I can't do that. After coming in from a long trek, sweaty, dirty and all, I always appreciate a hot shower. It is refreshing and I can sleep well ready for the next day's trek.

Since Hotel Himalayan Legend didn't have hot shower, I had to shower in ice cold water. Here's how to do it: 

1) Warm up by doing some vigorous exercise like jumping around and running on the spot.

2) Open the shower and let the ice water flow.

3) Use your hands to wet your arms followed by your body and legs. Your body will eventually get used to the ice water if you wet your body in stages. Last of all, put your head under the shower to wet your hair.  

4) Quickly shampoo, lather soap on your body and rinse off.

5) Step out of the shower and continue doing small exercises to warm up your body. 

6) Towel down and put clothes on.

Those who can stand the ice water may even step under the shower at one go. I prefer to do it step by step.

Good luck!

Putting on and Removing Contact Lenses in Basic Conditions

During my 3 trips to Nepal, I've mastered the art of putting on and removing contact lenses in basic conditions, i.e. without water and no wall mirror.

Most of the guesthouses along the treks don't have ensuite bathrooms in the bedrooms. The bathrooms are usually located outside the rooms and extremely basic, i.e. no wash basin, no mirror, no shower (some of the guesthouses boiled water for us to bathe for a fee), run down, etc.

Therefore putting on and removing contact lenses in these conditions could be pretty challenging especially when cleanliness must be observed at all times when it comes to contact lenses and our eyes.

Here are the 4 items you'll need to put on and remove contact lenses in basic conditions:

1) Antibacterial hand sanitiser
2) Compact mirror
3) Contact lenses (goes without saying)
4) Disinfectant (goes without saying)
5) Headlamp or torchlight (optional)

Method:

a) Prop your compact mirror up firmly against anything that's convenient for you, e.g. window, bagpack, etc.
b) Open ready your contact lens case and caps on the disinfectant and antibacterial hand sanitiser.
c) Squirt a little antibacterial hand sanitiser on the palm of your hands and rub it all over your hands especially your fingers.
d) Pick up one lens from the contact lens case and rinse it with disinfectant.
e) Using the compact mirror to guide you, place the lens into your eye. Repeat for the other lens.
f) Guesthouses in the mountains of Nepal operate on generators which kick in during specific times only. So if you need to put on or remove your lenses in the dark, use a headlamp or torchlight (clinch with your teeth or get someone to hold for you).

I promise if you follow this method properly you won't develop any eye infection.

Good luck!