LUKLA TO KATHMANDU
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2008
1
22
319
Trip End
Sep 02, 2009
Kathmandu,
Nepal
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Luckily we know where to go and what to do once at the airport. We are check in fast and our duffle bag went through security - get this all you airport types - LEn put the bag on the counter, a military man sticks a 'security cleared' sticker on it and a worker carries our bag, plus 3 others down to the tarmac. Sure beats those expensive x-ray machines we have back home!
We then go through security - men on the right, women on the left.
I put my pack on the table, the security guard pats me down the sides, say I am from Canada, and I am cleared to go with my pack and 1 litre bottle of water to the waiting area.
The first plane of the morning in is ANGI Airlines. The turn around time wasso fast I couldn't believe it. The depart and the second plane in is also an ANGI. This time I check my watch, it is 8:13, the plane stops, no blocks are put out, turns off one prop, unloads +/- 20 pax, the baggage guys unloads the port side while the baggage guys load the starboard side, the +/- 20 pax are onboard, he departs at 8:16! WestJet and Air Canada eat your heart out! But another 2 planes are landing and ANGI has to pull over to the side and wait 3 minutes to get cleared for take-off. And each flight is exactly the same, one right after another while the weather is good.
There are 3 men on the tarmac giving hand signal directions to the captains as to where they should go or turn around. They do not have any recognizable uniform on and no ear protection. Our flight went exactly the same as the others.
We are offered a candy and cotton balls for the ears by the attendant. I don't think she even checked for seat belts.
The take-off was thrilling. Once up we could see all the tops of the snow capped Himilayan Mountains, then down below the small farms and villages.
We are happy and yet sad that this part of our journey is over. We won't miss the cold, never really feeling clean or how long some o the trekking days were. We enjoyed everything we saw and the people we have met. A frustrating part was remembering where we put things in our packs.
We land safely in KAthmandu and catch a taxi to pick up our back packs at the Shanker and then onto our new hotel.
The drive is crazy as we remembered with all the traffic and horn honking, but everyone seems to be calm, cool and happy.
We have to wait about an hour for our room, but it was worth the wait and we clean up and sort laundry and decide what we will do for the rest of the day.
Oh, I forgot to mention what we saw on one of our walks back from the airport. We heard some children laughing and screeching and we looked over to see an older boy flinging a live rat on two strings around at the other kids. Then he let it down on the ground and the rat walked a bit and then he flung it around again. I think we have seen everything now.
Comments
Sooo good to hear from you!!
Jill & Len, You have been making our days and keeping us entertained with all the details of your exceptional trip around the world. Ray is recovering from pneumonia so we are both keeping pretty close to home. Thanks so much for including us on your list of friends. And keep them coming. Hugs, Ann