We wanted a taxi to go back to the airport - chasing a lost bag. We only checked two bags - a big box full of jackets bound for some hill sherpas via Adventure Consultants and the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and my pack.
Of course the box arrived but not my rucksack - was it anything to do with the battery power pack that i had in the bag, or not . . . .. . . . (no matter when we did get the bag the power bank was gone and in it’s place a note i n Chinese and English saying lithium batteries were not a good thing - thanks Samsung. )
1st trip a waste of time, but ‘ your bag will be on the 11.30pm arrival ‘ - no problem then, but I wasn’t going to go out then.
Our taxi driver Lama was very accomodating so we booked him again to go out the following day.
Day 2 - dropped the box and caught up on Suze Kelly and Bronwyn, and then Rene at the Radisson.
Late in the day we got my bag - that was really good. Thanks to Lama we got a guide tour thru the back streets of Kathmandu as we tried to avoid the 5 o’clock traffic (much quicker the back way)
Dinner was across the road from the hotel and Brandi decided the complimentary rice wine was great and requested a ‘second round please’
Day 3 - early to the airport is the advice - even through for some silly reason I had booked a 0930 flight. Of course the advice had been to - ‘go early young man to avoid the cloud and wind build up’
At the airport it was crazy. I started out at one counter for a minute or two and then - ‘go inside’ !! Advice from a local
So I joined a queue at the counter - now these aren’t neat queues but rather a push gently towards the counter with Nepalese guides cutting through and around the desk to get their clients serviced.
Finally I’m there - had the papers in a plastic folder - glanced at only and told to - ‘go other queue please, we are only booking 0830 seats now.’
So to the other desk - a couple people there only and wait patiently AGAIN. At least an hour has passed by now so it’s getting closer tp our time. ‘No other desk please’
Now back to where I started but I’m learning the Nepalese technique of getting attention - keep pushing forward and smile.
Our flight is Tara 153 on the paper - but now I understand that this flight comprised three aircraft who went out early - like 6.00, 6.05 and 6.15 Now a couple might be back but now I’m worried about the wind.
FINALLY - papers please. - bag weighted 10 and 13 kgs (22 and 28lbs) - no problem here is your boarding pass Flight Number 119. Others on the Tara 153 designation getting Flight number 121
I ask ’What time do you expect the 0930 flight to depart” - ‘mmm probably about 10 or 1030’. OK thanks. At least we have boarding passes - thru security ‘girls first please’ - a pat down only and into the airport waiting area.
Waiting area - be patient - it’s only 0940 and we have been at the airport since 6.40. No problem About 100 - our flight is called - perfect - my cappuccino - very good it was too - is finished
Out onto a small bus and to the plane which has just arrived back and is busy unloading passengers and bags. But now we wait on the bus in the heat of the day - for what we don’t know and no one says anything to enlighten us. Finally Brandi goes to sit in the shade of the bus steps with a cool breeze . She is worried about the heat and the up coming flight (with the previous experience of throwing up in small planes.
Time passes slowly and I doze - suddenly without a word that I hear everyone is getting off the bus and into the small plane. A seat- isle - seat configuration, 14 passengers in total plus a hostess who gives a brief (very brief) safety intro.
Flying at last - a easy flight with no real bumps and a nice step descent into Lukla and so to walking.
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