Somewhere in Nepal...
I just love Lukla....! Last night we bid farewell to our support crew. All our Porters and head Guide were paid up and tipped accordingly. There was significant gratitude and even some emotion as each Porter made a special effort to warmly hug each and every one of us. What a great support team to work with. Always smiling, dragging our bags to 5,545mtrs and staying with and assisting some of our slower team members into camp each night (11.30pm one night) under headlight. I truly LOVE the Nepalese..!
Then a wonderful night sleeping in Lukla under sheets and not sleeping bags, and a wonderful flushing toilet and boiling hot shower.
We awoke to a lovely morning and were promptly marched over to the Lukla airport terminal ("terminal" perhaps a little complimentary .!)
Our plane arrived and we all buckled in for the classic Lukla "slingshot" departure, with the plane using every inch of the short runway. (Don't blame us, we have all lost weight..!!).
25min later we touched down........but NOT in Kathmandu..!! As we descended, we anticipated the city and the bitumen runway of Kathmandu International, instead we saw paddocks, cows and a bumpy gravel potholed runway...!! Apparently Kathmandu airport was closed sometime after our Lukla departure and our plane was requested to make a diversion and wait at a small precautionary landing strip half way..! What a buzz. We hopped off the plane and watched 3 other Lukla flights make the same landing to await the fog to clear in Kat.
30min later, we were in the air again and finished the trip to Kathmandu with no further delays.
A quick shower at the Kathmandu Guest House and a much needed shave. Cut-throat blade and 15min head massage for ......A$1.50. How good is that?. Then a desperate race to Pumpernickel Bakery for a well earned Yak Cheese Roll and Flat White coffee (....and Apple Pie).
We are heading to Pokhara tomorrow for a few days R&R. We feel we have earn't it with what we achieved just 4 days ago...! Then back to Kat on Thursday. We have tried to change our ticket to fly out of Nepal on Friday so as to spend a full day in Bangkok before flying home on Sunday, but it appears that there are no available seats on Friday's Kathmandu to Bangkok flight, so our Saturday departure may need to remain. I'm not fussed. It's never easy to leave this wonderful country.
The team have been great to trek with.
So the trek blog is over for another year. It's been fun (if not sometimes challenging} to update it each day/night. But it's always worth it when we get great and encouraging responses from those who followed us. Thanks, from ALL of us. It honestly gives us strength and encouragement when we are dealing with challenges up high.
And thanks to Brian@Weeroona who was always on standby to post an entry when I couldn't .
I'll continue to post a few updates in our last week of R&R for those interested in following our winding down from our big trek.
2013 Everest Base Camp trek. It's certainly been an Adventure...not a Holiday...!!
Then a wonderful night sleeping in Lukla under sheets and not sleeping bags, and a wonderful flushing toilet and boiling hot shower.
We awoke to a lovely morning and were promptly marched over to the Lukla airport terminal ("terminal" perhaps a little complimentary .!)
Our plane arrived and we all buckled in for the classic Lukla "slingshot" departure, with the plane using every inch of the short runway. (Don't blame us, we have all lost weight..!!).
25min later we touched down........but NOT in Kathmandu..!! As we descended, we anticipated the city and the bitumen runway of Kathmandu International, instead we saw paddocks, cows and a bumpy gravel potholed runway...!! Apparently Kathmandu airport was closed sometime after our Lukla departure and our plane was requested to make a diversion and wait at a small precautionary landing strip half way..! What a buzz. We hopped off the plane and watched 3 other Lukla flights make the same landing to await the fog to clear in Kat.
30min later, we were in the air again and finished the trip to Kathmandu with no further delays.
A quick shower at the Kathmandu Guest House and a much needed shave. Cut-throat blade and 15min head massage for ......A$1.50. How good is that?. Then a desperate race to Pumpernickel Bakery for a well earned Yak Cheese Roll and Flat White coffee (....and Apple Pie).
We are heading to Pokhara tomorrow for a few days R&R. We feel we have earn't it with what we achieved just 4 days ago...! Then back to Kat on Thursday. We have tried to change our ticket to fly out of Nepal on Friday so as to spend a full day in Bangkok before flying home on Sunday, but it appears that there are no available seats on Friday's Kathmandu to Bangkok flight, so our Saturday departure may need to remain. I'm not fussed. It's never easy to leave this wonderful country.
The team have been great to trek with.
- The Old Codgers were truly inspiring. John trekked steady and strong throughout and often amused us with his travels and experiences, I've requested he write a book called "Travelling the World....on a Dime". I will be the first to buy a copy. Greg and Ray paced each other for the entire trip, pushing each other along superbly. Whether it be the tougher slower days or the ............I was going to say "easier days", but there weren't any, they were inseparable and drew from each others encouragement.
- The 3 young guys from QLD (Ryan, Carl and Andrew) were an inspiration in how important it is to get along with and support each other. It's no wonder they too have terrific stories of their own travels together. Good friendship is the key to good travel experiences, and these guys have that. I'm wrapped to have met them.
- How does one describe Nicole? Determined, Stubborn, Tenacious....!! There were days were we thought Nicole was going to turn around and head back. Perhaps there were days when she should have...!Yet just 4 days ago she stood on Kalar Pattar, and that is an achievement that is not handed out to just anyone..! Yesterday when we asked her to commit to a massive 20klm of consistent hills and steps, she delivered, even surprising the entire team with just how well she did. There's no stopping Nicole..!
- Sue? Well Sue is Sue. She amuses everyone, she encourages the team, and she's a great help to me. Given the team were often up to 5klm apart during any given day, she was always offering to lead the front runners, or stay back with the snail pacers. And she has the strength, speed and patience to do both. Can't imaging a group trek in Nepal without Sue. Thanks Sis'
So the trek blog is over for another year. It's been fun (if not sometimes challenging} to update it each day/night. But it's always worth it when we get great and encouraging responses from those who followed us. Thanks, from ALL of us. It honestly gives us strength and encouragement when we are dealing with challenges up high.
And thanks to Brian@Weeroona who was always on standby to post an entry when I couldn't .
I'll continue to post a few updates in our last week of R&R for those interested in following our winding down from our big trek.
2013 Everest Base Camp trek. It's certainly been an Adventure...not a Holiday...!!
Above. To the Kalar Pattar victors go the spoils......
