Lonely me outside Pumpernickels Yes, we are back in Kathmandu, but where is my team...??
Ok, firstly and at risk of repeating myself from previous years trips, let me summarise our morning.
After yesterdays disappointment following the cancellation of all flights in and out of Lukla, we nonetheless enjoyed another enjoyable evening at Paradise Lodge, particularly with a new batch of trekkers who had arrived into Lukla having completed their own treks. The temptation to go out and visit one of the several drinking holes around Lukla was dampened by the fact that it was snowing/raining and they did not have any fires or heaters going (= little iceboxes)
We awoke at 6am this morning to a beautiful clear Lukla sky. Oh the sight of those stars and the moon...!!! We hurried down a breakfast and walked over to the airport, observing with enthusiasm a pristine and awaiting runway. Off course....Kathmandu was closed due thick fog..!!. So the waiting game (correction ..."Lukla game") commenced. For those who have joined us, or at least followed us on previous trips, you will all too well be aware that as Kathmandu starts to clear throughout the morning, Lukla begins to close..!! Clouds start to gather, winds start to pick up, trek leaders start to stress, lodge owners start to rub their hands together (another night of full lodges and handy off-season revenue) and in the blink of an eye, Lukla is closed and all remaining flights are cancelled...!!
But not today...! We waited patiently and finally at 10am, the siren sounded alerting all that the planes had finally departed Kathmandu. Before we could say "please don't trap me in Lukla another night" we were sling-shotting off the runway and heading back to Kat.
Now in the meantime, Sue (Didi) has decided that she cannot pass up the opportunity to have a last night with the team at Kathmandu's Everest Steak House and has decided to delay her rushed international departure (originally booked with Sammy for today) and depart tomorrow instead. Sammy on the other hand is committed to depart today due to expensive accommodation already booked in Bangkok tonight, plus work commitments requiring him back in Melb. He has just sent me a text saying the Prime Minister of Nepal is sharing his plane to Bangkok and has booked out the entire Business Class section, thus preventing Sammy an upgrade..!! Sammy claims he is still going to wonder up front during the flight and chat girls with him.
But.....WHERE IS MY TEAM? True to their word, they have dumped their bags at the Kathmandu Guest House and have spread in all directions to get some "weight gaining" food into them. Some have already showered (and shaved), while others are eating the afternoon away still in their trekking boots..!! We are yet to set eyes on Paulene and Des, who returned to Kat a few days ago. Looking forward to seeing them.
The plan tomorrow is to do the 6hr drive down to beautiful Pokhara for some relaxation and para-gliding next to the mighty Annapurna, before flying back to Kat on Wednesday.
So the 2014 trek blog comes to a close..!! I love all my visits to Nepal, and this group trip was no exception. Always challenging and often for different reasons. A team of 13 is a big team, which presents certain logistical challenges throughout. I'm determined to return to a capped size of 8 to 9 for future trips.
Looking back, it was disappointing not to be able to spend more time on Kalar Pattar. The panorama is beyond words and the effort to get there (both during the trek and the pre departure training to get there) warrants more time there to absorb and share with each other the incredible view. The plus side was the pride in each of the team in achieving their goal. Not everyone gets the opportunity to stand on KP, so a big WELL DONE to each and every one of the team.
Did the entire team enjoy their Nepal adventure? I certainly know that most did, and some are already planning and discussing with Sue and I a return trip.
Thanks to all who have followed us and provided terrific responses. It makes the challenge of finding wifi and keeping batteries charged at minus 10deg worth it. It is always a great time sitting around a dining room yak poop heater reading out and laughing over your words. Some truly brilliant and well worded responses amongst them.
I'll continue to blog our R&R in Nepal and Thailand for those interested in our winding down from our EBC adventure.
Namaste
Ok, firstly and at risk of repeating myself from previous years trips, let me summarise our morning.
After yesterdays disappointment following the cancellation of all flights in and out of Lukla, we nonetheless enjoyed another enjoyable evening at Paradise Lodge, particularly with a new batch of trekkers who had arrived into Lukla having completed their own treks. The temptation to go out and visit one of the several drinking holes around Lukla was dampened by the fact that it was snowing/raining and they did not have any fires or heaters going (= little iceboxes)
We awoke at 6am this morning to a beautiful clear Lukla sky. Oh the sight of those stars and the moon...!!! We hurried down a breakfast and walked over to the airport, observing with enthusiasm a pristine and awaiting runway. Off course....Kathmandu was closed due thick fog..!!. So the waiting game (correction ..."Lukla game") commenced. For those who have joined us, or at least followed us on previous trips, you will all too well be aware that as Kathmandu starts to clear throughout the morning, Lukla begins to close..!! Clouds start to gather, winds start to pick up, trek leaders start to stress, lodge owners start to rub their hands together (another night of full lodges and handy off-season revenue) and in the blink of an eye, Lukla is closed and all remaining flights are cancelled...!!
But not today...! We waited patiently and finally at 10am, the siren sounded alerting all that the planes had finally departed Kathmandu. Before we could say "please don't trap me in Lukla another night" we were sling-shotting off the runway and heading back to Kat.
Now in the meantime, Sue (Didi) has decided that she cannot pass up the opportunity to have a last night with the team at Kathmandu's Everest Steak House and has decided to delay her rushed international departure (originally booked with Sammy for today) and depart tomorrow instead. Sammy on the other hand is committed to depart today due to expensive accommodation already booked in Bangkok tonight, plus work commitments requiring him back in Melb. He has just sent me a text saying the Prime Minister of Nepal is sharing his plane to Bangkok and has booked out the entire Business Class section, thus preventing Sammy an upgrade..!! Sammy claims he is still going to wonder up front during the flight and chat girls with him.
But.....WHERE IS MY TEAM? True to their word, they have dumped their bags at the Kathmandu Guest House and have spread in all directions to get some "weight gaining" food into them. Some have already showered (and shaved), while others are eating the afternoon away still in their trekking boots..!! We are yet to set eyes on Paulene and Des, who returned to Kat a few days ago. Looking forward to seeing them.
The plan tomorrow is to do the 6hr drive down to beautiful Pokhara for some relaxation and para-gliding next to the mighty Annapurna, before flying back to Kat on Wednesday.
So the 2014 trek blog comes to a close..!! I love all my visits to Nepal, and this group trip was no exception. Always challenging and often for different reasons. A team of 13 is a big team, which presents certain logistical challenges throughout. I'm determined to return to a capped size of 8 to 9 for future trips.
Looking back, it was disappointing not to be able to spend more time on Kalar Pattar. The panorama is beyond words and the effort to get there (both during the trek and the pre departure training to get there) warrants more time there to absorb and share with each other the incredible view. The plus side was the pride in each of the team in achieving their goal. Not everyone gets the opportunity to stand on KP, so a big WELL DONE to each and every one of the team.
Did the entire team enjoy their Nepal adventure? I certainly know that most did, and some are already planning and discussing with Sue and I a return trip.
Thanks to all who have followed us and provided terrific responses. It makes the challenge of finding wifi and keeping batteries charged at minus 10deg worth it. It is always a great time sitting around a dining room yak poop heater reading out and laughing over your words. Some truly brilliant and well worded responses amongst them.
I'll continue to blog our R&R in Nepal and Thailand for those interested in our winding down from our EBC adventure.
Namaste
