The day has come to start the journey back home. We met at 6:30 AM for a light breakfast so we could get in line at the airport in Lukla. It is more of a first come, first served deal than the ticketing process we are used to dealing with at a normal airport. We were basically going to wait at the lodge until we got a call to make the 5 minute walk to the airport.
The lodge owner told us that it was time for us to go to the airport, because her husband that deals with the ticketing said it was time to go. We waited quite a while at the airport, I suspect that the lodge owner wanted us out of the dining room to be able to seat more customers.
The best way to describe the airport is controlled chaos, easy on the controlled part. I watched several planes come and go. Interestingly, American wrestling (WWE raw) was on the TV in the airport.
We were Tara Air flight #3 out of our airport. When I saw the plane was a Dehavilland Twin Otter, I was stoked. I’ve now flown in a Dehavilland Beaver, Otter, and Twin Otter.
The flight was uneventful. Down in the mountains, but uneventful. As we neared the city, I saw my first car in 2 weeks.
We landed at Kathmandu and got our bags in the waiting van. It is quite the sensory shock going from the relative-peacefullness of the valley to the chaos of the city. I’m still reintegrating, I can only imagine what it is like for someone that has lived in the valley and gone to Kathmandu for the first time.
Here’s what happened at the airport the day before I flew out, the pilot either hit the brakes too soon or didn’t keep enough momentum coming up the grade.
And some history on Lukla Airport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-cK38vIhGs
We got to the hotel, and the first thing I did was get a real shower in a real bathroom. It was great. I then had lunch. Other than that, I took care of a little souvineer shopping and had final dinner with the team in the Thamel district. Now I just have to get my stuff together and get ready for the flight. I have 1.5 days before my flight out; I could have changed flights, but everything is lined up right now, and easier to keep as is. It has been a great experience, but I’m ready to get home!
Trekking Geek 