KTM to HKG

April 14th, 2010 5:04am - Posted By: Brittany

 April 14, 2010.  Today is our last day in Kathmandu and we fly out tonight to Hong Kong.  We never leave the hotel today, just wander out to see some of the shops just outside.  Most are closed since it’s New Years Day.  We start to pack and get most down, then head to lunch with Taru and Kip.  Kip just got back today after splitting from us in Pheriche to climb Island Peak.  We order lunch by the pool and catch up.  He didn’t make it to the Summit.  He got about 800 feet, then decided he didn’t have the energy to do it.  He had gotten a cold and some other issues.  He seemed happy with his decision and happy to be in Kathmandu. 

Our late check out was for 2pm, but our stupid lunch took 1.5 hours to come.  So at 2:15 we headed up to finish packing and get our stuff.  We settled our bill and had them store our bags, since we weren’t leaving for another 5.5 hours.  We hit the bar with Taru, getting coffee and ice cream.  Then she went to the hotel Sauna and Tyson went to the hotel gym.  I stayed in the bar and surfed the internet and blogged.

At 6pm, Kip met us all in the bar for dinner.  I just ordered fries, and Tyson got Chicken chilly.  It was a really yummy and spicy dish.  We just hung out watching cricket games and waiting to go.  Finally at 8pm, our ride was here and we piled in to the van.  We did see Deana in the lobby as we left and said one more good bye. 

The airport was a chaotic mess as usual.  First, Sagar, our MM person, left us with an airport employee to help with the bags.  I knew we’d need to tip him, but after some confusion (which I think he started) at the checkin counter, he asked for a $20 tip!!  We said no, gave him about $7.  He then followed us to the security point, asking for more money.  Ugh!!  He finally left us alone when we came to the point where the police check your ticket.  

I am shocked that the Kathmandu airport gets any flights in and out, especially big planes.  There are no instructions, no anouncments, nothing to tell you what to do.  We thought we were in the correct area to board, but it turns out we had another security line to go through.  So when we had 25 min till our flight was leaving, we had to get in line again.  Taru and my line was short (men v women) but Tyson had about 50 people in front of him.  We got through and had to wait in another stinky, hot room with about 300 people.  I showed an employee my ticket and asked if we are boarding since we only have 15 minutes now.  He says no, they will announce it.  

After 10 min, we see some others with our tix, and they are going in another room.  So I ask a different employee and she says yes, we’re boarding!  SO we get in line, have our tix torn and then wait in another room just outside the tarmac.  We can see our plane, and I don’t think anyone is boarding, but our flight is at 11:15 and it’s 11:20.  Finally, after 20 min, they make us go through one more men/women security line, then usher us out onto the runway.  There are buses and cars and luggage vehicles all over the place.  It’s dark and strange, but they push us out towards the huge jet for Dragon Air. 

We walk up the steps and get on the plane.  Whew!!  Our flight will stop in Dhaka (Bangledesh) again to get more passengers.  Then we’ll arrive in Hong Kong the next morning at 7am.  The flight we crappy but uneventful.  Tyson and I get about 2 hours of sleep.  Finally, we arrive in Hong Kong. 

The first thing I notice is the quiet.  Even in the massive, huge airport filled with thousands, it is quiet.  We’re defiantly on another planet now.  I imagine what some of our Sherpas would think seeing a place so modern and clean.  

Anyway, we get through immigration, get our bags, and head out.  Taru meets her friend Han, and we find our shuttle.  We need sleep and food, then we’ll continue on our journey. 

Posted in: Nepal 2010

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