Today was a wonderful day in Nepal. I got up at 445am while it was still dark
out. Today’s events called for me to
skip the cotton capris and actually wear jeans.
I even adorned it with a spirited Alabama Football shirt! RTR
I was out the door, down the dirt road next to the rice
fields and into a basically broken down van that was to carry me to the
airport. It was smooth sailing without
normal traffic due to the early hour, but by no means were the streets
empty. I was actually astonished to see
so many people out and about at 5 am. We
got to the airport, paid an airport fee(!), and sat at one of the two gates at
the Kathmandu Domestic Terminal. The
wait was not too long before we crowded on a bus that took us to our airplane.
Buddha Airlines’ stewardess greeted us with a smiling,
“Namaste,” and showed us to our seats.
Everyone on board had a window seat-the better to see the view. I was at 8D, right under the wing. The plane took off almost on time and I felt excited
anticipation rush over me as we took off, headed for the HIMALAYIANS! J
The initial view of Kathmandu was beautiful and
informative. The city is larger than I
thought, with many colorful buildings, with a river that provides a reflective
surface for the rays of the sun and the enormous mountains that surround the
city on 2 sides. As we climbed, the
jagged edges, ridges and valleys became clear.
They were covered in thick, lush greenery and dotted with homes, some
perched on the tip top of the mountains.
It was an amazing view that made me appreciate the hill on which my
contact’s house sits (just high enough for a great view).
Still marveling at the view, the plane soared higher and
higher, above the clouds. The sky was
blanketed with bright, soft, cotton-like puffs that veiled the ground and
provided a serene feeling for the rest of the flight. All of a sudden snow-capped crowns peaked
above the cloud covering. The rigged,
angular mountain summits appeared like glaciers amidst smooth waters. It was breathtaking. Each passenger was invited into the cockpit
where the view was crystal clear. As I
entered, the pilot pointed out the infamous Mt Everest right out front!
We were in the air for an hour and every minute was
delightful. My camera earned its keep,
taking copious photos from every angle.
Today I saw one of God’s greatest creations; today I saw Mt Everest up
close and didn’t even have to put on a coat!
It was a remarkable day in Nepal! J
