Yikes. After months of planning and mulling and shopping and fretting, I have just 7 days and 10 hours before my travels begin. It's all a little surreal. Yes, I'm excited about traveling, but I'm still waist-deep in the last-minute planning that's involved in leaving the country for a few months so I haven't really had a lot of time to dwell or dream about what's to come. I'm doing such a random list of things: vote, get my teeth cleaned, clean out the fridge, pay ahead on my car insurance, apply for private heath insurance, pack, get traveler's checks, order extra camera batteries, etc. etc. I think it will all sink in during that 11 hour flight over the Pacific : )
My Flight
To save a little cash on the flight, I'll be taking the "scenic" route to Kathmandu, Nepal.
Columbus - Chicago: 1 hr (6AM flight, Wednesday morning)
Chicago - Tacoma: 4 hr, 30 mins
Tacoma - Seoul: 11 hr, 50 mins (!!!)
Seoul - Delhi: 7 hr, 45 mins (!)
Dehli - Kathmandu: 1 hr, 30 mins (arrive 8:15AM Friday morning or 10:30PM EST Thursday)
That's 26 hrs, 36 mins in the air, not counting layovers! Most of the layovers are 2-3 hours although the Dehli layover is about 7 hours. I wonder what it will be like spending 7 hours in the Dehli airport. God, please let them have flush toilets ; )
Lukla
Next Monday, I'll be flying to an airstrip in Lukla, near the base of the Himalaya. This airstrip was built by Sir Edmund Hillary when he began building schools and hospitals for the Sherpa people. The trek to Everest base camp starts from here.
Here's a video of a takeoff from Lukla. Watch the runway disappear about 2 seconds after the plane lifts off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHkcEpxVc6o
Nepal Facts for Today
Time Zone: Nepal time is 9 hours and 45 minutes ahead of Columbus time. So if it's 8:30PM here, it's 6:15AM the next day in Nepal. What's with the odd 15 minutes? I'm not sure.
Exchange Rate: $1 = 77 nepalese rupees (which supposedly will buy one meal of daal bhaat, made of lentils, rice, curried vegetables). Since it's cheap, plentiful, filling, and healthy (?), I'll be eating plenty of it so I hope I like it. I hope my belly likes it too.
Hopefully, this gives you a little insight into the first few days of my trip. I'll write again when I get to Kathmandu!
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
About Me
Blog Archive
Design by: FinalSense
5 comments:
I'm so excited for you! Hope you have some electrical plug adapters!
Yeah, Tammie! :) We'll miss you. Have an awesome time. Oh, and it's a bit surreal from this end too.
If my calculating is remotely correct (and that's a big if), you're winging your way to Seoul at the moment, which I assume is completely more exciting (and terrifying) than my sitting in front of my computer, getting ready for bed and contemplating yet another day of work tomorrow.
Seriously though, I've been thinking about y'all and your travels off and on today and hope everything is swell and that your adventure is everything you want it to be and more.
Hi Tammie,
This is Mom -- Just wanted to let you know that we want you to be safe, enjoy the experience, and find your bliss. We look forward to reading about your adventures in Nepal and India!
Love,
Mom
Tammie,
Thanks for the call last evening! Glad to hear that the hotel is good; hope that you and Holly "bank" some sleep before beginning your trek. Met any of your fellow trekkers as yet?
I was able to read your text when you responded to mine, but the ones you sent in transit never arrived.
Love,
Mom
Post a Comment