SFO777

Apologies for the lengthy delay in updating the report. Not much in the way of functioning Wifi in the Annapurna. We're back in Kathmandu and hope to start updating ASAP. In the meantime, our trek was pretty difficult for someone that doesn't exercise enough. But the scenery was awe inspiring. Some sneak preview pics of some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.







Agree. Can't wait for the new all First Class lounge.

Breakfast seemed to be replaced by snacks around 8:30A or so. Since we departed around 9:10A I can't say when lunch starts.

LOL. Fortunately, I was able to get by with just the pinky finger signal.

Thanks very much dereizinger. Back to working Wifi so it shouldn't be much longer.

Thanks HIDDY. If Mrs. SFO were with me, I might agree. It was about as roughing as I want to get. I'm afraid that my legs will be aching for weeks.

Ha. It's open season all along the trail. Funny that they have to remind trekkers when it's not acceptable.

HMPS

SFO777 If your legs and feet are aching so much, I am currently enjoying a foot massage / reflexology at least three times a week in Mumbai. Highly trained blind men and women......

Hope to do the trek next year, God and wife willing !

LANDJ999

Atta boy SFO777. That trip was always on my bucket list. Now I'm too old , a geezer.
Did a lot of Colorado climbs and the aching legs are not pleasant. Drink up on the flights home!

FlyerBeek

SFO777 - an amazing trip report, as usual. Thank you for taking the time to write it. You have such a gift for presenting a masterful travelogue with just minimal words and your sharp photographic eye. I eagerly await the next installment.

-FlyerBeek

Digital01

Excellent report as always. Sad you couldn't talk Mrs. SFO777 into coming, but probably nice to have a guys trip with Jr. too. Definitely look forward to the rest!

SFO777

Apologies for the delay. Finally back (almost) home on our UA flights from IAD-DEN so I'll be able to catch up and update more quickly.

The Shangri-La Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Nepal

We had arranged every element of our trip with a tour company that booked us in a standard Lilliuputian-sized room at the Shangri-La. Nowhere near the most luxurious Shangri-La in the chain. It's a pretty dated hotel but an oasis of calm away from the noise and smells of the city. But a wonderful and friendly staff made this a pleasant choice.









Yeah, it was tiny but the beds were comfy, TV had lots of satellite channels and the Wifi was good.





Nice view of the lovely courtyard.











We ate all of our Kathmandu meals in strangely named indoor-outdoor-lawn seating "Coffee Shop" which featured a variety of excellent dishes at ridiculously cheap prices. Our dinner with 3 beers, a starter and two mains was $23 including VAT and service.



My staple evening dish, the Kathi rolls... pulled Tandoori chicken in an fajita-style egg fried wrap.



And excellent breakfast including excellent buffet and full omelet station.



The Yak cheese was delicious.

SFO777

Today we are off to Pokhara, gateway to the Annapurna region. And what could be more comforting than flying Buddha Air! Today is our first look at the "rustic" KTM domestic terminal. A new terminal is under construction and apparently has been for some time... and will be for quite some time.



















After a rather primitive security check which involved bag screening, a non-function metal detector and pat down (Gents room and Ladies room) we are in the departures lounge.







Hey, there is even a lounge.



The door wasn't locked... so I went in. Whoa, this is one butt ugly lounge. Snapped a couple of quick pics before security came in and asked why I was there and told me to get out as this was "only for VIPs". I debated whether to have fun with the guy but decided to shut up and apologzed and left. LOL.





Meanwhile over near our "gate".



Risked that they didn't really mean this like in the UAE...



Kathmandu-Pokhara
Buddha Air 611
ATR-72
11:00A-11:40A
November 6, 2014
Economy Class



On the bus to our gate.













Not sure if our FA was welcoming us or telling me no pics. Ha.



If you fly to Pokhara, DO NOT fly Buddha Air. Crappy old ATRs but the worst part is the windows are so filthy and scratched that is very difficult to see anything. Fly Yeti or GOMA. The best I could do thru the crappy windows.

SFO777

Thanks HMPS. My legs have finally started to recover, but for a couple of days I felt like a cripple. My only lingering issue is Delhi Belly or the Nepali equivalent.

Thank you LANDJ999. Remarkably there were a lot of geezers (myself included on the trip). Treks come in different paces and degrees of difficulty. If you are simply too tired, Jeeps are available to transport you from lodge to lodge. Even helicopters if money is no object and/or if you are trekking with a Princess.

Thanks so much FlyerBeek for your kind and generous comments. I appreciate them.

Thank you Digital01. No, I'm very happy that she wasn't along. She would have been miserable in Kathmandu and with the extreme trekking. And KTM airport? OMG, the international "terminal" is the worst, ugliest and most disorganized on the face of the earth.

Surftel

Ok, I will never complain about the United Club again

offerendum

So another good deed by SFO777

farbster

Let's examine the lounge again.

No problems getting a seat. I bet those chairs are comfy, like the ones in your grandmother's house. No problem getting an outlet to charge your devices. They have water and a bucket. And the plants are awesome...

Thunderroad

Ah, SFO777, your Shangri La shots bring back some fond memories of meals and business meetings in that garden area.

As for Kathamandu and its airport, as of my last visit several years ago they'd changed less (in positive ways) than almost any other capital city I'd visited for work and play over the years - except for the increasing shroud of gray pollution dimming one's view of the mountains one can see in the distance. I love the country and it's people, but it's not exactly a development success story.

Sorry to hear about the belly problems! For future reference, if you go to a place like Nepal for future travels, the CDC recommends two pepto bismal tablets four times a day (before each meal and at bedtime). Not a cure for stomach bugs, but they do something like coat the digestive system (I'm sure there are more technical terms) and act as a partial prophylactic.

Hope the rest of your trip is a happy, healthy one.

arlflyer

Actually, I was going to say just the opposite...they have working flat-screen departures boards and a water cooler, whereas at the DCA US Club we get broken CRT departure monitors and a pitcher of water on the unmanned bar. I was rather jealous...

flyertalker00156

Hiking??

Short hair Francis

Bahaha, that was my 1st thought too when SFO777 came up with this trip idea.
I'm like you're doing 4 days of HIKING?!?

That said, it is very nice to see him and Jr. have this experience
I for one know I won't have his experience, because I bet Dad SHF would just say "Go do hiking on your own".
Or he would say.
Go do 4 days of Hiking with Mama SHF

SFO777, you're tempting me to grab the pen and my hard-drive of 200+ GB of pics to write another trip report