D2:KAT - RAMECHAP
Today's schedule (30.09.22) : Bfast @ 6am, Leave Maya Manor @ 6:45 am, and head to the airport for a flight to Lukla. Flight @ 8:30 am - reach Lukla for lunch - start Trek to Phakding.
Expect the unexpected!
Had a sumptuous breakfast of Poori - Channa - fresh fruits and we reached the domestic Kat bus terminus, Oops! Airport - which resembled our own CMBT bus terminus. Honestly, CMBT is much bigger and more organised. Such a chaotic, small airport to handle the enormous passenger traffic. A tourist hub ought to be better organised. Stinky restrooms, a cafe like our local tea Kadai and barely a few chairs to sit on are the available amenities.
An unfortunate day unfolded as Sita airlines abruptly cancelled its operations for the day, while the other airlines were flying on schedule. So, GGO was trying their luck with other airlines. Luck didn't favour us. It was also the last day when flights would fly out of Kat to Lukla directly. From Oct 1 onwards, all flights to Lukla would ply only from Ramechap airport which was an extra 4-hour drive from Kat.
It was an unprecedented wait at the airport for nearly 4 1/2 hours. We sat, sat, and sat while Asha and Sujatha slept on the floor in the available place. After much deliberation, the group decided on Plan B. We decided to travel to Ramechap by van and board a flight to Lukla the next day. I sat beside Somna , who kept chewing elaichi (a good mouth freshener ), but it triggered nausea in me. A rugged road travel and a drowsy post-lunch drive were brightened by our pit-stop @Quality Beach Resort at Mulkot en route Ramechap. It was an overnight stay there. A resort beside the Sunkoshi river was beautiful.
The setting sun, crimson skies and its beautiful reflection on the water were scenic sights to watch from the suspension bridge across the river. We strolled a bit further, to the other side of the river to a small village. The smell of fresh dung wafted through the air and a few pigs stared at us - "Hey! Enga area Ulla varathey!" Some of us stopped when we reached the wide stone banks while Shiva , Prem and Rudra went down further down the river.
Soon, it became dark and we traced back our way in the dark. Hot dinner awaited us - Steamed momos and hot thupka. We already lost a buffer day. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
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