The hotel was busy with some celebration, it seems like a wedding
The first thing that came to my attention is the amount of traffic on the streets, a river of cars and motorbikes and the traffic light that probably went abandoned 30 or 40 years ago. So the only way to cross this street is a leap of faith and start walking towards the other side, and like a rock in a river, the traffic starts to make room for us while never stopping going forward.
We visit an exchange place where we can get some rupees and after that some of us need to get some equipment, mostly for when we do our final ascension to the Island Peak, so I buy some mittens and a water bottle.
The next day we go to the airport where we can take a flight to Lukla, however there are no screen signs here, people is sitting everywhere on the floor, and the communication with the people at the desks seems to lead to nowhere. We spend hours there and it seems flights are getting delayed due to the weather in Lukla.
When it seemed that we may even not flight today, one of the guides appear and to our delight he has arranged a couple of helicopters to flight us to Lukla. We walk around trusting that everything amidst this chaos have an inner order, and finally that is manifested when we are transported to a nearby facility where we will be able to catch the helli.
From here on, I continue with my notes from these days
14-October-2017
Second day in Nepal. We arrived today to our first shelter after some trekking.
The astounding beauty of the scenery is exceeding my previous expectations set in Kathmandu. I did not expect to find such splendid cascades falling as in slow motion. It is also a gift for my inner child to discover these evergreen sea of mountains while flying for the first time in a helicopter.
Our pilot, Eric “Riddler” Riddington does not seem to be a man of much words. Mónica is sitting on the left front sit. I am next to the left door at the rear, with David in the middle and Xan to the right.
Mixed emotions overcame when the rotor started and I fixated my attention on when we would start to float.
The first surprise was, that when it happened, it was far from frightening. Joyously and confidently I set myself to record some videos to proudly show later to my family and friends.
We start to navigate through the countryside around Kathmandu that is surrounded by infinite hills.
Unlike Kathmandu, as crowded with houses from above as it is with people on the ground, the countryside presents a more appealing display for me, green mountains whose sides have been carved by man to cultivate the land with a set of artificial plateaus fit for farming. I notice that the houses take root on the lines that the slopes form at their top. Many blue roofs are seen from this vantage point of view.
Getting too near when a big slope is erected in our front sight set some of my alarms ringing, but only I get really worried when some wind pushes our helicopter upwards or side to side even if it is only for milliseconds.
After an hour flying, what appears to be a farm with a prairie on the skirts of a mountain, reveals itself to be a helipad with a landing point.
The helli dives down and moves again upwards after sweeping over and above the buildings. Amazed, I enjoy with how the pilot takes us circling around the mountain, a mountain which I can’t see the top, full of greenery and hidden by the clouds.
When he completed the circle we were back at the landing point. This time, slowly, as if showing off, the helli finally lands.
The little prairie is specked with the colors of the trekkers’ coats, trekkers that have come from all over the world and are here today.
A girl in her first twenties races towards the helli, she seems to be organizing the arrivals. A shabby man that reminds me of a nepali version of Johnny Depp asks us some questions, and soothes us to leave behind our concerns about our missing bags, partners and guides. He ushers us towards the hall room and take some tea.
We haven’t finished the tea, while the girl is helping us calling Parajuli, our contact in Kathmandu, when Sonam, Luru and Jetta arrive alongside with the porters. In a matter of seconds, and once again, I discover how everything seems to unfold perfectly while I feel myself confidently trusting in the people that are taking care of us.
Presentations are made, Luru asks me if I am the leader, I told him that no, but that I could be, and he laughs and says “you seem like an smart guy”.
The trek starts. Jewels from nature are everywhere so slowly we leave behind our morning concern about waiting at the airport for our twice delayed flights.
The trail is an stepped path carved on the rock, surrounded by sudden falls into the valley. I can only see trees, plants and from this height I can see rivers, waterfalls and the gigantic mountains on the opposite side that dwarf the ones I walked in Grazalema or Málaga.
We cross many little villages, buddhists mantras engraved or painted on the stones or flags…
Near the end, Tundu and Tenshi comes to guide us to the guest house where the meal is served.
To wash myself, only a faucet and a rocky basin helps me to wash a bit my face and arms clean.
We enjoy noodles and masala tea comforted in their warm personalities, full of hospitality and good sense of humour.
I set myself to sleep while remembering the many events, the dog that followed us, the little girl and boys that laugh and play in the villages, my friends and family with whom I could not contact today, although Mónica kindly lend me her mobile to send a SMS to my father. I wonder what is H doing today.
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