Trekking Distance: 6.3km
Trekking Time: 2hrs 50mins
Timing:
0640hrs - Arrived at Kathmandu Domestic Airport
0755hrs - Left for Lukla (2840m)
0840hrs - Arrived at Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport and prepared
0955hrs - Started trekking towards Phakding
1245hrs - Arrived at Nameste Lodge in Phakding (2610m)
Furba and Sonam came around in the early morning to fetch us to the Domestic Airport. The car ride took around 30mins include the morning traffic jam.
At the airport, I was worried that my duffle bag would exceed the 15kg limit. Well, it did but thankfully Yew Choon did not bring much stuff and so I managed to squeeze through.
Check-in at Kathmandu's Domestic Airport
By 12.45pm, we arrived at Nameste Lodge (the same lodge that Yew Hoong stayed in 2 years ago). After lunch, we hanged out in one of the bedrooms massaging each other before heading down to the dining area for tea. There, we played Jenga. Our high-level of excitment, ie. noisiness, during the game drew many audiences. The stake was high. Ten star-jumps in the open at 2637m! Even the lodge's lady boss was all excited to play with us. Furba and Yew Choon were the losers and they graciously accepted the forfeit. Then, we decided to call for an International Competition. We asked if anyone from the other tables wanted to challenge. Two others (cannot remember where they were from) came forward and challenged Singapore's Kin Peng, Malaysia's Agnes & Yew Choon and Nepal's Furba and Sonam. Sonam lost and did 5 squats as forfeit.
International competitors
At about 7.40am we boarded a shuttle bus that brought us to our Yeti Airlines Twin Otter (propeller engines) plane. Just last year Oct 2008, one of the Twin Otter from Yeti crashed into the Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport* killing 18 people, leaving the Pilot badly injured. According to news clips the plane was approaching the airport when a fog suddenly enveloped the runnway, leading to the crash. Fated to die I think. I prayed - I rather die gloriously trying to summit then die on a freaking propeller-engine plane!
Super squeezy that I was worried being clastrophobic
Halfway through the flight, Furba pointed out his home to us. It was located on the top of a hill (anything under 5000m is considered a hill in Nepal..WTF! I was climbing hills in Malaysia all along?!?). He said he would have to take a bus and then walk 1.5 days before reaching home -.-
When we landed, Furba clapped his hands saying that it was very rare for such a smooth sailing flight without any turbulences. My prayers were heard :-)
When we landed, Furba clapped his hands saying that it was very rare for such a smooth sailing flight without any turbulences. My prayers were heard :-)
Arriving safely at Lukla with our plane in the background
Small scale airport
Short (527m) runway
Upon arrival, we got ready while our guides had their breakfast. At 9.55am, we officially started trekking and to our great welcome, it started to rain at 11.00am. Furba said that the Gods were teasing us as it was not the raining season. Along the way, we witnessed the amazing strength of the mountain people. Like a friend once said, these people are a different breed of men.
OMG! Metal pipings...
By 12.45pm, we arrived at Nameste Lodge (the same lodge that Yew Hoong stayed in 2 years ago). After lunch, we hanged out in one of the bedrooms massaging each other before heading down to the dining area for tea. There, we played Jenga. Our high-level of excitment, ie. noisiness, during the game drew many audiences. The stake was high. Ten star-jumps in the open at 2637m! Even the lodge's lady boss was all excited to play with us. Furba and Yew Choon were the losers and they graciously accepted the forfeit. Then, we decided to call for an International Competition. We asked if anyone from the other tables wanted to challenge. Two others (cannot remember where they were from) came forward and challenged Singapore's Kin Peng, Malaysia's Agnes & Yew Choon and Nepal's Furba and Sonam. Sonam lost and did 5 squats as forfeit.
International competitors
After dinner, we retired into our rooms, took temperature before calling it a day. Day One over!
*Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport is a small airport in the town of Lukla in Khumbu. It's runway is a mere 527m.
Index Page / Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazar
*Lukla Tenzing-Hillary Airport is a small airport in the town of Lukla in Khumbu. It's runway is a mere 527m.
Index Page / Day 2: Phakding to Namche Bazar
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