Holy Himalaya Hotel

Hello to everyone from Kathmandu, Nepal at the grand Holy Himalaya Hotel;

Well, we made it! Despite the weather, traffic, luggage and plane drama.

We started out the day worried as we awoke to ice and snow on Monday morning and so we headed to the airport far too early...the flight was on time and all was well. However, as we taxied on the runway almost ready to fly...well, plane broke and we went back to gate...go figure! After a short meeting with the fix-it dude it appeared all was okay and so we were on our way. But the delay made our first connecting flight a challenge…we made it to the gate in Salt Lake City with about 10 minutes to spare. Then we enjoyed a leisurely 5-hour layover at LAX...joy, let me tell you. Then we grabbed onto a 20-hour flight over to Bangkok which took a little longer than expected due to some headwinds. Then, another 5-hour layover in Bangkok and then a short hop over to Kathmandu.

By the time we arrived I already had convinced myself that at least two pieces of equipment and/or luggage would be lost...not because of bad karma, its just the way it is with air travel, ya know. But to my utter surprise everything made it...awesome! So, after a short discussion regarding our visas we were on the way.

We met a representative from the HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association) at the airport and he drove us and our mounds of gear to the hotel....good God Almighty, I would not drive in this place even if I had my Yota stormchaser with extra steel on the bumpers...it’s crazy driving here!

So far we have had limited time to take in the culture, so we’re waiting for the sun to pop-up and have a look-see around.

Dealing with equipment and visas tomorrow and gathering some more stuff for the trip into Everest. We will be here in Kathmandu for three more days and then we fly into Lukla to begin the trek in. No word on the current state of affairs over in the Everest region...we will learn more about the political situation today. Here in Kathmandu there semms to be a lot more armed dudes guarding stuff...noted as we were driving in from the airport...but all seems safe and sound in general.

Ok, power goes out in a few so I will write more later.

Hope all is well...be safe and will update further soon...

Tayloe & Kristin