We were booked on the 9am flight to Paphlu from Kathmandu but as usual it was delayed ... but only 3 1/2 hours this time … but it wasn’t cancelled this time like in April when Mum and I were trying to get to Paphlu ... woo hoo :))
Was a quick flight … the landing though was the one of the most terrifying experiences of my life … it is a short take off and landing airstrip (and bare ground just to add to the excitement) … the plane did a huge sweep to the left and then a fast near vertical drop to the airstrip. I was in the middle back seat and had direct vision up the middle of the aircraft through the cockpit and all I could see was land coming up towards us very fast … I panicked as it felt like the plane was going to crash into the airstrip!!! But the hostie was sitting behind me calmly so thought if she is not panicking then I shouldn't be panicking ... but I think it may have been the closest feeling to crashing. There was a Nepali girl sitting next to me and we were hanging on to each other it was that bad! Anyway enough melodramatics … we all lived but my legs were shaking when I got off the plane.
Some of the crew were waiting to carry our bags to a local hotel where we had Dal Baht for lunch and a cup of tea.
We had 10 crew (Cook – Nori, Cook Assistants – Rinji, Chong Dorje & Cancar, Sherpa Guide – Chongba, Porters – Non Nori, Gyali, Siring, “big” Phurba & “little” Phurba) plus Phurba our amazing guide.
We walked up the long steep hill to the tea house above Mulkarka. There’s a new road being cut into the side of the hill which will go nearly all the way to Mulkarka. The local people are all for it as it will make their lives a lot easier but looks like a major scar on the side of the hill. Very sad really but good for progress in the area.
Walked the last 20 minutes down into Mulkarka just as the sun was going down and arrived at Jungbu’s house (Phurba’s brother).
Was so good to be back in the lower Solu Khumbu region of Nepal.
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