virtual Mike & Andy show What we're upto on the road

Thursday, Sept 13 - Kathmandu Woke up very early today (4:00 AM) in order to get a cab at 5 AM for our flight to Lukla, which departs at 6:30 AM. Looking forward to finally getting to the mountains. It rained most of last night and is still sprinkling when we left the hotel. Arrived at the domestic terminal, got into the very long line waiting to go into the departure terminal. All sorts of people in line. Many hikers with full packs apparently anxious to get going; women dressed in colorful silk saris holding the most beautiful babies/toddlers; many men with loads of boxes/bags filled with what appears to be food, cloth, just all sorts of things. Finally got in, checked in for the flight - decided to check both the backpacks for some reason - probably because it was so early I wasn’t thinking straight. Anyway, finally in the waiting area - looking out the windows and not seeing what we should have been able to see - the mountains, just clouds and more clouds. Lukla is one airport that you don’t approach with instruments, its a sight approach only. So, we sit and wait, and wait and wait. Remember, we checked both backpacks, and for those of you who have traveled with me in the past, you know, I always have snacks, book, writing material with me when I travel, but NOT this time - so for almost 6 hours we sat waiting for our flight before it was finally cancelled. So, back to Red Planet for the afternoon / night and we’ll try again on Friday. I’m sure we’ll take off then. Wednesday, Sept. 12 - Kathmandu Morning spent gathering the last minute things we need for the trek. A few meds you can’t get in the states, but which will be very useful on the road, plus a few little things we forgot, like bandaids. Then off to the American Embassy to register the fact we’re here and what we plan on doing. Apparently, last year any American who registered was invited to Thanksgiving dinner/party - the women wasn’t sure that would be the case this year, but maybe - except we won’t be here then. I also had new pages put in my passport (this was free at one time, but now costs $82) and we were both able to vote early (that was free). So I guess we are all set. The drive to the Embassy was eye opening. Many of the main roads in the older section of Kathmandu are being widened to accommodate the newer and larger automobiles, and for that to be done buildings, walls and trees are being torn down. Now in the States this wouldn’t seem like much, get a bulldozer and in a few hours the job is done. Not so here. There are men with sledge hammers knocking down the walls of the buildings and painstakingly preserving the bricks so they can be used again. The cement is mixed by hand, placed in a basket and pulled up to a second floor by a rope. The trees, which are hundreds of years old and at least 4 feet diameter are being chopped with an ax, no chainsaws here, and everyone in the family is working to save the house or shop and rebuild it a few feet back from where it was originally. It’s my understanding that either the people do it themselves, or the “government” will and then charge the people for the work. Unbelievable! This evening we met Stefan and Dolma, a couple we met last year, for dinner, and then beers with the owner of the hotel afterwards for lively conversation. All in all a very good day. Tuesday, September 11 We’re still catching up on sleep, so today we mostly rested and poked around the city a bit and then went off to Swayambhu to see Desmond and Joan for lunch. Desmond’s band played at a club not far from the hotel, so Mike had an opportunity to sit in for a set. They sounded good, as always and it was nice to hear Desmond’s original music.