Flying with Buddha

Trekking to Everest Base Camp was not in the cards, so the last day in Kathmandu we splurged on a mountain flight for a closer view of the Langtang Himalayan Range.  On Buddha Air, nonetheless...  The 7 AM flight was delayed three hours due to fog and poor visibility, but shortly after take off the amazing snow-capped peaks appeared high above the clouds.  First Shasha Pangma (2690ft), then Dorje Lakpa (22854ft), then a host of others of similarly spectacular peaks, until Everest at 29028ft with Lhotse adjacent.  The panorama was at cruising altitude for most planes and still the tall peak loomed above. It was absolutely thrilling to be that close in clear blue skies.  As the aircraft circled back and landed in dusty Kathmandu, it felt like the shortest hour in recent memory. 

Next day’s bus trip to Pokhara wound out Kathmandu Valley and dramatically down hairpin turns into the canyon carved by the Trishuli River.  Only 50 km outside, these villagers clearly lived a different existence.  Any arable land was terraced for growing crops, but the bus hugged the steep mountainsides and took us by incredibly scenic villages, river gorges, and mountains.  The whole way, I fought off sleepiness to peer out the window.