We arrived at Tribhuvan Domestic airport in Kathmandu with no tickets. Our overseer had them and he was not to be seen. We pulled into the airport in a cloud of dust in a wheezing, dilapidated cab. It proceeded to die as we got out. Two wild men came out of the crowd and took off with our bags. I begin yelling and they stopped looking bewildered as if I was the wild man. They were not stealing our bags, just heading for the airport. How in the world was I suppose to know this?
You are not allowed to enter the airport without tickets. Since we didn't have tickets I began shoving every paper I could find toward the guard including our passports. It worked. He became totally confused at these crazy foreigners and sent us on our way.
By this time we are in the middle of chaos. Lines, security machines, guards, bag boys all trying to be in the same spot at the same time. We shoved, pushed, said words under our breath and reached security status. We were in.
Describe the scene? Yes, well it was something like this. The room was small with a large crowd of people wanting to go somewhere else. Pushing, shoving, calling out to one another and just a general roar of noise. There must be a shortage of water. No one has been near any for sometime. One tall man, all arms and legs was marching under someone's orders up and down, back and forth. His long arms and very long fingers were piercing the air. Everyone stayed clear of him. Sue and I stood over in a dark corner.
Out of the chaos of the security area our overseer broke free and came toward us. Tickets in hand he directed us toward one of the several carnival booths that serve as airline counters when not used for something else.
I really am not sure how our bags got checked and we had boarding passes in our hands. An absolute miracle. Behind some curtains our carry on bag was checked and we were frisked. Out another curtain and into a larger area of chaos. A loud speaker was yelling at everyone. We didn't know whether to sit down, duck or board.
Finally it was time to board Buddha Air. One of these crashed last week and all on board died. Buddha failed. The plane was a two motor prop. This is what is called a shake, rattle and roll flight. I just hope the pilot gets the three co-ordinating.
We are off for a three day convention in the town of Bharatpur. The Himalayans are beautiful.
You are not allowed to enter the airport without tickets. Since we didn't have tickets I began shoving every paper I could find toward the guard including our passports. It worked. He became totally confused at these crazy foreigners and sent us on our way.
By this time we are in the middle of chaos. Lines, security machines, guards, bag boys all trying to be in the same spot at the same time. We shoved, pushed, said words under our breath and reached security status. We were in.
Describe the scene? Yes, well it was something like this. The room was small with a large crowd of people wanting to go somewhere else. Pushing, shoving, calling out to one another and just a general roar of noise. There must be a shortage of water. No one has been near any for sometime. One tall man, all arms and legs was marching under someone's orders up and down, back and forth. His long arms and very long fingers were piercing the air. Everyone stayed clear of him. Sue and I stood over in a dark corner.
Out of the chaos of the security area our overseer broke free and came toward us. Tickets in hand he directed us toward one of the several carnival booths that serve as airline counters when not used for something else.
I really am not sure how our bags got checked and we had boarding passes in our hands. An absolute miracle. Behind some curtains our carry on bag was checked and we were frisked. Out another curtain and into a larger area of chaos. A loud speaker was yelling at everyone. We didn't know whether to sit down, duck or board.
Finally it was time to board Buddha Air. One of these crashed last week and all on board died. Buddha failed. The plane was a two motor prop. This is what is called a shake, rattle and roll flight. I just hope the pilot gets the three co-ordinating.
We are off for a three day convention in the town of Bharatpur. The Himalayans are beautiful.
No comments:
Post a Comment