Day 9 – Almost stranded in Calcutta – but finally in Mumbai! (Friday; March 27, 2015)

After an early breakfast with lots of coffee we get an update concerning our cancelled Calcutta flight: The flight is scheduled for 4:25pm this afternoon (very similar to the one yesterday) and they tell us that a bus will pick us up around 1pm. So there is plenty of time to check e-mails (officially I am still on vacation, but I try to catch up with the latest news around SAP, my job and also the Social Sabbatical), to finalize my Nepal blog and to start my new Mumbai blog. And now it’s also time to brainstorm on first thoughts regarding our assignment with PAADUKS (which is our SAP Social Sabbatical NGO) in Mumbai.    

Good news is – around 10am the sky clears up and it stops to rain. I also check the Air India flight itineraries and there would be also a flight through Delhi to Mumbai. I decide to go to the ATM, to withdraw some cash and to take an earlier taxi to the airport – to avoid the crowds (we are more than 150 people at the moment in the Everest hotel) and to try to change the flight from Calcutta to Delhi directly at the Air India counter. Back at the hotel I buy a last Nepali present for Adri (a nice scarf – actually cheaper than in Thamel J) and take a quick nap before heading to the airport.

 At the airport the situation is as chaotic as yesterday. I go to the Air India desk and they are able to make a reservation for another seat on the Calcutta – Mumbai flight (unfortunately there is no direct flight to Mumbai from Kathmandu and this is the only option in the afternoon). But as almost expected our ‘new’ Kathmandu – Calcutta flight is again delayed – this time by 2 hours.  In addition all bags need to be inspected in detail on the stairs before we enter the aircraft which leads to further delays. As the transfer time in Calcutta is 2,5 hours I already know that I will face a problem again. Finally we are up in the air. After a bit more than 1hour we land in Calcutta and here everything is perfectly organized: When I leave the aircraft I am rushed through the superb Calcutta airport with the aid of a personal ‘bodyguard’ and within 10 minutes I am through immigration and security and on my way to the Mumbai flight. As the plane waits for transfer passengers as me I am at the end indeed able to fly back to Mumbai tonight! Ufff; one of my worst flights seems to come to a good end.

The rest is quite easy - as we land in Mumbai I call the hotel and they send a driver. After 32 hours of travelling (!!!) I am in Mumbai, arriving from Kathmandu. But today is Friday night which means a lot of traffic. Thank god we quickly reach the hotel where I meet Shruti for the first time. The staff here is so nice - they all remember me and after a quick drink at the bar I decide to finish the Nepal blog (which I am doing right now) and to go to bed :-)

Just a couple of days ago and now already a memory: Sunrise over Lhotse and Mount Everest in Tengboche (3886m) in Nepal; March 2015

Nepal was an awesome experience and a trip that I will never miss. The hike (at least 'my' part) to the Everest Base Camp was the most beautiful and most interesting hike ever. And it's not just about Mount Everest - it is the entire scenery and experience which makes this hike so uneliebable and different. Great food, nice people, good beer and lots of interesting sights in the Kathmandu valley  - with the only (but serious) issue of over-pollution and too much traffic. And a badly managed and totally outdated airport. But who cares - I can totally recommend visiting Nepal and I will never forget the deeply impressive and fascinating time in Nepal. THANKS Randy for organizing, Jim for supporting and of course Dorjee and all the lodge owners for their help and hospitality. It was a wonderful experience.