Nov. 11, 2014. Lhasa to Kathmandu. Flying Southwest Over the Himalayas.

We got up early in the Lhasa hotel and had a quick breakfast then hopped in the bus while it was still dark and cold.  It was the warmest morning of the trip and it was about 32 F.

The Lhasa airport is about 30 miles from town, on the south side of a ridge that divides the two valleys.  Unfortunately, the 3km tunnel that makes it a short trip,was closed for repairs so we had to take the long way around.  It took almost 2 hours on a rough, uncharistic Chinese road.

The airport was modern.

We checked our bags then sat and waited for our 11:55 AM departure.  The plane was a Boeing 737 or similar, with 3 seats on each side of the center row.  I was in one of the rear rows with a aisle seat.  There were empty seats behind me so moved to the very last row on the left side - at the window -as we flew over the Himalayas on the 1.5 hour flight.

Departing from Lhasa, at 12,000 feet, it was one of the lowest elevations on our journey through Nepal.    As we gained altitude and flew over the Himalayas, the mountains were only 5000 feet or so below us as we cruised at 460 MPH.  It was visually much different than flying over the Rockies that are at most 14,000 feet above sea level.  The 25,000+ foot peaks of the Himalayas were right there below us.  I thought there would  be more snow on the peaks.

We landed. at KTM, cleared customs and immigration.  I had only one day remaining on my 30 day Nepal VISA.  I said good bye to the group, spent 5 minutes haggling over taxi fare and got a ride to Bhaktapour for 9000 rupees.  Originally, the drivers wanted 40,000 rupees.

Back in Bhaktour I settled into my old room at the Mountain Guest house with the private bath on the third floor.  Drank some beers, organized my gear, cleaned up and got ready to head to Kathmandu tomorrow to renew my VISA and then go to Thamel to have diner with the Tibet crew that was still in town.