Nepal: Journey back to CA (May 26 - 30, 30)

By now my anticipation of returning home had heightened. I enjoyed the last few days in Kathmandu, but I was not looking forwards to traveling to get home. I did feel like I had finally seen a lot of Nepal. It was time to say goodbye to Navaraj and Ram, who had basically been my best and only friends for the greater part of 2 weeks.

Return to Kathmandu (May 26)
Another bus ride back. We got up early and took a taxi over to the Pokhara bus station. It didn't look like there would be another strike this time, so things were a little more relaxed. Pretty uneventful first few hours of the ride. I sat next to Navaraj on the bus and Ram sat a few rows up. I couldn't think of anything to eat when we stopped for lunch other than Fanta and Snickers, so that's what I grabbed! There were no strikes this time, but we did encounter another unanticipated stoppage....

The early onset of stormy weather had meant flooding over some of the road back! Our bus came to a stop just in front of what looked like a newly formed river. Some dozen buses on both sides of the flood waters were surrounded by a hundred or so people trying to figure out how all the buses were going to safely cross. One bus had already tried and got stuck. Eventually people pulled their pants up and tried to push the stuck bus out of the water, but to no avail. I was hoping to come up with some brilliant solution, implement it, and have a great story to tell. Alas, I was useless.

Finally the bus directly in front of us decided to gun it and "Jam jam" through the water. It made it, but almost washed out at one part! A few motorbikes tried to gun it and some didn't make it, causing the riders to wipe out. They were okay, just wet. It was then my bus's turn to dash across. I took one hand to brace myself and the other to record a video of the crossing. We made it, but not without having to stop pretty close to the end and try again. The rest of the way back to Kathmandu was very uneventful.

I returned back to the Hotel Shenker, and it was time to say goodbye to Navaraj and Ram. It was awkward and sad. I think Ram and I both understood that you don't really know how things will work out later in life, so there was a chance that this was it. We did all exchange contact info in case I do return to Nepal, or they ever make it to the U.S. I figured I'd give them my deck of playing cards we'd used the past few days. And that was that. I grabbed a "Matt" dinner of a burger and coke. It had been a while. I checked in with work, read the letter my dad had left and called it a night.

Chilling in Kathmandu (May 27 - 28)
Adventuring was way down these days. As was my energy level. I had been so used to the trekking lifestyle that I'd be ravenously hungry every 2 hours and only have energy an hour or so after a meal. Fortunately there was a surprise on the first day, Ram returned, and took me out to a restaurant in Thamel and we enjoyed momos! I felt encouraged that I was the only tourist at the restaurant. It was great to see Ram again, too.

After changing to a new hotel in Thamel, I dropped back into an old Matt routine of chilling at a coffee store with my laptop. There was a perfect spot across the street with wifi, mochas, and some great music. I ended up spending maybe 1/2 of the rest of my time there. The rest of my time was spent shopping for souvenirs for friends. I'd learned JUST enough Nepali to bargain down to about 60% of the initial price which was still well over the 40% items were probably worth.

Return Home (May 29 - 30, 30)
May 29 was the big travel home day. There was another surprise in the morning as I ran into Ram at the hotel, and he made sure I was set to get to the airport. This was very helpful, because I was mildly worried about transportation. The deadline for the Constitutional Assembly of Nepal to reach an agreement was May 28, and the CA was still at an impasse, so the country had been on strike for 3 days. Transportation was down across Kathmandu, although tourist vehicles were generally allowed through with a small risk of being pelted by rocks. Fortunately just that day, the CA was extended another 3 months and the strike ended.

I hung out with Subechya's brother Sabal in the evening, and he noticed I'd lost a pretty considerable amount of weight. I guess trekking will do that to you! I think his exact words were:: "Oh you look trim now, like Andrew." Sigh. Sabal dropped me off at the airport and I prepped for the flights. Of course not being able to check in online meant I got the last pick of seats on the plane.

At Hong Kong, I figured I'd need to get some exercise in since the next flight was 12 hours, so I made my way via MTR and walking to the Victoria Peak tram. Pretty cool, and I was glad to have something to do. The flight to SFO was LOONNNNG, especially since last pick of seats meant I had the very last row of the plane by the bathroom and didn't sleep a wink. Btw the 30, 30 is because we re-crossed the international date line. Cheryl and Adam picked me up in SF, I bought them some Chipotle, and then returned home to crash in my bed for 15 hours. I was "back," but it would take a week before I really started to feel home again. It was great to make the rounds at TV night, TNT track, and finals watching shocking my friends with my beard.

Nepal was two different trips for me. A family event which went remarkably smoothly, being it was the first one in 17 years, and a great chance to meet my brother's friends. Then it was an epic adventure and a window into the world of simplicity and self-reliance. I thought I'd feel more alone not being with my friends there, but the only time I was lonely was after the wedding and before the trek. I'm not sure what all I'll take with me, but it is very comforting to know life can return to the simple way it used to feel. My highlights of the trip will be hanging out with the wedding attendees in Nagarkot, the reception, being in awe at the first site of the Himalaya, but most of all spending the evenings in village towns with pouring rain pounding on the tin roofs and playing cards with Ram and Navaraj. I'll miss that. But there are other card games near Annapurna in the lives of men.