hi again, I couldn't do anything that Saturday except to wait for Sunday to come by and try to sort out my fight to Bangkok. So, f888 it, I went for our group's farewell dinner and my tears soon dried up and turned into laughter. It was great seeing Sharon so excited, I should say ecstatic with her thangka gift.
Some interesting revelations happened that night but probably the most incredulous one was from Mystique Flip's fortune-telling!!! She declared that everything will turn out right and that I will be happy the next day! So it be, I thought.
Next, we hit Tom & Jerry's pub where we let our spirits rise again!
Next morning, the remaining six met for a peevish breakfast in the garden of the Harati Hotel. We exchanged our goodbyes, which made me feel even worse. I then set off and finally found the ThaiAirways offices, given directions by the Reservation Manager of the KGH (Kathmandu Guesthouse). It turned out I had never actually purchased the ticket and had only made a reservation online. Getting a bit frustrated (to say the least) I crossed the road to a travel agent to try to book and buy a flight to Bangkok. Luckily, they found a seat for the first lag of the journey, which was to be Kathmandu to Calcutta but they asked me to allow a few hours before they could try to confirm the next lag, from Calcutta to Bangkok which if successful would only turn out to be an expensive business class ticket.
I met some of the others for lunch at the KGH. I was kind of nervous and anxious. Alana reassured me that I'd find a flight and worst come to the worst I get to stay here in Nepal for a while. In the meantime, surely Intrepid could postpone the trip so I could join another group at a further date. OMG!!!! and so it struck me, just there and then like a bolt out of that blue sky on top of us. That was it. I decided. And finally, I was able to articulate that underlying and inexplainable feeling. Or was I perhaps trying to deny it all the time? I fell in love, yes I had fallen in love with Kathmandu and was dying to discover the rest of Nepal. This was it - this was my chance to do, to just go for it.
I barely ate my lunch, I just dashed back to Jaya, the travel agent. On my way, stopped to call Intrepid to ask them to postpone my booked trip. I couldn't get hold of them. But by that time my mind was pretty much made up. I was staying. The friendly staff at Jaya, greeted me with smiles; they had found a business class flight from Calcutta to Bangkok. Within the next few minutes their smiles turned into frowns! I had decided not to take it after all their effort but at least I had the decency to apologise and make another booking to fly out to Bangkok (and via Calcutta - since there weren't any direct flights available for months) within the next 10days.
I had taken a shot in the dark; what will I be doing in Nepal for the next 10 days? what if Intrepid won't be able to postpone my trip? will I loose my money? then if so, what will I be doing in Bangkok? so many questions, yes, but I had never felt happier. I walked along the streets of the Thamel with a radiant smile.
That evening I ended up celebrating high class with Michelle, Kevin, Flip and Alana at the posh Hyatt hotel.
Next day I had a bit of a let down! Intrepid would not postpone, so I basically lost the trip and worst still the money. I was hit but not beaten. I discovered that they still had last minute places available on a trips starting beginning of December and I was still determined to make it to the South East. So, I asked them to book me afresh for the 5th December one.
Having settled that matter I was now keen to sort out my days in Nepal. My mind was swimming with thoughts and ideas. I wanted to do some trekking in the north, adventure stuff along the way, somewhere, take a safari at the natural reserve in the south, etc etc..
I jotted down everything on a piece of paper, searched the internet for a while then started to ask about at the local tourist agencies. In the meantime, I had to see to my accommodation. I had exhausted the nights at our final destination hotel the Harati and it was only thanks to Kevin that I managed to fit in an extra night that night, as he decided to treat himself at the Hyatt.
I went to the KGH and sorted out a room with a kind of provisional booking as I had no idea whether I'd be staying there for just one night or for the rest of my days in Nepal, which I hoped not.
The Reservation Manager (I'm crap with names!!) on enquiring about my stay in Nepal asked me whether I would want to meet his friend who ran a travel agency the Gurkha Encounters. Well, I thought that won't hurt and if anything would help me fine-tune my thoughts.
I was back at KGH at 11.30am. One of the agent's representatives met me at reception then walked me a few metres down the road to their offices. The minute I walked in to my surprise, I recognised a familiar face seated behind one of the desks - it was Sharon!! OMG! I had just text her a few minutes earlier to let her know about my situation with Intrepid failing to postpone the booking and my new resolution as to wanting to 'get lost' in Nepal over the next days to make up for the 'loss'.
We hugged one another. I had never thought I'd see her again being on the brink of setting off for some holiday of her own in Nepal. It turned out that she didn't have anything planned and was still wondering and pondering about what to do, where to go.
Raj came along, surprised to see that we knew one another. He then asked me to take a seat while Sharon left to do some errands. He's a well experienced organiser and all he needed was my roughly sketched itinerary to turn into a fantastic custom-built tour. I was so happy - a dream come true!!!
I think he was pretty chaffed by it too and asked me whether we should try to buy Sharon into it. So, the minute she back we sat her down and gave her a good description of the tour. She just nodded and finally said 'I like it. I'm on!'
WOW ! WOW ! triple WOW! not only did I have a great trip to look forward to but I was about to share it with a great friend :) It was awesome, timewise brilliant. It would turn out that I would be spending my birthday back into Kathmandu, then fly out to Bangkok two days later.
Raj took us out for lunch to celebrate. The day grew on us and before I knew it I was back at the Harati, had a quick dinner, packed and tried to sleep but my endorphins were on a high :)
It was an early start the following day. 6.30am found me at the reception waiting for one of Raj's employees to pick me and Sharon up and take us to the bus junction. At about 6.45 a guy turned up with his little motorbike. I was wondering how we were all about to fit on top of this 2-wheeler, backpacks and all?!?! We zigzagged through the sleepy streets and at one point saw Sharon seated on a step in front of the hotel she was staying. I yelled into the driver's ear to stop. He looked surprised. It didn't even seem to occur to him that he was supposed to pick up another customer that morning. I waved to Sharon and signalled her we'll be back. The guy dropped me off at the piazza and asked me to wait until he picked up Sharon. Together again, we got organised on the bus full of Western tourists. We waved goodbye to the our scooter driver and said hello to a new big adventure :)
next...Nicky's & Sharon's Tour !
Nicky
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