May 2008, we left for Everest in a cramped jet built for 15, including the crew, and endured a harrowing 35 minutes to Lukla Airport. Built on an incline, the 900ft mountain slope runway decelerates the plane to a screeching halt and within an hour, it is reloaded, circling around for takeoff. The nose lowers [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Asia'
Last meal
May 29th, 2008 by Jay Wright · No Comments · Asia, Thailand
Second Time? Second Time? Yes. Second time, we nod. About ten minutes from the airport is a lesser known hotel that offers all the amenities at affordable price. We stopped on the way in and we stopped on the way out. Down the street, we returned to an outdoor restaurant which treated us well the [...]
Voted off the island
May 28th, 2008 by Jay Wright · No Comments · Asia, Thailand
A gentle tide and waveless beaches. Perfect: a handful of days on warm, sunny Thai beaches with bowls of green curry, fresh coconut shakes, and the occasional beer Chang. No tours, schedules, or agendas. Just a gentle jungle breeze on the beach. But the time has come, I’ve been voted off the Island. I’m heading home.
Chitwan National Park
May 24th, 2008 by Jay Wright · No Comments · Asia, Nepal
I came to see the rhinos and we trekked thru grasslands and jungle forest to find them. In the grasses, which are higher than me at this time of year, the guide said we’d notice movement of large animals by the rustling. Yet it was the still grass of animals lying in wait that concerned [...]
I really, really want to see a rhino
May 23rd, 2008 by Jay Wright · No Comments · Asia, Nepal
Ten bucks for the tourist bus, luxury non-stop with air con. Or, maybe, no aircon. And maybe just one stop: to kick us off. The students were pissed. Three months ago the government promised them books, pens, and paper. Three months later, they still had none and it was the week before exams. So they [...]
