Seven Days in Tibet Expedition Dispatch
May 30, 2010 – Back in Kathmandu
Doug and Andrew
Our experience at Chinese customs and immigration at the border near Zangmu was nothing like our experience when we entered Tibet at the Lhasa airport.
We waited in line for over an hour as the Chinese authorities searched everyone's luggage, but finally we got through, walked across the Friendship Bridge into Nepal, and after a few formalities, we were on the road to Kathmandu, continuing down the beautiful gorge, now running along the Bhote Kosi in Nepal.
Doug and Andrew back at the Hotel
Yak and Yeti in Kathmandu
We saw some kayakers and some white water rafters enjoying the river below.
The scenery was again spectacular, but the road was as bumpy as the secondary road we travelled yesterday from EBC to Old Tingri for the first hour or so. We moved along briskly once we reached the paved portion of the highway to Kathmandu. The air in Bhaktapur was unbelievable. The city was basically under a cloud of dust. After an hour of stop and go traffic (more stop than go), our driver turned on another bumpy secondary road, and we were soon in Kathmandu. We picked up Wally as he was walking toward the Yak and Yeti Hotel.
After glorious showers, we met Wally in the lounge and had a good visit, drinking Everest beer, eating great snacks, and meeting some of Wally's climbing friends.
Tomorrow, we fly home.
Andrew and Doug