This week was a lazy week to plan for my European trip.
Day 1
We have decided to take the jeep down to end our trekking early.
I had lunch at a local village (300NRP for a buff Dal Bhat). Absolutely the best) and unfortunately due to the time rush, I didn’t get time to take a picture. I also was a bit sleepy due to taking the motion sickness pill.
Quick dinner near my hotel ($14.58 for sharing with my trekking mate) in Pokhara
I was so hungry, ended up ordering a veggie curry for a total of 600NRP
Day 2
Breakfast was simple, just a fruit salad
Then lunch
Didn’t really do much for the day.
Later walked to the lake where I met up with the French trekkers, they were kind enough to take a photo for me.
Saw a Chinese restaurant, gave it a try.
Day 3
Went to have some coffee in the morning (420NRP)
I spotted a Korean restaurant, couldn’t resist.
Walked around the lake more to see sunset
Last dinner with my trekking body
Day 4
Finally a sunny day
Feeling motivated to explore the city a bit
I decided to take the 3hr hike up to the viewpoint to take advantage of the beautiful weather.
It’s spring time
The hike was harder than I thought. Elevation gain 2,831 ft
Middle point
In just about 3 hours, I reached to the top
Unfortunately, clouds started sinking in that I wasn’t able to spot the peaks of Annapurnas
Decided to take the cable car down $5
Found a brew house for some craft beers
Dinner was the delicious knana set (550 NRP) that was freshly prepared
Day 5
Did my laundry (750 NRP) and went out for lunch (mutton curry)
Right around sunset time, I decided to walk around southern end of the town
Dinner #1
Dinner #2 was much better at a Belgium house
Day 6
Bus day
After almost 7 hours, we arrived at our lunch stop where I decided to just fast instead eating in excess
After almost 11hours bumpy ride, we finally arrived to Kathmandu
I wish I had more time to enjoy my hotel $20.25 (I leveraged the Chase Sapphire preferred credit )
Later I went out for Newari dinner.
For a total of $13.44. The restaurant name is Pasa Newari Kitchen, highly recommenced!
Wish I have found out about this restaurant earlier. Oh well.
Day 7
Travel day to Istanbul. Flights were booked using Lifemiles 45,000 points. Too bad that I missed the point 15% bonus transfer promotion. Fees were $56.9. All in business. Two legs were on the Boeing 787 Dreamliners. I got to try the Air India old cabin as well as the Turkish’s highly rated one.
Grabbed a quick breakfast at my hotel before heading to the Kathmandu International
I have to whine about the flying experience in this part of the world. The process was just so much inefficient. Upon arriving at the airport and before I could check in to my fight I had to go through a ID check and a quick security scan.
At the check in desk, the agent couldn’t check me all the way to IST after going back and forth debating with me regarding requiring a tourist visa at TLV (and yes, it’s the worst airport for transiting) despite I repetitively told them I do not need a visa to visit Israel.
After checking in, it’s immigration. Oh my the line was long. Took probably 45mins to stamp out of Nepal where my flight was boarding already. The strange set up was the having all the lounges arranged before security. Thus, I didn’t even get enough time to sit down for a coffee before I was rushed through security.
Turned out it was last call for my morning fight to DEL. The gate agent blamed on me for using the lounge. It was boarding via a remote stand but we were still missing one more passenger at that point, so hurry up and wait at the gate before we were finally allowed to be on the bus.
At the plane, there’s another full body and carry on security screen. Thus, total of THREE bloody security checks before I was allowed to fly to India.
The leg of the flight, the staff seemed to have a bit of an attitude. I think it’s in part due to the ground handling at KTM was just not pleasant for anyone.
The view from the plane was sensational knowing that the we were flying barely above those tallest mountains on earth.
About to land in DEL
India is probably one of those bureaucratic countries. Right after deplaning, we were asked to check our ID and boarding pass again before allowing going through the transit gate
Keep that in mind, there’s no priority given for business class passengers. We had to wait for every transit passenger to be checked before allowing to be taken to the transit desk.
At the desk, the agent again insisted I needed a transit visa for TLV. This time less arguing since my bag was checked in all the way to IST.
Transit security line was fortunate that too bad. Regardless, This really makes me appreciate the USA despite being relatively strict on security.
The Terminal 3 of DEL airport had some strange set up where most lounges are located in the Domestic zone only where international passengers don’t have access to. The Air India lounge was a bit outdated but at least alcohol beverages were offered.
Interestingly, the alcoholic age is 25 in India
I did go check out one other lounge that I had access to via my Priority pass. The interior is nice though way too busy and alcoholic beverages weren’t served. One thing I failed to understand is for Indians who are able to fly internationally and are pass holders do not have concept of lining up. Is queuing really not taught? I have never witnessed such behavior any parts of the world developed or not.
Finally it’s boarding time, and of course there’s more security check at the gate. At least this time I was given priority boarding.
Not the best layout but at least it’s lay flat and I had the adjacent seat to myself as well
The flight hour was a bit over 6 hours, I was glad it was treated as a proper long haul flight
I was decently pleased with the catering before the main was served. Despite having quite a few choices, the only non-veg options were again prawns and chicken.
Perhaps the crew knew the “western” main was going to be disliked. When I asked about the chicken curry option, they were nice enough to prepare extra for me.
I have to say, without discrediting all Indian cuisine all together, the food on Air India definitely isn’t something worth bringing up. Especially given it’s a long haul business from its main hub.
I had a shut eye for probably a bit over an hour before approaching TLV
TLV is another ordeal. There’s no international transit zones. All international passengers had to go through immigration (long lines and slow process due to Israeli’s tightened security) to enter the country, collect their bags. Security prescreening before allowing to be checked in again. The security screening at TLV is nothing like I have seen before. 20min to just go over every single carry on item I bring on board.
Needless to say, I arrived at the gate passed the departure time. The flight waited for me and a few other passengers knowing it’s probably a regular occurrence.
Finally boarded the award winning Turkish airline flight. It’s really the best cabin I have been. The seat comfort and privacy are unmatched.
Even on such a short 1.5hr fight, a full dinner service was offered.
I do wish the flight was longer.
IST immigration and airport itself are quite easy. Took me a while to find my shuttle bus (78 TRY) to the old city center. The bus was surprisingly great.
Though the regular Taxi shenanigans happened when I got off the shuttle stop where one driver tried to charge me 20Euros for a 4km ride to my hostel. I decided to get out of his taxi and called a Uber. The taxi driver came back later and hoping I’d give up on waiting. I refused and he started throwing trash at me. Eventually Uber came and I paid about $3 for my ride.
I got a single bed luckily in my dorm ($16.94) and got a beer (50 TRY) to chat with some local Turkish workers before calling it a very late night (4am)
Expenses
| Week 23 | Currency: | NRP | 130 | |
| Day | Food&Drink | Lodging | Transportation | Other (tickets/tours etc) |
| 1 | $15.37 | $7.69 | $15.38 | $40.26 |
| 2 | $24.27 | $13.50 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 3 | $24.23 | $13.50 | $0.00 | $51.06 |
| 4 | $9.96 | $13.50 | $0.00 | $5.06 |
| 5 | $16.95 | $13.50 | $13.56 | $5.77 |
| 6 | $14.31 | $20.25 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 7 | $0.00 | $16.94 | $3.85 | $56.90 |
| $105.10 | $98.88 | $32.79 | $159.05 | |
| Total | Grand Total: | $395.82 |