1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #382
- Helicopter ride/rescue to Kathmandu, Day11 & 12
(Our prayers for clear skies at the Tengboche Monastery were answered - the helicopter to bring us to Lukla flew in, against the magnificent backdrop of Mt Everest. This wasn't how we had planned our last 2 days here to be, but we were totally relieved. We were asked again to trek to Lukla from Tengboche before the chopper was despatched, but we knew our bodies would not make it even to Namche, let alone Lukla. The changeover to another chopper at Lukla was smooth, and 45 minutes later, we landed safely at Kathmandu before we were brought to the local hospital in an ambulance. We were happy to help ferry the father of the lodge owner at Tengboche to seek treatment at Kathmandu at the same time, in our flight back. Our first good meal at the Grand Kathmandu Hotel was so satisfying we fell asleep almost immediately after. Our early return to Changi brought a close to our Everest adventure that surpassed all our expectations, and then some. We met our twin objectives of reaching both the highest base camp in the world, and seeing in person the highest mountain in the world!)
(Love this English-tudor hotel. We keep passing it everytime we played golf here but we never got to stay in it - the one in Fraser's Hill, yes but not this one. So, on this special year, we got it online for 3 cool, relaxing nights. The manor-like interior décor here has not changed since we last saw it, and that garden is simply wonderful - probably the best of any hotel in Malaysia. Is it any wonder that my golf here was one of my best for a long time - 3 pars in one game, yippee!)
