Kathmandu - Dubai

I was up at 4:30 this morning for an Everest flight which was (sorry for the repetitive hyperbole) incredible. To give you a sense of scale: Ben Nevis (the highest peak in the UK) is 1,345m above sea level, whilst Kathmandu sits at 1,400m, at the base of the Himalayas. Everest's peak is 8,848m and Nuptse (the ridge next to it) is 7,861m - almost a kilometre lower. It was great fun: we swigged free prosecco and went into the cockpit to take selfies with the (really quite hot) pilot.

When we landed our (pre-arranged through the flight company) taxi driver picked us up without anyone asking us for payment for the flight. We didn't get so lucky, though, and the driver took us to an office somewhere in Kathmandu for us to pay. I've learned that the payment part of any transaction takes the longest in Nepal, and this sure did. The Man With The Key wasn't at the office, so we couldn't go inside until he arrived. I really really really needed the loo, weighed up my options, forlornly looked at Clare and said "I don't want to shit in a plant pot" but was thankfully saved from that fate when The Man With The Key, my saviour, rocked up. The rest of the day was spent haggling with the traders of Kathmandu, packing, saying goodbyes, and setting off to the airport.

Leaving India and Nepal I thought my fear of traffic had ironically improved, if not almost gone, but since arriving in Dubai where there's an infrastructure recognisable as roads complete with indicators and lanes and traffic lights and everything, I've realised that driving in India and Nepal was so unlike at home that I couldn't even make a comparison - and it's strengthened my belief that those who moan that "health and safety has gone mad" have probably never been to a place where no such concept exists. In the UK I'd cry foul play if someone cut me up, but in the countries I went to it was so normal that drivers expected it, and anticipated and reacted accordingly. I've felt more scared in Dubai than I did in India and Nepal, even though the roads and standard of driving are so so much better, just because it feels more familiar. 

I've bagged myself an absolute bargain hotel room here - it was a £200 down to £60 sale, which I'm always a bit wary of, but I think this is worth £200! Sleepy time now.

Love Emily x