Monday, March 30, 2015
I woke up very early and headed to Portland International Airport (PDX, obligatory carpet picture attached) in time for a 7:00 am Air Canada flight to Vancouver, BC. This was the beginning of a 26+ hour trip, plus a 12 hour and 15 minute forward time change, meaning I would arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal about 10:15 pm Tuesday night (local time). From Vancouver (YVR) I flew China Southern to Guangzhou, China’s Baiyum International Airport (CAN), and then transferred to their flight to Kathmandu, Nepal.
Flying China Southern was a pretty decent experience. The staff was super helpful and accommodating, and the food was not too bad either (for airline food). Now I did get some lessons in Chinese culture from other passengers, when it comes to standing in line, basically, they don’t do that! They push and shove in a herd, and little old ladies will run right over you if you aren’t assertive enough. Ha! More on china Southern, and China, when I get to the return flight…
On the transatlantic flight we flew over the what I believe was the eastern edge of northern Russia and could see the frozen ocean meeting the sea, snow covered mountains, and rivers and openings in the ice winding their way through the frozen wasteland. From the high altitude looking down, some of the mountains reminded me of the sand dunes back home. I’ll post a few pictures of that, and then leave the story hanging in the air on its way to China. (Technically, somewhere along this 13 hour flight it became “tomorrow” the 31st. Probably before these pictures were taken, but I won’t be a stickler about it.)
