It is a 45 minute flight from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur. More and more people are traveling by air in Nepal and the 50 passenger commercial propeller airplane is twice the size of the planes previously used on this route. The plane flew to an elevation of 15,500 feet so it gave me the opportunity to see the landscape below.
The area around Kathmandu is hilly and it gradually climbs to the massive heights that the Himalayan Mountains are famous for. The hills are terraced for rice and the paddy planting will begin soon. The ground is brown but the rainy season is fast approaching which will transform the land into verdant green. People in the hills walk wherever they need to go. Trails traverse the hillsides and the hillcrest.
Bhadrapur is located in the plains, which is quite a contrast from the mountain region. The temperature was 30 degrees when we landed and our luggage was brought to an outdoor receiving area. The baggage handler took the bags one by one, held it for all to see, then waited for someone to claim it. Bag tags were compared and then the owner was free to leave.
Jonathan met me outside of the baggage area with the LOT vehicle that we purchased used 6 years ago. A company in Denver, Insure Me, had a matching funds program and through their generosity we obtained our car. As we made the long drive to Relli I wondered how we would have ever gotten along without it! Relli is remote and a vehicle is essential. TWAM and our work has been blessed tremendously throughout the years and we have not forgotten it.
