En Route to Kathmandu

Three flights. Two continents. One very comfortable bear.

Nicholas, Pokin, Po On, and Sumi at the SFO gate — Gate 61. The crew assembled. I got held up front for the photo like a trophy, which is appropriate.

We’re headed to Nepal for the Everest Base Camp trek. Three passes, twenty-something days, altitude that would make most bears pass out. But first: getting there. Which, when you’re flying from Las Vegas to Kathmandu, is its own multi-day adventure.

SFO was the launch point. Quick domestic hop from Vegas, then the long haul to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific.

Nicholas parked us in the lounge while we waited. I sat on his lap and supervised. Standard operating procedure.

Sumi sitting in a Cathay Pacific business class seat — My seat. My pillow. My armrest. Pokin peeking over to check on me is appreciated but unnecessary.

Business class. Pod seat. Full recline. I settled in immediately and did not move for fourteen hours. This is the kind of travel I was built for.

Landing in Hong Kong meant one thing: food. Well, two things.

Nicholas and Sumi in front of a giant sleeping cat sculpture at Hong Kong airport — This cat is roughly sixty times my size. I am not intimidated.

Hong Kong airport has a ten-foot sleeping cat sculpture now. I have no idea why. Nicholas insisted on a photo. The cat did not move. Not that it would have mattered. I would have handled it.

Nicholas and Sumi eating in the Hong Kong airport lounge — Wonton noodles, roast pork, steamed buns. The lounge did not disappoint.

The Cathay lounge in Hong Kong is legitimately good. Wonton noodle soup, siu yuk, steamed buns. Two bowls of soup between the two of them. But here’s the real crime: there’s an entire “tea lounge” in there. Walls of fancy tea. Every leaf imaginable. Not a single hot cocoa. In what world is that acceptable? Nicholas tried to make up for it by ordering some tea with “chocolate notes.” It was tea. With notes. I remain unimpressed.

Then the final leg: Hong Kong to Kathmandu. Shorter flight, smooth ride, but we were running on fumes after fourteen hours in the air plus a twelve-hour layover in Hong Kong. Everyone was cooked.

Nicholas, Pokin, Po On, and Sumi at Kathmandu airport — Kathmandu. Masks on. Bears out.

Kathmandu airport at night is chaotic in a way that SFO and Hong Kong are not. The girls put their masks on. I did not, because I’m fearless.

The group with D.B., our trekking guide, outside Kathmandu airport — D.B., our guide from 3A Adventure, met us outside. He gets two thumbs up already.

D.B. from 3A Adventure was waiting for us outside with garlands and a sign. Marigold leis for everyone.

Nicholas and Pokin with Sumi wearing a marigold garland — MY garland. They clearly just handed it to the wrong person first.

Now, technically, they gave the garland to Nicholas. But obviously that was a mistake. Same thing happened in Hawaii a few months ago. They keep handing my garland to the tall one and I keep having to correct the situation. It weighs more than I do. I have never looked more regal.

Sumi next to the hotel welcome note and snack tray — Welcome snacks, a handwritten note, and a bear. The Aloft knows what’s up.

The hotel had a welcome note, a little snack shelf, and fruit waiting for us. I inspected everything. The granola passed muster.

Sumi sitting on the hotel bed between two pillows — Spot claimed. Do not attempt to negotiate.

And then I did what I always do. Found the bed. Picked the center. Settled in.

Three countries in two days. Fourteen hours in a pod seat. One stolen garland. Tomorrow is trek planning day with D.B., but tonight? Tonight I own the center of this bed and I’m not giving it back.