Leaving Nepal

Leaving Nepal.. Nepal has got to be the most difficult country to leave!

It must have taken more than two hours to get through the system.

Well, there was only one door open into the airport terminal, everone was trying to funnel in from every direction, it just wasnt happening, after 30 minutes, we had just moved 1 metre.
So, they opened a second door and things got much better, 40 minutes to get into the building.
Inside the terminal, all big bags were x-ray'd, sounds reasonable.
Then off to the Nepali bank to get departure tax
Then check-in.. Maybe 1 hour to this point.
Through passport control,, easy enough

Interrupt.. I am writing this on the flight from Kathmandu to Bangkok, flying with Thai airways.
I love flying with Thai airwaysm we have just been fed and I have hada small Singha beer befoe the meal, Red wine with the meal, another small beer to follow.
I have to enjoy it beause when I fly my next segments with Jetstar, the cheapskate airline, I get nothing..
There is a message on the p.a.. "There is turbulence, please return to your seat" Ha ha, I love turbulence, I am a Para glider pilot! bring it on!

Now a long 30 minute queue to go through security,, This is where it gets more crazy.
First small bags are x-rayed
Now you go through the metal-detector door thing.
Then, you are patted down.. Why? Doesnt the metal detector work?
Then, your small bags are all opened and hhad searched.. Why? Doesnt the x-ray machine work?

You sit in a boring room till your plane is ready
You walk out to the plane, where you are patted down again.. Why?

It keeps a lot of people employed for sure, but it seems to go on.

Mind you, not like the curtained room in the domestic departure area.

It will feel good to be back in Thailand.. only a three hour flight:)

While I was waiting in the boring room before boarding the plane, Mick and John left on their flight to Singapore, followed not long after be the Russian paraglider pilots headed to Karachi on their way back home.. "Hello Australia" they all called out.
It was a great end to an amazing paragliding session..

p.s. It IS great to be back in Thailand :)