They fly in from India, Australia, Europe and the Americas. The journeys can last 2 hours or over 50. Travelers from the Midwest in the US have an interesting decision to make in their travel plans: which way round the world do they go?
Because Nepal is almost exactly on the opposite side of the world from the Midwest some will fly across the Pacific and go via Bangkok or Hong Kong. Others will fly east through the Gulf.
This is why I find myself writing this blog in the Doha International Airport. For those of you who haven’t looked at a map in a while, that’s in Qatar. And if you have to look up where Qatar is, you should probably keep that map handy!
Over the years I’ve gone east and I’ve gone west. Each direction has its pluses and minuses, but recently I’ve been enjoying going through the Gulf. The countries, peoples and airlines over here are so hospitable and friendly, despite what some will have you believe.
The flight from Chicago to Doha was about 13 hours long and although I was seated behind three babies, I managed to get 7 hours of sleep. So I’ll call that a victory.
Six more hours here and then it’s on to Kathmandu and old friends.
