I FINALLY ARRIVE HOME ON 12 JULY...I HAD 17 FLIGHTS, ONLY TWO CANCELLED FLIGHTS AND I MISSED MY LAST FLIGHT FROM JFK TO PALM BEACH BUT THAT IS NOT BAD FOR A MONTH OF AGGRESSIVE TRAVELING.
IT WAS SO DIFFICULT LEAVING KATHMANDU, BHUTAN AND, OF COURSE, TIBET. I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THAT AT FIRST LIGHT ON 4 JULY I WAS STANDING AT BASE CAMP OF EVEREST! WHAT A GLORIOUS PLACE, THE HISTORY, THE MYSTERY AND THE BEAUTY OF SUCH A WONDERFUL PART OF THE WORLD.
I ENJOYED EVERY MOMENT OF THIS TRIP THAT IS SIMPLY BEYOND DESCRIPTION AND I THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME SUCCEED IN ALL MY PLANNED ENDEAVORS. IT WAS LOVELY TO SEE YOU AT THE AIRPORT AND THEN, OFF TO THE BEAUTIFUL DWARIKA WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF KATHMANDU.
THE HERITAGE SITES ARE SIMPLY BREATHTAKING WITH THEIR CONFLUENCE OF HISTORICAL GENESIS IN BEING DEVELOPED IN THE 15TH AND 16TH CENTURIES, THEIR ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY FILLED WITH BUDDHIST, HINDU AND MUSLIM TEMPLES AND WITH THEIR STUPAS THAT HAVE NO RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY BUT REMAIN A PLACE TO PRAY AND WORSHIP FOR THOSE IN NEED. I NOW UNDERSTAND HOW OVERWHELMING THEY ARE AS A RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT DRAWS A PILGRIMMAGE TO THEM BY ONE AND ALL. HOW LUCKY YOU ARE TO HAVE ALL OF THIS IN YOUR BACKYARD.
I COULD NOT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS TRIP FILLED WITH EDUCATION, ADVENTURE AND CULTURE THAT EVEN AFTER MY RETURN HOME IS STILL SO VIVID, WITHOUT YOU...THE FONDNESS OF THIS TRIP AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I MET ALONG THE WAY AND THOSE WHO HELPED ME GROWS GREATER WITH EACH PASSING DAY.
I REGRET THAT I DIDN'T PLAN FOR MORE TIME...THANKFULLY, YOU HELPED ME PUZZLE THESE 10 DAYS TOGETHER AFTER MOROCCO THAT HAS MADE THIS TRIP A TRIP OF A LIFETIME.
BARAL, PLEASE FIND ATTACHED PICTURES OF KATHMANDU AND EVEREST...I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS MESSAGE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER TRIP WITH YOU IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
FONDLY,
LIN GOSMAN
Lin Gosman
lgosman@gmail.com
2009/10/19
10.10.2009
Dear Baral
Almost a week back home and we first want to thank you for a well organised jouney.
In spite of some minor problems, we had a wonderful time.
In Ladakh everything went smootly: Mr Akbar, from Himalayan Frontiers Adventures, did a good job.
We had a very good Englisch speaking driver, a comfortable car and the choise between a camp or a guesthouse enroute.
The hotel Omasila in Leh is recommendable.
- We had NO voucher for hotel Mayflower in Manali. So they charged the cost of the room to us, which of course we didn't pay. They , as wel as the local agent, blamed Druk Expeditions for not knowing that it was already payed by us.
- About hotel Ishan Villa in Amritsar: that is a bad choise.
There is no dining hall for the moment. So we had to take the meals in the room, which was far too small and unsuitable for it.
Then we foned Mr Bisan Lama, who arranged a room in hotel M.K. International.
When we first met Mr Bisan Lama in Delhi on 18 August, he didn't know that we (you and us ) agreed to meet him after the journey; so he said he would contact you.
The story of 8 september you know. When he phoned , we agreed to have diner with him, so we could solve the misunderstandings.
Thank you for interfering.
We are more than satisfied: we saw and met what we had in mind.
Whenever we will visit India again or Nepal, we will certainly contact you and also recommend your agency to our friends.
Thanks again, good luck in everything you do and
sincere greetings.
Hello Baral,
It took some time to write you, but i wanted to thank you and give you some report from our trip. It was in one word: excellent! The driver (Babu) and tour leader (Bani) were very good. We felt very comfortable with them....
