Paragliding in Pokhara

I went on holiday to Pokhara 

with my mum and sister in June. Pokhara is always fun to be and it was my second visit since I was there twenty years ago. Much has changed in the city however, beautiful mountains, lakes, temples and monasteries remains the same.

Another famous tourist attraction this time was the "Paragliding". When it comes to flying with para-suit stuff I am always scared. Anyway, this time I did paragliding in Pokhara. It was the great time I ever had. Thirty five minutes in the sky and to see beautiful Pokhara from the glider - simply magnificent. I waited eight hours to experience paragliding due to bad weather. Now, I want learn myself paragliding and fly solo. It was simply fantastic experience. 

Air India experience - First time

I have heard lots of stories about Air India and specifically the harassment by the immigration officials & police, bad treatment, baggage lost, very rude customer services, misguide to passenger etc etc at the airports. When I was preparing my trip to Nepal in June this year, I was also very scared  and try avoiding Air India. First,  I have never been to India, second tons of stories that I heard, read and watched. But, then on the other I just heard other peoples experiences- I am sure things happened in that route hence people share their experiences.  I have few Indian friends at my work and I always make fun with them on customer service at the Indian Airports. They even shared their experiences even for Indian nationals. It sound like a cultural or tradition issue.  I am from Nepal, and many Nepalis had had an incident like that, I read tons of article while I was in Nepal and in west too.

Anyway, even-though I hesitate to fly via Indian airports, I asked the final suggestion to one of

my friend, her encouragement was very positive and self-assertive. At the end I booked my flight to Kathmandu via New Delhi for the first time. 

Despite having all those stories in mind, I was very careful while flying as well as while transfer the flights. In my first experience with Air India, I did not feel one bit of what I have heard or people wrote about the customer service and the harassment at the airport.  I feel really good, not a single problem like such came to me - perhaps I was the lucky one on that day, I do not know :). Well, someone told me that "The New Delhi airport" has recently built and old Delhi airport is converted for domestic flights.  Perhaps harassment stuff are happening in that side which  I do not know. 

For me, I had a jolly good time both on board, transfer transit and  even at the New Delhi airport. I will fly via Delhi Airport again. It was fairly cheaper and pleasant flight. Thanks Air India. Hope people who suffered from those bitter experience do no have to experience again.

 

Mountain Flight with Simrik Airlines.

Simrik Airlines

I have never been to mountain flight before and did not even thought about doing one anyway. When I mentioned about my plan for mountain flight, some of my childhood mates even made me scare by highlighting recent plane crash, hostile weather during the flight, less experience pilot and unbearable turbulence.  Well, I neither blame my mates nor criticize their opinion because some of these accident had had happened in Nepal domestic and mountain flight before. I understand their concern.

I heard lot of stories about the mountain flight in Nepal, many of them had strong opinion saying "this is not good, that is not good, plane was very old and unreliable, poor service" and so on. Well, I choose to fly with "Simrik Airlines" - one of the Nepal's emerging airlines in domestic aviation sector. The time I received the boarding pass, the customer service was was very impressive and excellent. Front desk staff were very friendly, welcoming and customer focused. Also, we been offered cup of coffee due to small delay - thanks for this :) Passengers were looked after very well - I can see happy simile in customers faces !!. 

Mt. Everest and Mt. Lotshe

The plane seems very new, clean, comfortable. Steward greeted us, even the pilot came in-front of the door and welcome us - its was very nice of them. Soon we took off for the mountain flight, during that one hour I am feel very privileged to be in that flight. First Simrik Airlines's hospitality on the ground, second services they offered to the passenger while on board. As soon as we started to see the mountains, the crew "I remember her name Sarita Manandhar" start walking towards every single passenger explaining different mountains names, heights and so on.  This is in fact extremely helpful for the person like me and I am sure other felt the same. I would not know which one is Mt. Everest and which one is Mt. Annapurna. Her excellent experience in mountain flight as well as her command in communication skills had been an instrumental during the flight. Not only that, we were even allowed to go to the cockpit to take a picture of beautiful mountain. In the pilot cabin, pilots were very friendly, communicative and very welcoming. I have never been to cockpit before and yet this was another great experience. 

With Sameer Bhai

It was a good day as we saw almost all the mountains. They are indeed very beautiful. At the end of the flight, we were again greeted by the crew and handed a mountain flight certificate. It was simply fantastic.

If anyone would like to go to mountain flight in Nepal, I strongly recommend "Simrik Airlines", they are professional, experienced and very welcoming. Thanks to Simirik Airlines for making my day enjoyable.