Nervewracking: A Domestic Flight In Nepal
Intro
As I sit in a cafe in Pokhara writing this post, I wanted to share a quick look at what it was like to take a domestic flight within Nepal (I will have a full review of Bhudda Airlines in the future). For those unaware, Nepal has one of the worst safety records in terms of countries due to the terrain. So, when I decided to head over to Pokhara, I was a little bit nervous.
What Was It Like?
For starters, the airports in Nepal are an absolute mess. Before someone asks, I am not over exaggerating. In Kathmandu, there must have been at least 500 people crowded into six small domestic gates to the point where there was no place to sit.
However, the next part is what struck the fear of god in me. After our flight time had been delayed, which I found is common in Nepal due to weather, it was finally time to get on board. Passing by airlines like Yeti Airlines and Shree, I was happy I decided to book with Bhudda Airlines.
Before getting onboard a plane, I always knock on the metal 5 times, much like before I eat in a foreign country (due to my nut allergy).
Ok, but in all honesty, it was quite nice onboard this ATR 72. Bhudda Airlines provided a good experience overall, offering comfortable seating and free water, and even booked me into the first row for free.
Takeoff from Kathmandu was nothing out of the ordinary; we rocketed out of the single runway (thanks to the ATR being a good short runway plane) and climbed up to 12,000 feet. I thought to myself, "Oh, this is completely cool". Well, that was until turbulence hit for the last 10 minutes of the flight, and I thought that this was it for me (I'm joking)
For those unaware, I used to have a fear of flying, as much as I love it.
Final Thoughts
Flying on a domestic flight in Nepal had me on edge, but I have to say, Bhudda Airlines provided a good experience. As I am heading off to Pokhara airport now to fly back to Kathmandu, I hope (touch wood) that this experience is the same.
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