| After disembarking the helicopter back in Bagdogra, we boarded a Spice Jet flight to Kathmandu. On the flight a young British guy happened to be seated in the window seat next to us. He shared he had spent the last month in Sikkim trekking around the Himalaya mountains. He was headed to Nepal with his great big backpack to continue his trekking trip. While we were in flight and socializing with this young fellow, we happened to notice a small mountain peak peering above the clouds. Rajan, the young Englishman, rose a question of whether or not it could possibly be the top of Mount Kanchenjunga! It had the characteristics and seemed like a real possibility. We also knew Mount Kanchenjunga was at a height of 28000 feet and a pilot friend of ours had told us air planes fly at least 30000 feet. We also could not see any other mountains at all, they seemed to have been buried below the white floor of clouds. At this height and with this knowledge it seemed very possible that this was indeed Mount Kanchenjunga. We quickly took out our smartphones and started clicking pictures. We thought as soon as we landed we will Google Mt. Kanchenjunga and compare our pictures (just to confirm). Its needless to say how excited we were. FINALLY! We couldn't catch a glimpse of this mountain from the ground below and it turns out we had to fly above it to catch a sight (that's how tall it is). We were extremely elated. As we continued to fly, Rajan turned to us with an excited look. Although he was trying to contain his excitement, he says to us "I don't mean to jump the gun or get your hopes up, but I think that is Mount Everest coming up!". Maneesh quickly stuck his head into the small oval window and at first glance believed it was indeed Mount Everest!!! The characteristics of Mount Everest are unmistakeable. As the air plane moved forward, I grabbed my SLR and ran to the back of the air plane and pleaded with the stewardesses to let me shoot some pictures through a little window in a restricted area of their cabin. When they looked out and saw the sight, they gladly let me take some pictures. These mountain sights were extremely awe-striking. The mountains were very majestic and very regal. The height and magnitude of these great structures was incredible. One couldn't help but feel humbled before nature. Although I have spent time in the mountains in Vancouver and have enjoyed great city views from Gross Mountain and have been on many ski trips to Whistler and Blackcomb, the height and feeling of these mountains could not compare to the sights of the mountains we happened to be flying over. Little did we know one of the best ways to see Mount Everest and Mount Kanchenjunga would be on a flight from Bagdogra to Kathmandu. Not only did we see Mount Kanchenjunga finally, we also got a sighting of Mount Everest which we had never imagined. While Maneesh has dreams of climbing Mount Everest one day, I had only every heard of Mount Everest. And I never really had any interest, let alone ever thought I would get a chance to see Mount Everest. However after having seen it now, it was almost like a fairytale experience. For me it was something I had to see, to understand and perhaps to appreciate. It was am incredible experience. |