Exploring and Rambling in Nepal

[amaroo]

First time using the Concorde Room today. Underwhelming is quite the understatement..... it makes me glad I didn't spend the extra £1k to go for GGL last year. I don't use LHR or JFK much anyway so no big deal.

Agree. CCR is a total disappointment... as is BA IMO.

 

[Cossie]

Ah, travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara on the roof of a bus, those were the days...

Trekked into Annapurna Sanctuary, probably some of the best memories of all my travels.

 

[Myrna]

How old flashback?

Flashback and his mrs are spring chicken compared to us!
Wishing Flashback a happy birthday later on this week. Enjoy your trip. Nepal is on our list of places to visit, so will read this trip report.

PS - not sure why my post has got the attachment of a photo taken from Batsford Arboretum of the Wollemi pine trees? Sorry!

 

[Flashback]

In the end our short nights stop in Bangkok was a bit of a bummer! Originally we were departing BKK at 2.30pm but MH retimed the KUL-KTM service which left us in a misconnect situation so we had to get them to put us on the 11am flight BKK to KUL.

Unfortunately the hotel was already booked and paid for in town otherwise we would have just stayed close to the airport instead.

Not to worry, we were staying close to the United Center which meant a Citibank ATM for fee free withdrawals. In theory.. yes. In reality, if Google Maps says business hours are closed for the day, it means it! Why they don't have any ATMs outside the branch continues to perplex me. So with my cash plan down the drain it was a walk back to the hotel to think about plan B. ATM fees were 220 THB (£5.25), money changers were all closed as it was 9pm, hotel rates are never great.... but in this case the hotel won out. On £60 worth of THB the loss of rate vs the THB was 'only' 130 THB so still cheaper than using an ATM. A quick trip to the front desk and all sorted.

Arrival into BKK was fun as usual, we were given a fast track passport pass but didn't need it, the normal line was far shorter and we were through in an instant. After walking over to the baggage belt it was a wait of about 30 seconds before the bag popped out, fantastic. Downstairs and into the taxi lottery..... usual shenanigans here! 75 THB worth of tolls on the way (paid in cash, so make sure you have some loose change) and on arrival at the hotel the meter was 331 THB. Now, we were going to just round up anyway but the chap completely ignored it and would only give me change based on the fare being 400 THB. As I mentioned I was going to round up, probably to 400... but I prefer to be in control and make that decision, not have the guy make it for you! So as a matter of principle I managed to get back a little more, still with a higher charge... but he missed out on getting a decent round up by trying to take more in the first place Hopefully a lesson learned, although I very much doubt it!

 

[Flashback]

Agree. CCR is a total disappointment... as is BA IMO.

For once I actually had a really good crew, they were worldwide rather than mixed fleet but it was easy to tell that based on their age anyway

Had a chat with one of the guys and he has been working for BA for 40 years. His first 15 years with the company he worked as an engineer, I wonder what made him decide to flip over?

I have a stack of Golden Ticket cards to use, every year you renew BA Gold they give you one. If you get good service on board you can write the FA's name on it and hand it over and I guess they get a thank you or a small reward or something. Anyway, the fact I have a stack of them...... says it all Anyway, I gave one out and just wrote 'all F crew' on it, probably worthless but at least it's now taking up space in my passport wallet now!

 

[Flashback]

Oh, one funny thing I completely forgot about.

On the F leg LHR-HKG the FA told me that I had a message from Executive Club congratulating me on just having renewed BA Gold (OWE) again. Slightly perplexed given I renewed it back in March last year and as I stepped foot on the flight yesterday I had exactly 0 TP....... I guess I "kept" Gold, as it ran it's usual cycle and expired in January, so maybe that's what they meant.... but the way it was said, was slightly confusing!

 

[Flashback]

A few photos from the journey.....

BA Club Europe AMS-LHR, ploughman's afternoon tea.


BA F LHR-HKG


We were flying the last day of the current soft product, looking forward to see if the new one is any better when we fly home. Based on what I've seen though, I prefer these PJ's so I'm glad we were just able to get them in time. We shall see!


Pre-departure beverage....... British sparkling wine, seems they only open the good stuff (LPGS) once up in the air.


Buddy seat dining, Mrs Flashback came and sat in my "suite" and we dined together.






Spotted this @ HKG, first I've ever heard of them running a shop!

 

[Flashback]

CX J HKG-BKK




We were really looking forward to the Peter Lehmann Shiraz, unfortunately it wasn't actually stocked and was replaced with some wine I've never heard of...... so went for the white instead.


With Australian pepper.......

 

[Flashback]

I'm sure this will shock and surprise you all, but the taxi driver tried it on and tried to overcharge us by 100 THB. Easy enough, the meter still showed 297 on it and the tolls were 75...... so I gave 400, not the 500 he was asking for. You have to give them 10/10 for effort! I tried using Grab as it's just all booked through the app and payment made, but (un)surprisingly not a single car was available to pickup the job. No problems just hailing a cab down.................

Check-in for the MH flight was quick and easy and the lounge they give you access to is the Miracle Lounge (Business Class). We walked up to the Miracle Lounge (First Class) and just used Priority Pass to get into that one instead. The food isn't great..... hate to think what the business class one has! There was a nice pre-made salad bowl though, so I downed that and actually it was pretty good. Healthy, too. Although the dressing I drowned it in... probably not so much

Taken a gamble and checked our bag BKK-KUL-KTM on a 'hot transfer' as it's a 1 hour transit in KUL. MH struggle at the best of times with baggage, let alone on a hot transfer...... fingers crossed we'll see it later today

 

[love_the_life]

A few photos from the journey.....

BA Club Europe AMS-LHR, ploughman's afternoon tea.
View attachment 158782............

That looks suspiciously like a fruit scone?????
What was it?

 

[Flashback]

That looks suspiciously like a fruit scone?????
What was it?

Yup, it was indeed. Plain one for Mrs, just as she likes it.

 

[love_the_life]

Yup, it was indeed. Plain one for Mrs, just as she likes it.

A fruit scone with a ploughman’s lunch? The mind boggles!

 

[Flashback]

No satay on BKK to KUL. I'm thinking they don't do it on regional flights... gutted

Lunch menu and food shot. Uneventful flight. New Zealand butter.

 

[drron]

We have had the satays on BKK-KUL flights in the past.Must be cost cutting.

 

[Flashback]

We have had the satays on BKK-KUL flights in the past.Must be cost cutting.

Let's see what we get on KUL to KTM which is about to depart.

 

[Flashback]

Looks like we're going to be A-OK

 

[Flashback]

No booze on the BKK to KUL which I expected as it's a regional flight, looks like KUL to KTM isn't defined as regional hence the satay....

Drinks menu.

 

[love_the_life]

Good point re the regional flights. And the drinks on board, which I hope both you and Mrs FB partook thereof.

 

[Flashback]

5 minutes in the country and experienced our first power outage.. at the airport!

Bag arrived, off to the hotel now.

 

[kermatu]

Really looking forward to seeing Nepal. Thanks for posting.