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Airports. So Many Airports.
I visited India and Nepal for the first time on a Buddhist pilgrimage led by Shantum Seth in 2007. The following is from my 2008 trip to India, Nepal, and Tibet.
8:55 pm — Now I’m at the Washington Dulles Airport. I was in a grumpy mood by the time I finally spotted my suitcase. Too many airports and too many airplanes. Next time I’m only going to one country, unless I’m crossing borders in a tour bus or on a ferry or something other than a plane.
My luggage is so heavy — but that’s my own fault, thanks to buying so much in Nepal. On the bright side, I bought many gifts. My excessive spending is like my dad’s. I was doing so well until those last couple days in Nepal.
Because of my flight delay from Kathmandu to Delhi, it was after six when I met up with the driver at the airport, and it was almost seven pm by the time we arrived at the guesthouse. It was already dark out, even if the weather feels like summer.
Not the friendliest of drivers, to put it mildly — in contrast with most Indian taxi drivers I’ve met. When we got into his car, he grumbled about how late I was; he waited at the airport for hours. I felt guilty but pointed out that the flight was delayed. He spoke English so fast I had trouble understanding him, but I told him I wanted to be picked up again at 4:30 am.