We land at the Worlds most dangerous Airstrip. Lukla: Daily Vlog; Day 3.

One of the parts of this adventure that I was looking forward to the most was the flight to the infamous Lukla Airstrip. The day started early and you could feel the anxiety in our group starting to build. I was getting more excited and when saw the aircraft I knew this was going to be cool flight.

The BeyondEverest project crew waiting for our flight.

 

Getting excited for a flight.

 

It is a strange feeling when you start to fly and you just keep going up and up. You can feel the aircraft preparing to land but it is not descending. Then all of a sudden you see a mountain very close to the wing of the plane and then you land.

Check out the Daily Vlog, Day 3.

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=pzm0PSUFYOU

Thank you so much for stopping by mykombiandi, If you have enjoyed this post please share with your friends.

I would love to hear from you. Have you been to Lukla? What were your experiences?

You can follow Mykombiandi by simply clicking on the “Follow” button. You can also find Mykombiandi on Facebook, Instagram and now YouTube.

One Life, One Search.

Shane

 

Breakfast with a Turkish Drug Smuggler

One of the things I enjoy about travel is meeting people and just chatting, listening to their stories. It is a great way to learn of places that you should visit and gives you a real insight into another world, far away from my home country.

This morning was one of those moments, I had to pinch myself. I was having a conversation over breakfast with a German, a Swiss and Turk in a roof top bar in Kathmandu, that alone was incredible. We were talking about our travels, about what we have seen and done in Nepal. Everyone’s Nepal’s story were completely different yet all so exciting. I had been trekking, the german had been training in mixed martial arts with the Nepali special forces, the Swiss had been living in Pokhara and the Turk had been living with the Holly Men. Half way through breakfast the Turk just casually drops “Do you know if they have body scanners in Bangkok?” Followed by “Well I guess I have a lot Pot to smoke in 10 days”

Ummm the interesting people you meet hey?

What crazy meetings have you had whilst travelling? Just comment below, I would love to hear about them.

Thanks for stopping by Mykombiandi, If you have liked this post please click the “Follow” button and feel free to share with your friends. You can also find mykombiandi on Facebook, Instagram and now YouTube.

One Life, One Search.

Shane

My Locked Up Abroad moment.

It all started a week ago when I was Kathmandu between my Everest Base Camp trek and my Bhutan tour. I bumped into this dodgy Indian jewellery shop owner whilst wondering around the chaotic Thamel markets. I had a brief chat and I thought that was it.

When I returned from Bhutan I had all but forgotten about the shop owner until I again bumped into him. He invited me into his Jewellery store and we started to chat about my travel through Bhutan over a cup of tea. It started off all above board. He showed me through his shop and wanted me to by something. I picked out some earrings and and pendant for my wife. Turns out they were proper gemstones in silver and cost $500 AUD. I said thank you but I can not afford that, I explained that I was travelling cheap and that I have no money.  We exchange conversation and he said how much have you got I pulled out a $50 Aussie note and that is it. He said “ok, money is not important, you are my brother” So i got it for $50 AUD.

Thats is were the conversation turned south quickly. He said do you want to earn an easy $5K? My radar went up straight away, I new exactly what he was going to offer to me and I was not interested. This was his sales pitch:

Dodgy Shop Owner: I import gemstones into Australia and I have maxed out my import levels. So I want to do more business in Australia. So I will send you a package with “My Gemstones” and then I will just come past your house and pick up the package. It will be fine and I pay you $5K”

Me: Bubba, Thank you but no thank you. This sounds to good to be true and just doesn’t sit right with me.

Dodgy Shop Owner: It is fine, your government will not find out.

Then all of a sudden his brother walks in and started to put the hard word on me to do it. A little later his wife walks in and I was blocked. I could not get out of the shop. Bubba and his brother were really trying their hardest to get me to receive “the package”. Saying things like, “It will be just be gemstones”, “It will be just be a like you are sending some souvenirs home from your holiday” “you are my brother”. I new exactly what was going on and want out with out getting them worked up and it turning bad. I kept my cool an managed to get out safe and sound.

I am safe and sound and sitting in a coffee shop writing this now. So fellow travellers heading to Kathmandu, be aware, there are drugs and dodgy scammers everywhere in this city. Be alert and do not get involved, doesn’t matter how smooth and nice the dealers seem to be. They will tell you all levels of lies to get you to do there dirty deeds. You will be the one that gets done and they will be no where to be seen.

Be safe and enjoy your time in Nepal, aside from the dodgy people Nepal is an incredible place well worth the visit.

Have you been to Nepal? Have you got any crazy stories? I would love to hear them. Just comment below.

Thank you for stoping by mykombiandi, If you have liked this post don’t forget to “Follow” just click the follow button. You can also find mykombiandi on Facebook, Instagram and now YouTube. Feel free to share this post with your friends.

Thank again,

One Life, One Search.

Shane

Yay for Free WiFi! #100happydays Up To Date.

Lets hear it for FREE WiFi!!! Hip Hip Hooray… I have been loving Kathmandu but the power outages cause so many dramas. The power in Kathmandu is always going out and for long periods of time. It is both great and it sucks. It does force you to get “Off The Grid” and teaches you a lesson in separation from our computers and iPhones. But when you are trying to update blogs it can be a bit of a headache. Any way I have a window for now and who knows how long it will last.

http://instagram.com/p/nvBqmhA5sj/

http://instagram.com/p/nxowuTg5nj/

http://instagram.com/p/nxpwpBg5pn/

http://instagram.com/p/n0OJqWg5ma/

http://instagram.com/p/n2mohcg5l9/

http://instagram.com/p/n5giWAA5qU/

http://instagram.com/p/n-NgvVA5nq/

http://instagram.com/p/n-P4TZA5po/

http://instagram.com/p/oAXQy9g5np/

http://instagram.com/p/oEaCWZA5pa/

Its been a pretty hectic couple of weeks full of amazing adventures and great new friends. I have learnt so much about myself and the beautiful countries that I have visited. I am looking forward to my next port of call, Tibet. Don’t forget to follow me by clicking the “Follow” button. You can also follow my 100happydays challenge on Instagram as well as keep up to date with the daily blogs on YouTube and Facebook.

Thanks again.

One Life, One Search.

Shane

 

On our way to Kathmandu: Bangkok to Kathmandu.

After a year of planning and preparing we are actually flying to Nepal. As some of you are aware we have been raising awareness and some much needed funds for beyondblue. Beyondblue assist those suffering from anxiety and depression. After a close friend lost her uncle to depression we decided to do something. We all decided on climbing to Mt Everest Base Camp and to support beyondblue. We approached beyondblue and BeyondEverest project was born.

We landed safely in Kathmandu and surprising it was much easier to negotiate the infamous Tribhuvan International Airport than I anticipated. Once we were settled at the luxurious 5 star Raddisson Hotel we decided to sit and have a beer and some dinner at the Roof Top bar. A really nice way to finish off the long day.

Checking out the Epic view from the roof top bar.

Daily Vlog:
Bangkok to Kathmandu.

We are in Kathmandu!!!!

Nepali Beer. The famous Gorkha.

Thank you for stopping by mykombiandi, If you have liked this post please feel free to share with your friends. You can follow my adventures by simply clicking on the “Follow” button. You can also find mykombiandi on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Have you been to Kathmandu? Do you have any suggestions of cool places to see and do?

Cheers

Shane

One Life, One Search.

 

Getting Lost in Bangkok: Daily Vlog

The day after our SongKran experience I thought that I would go and get a relaxing massage. Turns out that you can not get a relaxing massage in Thailand. I got turned into a pretzel. I came out bruised and battered and in need of another massage. Any way I had some spare time after getting beaten up for an hour and thought that I would lose myself in the chaos that is Bangkok. It turned out to be an EPIC day. Check out the Vlog and let us know your getting lost in strange cities stories.

Chilling out with the Turtles.

 

Shane in front of some Gold thingy

Bangkok street art

Thankyou for stopping by mykombiandi. If you have liked this post please feel free to share with your friends. You can also follow mykombiandi by simple clicking on the follow button. You can find mykombiandi on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

One Life, One Search

Shane

 

The BIG #100happydays catch up!

G’day everyone. I know I have not been keeping up to date with my #100happydays challenge, as you are all aware I have been trekking through the Nepal for the last 3 weeks. However I have been taking plenty photo’s and heaps of video. Here are some pics of what has made me happy over the last few weeks. I must say, it is pretty easy to be happy in the Himalaya’s, they are so beautiful.

http://instagram.com/p/nsnAyuA5gB/

http://instagram.com/p/nsndIlg5go/

http://instagram.com/p/nsn2NrA5hI/

http://instagram.com/p/nsoNtKA5hk/

http://instagram.com/p/nsouPBg5iP/

http://instagram.com/p/nspbCOA5jN/

http://instagram.com/p/nsqDpcA5j2/

http://instagram.com/p/nss-3bA5nP/

http://instagram.com/p/nstdFKg5oB/

http://instagram.com/p/nsuGRDg5pC/

http://instagram.com/p/nsvZ_2g5qp/

http://instagram.com/p/nswZx-A5sC/

http://instagram.com/p/nsxg_8g5tm/

http://instagram.com/p/nsyMLpg5um/

http://instagram.com/p/nsy6oYg5vm/

http://instagram.com/p/nsztkOg5gr/

http://instagram.com/p/ns0oRtg5h-/

http://instagram.com/p/ns1yZmA5jf/

The Himalaya’s are just breathtaking, every bend brings new and exciting adventures and unique beauty. I just love Nepal.

Thanks for stopping by mykombiandi. If you have liked this post please feel free to share with your family and friends. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and by simple clicking on the “Follow” button.

See you all soon.

One Life, One Search.