I'm either brilliant or an idiot

Ain't that the way it often works... you make a decision. If it works then you can pat yourself on the back for your smarts and or willingness to do something different. If it doesn't then your friends will give you that look that says "What were you thinking?"

Flights to Kathmandu were driving me to distraction. The discount travel sites I had previously said were good deals? Not such good deals when you're booking an international flight with 1 month advance notice. Then the discount centres and the travel agents are licking their lips and rubbing their hands because YOU are fresh meat. The cost of a flight, while being listed on some sites at $2400 was skyrocketing up to $3100 and up when I tried to book online. One travel agent wished me luck as she couldn't do any better. What do you do? Assuming one knows they should have booked 2 months in advance at least, are you ballsy enough to wait until it's the airlines who are desperate and are dumping their flights about 2 weeks before your departure date? Unlikely in my case when I've just shelled out a large amount of money to go trekking in Bhutan! Or you decide to look at plan B.....

At one point in my exhaustive search at various flight permutations, transfer times and costs I came across an airline I had never heard of before, Etihad Airlines. It only came up on one search and the overall price looked good. For some inexplicable reason I was not able to book, the site would give me a bland and distressing message. "This flight cannot be booked please change your search parameters" I gave up on that one since I realized that "change your search parameters" was code for PAY MORE YOU IDIOT!

When I was talking to a living, breathing, travel agent, live in the flesh as I was sitting across the desk from her, (Yes some people DO book travel this way, no shit) :-) I mentioned this airline and her face brightened. "Oh Etihad, they are now considered one of the best airlines out there. It would be great if you could fly through Abu Dhabi." They are the national airline of the United Arab Emerites.

After much to-ing and fro-ing from website to website I realized that I was most likely going to have to shell out over $3000.... Then I thought of Etihad again. I got on their website. They fly out of Toronto, direct to Abu Dhabi and transfer to another flight on to Kathmandu. The trick being when they fly, only certain days of the week out of TO which coincided exactly with my travel plans. I start entering my dates, yada yada, and up comes an itinerary and a bright light shone down from the heavens replete with a chorus of angels. My flight to Kathmandu for $1540 including taxes and flight insurance. Could it be too good to be true? I double, triple checked the connections, certainly enough time. Could I get myself to Toronto to make their departure? Well lookey here, a WestJet seat sale to Toronto for $500 inclusive. I have a shitty layover in Toronto but I had that with the other travel itineraries too. Of course my doubting brain was chattering "If you're so bright Lise, why hasn't this come up on ALL the travel websites?" My thinking is that they probably don't have arrangements with this airline and absolutely none of the sites used WestJet. 

I took a deep breath and booked. I was even able to book my seats on Etihad. Their website is great and very easy to work with, and I hear the Abu Dhabi airport is really nice. My total my flight cost me just over $2000. I will report back as to how it worked, whether I was an idiot or brilliant.

On another note I was over at Jason and Deane's today. Looking at their photos and absolutely drooling over Deane's new Mac monitor. Its 33 inch and, well all I can say is WOW. Jason was showing me his photos of Aconguaga. What a great looking trip, with enough challenge to make it a bonafide adventure! He worked his ass off getting in shape for that trip, esquewed using a guide and did it on his own terms. Him and his partner Mark did awesome. I had to admit I was stressed saying goodbye when he left. It felt too soon after Colin's death, I didn't want him near any mountain, especially not on a different continent. But everything went well. He showed a photo of his helmet on the summit Cairn. And then a close-up of what was taped inside his helmet. A photo of him and Colin, one of my favorite photos of them. They're on a summit, Colin is holding a standard size rope and Jason is holding what looks like dental floss but could be mistaken for a rope. Their grins are large and they have their other arm around each other's shoulder, enjoying the moment. They both referred to that photo as "Thick and Thin" I haven't seen much of Jason since Colin's death as he's been working overseas. He had a very close relationship with Colin whom he met through his wife Deane. I met Jason ice climbing my first time out with Colin. We've been friends ever since with our own adventures under our belt.  In a sense we haven't had a chance to really share our grief. There we were looking at the photo and Jason released a deep breath that spoke volumes, I put my hand on his shoulder. I felt it too, such a large gaping hole where Colin should have been. I know Jason very well and can relate to his grief and vice versa. We were missing our friend so damn much. The rest of the afternoon I felt it. I could actually explore this cold and empty landscape inside myself. There is a north wind whipping over barren rock, picking up snow along the way. You can battle the wind and walk with effort, but it's inhospitable. You may endure, but you'll never thrive there. The cold seeps through the seams in your clothing, eventually chilling you to the bone. This place is timeless, only wind, snow and rock. Amazing how real it feels, this place in my heart. When I was alone in the car, I cried for myself and I cried for Jason too and for all of us that are grieving for Colin. If I thought Colin was in that cold desolate place I would go, climb up the interminable scree slope to stand on that freezing ridge to say Hello, no problem, I'd be happy to do it. But that's the problem, he's NOT there. He's not anywhere right now. I wish I could sound more hopeful, I don't want anybody to think I'm going crackers here, because I'm not. I know enough not to stay in unhealthy places for too long. This blog gives me a forum to honestly express my feelings in the moment which is more timely than waiting to unload on my therapist.  I DO know where a part of Colin will live in about 4 months. Catherine will give birth to a lovely boy or girl and there will be new life. It will be good.