Romance In Makara Orange

The Forgotten in Kathmandu

The trip from Jakarta to Suvarnabhumi, Thailand takes three hours by plane from the land of white elephants. Although long, but the service in the plane is amazingly satisfying.

Vira still remembered Kosa who hugged her for a moment at Soetta Airport. The forced sin to drive him. Pick up from home with Mas Andri's borrowed car. Kosa repeatedly advised Vira to take care of her health, so that Vira can take care of herself because she is the only woman who took part in the climb to Annapurna Base Camp.

Setiba in Suvarnabhumi at ten p.m. Mas Une immediately ordered a taxi to the motel. There Mas Cokro and Mas Bobby were waiting. The plane from Surabaya came first, since this afternoon. The plane to Kathmandu leaves tomorrow morning.

Previously Mas Une as team leader chose to stay overnight at the airport so as not to bother going back and forth the airport but the Surabaya team insisted to choose a motel because the transit time was considered too long.

Vira recorded this small trip in a note on her phone.

Cheap hotels in Bang Kapi District 150 thousand per room, must be ordered from Indonesia because it is cheaper.

Food in Suvarnabhumi is expensive. Mas Une said if you want to eat pad thai can buy at a motel that is open 24 hours, the price is equivalent to 20 thousand rupiah.

Mango Sticky Rice 300 baht price, should be delayed just go home because the price of food at the lodge during the climb can drain the bag.

The plane landed at Tribhuvan Airport smoothly at about eleven p.m. Vira is a little scared because the main airport runway in Nepal is notoriously short. Mas Dody who sat beside him chuckled softly watching Vira unceasingly pray with his eyes closed.

Finished taking care of the visa on arrival for a 15-day stay of 25 American dollars, Vira immediately took care of the baggage. Not too long because it is not a big airport.

At the Tribhuvan exit, there was an Indian-faced man holding a signboard that read Une Indonesia. Soon Vira followed Mas Une and the group headed towards him.

The man introduced himself as Ashok, a representative of the motel in Thamel, where they were staying. Ashok carried five necklaces of orange marigolds which were then carried to all members of the climbing team.

Ashok took us across downtown Kathmandu to Thamel, a famous Himalayan hiker stopover with his old jeep.

The motel in Thamel is clean. Remove strands of marigold and hijab before laying down on a foam mattress that is not too soft.

Sitting for almost four hours makes his back feel quite sore. Plus a 60-liter backpack that keeps his back upright. Not too heavy because in addition to getting used to it, Vira brings special lightweight climbing clothes, both base layer and outer layer are anti-wind.

Mas Dody and Mas Une have warned that there is no need to bring down a jacket and thermal sleeping bag from goose feathers because it will be troublesome. It is better to rent daily such items from the shops along the Thamel. Besides being cheap, there is no need to bother bringing home to Indonesia because it will not be used. Too hot for cold temperature in Indonesia.

It is a light blue phone that has been switched off since Suvarnabhumi. After entering the wifi keyword, Vira immediately opened the messaging service application in light green. There are some messages that have not been read. Five messages from Kosa.

[Have you reached Kathmandu? Kangen]

[Don't forget to eat]

[I’m waiting 4 ur story at fb]

[Miss to so bad]

I want Vira to reply soon. But once he closed his eyes, imagining the faces of Kosa, Natha, Mirna, Mama, and Papa, laziness began to attack. Left his cell phone just beside his body. The sound of a slightly creaking fan did not bother him enough to laze.

The door to his room was knocked many times. There was the sound of Mas Dody calling out quietly. Soon Vira was wearing the same hijab she had worn earlier.

“Iya briefly Mas, wait.”

Opened the door and it looks like Mas Dody has changed clothes with shorts and a thin T-shirt combined with a navy-colored outlayer.

“Une, Cokro, and Bobby are waiting in the lobby. Want to find a meal all take rupee money from atm, the exchange rate is cheaper than from the hotel. The dollar is simple Vir, baby. Yuk hunt!” bring Mas Dody.

“Siap Mas!” vira said quickly. A small canvas sling bag containing a wallet and passport.

Along the way Thamel is filled with inns and shops selling various climbing needs. Restaurants with different flavors also come side by side. This Thamel was though small but like a metropolis filled by various races of humans.

Mas Cokro chose an Indian restaurant next to the motel, a stopover last night. Lazy he said looking for a place to eat too far because right in front of the restaurant there are two atm booths with visa logos and mastercard. They sat down the five and took the table on the second floor balcony.

Vira is not very familiar with Mas Cokro and Mas Bobby. Just heard from Mas Une that Mas Cokro is a businessman and Mas Bobby just graduated from college. Mas Une knows them because last year along with riding Carstensz.

“How many semester is Vir?” ask Bobby to break the silence.

Mas Une and Mas Dody were busy with their gadgets while Mas Cokro was smoking with his eyes looking towards the surroundings.

“Eh, pass semester six Mas,” replied Vira

“Call me Obi aja Vir, like you are the same I only different a year.”

“Good Mas. Eeh, sorry Bi.”

“Udah long follow Mas Une huh?”

“Lumayan Bi. Just yesterday fitting to Carstensz can not be the same Bokap, afraid, still conflict because, The cost is also very expensive.”

“Keren Vir's. Fortunately I know Mas Une, his senior journalist, his network is strong there. Long time also it's permission, ribet,” Bobby's story

“Ntar if there is a project there again, I invite you Vir,” sahut Mas Une join nimbrung.

“Hahaha... ready Mas!”

After eating, they walked across to the atm. At least Vira took about 40 thousand rupees for the meal money during the hike.

The cost of hotels, hotels, local transportation, climbing administration, and guides during Nepal is about 700 US dollars per person who has been paid directly to his travel agency.

They began to walk around Thamel and Thamel Marg. Wash your eyes with Nepalese souvenirs and outdoor equipment of various brands. Vira immediately remembered the order Natha wanted to buy a sweater made from real cashmere fleece. It is also estimated that outer made Kosa with monochrome colors of light gray and black.

Mas Une took them to a rental store located right in front of the motel, where they stayed. There are some fixtures such as thermal sleeping bag of goose feathers that hold up to minus five degrees and thick jackets that are rented.

Not very expensive. Vira only spends about 30 US dollars. Later Vira will also have to join 100 dollars for porter fees. Coupled with granola snacks and himalayan honey candies, Vira's money was reduced by about 500 rupees.

Arriving at the room, Vira immediately threw herself down. Allowing everything to lose by the accumulated fatigue.