Landed today at 1 am in Patiksan. Had about 27 hours of travel starting on Wednesday into today. All the travel and time change (11 hours) makes today a rest type day. I was lucky to be one of the first off the plane, which put me first in line for passport control. Not to mention, also for the first time ever my 3 bags were the first ones delivered onto the baggage claim belt. I would say that is a travel blessing in disguise.

I was immediately greeted by Shirbaz upon exiting this area which was comforting. When you exit the airport in Pakistan, I imagine it feels like what one would feel walking on the red carpet of Hollywood. You walk solo for at least 100 feet and there are people on either side of you waiting for their loved ones. Coming out of the airport with blonde hair and blue eyes is not a normal sighting so eyes hang on me longer than I am used to. Not unfriendly or uncomfortable but definitely the feeling of… Do I have something in my teeth?

Thankfully Shirbaz was ready and identified me immediately after baggage claim. The car for us was waiting and we were off to the hotel within a minute of exiting the airport.

We got to the hotel, The Serena, about an hour later. I got checked into the room and was given a tour of the room. Then the bags were brought up and finally, it sunk in that I am here back in Pakistan to try this Mountain for a second time. Being it the middle of the night in Pakistan but the middle of the day back home I was tired from travel but not tired enough to go to sleep right away. I emptied my bags of all things that needed charging to get them started on the chargers and tried to fall asleep.

I spent a portion of that time catching up with the kids and family. Breakfast time came so I showered, went to eat breakfast, gave myself a tour around the hotel, and then at 9 am I went to the room to sleep for a bit. It’s important to rest up as much as I can before the climb since the mountain normally is not as comfortable to sleep in as a hotel room.

Around 11 am Sandro made it to the hotel. Grateful to have my mountaineering bestie back by my side and to hear English on a consistent basis. I often cross many language barriers in my travels and I try to adapt the best I can, but it’s often comforting to hear and speak English regularly. It reminds me of the comforts of our home cultures for so many of us throughout the world.

We met for a quick tea and will meet up with Mingma G around 1:30 for lunch.

Then the plan is to eat dinner at 7 pm and then head to bed. The plan right now is to fly to Skardu tomorrow (leaving for the airport at 8 am) and stay in Skardu for a few days. We will not leave Skardu till the 27th. The weather is looking good at the moment so the chances of flying are in our favor. Let’s hope it stays that way!