getting there is 1/2 the fun

Photo of Lukla Airport runway by F. Wainwright (one of my Nepal traveling companions.)

I've been on more airplanes than I care to mention. From the uncountable commercial flights (at worst, flying for over 18 hours at a time), to the random small planes flown by my brother (including a v-tail banana!), to that time I decided it would be a kick to jump out of one (fun fun fun!)... nothing compares to the Twin Otter trips between Kathmandu and the Everest region trail head at Lukla.
Starting at Kathmandu, we waited while the flight was rescheduled over and over and over, due to weather. Pilots must rely on vision over instruments to land there, so bad weather = no flights.
Once we were cleared to head to the plane, things got even hairier. We stood on the runway (literally - feet on the pavement, eventually butts on pavement, or butts on backpacks for the clever ones) for over an hour, while questionable maintenance was performed on the plane. The worst of which was a woman, dressed in traditional Nepali attire, who climbed into the cockpit and wiped down the windows with a Kleenex tissue. There was a prayer flag wrapped securely around the yoke, and I was hopeful that it might be for spiritual purposes, but tended to think it was holding something together. Yeti Airlines (our carrier) NOW boasts that it is the only airlines that flies domestically in Nepal with full glass cockpit. They made no such claims back when we flew with them.
After about an hour, we were hustled back onto a bus to wait some more, and were finally cleared to board. Handed a mint and cotton balls (to protect ears from the noise of the engines) on entering the plane, we embarked on the most beautiful flight ever, through the sparkling snow white peaks of the Himalaya. After about 1/2 hour, we were ready to land. Lukla runway sits at an altitude of over 9000 ft, cut into a mountain side, on about a 20 degreee angle. There is a 2000 ft (some say 3000) drop off at the end. It was a white knuckle landing, for sure. My Lonely Planet guide referenced the aircraft wreckages that are visible down on the ledge below, and they are sobering to see.
The trip home was even more insane. Add in the fact that our whole crew, about 14 of us, were crammed in there, worn out and unshowered for god-knows-how-long. We were one of the only 3 flights to make it out that day (imagine cheers of joy and hope inside the airport every time a plane takes off). It was an adrenaline rush to fly down that ramp, and feel the plane dip for a moment as it "falls" off the end, before climbing back up again (this time screams and "whoooaaaaas" filled the eardrums, as my stomach rested momentarily in my throat!).
All that said, I'm filled with excitement and trepidation when considering the possibilities of the flight from Lonyearbyen to Ice Station Borneo on the Antonov 74 (or Чебурашка/Cheburashka) - landing on frozen moving ocean, and the helicopter trip back from the pole. More white knuckles ahead!
Enough of my ramblings....

Today's workout:
Pushups from floor: these were tougher than anticipated. and felt sort-of awkward. I played around with them for a while until I got the feel of it. then I did 3 sets of 5.
TGU/Pushup row (15#dbs): 6/6, 6/6 (ugh!)
KB clean/press/windmill (12kg): 3x 1min, 30sec rest