Soft Landings

I (Chris) have an unfortunate fear of flying; particularly unfortunate on account of both the terrain here in the Himalayas and Nepal’s track record on flight safety. My recent trip to Kathmandu on Buddha Airways was no exception. After a three hour delay, take-off into a thunderstorm and holding over Tribhuvan International airport due to greater than anticipated traffic, my nerves were shot. The most I could say was that the landing was a relatively soft one.

So too, the landing for Black Kite Coffee. The month-long holiday season of Dashain and Tihar (think festival of lights) has just about come to an end. Whilst this has meant yet more delays to the final touches of the cafe, we have started to sell a range of coffees, smoothies and lassis to people as they return from family villages. A stylish, wooden sign, hung on the porch, proudly but quietly announces that we are open for business, even though the full quota of chairs and bar stools has yet to be delivered from Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, our coffee bag sales continue to do really well. We recently sold twenty-five packets to a conference in Kathmandu and secured a trial with a chain of Mexican restaurants.

Next time….a tour of the finished cafe!