OK let’s skip to the good part – but first a quick note – a goodbye to a great hotel The Bangkok Publishing Residence and a top notch concierge Parata / Alice.
The flight approach and landing in Paro is nothing short of breath taking. Firstly, a sunny day with the most amazing light. Perhaps as we are now at high altitude. Mountains on each side, but not like the coast or Rockies. These don’t seem so tall as they don’t have the sharpness of the Canadian western ranges. They remind me of around Cache Creek, but higher. Then below a wonderful carpet of yellow / greens. Mostly rice fields. Beautiful Bhutanese style homes dotting the country, and as we come closer into Paro, a small city below.
The approach is so crazy it makes me laugh. A hard bank to the right followed by leveling out and what seems like the houses immediately below us. Then a bank to the left, held even as we are almost ready to touch down! Only at the very last to level out – I am sure not even one minute before the wheels touch down! A spectacular landing, in an even more spectacular landscape. I knew it would be beautiful, but not this beautiful!
Outside the terminal I have a committee of 4 waiting. Sangay, Sangay’s assistant, my guide, and my driver. Sangay wraps a white silk scarf about me in welcome. And I already feel so welcome.
We discuss a little for the balance of today. They have planned a stop just outside Paro for tea. Probably no temples today. Sangay has her own car. But we don’t leave until Sangay has pictures to send Randy! And the guide is really into taking pictures for me. Yeah!
Our tea is a small picnic beside the river. It is a rest / relaxation stop that drivers use. They have homemade cookies, cheese straws, baked rice with I am not sure but will get more info. Milky tea. Apples and figs from Sangay’s trees. The river is amazing. Swiftly running and a beautiful breeze coming off the river to cool me. These four are so amazing. They have the friendliness of Tilting, but quieter.
Some plans are up for the weekend. Saturday when I go fishing Sangay and family will come out too. Also Sangay has invited me to dinner Friday. How can this be? We talk of so many things in this short picnic time!
Off now to Thimphu. We stop at a viewpoint to see a temple – one privately owned and cared for. Also stop to see one of the iron walking bridges crossing the river, as the temple is on the far side.
Oh yes – red, red chilies drying on the roof tops. Lots of discussion of agricultural things in Bhutan.
OK – the road. Anda you would not be happy. I don’t mind it too much, though I would prefer guard rails everywhere. They are absent at times, times of quite steep drop offs. Well cliffs really. The saving – the driver is excellent, and does not speed. Good thing I made that trip to Gold River this summer!
Into Thimphu and my hotel. Unpacked and organized. Dinner 7 – 9. Breakfast 7 – 9. We’ll meet up for a busy day at 9AM. Reception called to say they would bring dinner to my room, as they said there are many people dining which I might find difficult. I declined and said “that’s OK I like people”.
It i so hard to explain this day. The beauty of the country is only eclipsed by the beauty of the people I have met. Thank-you Randy!
I sure hope I’ll be able to get to sleep.