Asia Adventure 2012: Bangkok to Paro, Bhutan to Thimpu

Wanna was right on time at 4:30am to transfer us to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where we caught Druk Air (Royal Bhutan Airlines) to with a short stop in the Bagdogra Airport, Paro. Druk Air is the only airline officially permitted to fly in Bhutan.

Greg struck up a conversation with a woman who works for the United Nations Development Fund about a topic of mutual interest; climate change and its impact. She mentioned how the development up the side of mountains will become an issue when the speed at which the glacier melts increases. With clear cutting trees off the mountainside, landslides and flash flooding become more prevalent. A vigorous debate ensues about how much money to invest in infrastructure to increase production, given the shrinking glaciers.

We got an amazing view of some spectacular peaks in the Eastern Himalayas. It is quite remarkable how alarmingly close we seem to be to the mountains during the descent into and landing on the valley floor. We also went from 33 degrees Celsius plus humidity to 12 degrees, coupled with going from sea level to 2,200 meters in elevation.

There to meet us was Sherab, our Guide, and Dorji, our Driver from Etho Metho tours (etho metho = rhododendron) for our ground transfer to Thimpu. Rhododendrons are bountiful in Bhutan, but at this time of year are only in the budding stage. It is early spring here and only patches of green are emerging and very tiny buds on some trees. Nevertheless, the drive through the valley to Thimpu, Bhutan’s capital city of 700,000, was incredibly scenic. Sherab asked why we decided to visit Bhutan and I told him it was due to the country’s reputation for happiness. He described the root of happiness here as having basic needs met, preservation of culture, and the cultural practice of seeking contentment and balance.

Currently, Bhutan only permits 30,000 tourists to visit annually because that is about the maximum amount they can accommodate and their desire to maintain the strength and sustainability of Bhutan’s culture. Archery is the national sport, but we are talking archery at a distance of 140 meters.

Sherab mentioned how Bhutan produces far more electricity than it consumes and has the capacity to produce much more. They sell a lot of electricity to India.

We had lunch at a local restaurant Dream Garden where we were served significant portions of food that our appetites could not absorb. Then we checked into our hotel, the Namgay Heritage hotel where we both enjoyed much deserved afternoon naps after waking up at 3:30am to get here.

We had a delicious, albeit slightly spicy dinner at the hotel with much more reasonable portion sizes and checked out the hotel facilities afterwards. Tomorrow’s bike ride will be interesting depending on the level of acclimatization we achieve overnight! Well, perhaps the amount of sleep may be a factor, given the incredible population of free roaming, barking dogs.

We are in the land of happiness! Yes, I pinched myself.

It’s real. ;-)