Tiger's Nest Monastery
OMG!!!!!!! In a week, honeykins and I are leaving for the journey of a lifetime! We’re going to Bhutan, to celebrate my 5-0! Many people, most, in fact have the same initial reaction. “Where?” Exactly!!!!!!!! That’s why we’re going there. We love to travel off the beaten path, and Bhutan is just that. And more!
So I thought that before we leave, I’d share some facts about Bhutan with you.
Bhutan:
- Is located in the Eastern Himalayas, between Tibet and India.
- Just became a demcracy in 2008. Prior to that, it was a kingdom.
- Measures it’s wealth by “Gross National Happiness”
- Requires all visitors to travel through one of the nation’s approved travel companies. You cannot travel independently in Bhutan (This is a first for us–we’ve never used a tour company, even though I used to be a tour escort).
- Requires all visitors to pay $200/day/person while in country–this includes lodging and meals.
- The only airline allowed to fly into the country is the national airline, Druk Air.
- Is 98% Buddhist
It’s going to be a grueling transit–we fly from Atlanta-Washington, DC-Seoul, South Korea-Bangkok-Paro, Bhutan. I’m NOT thrilled to be flying through Seoul, since North Korea recently decided to “warn” commercial airlines that it will bomb aircraft that comes close to it’s airspace. Hmmmm…. surely we’ll be re-routed! We’ll spend 2 nights in Bangkok, to recoup from the flight and stock up on prescription eyeglasses–(they are SOOO cheap, and stylish!)
Once we get to Bhutan, we’ll acclimatize for a couple of days and see important sites before taking off on a ten-day trek. We’ll have ponies and yaks to carry all of our equipment, including our tents, the “kitchen tent”, and bathroom tent. A guide and sherpas will also accompany us. The temps are supposed to be 60’s-70’s during the day, 30’s at night. We’ll climb to about 16,000 ft. Yippeee!!!!!!!
So, I’m off to continue packing, which I’ve been doing since January, but hey, that’s just me. I’ll post more info soon. Send questions. Please check back.
Tashi Delek.
I found your blog via Elizabeth Harper’s.
Your trip to Bhutan sounds incredible! I’m sure you’ve read Jamie Zeppa’s ‘Beyond the Sky and the Earth’ which is one of my favourite travel memoirs. If not, I highly recommend it. She does a great job describing life in Bhutan and its stunning natural beauty.
My partner and I went to the Sydney ‘Travel XPO’ this past weekend. Bhutan, or more accurately, one of the authorised tour operators based in Thimpu, was there for the first time. I picked up a map and brochures published by the Bhutan Dept. of Tourism and have been admiring the photographs ever since. The young man I talked with (who turned out to be Managing Director of the tour firm) said they hoped to attract more visitors to Bhutan, and he was enjoying his visit to Australia 🙂
I am really, really looking forward to your posts about your trip. Happy birthday and enjoy!
Cheers from Sydney (and sometimes Paris).
P.S. the tour company’s name is Transcent Travellers http://www.bhutantranscend.com/
P.S. Also meant to say I love Seoul. Have been there on many business trips and I’m sure you’ll be fine.
(I picked up more info on Korea last weekend, too — have always wanted to see more of the country outside Seoul, but Seoul is great on its own.)
A final (I promise!) note on Bangkok, which I also love. I’m sure you’re reading up yourselves, but as a recommendation for a fun evening, Silom Village on Silom Road is great for a casual, inexpensive dinner in sort of a courtyard-y area surrounded by shops. Then you can walk or take a tuk-tuk up to the Patpong night markets.
Cheers.
Great! i totally appreciate that. and I have subscribed to your blog–love it!
Hey…how did you two (you & Carolyn) meet?
The trip sounds great…Maybe I can see your video when I’m stateside in May. John said you had asked about his little camera…I hope you’re taking one. It was so fun to make our little documentary on the TMB.
When is your birthday? I can’t believe you’re going to be 50!
met thru your blog, so thanks! b-day april 4th. we bought a little kodak zi6 to take videos, but still need to learn to use it more effectively.
when you coming in may?
Hi again Jules (and Elizabeth) – I left 2 earlier comments on this post (about Bhutan, and Seoul) but I don’t know if Jules got them – ??
I too thank you, E, for ‘introducing’ me to this blog 🙂
hey, caroline,
i got them delivered to my email, but they didn’t post to the blog. but i appreciate the info on bkk. we are very short on time there, altho spent a week there in 2002, along w/ 2 weeks in laos. what is your favorite thing to do in bkk? (unfortunately, we fly to Paro at 6:00am, so have to at the airport by 4. yikes!
Bangkok favourite = delicious, cheap dinner at Silom Village followed by tuk-tuk (or walk) up to Patpong night market (a great fake market with all ‘brand names’ and totally chaotic, but fun in limited doses).
Also favourite = Asia Books, for wonderful selection on Thailand and all of Asia. I never feel like I have enough time to browse (mostly there on business trips). They have a lot of branches, some in the epic 10-story concrete malls … I think the main one is on Sukhumvit Rd.
What I’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet = visit Jim Thompson’s house. I’ve bought some of his silk items over the years and held books about his house in my hands, but never gone to the house. You can Google it – it’s supposed to be stunning and a great example of Asian architecture.
A lot of my Aussie work colleagues have favourite silk places and quick tailors in Bangkok, but I’ve never done that … one of my female colleagues had a gorgeous suit made in 24 hours on one trip.
What I don’t recommend is a klong tour – totally touristy and ugh, unless you like that sort of thing.
Am sure you’ve already experienced the fabulous (and cheap!) food and shopping … and the Thai people are friendly.
Look forward to reading about your trip!
Cheers.
I did read Zeppa’s book, (would love to know what has become of their relationship),loved it,as well as “Travelers and Magicians” the movie on DVD.
We visited Jim Thompson’s house before, very interesting.Thanks for all your input!
Jules
This summer I have planned to spend my summer holiday in Bhutan. Last year I went to Bhutan through Raven Tours and Travel Group and my trip to Bhutan was wonderful
I liked your blog and writing style very much. Please keep such posts coming.