Bhutan

After getting of the train at Hasimara feeling very pleasedwith ourselves we caught a ‘taxi’ to the town of Jaigon on the IndianBorder.  By taxi we mean someone’s car(six seater with no luggage size) but we all squish in with the driver and ourluggage for the 45 minute ride.  We hadmade contact with our guide by this stage who must have been wondering where wewere as the train was two hours late getting into Hasimara – this is India 😊

At the border we had to go to the Indian security check (aman wrote our names from our passports in a book) then to immigration to departIndia – more form filling!  Good job thechildren can do their own! From here we thought we were in Bhutan but then westopped in the town on Phuentshaoling to get our Bhutanese visa’s – moresmiling at camera’s. We have noticed a difference between India and Bhutanalready.  It is much quieter with lessbeeping of horns and some no horn signs, beautifully carved buildings and muchcleaner.

By now it was about 3pm so our guide Sonam and driver tookus for a Bhutanese lunch – incredible, most of it was quite spicy butdelicious.  There was a plate with somecucumbers, carrots and what looked like green beans, Jamie however discoveredthey were not in fact green beans but green chillies when he happily munched onone.  Well you can just imagine!! He saideven his legs started tingling.

We started our 5-hour trip to Paro which for some reason Ithought would be straight! But no, Bhutan has lots and lots and lots ofmountains doesn’t it and hardly any straight bits!!  Our driver was excellent at pulling overquickly for me!! Next time I will be flying!! The kids were great, and Emmasaid she has never meditated (I will not be sick) so much in her life!  By the time we reached our accommodation itwas about 9pm and our guide wanted to feed us again, but we just wanted to goto bed.  It was also freezing but theviews of the lights we could see were amazing! You could see the fort and watch tower all lit up – spectacular.

Next morning, we were up early, and Emma informed us thather phone said it was -12!  Today we weregoing to climb up to the Tigers Nest Monastery. We headed off on a short drive to begin our trek at 2400m it was stillfreezing!!  The climb up was one of thesteepest we have done, and it was incredible how much you could feel theeffects of the altitude.  Even Emma andJamie felt it.  It took us 3 ½ hours toreach the tea house where we were served cups of sweet tea and what looked likeSao’s covered in sugar.  From here wedecided that Emma, Jamie and Alan would continue to the monastery a further 2hours return, so the girls and I happily chatted at the tea house, which hadamazing views of the monastery.

At the monastery the others could go inside but no photoswere allowed.  They were also told thestory of how the monastery came to be there. Alan said it was very confusing but there is basically three stories,first there is an evil spirit who was defeated by a good guy who had a daggerwhich he gave it magical powers by meditation, then some centuries later theyput the temple there to honour this person, the third is a lady went intolabour in the village and walked up to the cave to have her child and thischild then became a monk.

The three musketeers returned after taking some incrediblephoto’s, we had lunch at the tea house and made our way down, much quicker onlytaking 50 minutes with shaky legs.

As everything closes here at 4pm we were not able to go intothe fort but drove to it and took some nice photos of it and the watchtower.  We then went to a local art shopwhich had interesting decorations around the door then we had a wander alongthe main street checking out the shops. All the buildings are beautifully carved and painted.

Returning to the hotel we were ready for some dinner, a hotshower and bed as we had to be up at 5am the next morning to catch our flightto Kathmandu.  Unfortunately, we were todiscover both our rooms had no hot water at all which disappointed Lexie whowas looking forward to a long hot soak in the bath!

Emma was up early the next morning to discover the water hadcome back on and we were already in the car at 5.30am to get to the airport.