• Everest Base Camp #1 & #2
• Inca Trail 2018
• Women's Projects in Tanzania 2018
• Bhutan 2017
• Women's House Building 2017
• Antarctic Adventure
• Greenland by Day Hike
• Fire and Ice: Iceland
• Family Fire & Ice: Iceland
• Mongolia on Horseback
• Raising Voices, Raising Roofs
• New Zealand Adventure
• Inca Trail 2015
• Ethiopia Explorer 2015
• Kilimanjaro Climb 2015
• Patagonia & Wine
• Everest Base Camp 2014
• Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon 2014
• The Way: A Pilgrimage Across Spain
• Belize Dive & Jungle Exploration
• Kilimanjaro Climb 2014
• Everest Base Camp 2013
• Turkey: Mt. Ararat
• Inca Trail II 2013
• Inca Trail I 2013
• 2013 Kilimanjaro Cancer Climb
• Spanish Immersion with Mayan Tropics & Honduran Island Paradise
• Kilimanjaro Climb 2012
• Nicaragua Volunteer Adventure 2012
• In the Footsteps of Buddha 2011
• Iceland & Greenland 2011
• 2011 Kilimanjaro Climb for Cancer
• Everest Base Camp 2010
• Bhutan Sept. 26, 2010
• Galapagos 2010

Viewing Post for: Bhutan Sept. 26, 2010

Date: October 9
Location: Thimpu, Bhutan!

Wow. Today completed the last day of our wonderful journey through the happiest nation in the world. Waking up to the familiar sounds of horsemen "schwa"-ing at mules and the peaceful sounds of the river we all packed up before having breakfast around 8. Thankfully the rain had stopped and after a wonderful bonfire last night most of our wet equipment was at least semi-dry.
Breakfast consisted of rice porridge, and momos which are steamed dough balls. Upon our request, Russian, our marvelous cook, made them for us which was a nice surprise. Many of us will be sorry to leave the wonderful cooking he provided for us all week!
After breakfast we walked the remainder of the footpath out to the bridge to the road, along the way noticing how different things were from when we had passed through days before. Firstly, the trail was saturated & muddy requiring much more concentration to navigate, as stone hopping was a must as most forgot to wear gators. Secondly, the landscape had changed, fields we had walked through before filled with rice where now completely harvested. Some still had piles of rice in the fields but most were barren.

As we approached the bridge some of the group were lucky enough to witness a local family using machines to separate the rice from the stalks. The two boys vigorously working the machines (which were foot powered) provided a nice show for us, including one-handed operation of the machine as well as arm pumping action. It was quite entertaining.
Crossing the bridge this time proved to by much less of an ordeal as the first time, and no cows were encountered trying to go the wrong way. The actual road (that cars drive on) was decidedly worse than the footpath, and the next hour and a half was spent walking through wet clay/dirt. Even though it wasn't deep it was still annoying and slowed the pace down considerably.
Walking past one of the schools along the road we were lucky enough to witness a soccer game, as well as the fight that accompanies a 9-10 year old unsupervised game. Comically, they used us as a barrier to run around to avoid each other, but quickly disappeared when the tourists (us) looked like they would join in the fun  :)

About 35 mins away from the bus, CJ, David and Robin hitched ride in the back end of a Nissan pickup that belonged to one of Robin's friends. The youngsters reported it was the best ride they had ever experienced in Bhutan, while Robin reported a sore behind. The rest of the group thinks the boys were too frail to have made it without assistance and throughout the night used it repetitively to improve their self image. Hilarious.

After everyone made it to the bus, we were forced to wait almost 45 mins for our bags to arrive, as part of the horse caravan. While we waited several members visited a shop, while Chris attempted to woo his (potential) wife on the steps out front.
The horses finally arrived, we claimed our bags, loaded the bus and settled in for a 2hr ride from Paro to Thimpu.
Once at the hotel we had a nice lunch, which was hurried along with enticing thoughts of hot showers and clean bodies! Lunch quickly ended and the cleansing began.

After everyone was clean we left the hotel to go buy awesome knives (which greatly pleased the men as for once they were spending the money) and visited the largest statue of Buddha in the world. Following the Buddha, which overlooks Thimpu and was donated by a billionaire from Singapore, more shopping ensued in the heart of the capital.
Most were happy to be heading back to the hotel around 645, although we were slightly delayed with one member blowing us off. After returning to the hotel we ate dinner with the president of the tour agency that hosted us in Bhutan. His wife and son also joined us.

Tomorrow we leave Bhutan for one night in Nepal, and then leave on Monday for the arduous journey home. Because of traveling this will be our final post. We will receive messages once more. Saturday night (your time) will be the last posts we will receive.
-Some interesting facts about Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan.
-It is the only capital in the world without traffic lights. We hope this is not something they plan on maintaing.
-40,000 of the 70,000 residents are Indian workers.
-Due to its location there is no possible way to build an airport. There are two airports in Bhutan, one in Paro and one being renovated in the south.
-The king lives in Paro, however in a very modest wooden home. He does not have a salary but asks his treasurer for anything he needs. Since he is in charge of the military this usually works out well.

The blog writers would like to thank CJ & David for writing such wonderful blogs. We hope they have inspired future blogs  and pps trips continue to see such high levels of reader involvement  :) 
THANKS FOR READING AND WE'll SEE YOU SOON!!

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