Well I made it. 36 hours of traveling with 12 hours of time change.
Left Sunday morning, arrived in Paro on Tuesday morning. Relatively painless except for my flight from Bangkok to Paro was canceled and was replaced by a flight that was 2 hours later and got me into the country 3 hours later. I missed my first car but a second was sent. I dropped by a hotel in Paro where a bunch of the National Environment Commission (NEC) members were staying including the secretary.
I arrived in a house that is fairly modern of Tshering Choden. A wonderful family with 4 generations in the house. Grandmother all the way to a cute one year old baby. They have been wonderful and I have eaten meals with them, all grown organically in their large garden.
Chilis and rice with every meal, not especially hot but very hot still. I learned that the chillis that I had eaten in december that were fresh and too hot to eat were actually indian chilis that can be bought in bulk for cheaper. So the food is edible! As long as you like spicy.
The photos below are from the drive from paro to Thimphu, with some photos from a walk in Thimphu, where I took a small hike and went to the river. There was a lot of trash around, it is a sad sight.
I am still looking to move into an apartment so I have not built my bike yet but there are bike shops around town and even a member of the NEC has told me about trails around. I am looking at an apartment that will allow me to bike without riding through the city with a crazy amount of aggressive drivers.
For now it has been procedure, but I did get to go to a going away party for some indian consultants with the secretary, a late night while trying to fight off sleep from adjusting to the 12 hour difference. So I'll catch up on sleep, get all my permits done, find a place to live and stock up on food from the market, and I will start exploring! (Not to mention I am not allowed to travel far without a work permit).
Left Sunday morning, arrived in Paro on Tuesday morning. Relatively painless except for my flight from Bangkok to Paro was canceled and was replaced by a flight that was 2 hours later and got me into the country 3 hours later. I missed my first car but a second was sent. I dropped by a hotel in Paro where a bunch of the National Environment Commission (NEC) members were staying including the secretary.
I arrived in a house that is fairly modern of Tshering Choden. A wonderful family with 4 generations in the house. Grandmother all the way to a cute one year old baby. They have been wonderful and I have eaten meals with them, all grown organically in their large garden.
Chilis and rice with every meal, not especially hot but very hot still. I learned that the chillis that I had eaten in december that were fresh and too hot to eat were actually indian chilis that can be bought in bulk for cheaper. So the food is edible! As long as you like spicy.
The photos below are from the drive from paro to Thimphu, with some photos from a walk in Thimphu, where I took a small hike and went to the river. There was a lot of trash around, it is a sad sight.
I am still looking to move into an apartment so I have not built my bike yet but there are bike shops around town and even a member of the NEC has told me about trails around. I am looking at an apartment that will allow me to bike without riding through the city with a crazy amount of aggressive drivers.
For now it has been procedure, but I did get to go to a going away party for some indian consultants with the secretary, a late night while trying to fight off sleep from adjusting to the 12 hour difference. So I'll catch up on sleep, get all my permits done, find a place to live and stock up on food from the market, and I will start exploring! (Not to mention I am not allowed to travel far without a work permit).
Very cool pictures Kevin! What a great opportunity! Post more, and tell me if you spot a dhole! -joe
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