Waking up to the sounds of the siliguri hotel room, I pulled my covers further up over my head. Some pleasures in life are as sweet as sleeping in a winter morning! I reluctantly left bed and after a bit of aimless loitering tidied my bag and got ready for breakfast. Isaac had long taken his French bath as he prefers to call it..I call it a short cut!
We packed our bags and went to the adjoining restaurent within the hotel for the complimentary breakfast. Soon after we took an auto rickshaw to the airport to board our flight to paro.
The airport authority of india has recently introduced immigration desks for bhutan and our co passengers were a mix of indians and bhutanese..even a bunch of tamil brahmins who were clad in dhotis! I was wondering if they will continue to wear them in bhutan where the temperature was anticipated to be around 10 deg C.
We packed our bags and went to the adjoining restaurent within the hotel for the complimentary breakfast. Soon after we took an auto rickshaw to the airport to board our flight to paro.
The airport authority of india has recently introduced immigration desks for bhutan and our co passengers were a mix of indians and bhutanese..even a bunch of tamil brahmins who were clad in dhotis! I was wondering if they will continue to wear them in bhutan where the temperature was anticipated to be around 10 deg C.
Soon after we boarded the plane and were welcomed by pretty Bhutanese airhostesses in kiras. National dress of bhutan is a matter of pride and necessity. The men wear traditional gho which is kind of a tunic with mostly large white hand cuffs, the tunic ending at the knee. While the women wear a kira, an ankle length skirt with a warm short jacket often with a broach.
As there is a time diff of half an hour between indian n bhutanese time, and the flight is only half an hour long, so we started at 11 am and reached paro at 11 an itself!
We were met with clouds mostly, though isaac says that on a clear day one can see the kanchenjunga peaks.
Upon descent in the valley the aircraft glides over real close to the ground and offers you a chance to study the rippling clear waters of the river below and trees are so close that you fear bumping into them.
Soon we made it to paro and the cool welcoming breeze and the warmth of the subshine gladdened every visitor upon descent from the aircraft. A large potrait of the his majesty, the young wangchuck king and his queen greet the visitors.
After the immigration check we found isaac's car in perfect condition waiting at the airport parking. The poor thing had been standing there in storm n sun for over 15 days. She made it just fine! Good girl:)
Off we went to meet isaac's friend bakhta, who was to show us around paro. Unfortunately he had a meeting to attend so we made plans to visit the paro attractions upon my return from thimpu.
Hungry as we were, we searched around Paro for eatries. Pretty buildings bearing traditional Bhutanese facade on the outside dotted all of Paro. Isaac pointed out the church to me where he and rachna had had their christian wedding two years ago.
We then went to an eatery for traditional bhutanese fare. I ordered suja or butter tea, chicken maroo - a soupy spicy dish of minced chicken, ema datchi - traditonal bhutanese soupy dish made of cheese and vegetables, jeju made of garlic sea weed and coconut milk and thoupa, with local red rice. All this tasted excellent and was so light onbthe stomach. Issac was worrying if I would like it or not...but honestly it was one of the best meals I had had in days.
We then went to an eatery for traditional bhutanese fare. I ordered suja or butter tea, chicken maroo - a soupy spicy dish of minced chicken, ema datchi - traditonal bhutanese soupy dish made of cheese and vegetables, jeju made of garlic sea weed and coconut milk and thoupa, with local red rice. All this tasted excellent and was so light onbthe stomach. Issac was worrying if I would like it or not...but honestly it was one of the best meals I had had in days.
Post lunch we set off to thimpu via a long winding road with weeping willows, mountains and a river beneath us. We took a small break by the river for dipping our feet in the cold mountain river water! Bliss!
THIMPU...the capital city is as magnificent as it is beautiful. Taller buildings than all of bhutan, ongoing construction activities, show rooms for cars, a mall or two, and frenzied acitivity seem to announce that the city is the place of action for most of bhutan.
There are stadiums, schools, institutes, city square, government buildings, vegetable markets, internet cafes and small and big shops throughout thimpu. We were met by the charming remith, isaac's second sister who took charge of the grocery shopping for our stay.
We got back home and busied ourselves with dinner preparation. Remith made this amazing dry chicken and saag for dinner besides a daal and red rice. The good thing is that all organic produces are found across bhutan so the food is esp flavourful and appetising.
Another great habit of the Bhutanese is the laudatory hot glass of water before and after a meal.
I played with quiet little sonam for a while, daughter of isaac's cousin who lives with remith charmith n lenmith. We made a paper doll and its different dresses in pink and purple.
Dinner was as expected, amazing. I have a new found appetite and respect for bhutanese cuisine now! Will def make few these dishes at home. Looking forward to more of thimpu tomorrow! Sweet dreams traveller
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