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Land of the Thunder Dragon (Or, less mythical, "Land of the Friendly Dogs")

Visiting Bhutan

Annette
2005-08-29 18:40:32

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drops a mere foot or two from the side of the van, and towering mountains rising up on the other side. The distance as the crow flies is a mere 43 miles, but the road winds on and on for 100 miles, which takes a bit over 6 hours to drive. This is not for wimps - people who get carsick should not apply! I was quite glad to be in a small minivan rather than a full-size bus. Actually, nobody could have paid me enough to ride in a full-size bus! Words cannot describe my appreciation for the care the driver took along those roads. I truly felt my life was in his (fortunately very capable) hands.

Traveling in winter, the off season in Bhutan, is unique in its own way. The days are clear with an intensely blue sky and bright sunshine melting the night-time frost. By 9 o'clock in the morning, the nippy chill is out of the air, and a pleasant winter day in the mountains has arrived. December and early January are months with little rainfall. The snow often comes later, by February, but dustings of snow and icy patches will be encountered in higher elevations and through the passes. Hotels have either small electric spaceheaters to take the chill out of the air, or small wood burning stoves in each room. Water is heated centrally in most hotels (which at times meant no warm water to speak of), or with an electric water heater that provided hot water for a short time each evening. Layered clothing and a warm pajama to sleep in are definitely a must in winter. Overall, the arrangements make for a very 'egalitarian' travel experience. It doesn't matter whether you arrive with the most expensive U.S. tour operator that provided you with fancy pamphlets on expensive paper, or whether you planned your own trip. Bhutan's per day rate is the same for all, and certainly the arrangements will be comparable for all. In summer, I was told, when the bulk of the tourists all arrive in roughly a three-month-window, hotels as well as restaurants ...