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Published: September 26th 2007
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As I write I am on the Druk Air flight to Paro, Bhutan. We have a quick stop in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The flight is not all that long…2 hr 15 min to Dhaka and nearly two hours to Paro. I am beyond excited to start the next part of my journey. Last night I flew from Hong Kong to Bangkok so I could catch this early morning flight. I decided that instead of killing time a t the airport hotel in between my arrival and departure, that I would rather fill my time by heading into the center of Bangkok. I opted to take the bus versus a taxi, which still would have been inexpensive - one hour is only about 10USD versus the 5USD for the bus. But I figured I’d meet more people to bounce around Bangkok with for the night on the bus…so once on the bus I noticed another backpacker that had been on my flight from Hong Kong. Nice guy from Germany and we decided to get off on Khao San Road (thanks Jon!) and find a guest house. We found a quaint, and by quaint I mean basic with shared showers and bathroom (get used
to it Beth!), guest house . Anyway, I am certainly glad to have my own pillow and sheet sack. Afterwards, we found a restaurant on Rambutthi for some red snapper and my favorite, pineapple fried rice. Thomas, the German, really wanted to find an Irish pub…so we ended up at this place called Shamrock for a couple rounds of beer and cider. Ended up home around midnight and I am definitely glad I went into town (minus the down pouring rain). Obviously I didn’t sleep much since I needed to get up at 4 AM - I barely sleep through the night anymore especially when I’m nervous about making an early am flight… I think I woke up several times and maybe slept a total of 2 or 3 max hours.
At the airport I was there two hours early but from the looks of it I think I was the last one to arrive! There were so many people in line! Thankfully I still managed to a window seat. Met a really great girl while standing in line trying to figure out if I was to check-in and get my seat and check a bag or retrieve my
ticket receipt and copy of my visa. So Kelleigh and I tag teamed up to each stand in one line and figure out what we should be doing. She is on a trip with a group of nine through REI and from NYC, which was the instant connection. It sounds really great (older travelers) but I think it would be fun to be with a group, but I guess I will be in Nepal/ Tibet. They are camping out too for like a week, which sounds so much fun to me! Oh well. I think I will get a more unique and cultured experience one on one, however I may not benefit from having another traveler around to ask questions. Aye, it will be fantastic no matter which way!
We are about to land in Bangladesh and it is VERY green….and it seems very flooded…I wonder if there was a typhoon or something recently.
Separately, I am generally feeling quite comfortable traveling. I obviously enjoy the alone time (otherwise I would never have done this type of thing) and I enjoy meeting new people. It’s great fun for me. All the different stories people have to share and where they came from either growing up or their previous travels. I love it!
I have since landed in Paro. Simply put, WOW. That is all I have to say about that plane ride into the airport…leaning and swerving around mountain peaks and in the valleys…it was just insane!! And magnificently gorgeous! I can’t even begin to explain how ridiculously beautiful this country is. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to be here now…in its true state. There are actually more travelers than I had imagined I would see and minus families who have brought their kids (I cant imagine a ten and twelve year old appreciating this type of trip, but who am I to say anything), it appears I am one of the youngest.
We did not spend much time in Paro (I will have 3 nights at the end of the trip), just enough for lunch and then we made our way to Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital.
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