Bhutan > Welcome to Bhutan

I wake up to noise in the hallway. It’s almost eight o’clock. In a few minutes, my own alarm will go off as well. I take a shower. The water is lukewarm, but enough to wash myself. At nine o’clock, I meet Maarten and Monique again. According to the big book at the reception desk, we were the last guests last night. This morning, we are also the first guests to check out. There is a taxi waiting outside. For a third of yesterday’s price, we get driven back to the airport. The suitcases lie on the roof, tied down with a piece of string. We have already checked in, so we can go straight to the baggage drop-off. Although the queue here is much shorter, it doesn’t offer any advantage. The guy behind the desk takes his time with the paperwork. Whether it is inexperience or extra thoroughness is unclear. It doesn’t really matter; everyone is on the same plane. We have plenty of time. The suitcases with the luggage tags roll backward. We will see those again in Bhutan. At customs, the officer notes that we have also arrived today. “Is that right?” he asks. Because we passed customs after midnight yesterday, the stamp already shows the 29th. So that is correct. He is fine with that and stamps the passport on a random page somewhere in the middle. This morning, there was no breakfast available at the hotel. So we buy a sandwich at Subway and coffee at the McDonald’s next door. Basically, a breakfast. The travel agent already checked us in last Thursday for our flight. He gave us seats by the left window. This should offer the best view of the impressive Himalayan giants. This is no exaggeration. When we are in the air, we see the snowy peaks of the mountains over seven kilometers high shining in the sun. As we approach Bhutan, turbulence is warned for. The plane descends between the mountains into the valley. The pilot makes a sharp turn and then heads toward Paro airport. On both sides, I see mountain slopes. The pilot safely lands the plane. Outside, the weather is pleasant.

Bhutan - The landing in the Paro valley between the mountains

Despite the high altitude of 2,300 meters, it feels warm. This will probably change once the sun disappears behind the mountains. The airport building is constructed in traditional Bhutanese style. Bhutanese architecture is characterized by refined woodcarving, often with religious motifs, dragons, and other symbols. This woodcarving can be found on doors, windows, and balconies. Much attention has been paid to the interior design. This makes the wait at customs pleasant. The customs officer asks if this is my first time in Bhutan. When I confirm, he asks if I can tell people in the Netherlands that they should come to Bhutan too. I promise him. Laughing, he stamps the visa in my passport. The baggage belt is also decorated in typical Bhutanese style. Not like other airports with a large hall and baggage belts. The space is colorful, and in the middle of the baggage belt stands a huge model of the Punakha monastery. There is also a currency exchange office here. We exchange one hundred euros per person into Bhutanese Ngultrum. Handy to have local money on hand. Outside the arrival hall, Rinchen is waiting for us. He is dressed in traditional Bhutanese attire: a long dark checked suit with large white cuffs on the sleeves. Underneath, he wears high knee socks. All guides waiting here for customers wear this clothing. At the car, we meet Gelle. “The smallest driver in Bhutan,” Rinchen jokes. Gelle is not tall but very friendly. He drives us from the airport to the center of Paro, a few kilometers away. In the center, next to the stupa, is the Sunday market. We stroll among the stalls selling mainly vegetables and fruit. People don’t seem fazed by tourists. Probably every tour starts here. Also, in the main street of Paro, there are more souvenir shops than regular stores. All houses are built according to traditional Bhutanese architecture.

Bhutan - Mostly vegetables and fruit are sold at the Paro market

This building style is mandatory, Rinchen explains. Even the new concrete houses must look traditional from the outside. This gives the streets a colorful appearance. In a small shop, we buy something to drink. Outside, the sun is disappearing behind the mountains. It instantly feels chilly. Around five o’clock, we return to the car. I only now notice that Bhutan is half an hour ahead of India. This means a time difference of five hours with the Netherlands. It used to be four hours, but last night winter time started in the Netherlands. Gelle drives us to the hotel just outside Paro’s center. A beautiful hotel, naturally also built in traditional architecture. Inside, we are welcomed with a welcome drink while the luggage is carried upstairs. My room is on the second floor. I notice I am tired. However, I dare not lie down—I’m afraid I will fall into a deep sleep. At seven o’clock, dinner is ready in the hotel restaurant. We will probably eat here every day during the coming week. To visit Bhutan, you pay a daily tax. Accommodation and food are included in this amount. Because of this, you can only visit places approved by the government. Several dishes appear on the table. For drinks, we get tea and water. Probably according to local tradition. It’s noticeable that I’m staying at over two kilometers altitude. The air is thin, and it is not very warm in the restaurant. After dinner, I quickly go to my room. Although it is not yet nine o’clock, I crawl under the covers.

Bhutan - The first hotel where we stay in Bhutan