6-Weeks in Bhutan: Settling In
(sorry for the weird picture placement – I’m trying to sort this out)…
After snaking through the Paro valley wondering, again, if we’d clip the wings of our aircraft on the surrounding mountains, I arrived at the clean tranquil airport to a familiar face. The Bhutanese seem to work off of, not 6, but about 3 degrees of separation—so my immediately recognizing a familiar face did not surprise me. Karma had been delayed in picking me up at the airport, and as I stood on the curb—the conspicuous solo white chick—a couple of taxi drivers approached me and gently and kindly asked me if I needed a ride. If you’ve traveled to many airports in developing countries, you get that the ‘gently and kindly’ part is not usual behavior for people soliciting you for work. I then spotted Kazang, who was our polished and uber-professional tour guide for our Trekkers on Expedition Bhutan. He greeted me warmly, we briefly caught up on life and news and and then he offered to support my stay in any way he could. This will be my existence and the Bhutanese way for the next 6 weeks—warmth, connection, support.
As we snaked through river valleys and narrow roads dodging and weaving between large trucks, I settled in. It felt like I had never left. Karma and I caught up on the latest and then dove right into substantive conversation. Karma has become a brother to our Team and our initial conversation proved that no distance had passed between that connection.
view from my apartment deck
I’m staying in a basic, clean and modern one bedroom apartment in downtown Thimphu. If I’m required to be in the city I wanted to be centrally located. Karma took this request literally and got me this great little place just a short, pigeon infused ally-way from the main street and hub of activity in Thimphu.
As the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu is a long narrow valley several miles long and human habitation is visible throughout the valley floor. It is by far the largest city in the country and hosts 100,000 of the countries 800,000 people. And as with most swiftly growing cities, there is congestion and incessant construction alongside the calm strolling Bhutanese. I’m really excited about deconstructing the inner workings of life in Thimphu and sharing that with you here!
my cute little apartment living room
But after an early morning short jog (and instant reminder that I am over 8000 feet), I need to prepare for my first day at the Bhutan Olympic Committee office. I have been informed that they work from 9-1, and then 2-5, Monday – Friday and I’ll be working with them 2-3 of those days per week. I’ve never had such a civilized work schedule and I’m curious to see how much we can get done in this time each day. In between I’ll be doing my own work projects inclusive of a variety of interviews with the Bhutanese as well as putting in a formal request for an audience with the 4th King (fingers crossed). In the immediate future we’ll be heading to Olympic Day in Haa Valley next week and I’d like to hit up the Mr. Bhutan body building contest coming up here in Thimphu. The social schedule is already mounting.
Karma making my first (of many) rice meals
Lots to share – back at you very soon. These pics are of my great little residence and Karma making my first (of many) pots of rice!
Back at you soon,
Terri
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