Febrary 26th - Kathmandu to Paro

We set of fairly early to the airport for our flight to Paro, Bhutan. At this point I was still nervous that there would be some problem with the visa's, but in the end Erica's contacts came through and we were allowed into the country with no problem. Getting through the airport at Kathmandu, however, was an exercise in chaos which would raise the blood pressure of even the calmest person. Upon leaving the van, numerous people rushed over wanting to "help" us with our bags in exchange for a tip. The ticketing hall was so full of people that one couldn't move. There were no obvious signs on where to go, and if you didn't have the right stamps or tags at any point, you were sent back to the beginning. Somehow we made it through all the lines with the right set of stickers and made it onto the plane along with the other passengers, half of whom were Buddhist monks.

Hanging out in the departures hall of Kathmandu airport

The short 60 minute flight took us into the beautiful Paro valley and one of the remotest spots on earth. The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has been effectively cut off from the rest of the world until very recently. Even now, only a handful of tourists are allowed in each year.

The airport in Paro is considered one of the most difficult approaches in the world, and there are only 6 pilots certified to fly into this airport. The plane make a slow descent between two mountain ranges, and then makes a quick 90 degree turn at the last minute right before landing.

Sammy, Owen, and Cathy getting off the plane in Paro

Entry formalities took no time at all, and soon we met our guide, Gung Cho, and were on our way to the Hotel Zhiwa Ling. The short drive up the hill exposed us to the unusual architecture of Bhutan, and we were impressed by how clean and unchaotic everything was. The valley was just beautiful, although the usual snow covered peaks were not to be seen due to the effects of climate change. Soon we checked into the hotel, found our rooms, and then got back into the van for lunch at a local restaurant in the town of Paro.

The lobby of the Hotel Zhiwa Ling

A typical street scene in Paro

After lunch we went back to the Hotel, dropped off the kids, and then headed to a regional health facility higher up the mountain.  This health unit services the Taktshang complex (Tigers Nest temple) along with several remote villages along the border with Tibet, some of which are only reachable via a 4 day hike. Should we return to Bhutan late this year, I am hoping it might be possible to join a health worker as he/she visits some of these remote villages.

We had a relaxed dinner at the Hotel and were then promised no morning meetings the next day, allowing some of us to make the gruelling hike up to Tigers Nest.