DAY 7 - 29 JUNE 2024, SATURDAY

A Change of Plans and a Scenic Drive

After conquering Tiger's Nest and indulging in the rejuvenating hot stone bath, we thought the highlights of our Bhutan trip were behind us. Little did we know, a new twist awaited us.

A leisurely 7 AM wake-up call was followed by our usual routine of tea, bath, and breakfast at the hotel. Birkha informed us of an unexpected change. Due to a medical emergency in the driver's family  – our regular vehicle and driver wouldn't be available. He assured us he'd arrange a replacement vehicle and driver for our journey back to Phuentsholing.

While waiting for the replacement (which arrived around 10:30 AM), we used the extra time in various ways: some captured the beautiful surroundings through photographs, others caught up on sleep from the previous day's trek, and I continued reading my Agatha Christie novel.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Finally, Birkha arrived with a slightly larger and more comfortable vehicle driven by a new driver. To our delight, the driver's wife had successfully delivered a healthy baby girl! This news filled us with joy as we loaded our luggage and hit the road towards Phuentsholing.

A Return Trip with Unexpected Delights

After an hour-long drive, we stopped for a tea break before continuing our journey. This time, crossing the Paro International Airport wasn't graced with a landing or takeoff sighting.

The return trip followed the same route, but a thick fog added a unique atmosphere. Geetha and I took the front seats and enjoyed the scenic drive, admiring the driver's skill as he navigated the road. We encountered groups of cows casually occupying the road and troops of monkeys observing us from the sides.

A lunch break at a restaurant offered a panoramic view of a valley and dam.



Returning to Familiar Ground

After lunch, we reached Phuentsholing. Birkha took us straight to immigration, where we exited Bhutan and re-entered as casual visitors with a 24-hour validity visa.

Checking into Hotel Tashi Namgay Grand, we were surprised (or relieved?) to find ourselves assigned the same rooms (601 and 602) we had during our initial arrival in Bhutan. It felt like a homecoming of sorts.

We switched on the TV, hoping to catch the India-South Africa T20 World Cup finals from Barbados. Priya's budget planning had been so precise that we'd spent almost all the local currency, except for a few notes I planned to give my nephew, a collector of coins and currency.

Unfortunately, the match was delayed due to rain. Opting to finish my Agatha Christie novel, I went to sleep, completely unaware of the unexpected twist that awaited us in the wee hours of the morning.

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