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Weekend in Bhutan: Drukair A319 BKK-DAC-PBH, Chill at Uma Paro

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  • #16
    The Views



    View from my bed





    View of Paro Village from the restaurant. Tough shot because of the trees..



    Walking in the grounds early morning before my flight home
    Last edited by 9V-SIA; 17 May 2009, 03:03 PM.

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    • #17
      Cuisine of Uma Paro

      Our welcome lunch...

      Starter

      Asparagus soup & potato dumplings with chervil

      Main Course

      There were 11 main courses. I thought we had to choose one.
      Actually, we had all of them...tapas style, I guess
      Some of the mains (that I remembered to photograph)



      Seaweed noodles, forest fern soya & chilli dressing



      Miso marinated chicken skewers, red rice, orange, pistachios & apricots



      Maple roasted pumpkin, beets, roasted pepper, mozzarella & rocket pesto



      Tomatoes, basil, red onions, Manzullo olives & cow cheese



      Pork sausages, roasted mushrooms, roasted garlic & rosemary



      Ocean trout, buckwheat linguini, cherry tomatoes, chilli, dill & watercress

      Dessert

      Orange reverse with orange compote & orange reduction

      Vanilla ice cream
      Last edited by 9V-SIA; 17 May 2009, 08:04 PM.

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      • #18
        The 2 must see places in Bhutan are
        Punakha Dzong - the seat of Buddhism in Bhutan - and
        Taktsang ( Tiger's Nest ) - the holiest site in Bhutan.

        Each outing is a whole day affair.
        Punakha Dzong involves lots of driving and
        Taktsang takes lots of walking.



        Punakha Dzong



        Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest

        The journey to these spots is worth describing...

        Journey to Punakha Dzong

        Introduction

        When you look at a map of Bhutan, it looks like there are many roads. There aren't. There's actually only one main road with branches leading to the capital of a province. It's a winding road reflecting the mountainous terrain.

        Walking trails are marked on the map to make the country look more "connected". Campsites along the trails are also marked in. I'm told Bhutanese still walk across the mountain ranges to get around.

        The mountainous terrain, and the resulting isolation of Bhutanese communities,
        probably explains why for a country with a population of 700,000 ( living in an area 17% larger than Switzerland),
        they speak 3 main dialects & many minor dialects. Our butler spoke 7 dialects. Written language is the same though.

        The drive from Paro to Punakha Dzong is in 2 parts:
        • Paro to Thimpu road follows a river valley
        • Thimpu to Punakha road cuts across a mountain range ( reminds me of the old road to Cameron Highlands )


        Bhutan Map

        You can do the Paro to Thimpu run in 1 hour; Thimpu to Punakha in 2.5 hours but that would be missing the point of exploring the country!



        First stop along the Paro - Thimpu road. Iron ore mine. Ore is exported to India.



        Bridge over the Paro Chu, connecting the mine to the main road



        Typical scene along the river valley road to Thimpu



        Chhuzom: One of the few places in Bhutan where 4 roads meet at a bridge so..



        ..check point. Compulsory to stop and show your travel documents.
        That's our van. Sit in front as the ride gets choppy over the rear axle.
        Last edited by 9V-SIA; 3 June 2010, 01:57 PM.

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        • #19
          Thimpu Main Square

          We stopped at the Main Square for a bio break at hotel to right of picture.



          The Main Square. Note the prayer wheels on right.



          Pan left and there's seating for their village meetings.



          Car park where we parked. But look at the buildings.
          The townsfolk wear modern Western style clothes ( jeans ),
          not like the provinces, where the men wear gho and the women kira.
          Thimpu is losing it's Bhutanese character thanks to TV (1998) & internet (?) access.
          Paro is much more charming.
          After the break, we headed for the Farmer's Market.

          Thimpu Farmer's Market: the expected

          I love visiting the markets/supermarkets in the countries I visit.
          Gives me a flavor of the people living there.
          Thimpu market is open Fri to Sun.





          90% of Bhutanese live on subsistence farming.
          Wheat in winter & rice in the summer for their own consumption, apples as a cash crop for export to Bangladesh.
          Agriculture & livestock contributes 45% of GNP.
          (But the two best paying jobs are in the tourism & hydroelectric power industries)





          Pretty conventional stuff but...
          Last edited by 9V-SIA; 19 May 2009, 06:39 AM.

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          • #20
            Awesome so far, 9V-SIA. Bhutan is one place I've always wanted to visit.
            ‘Lean into the sharp points’

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            • #21
              Thanks for the report. I was going to visit Bhutan a few years ago (DEL-PBH-CCU) but had trouble getting visa arranged in time - needed my passport too much that year.

              The descent into Queenstown is supposed to be fairly similar to Paro, except not quite as hair-raising (or Milford Sound in the little prop a/c). Lots of fun.

              Originally posted by 9V-SIA View Post
              I had a memorable private briefing from the FA that went something like this...
              "9V-SIA, please read instructions (on the seat back in front )on how to open the emex door.
              Do not open the door until instructed to by the Captain.
              You may be the first to leave the plane when the door is open.
              However, do not open the door if there is a fire outside"
              That is the standard briefing (have you never sat in an emergency exit row before?). If there is a fire outside the emergency exit then opening it just brings the fire inside quicker. Exit the other side of a/c if possible.
              ..

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              • #22
                unreal ! totally awesome

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                • #23
                  Very very nice, thanks for posting!

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                  • #24
                    Logged in to check for updates as soon as I work up. Outstanding! What's the temperature like at this time of the year?

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                    • #25
                      milehighj, SQflyergirl, ginkoka, LHR, UMD, jjbb3 Thanks for tuning in.

                      UMD Plane was 60% full, I reckon

                      LHR Temp 11 to 23 degrees C. Best time to visit Spring and Autumn

                      pogonation Fare BKK-PBH-BKK was USD 826

                      andySYD Visa and air ticket handled by Uma Paro. There are agents in Singapore who organize trips to Bhutan and do everything for you



                      Kiwi Interesting. Didn't know this private briefing was widespread for emex seat PAXs
                      I don't fly on single aisled planes often given my propensity to fly SQ

                      This TR must be boring for Highlander like yourself,
                      You're probably wondering ...mountains...what's the big deal?
                      But for a Lowlander from the equator like myself very big deal!

                      Sorry for delay in finishing TR.
                      I had to work over the weekend to pay for my trip
                      Have to look through 1500 pictures and choose the best if I don't want this TR to become a novel.
                      Last edited by 9V-SIA; 18 May 2009, 07:20 PM.

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                      • #26
                        Fabulous TR 9V-SIA. Can't wait for more

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                        • #27
                          Thimpu Farmer's Market: the unexpected

                          (What we don't get in Singapore)




                          Yak cheese



                          Bhutanese red rice, the price of which is rising from US demand



                          Betelnut



                          Different types of incense!!!



                          View from the Farmer's Market car park
                          Last edited by 9V-SIA; 27 May 2009, 11:31 PM.

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                          • #28
                            Dochu La Pass

                            From Thimpu, the scenery changes from river valley road to mountain pass type road.





                            Reminds me a lot of the old road to Cameron Highlands.



                            Dochu La Pass

                            The top of the mountain pass that leads you from Thimpu to Punakha.
                            At 3,140m, the highest point of my trip.
                            There's a memorial put up in 2004 to commemorate a small war fought to push back Indian refugees occupying southern Bhutan.



                            On a fine day, you can see the Himalayan Mountain Ranges from here.
                            No such luck today so....



                            ....we turn our attention to the hillside behind us.
                            We brought our own prayer flags to hang there.
                            It is said that whatever you wish for will come true...

                            So I wished for:
                            • J class travel forever
                            • More upgrades to F
                            • Greeted by name on boarding
                            • Hot towels
                            • Warm nuts.....and it's all come true so far...




                            HEY!!! You guys got here before me, right?!
                            Last edited by 9V-SIA; 18 May 2009, 03:35 PM.

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                            • #29
                              Picnic Lunch

                              On our descent from Dochu La Pass into Punakha valley, a short stop to place Tza Tzas at this stupa.




                              The stupa adorned with prayer flags



                              Tza Tzas placed by other travelers. They are small, traditional mud mouldings,
                              blessed and placed on the mountain paths you will subsequently travel.



                              We had a Tza Tza making session at Uma on the day of our arrival. This is mine..



                              We passed Punakha Dzong on our way to our lunch spot, a rafting campsite. In fact, the only rafting campsite in Bhutan.
                              We had a great traditional Bhutanese lunch.
                              I will try to get pictures from my fellow travelers and post here... I just ate.



                              The tents were arranged in pairs. Double bed & 2 singles so I guess they are targetting families.
                              They have proper (shared) bathrooms at the back.
                              You can hear the sound of flowing water in the background



                              Check out the views.
                              But it was hot! It was a beautiful, sunny day.
                              And we had descended from an altitude of 2,530m (Paro) to 1,200m (Punakha).
                              The bottled water I had half drunk had collapsed because of the change in pressure.

                              So what would you pay to stay here?
                              You'll be surprised how much it costs!
                              Last edited by 9V-SIA; 19 May 2009, 01:39 AM.

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                              • #30
                                Punakha Dzong



                                The view of Punakha Dzong from the north.
                                Water level of Puna Tsang Chu is low now.
                                But in 1958, a glacial lake burst it's banks and destroyed the bridge (bazam) and damaged the Dzong.



                                A plan hatched in 2004 to rebuild the bazam. With German financing & Swiss design,
                                a new Punakha Dzong Bazam was completed 2008
                                in time for the coronation of the new (5th) King at Punakha.



                                Cross the bridge...



                                ...glance right to admire Punakha Dzong and the purple Jacaranda.
                                They flower for 2 weeks a year and we were there to see it!



                                Then up the steep stairs....
                                Note: you can make out the bazam behind the Jacaranda



                                ...spin the prayer wheel at the top of the stairs...



                                ..and you're into the first of 3 courtyards.



                                Courtyard from the other side





                                Last edited by 9V-SIA; 27 May 2009, 11:33 PM.

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