ON OUR WAY TO PARO, BHUTAN:

 ON OUR WAY TO PARO, BHUTAN: 

Up and at um, nice and early bags are packed and ready. Our meeting time was pushed back to 0430. Yet I am still up early. That is a good thing. 

I learned yesterday our flight will have a layover in Dhaka, Bangladesh. HOW KEWL IS THAT!

We enjoyed a relaxing breakfast. 

We then gathered our bags and made our way to the lobby. Then as a group we walked to the Terminal and proceeded to check in and used Fast Track to clear security and passport control. 

We had a few extra minutes during which we joined another couple and found a Priority Pass Lounge. We toasted the trip with a sparkling wine. 



Then we made our way to the gate where our expedition expert David Scott Silverberg gave us a great geological mini lecture about the terrain we would be flying over. We then boarded the plane.

 The flight to Dhaka was uneventful. In Dhaka we had to remain on the plane and wait for additional passengers to board. 

The flight to Paro, Bhutan started a bit bumpy. I used the compass app on my phone to track our altitude. Thus I knew when we started our approach.  

One of the aspects of this trip is the flight into Paro, Bhutan. It is the most challenging and difficult approaches  in the WORLD! There are just a handful of pilots qualified to make this approach. Sit back and watch this video. 



AVIATION GEEKS THIS IS A MUST WATCH: 

The MOST CHALLENGING approach on earth - Paro Runway 15

Here is a link for you. AMAZING


This was an amazing approach and having some knowledge of the pattern made it even more of an amazing experience.

 

 

After landing I sure enjoyed the cool mountain air and low humidity.

I was totally WOWED!!! by the terminal in Paro. The Bhutanese architecture and design made it the best airport I have ever been to in terms of peaceful calming . 

Baggage claim was also a joy.

 

 

 Our bags were gathered and we were off to our bus, which easily accommodated our whole group. 

It was a short ride to the center of Paro where we walked about for a short time before having lunch at a local restaurant. 

 

The meal was excellent, chicken, potatoes, asparagus, rice, Chili and cheese (a national dish), fresh squeezed watermelon juice, noodles and a mashed pumpkin. All was great. I really enjoyed the chili cheese and it was no where near as hot as I expected, it was rather mild. 



After lunch we were driven to a local Buddhist Temple where we received a blessing for our journey. We also lit a butter candle as we made a prayer. I had special prayer for a recently departed friend. 

Next to the Temple was a vegetable market. We enjoyed walking about taking photos and see what was offered. It was here we saw our first red rice. All the vegetables looked great and there was much color to be photographed.

 

 

Back to the bus and made the drive towards Thimphu.  We made a stop along the way to talk about the different stupas and some very interesting geology points of interest. 

 Pemako Thimphu our hotel for the next two nights.  After checking in we had a trip briefing explaining procedures and cultural courtesies. 

Then it was off to a local restaurant to have a meal with a gentleman who had served The King of Bhutan. Much was learned about the form of government and how the people of Bhutan describe happiness. 

Back  to the hotel for a briefing about tomorrow and get organized and get some laundry done.