Into Thimphu Valley

22 March 2024

Altitude 7590

We wake to a magical morning.

Thin fluffy clouds float over the valley and around the Trongsa Dzong and Taa Dzong Watch Tower. A dusting of snow lays on the pine trees and peaks. Rays of sunlight come thru a mountain pass highlighting the valley, clouds and dzong. Finally, the glowing orb of the sun itself rises over the mountains to the east. This is the morning we have been waiting for.

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Retracing Our Drive to Trongsa

21 March 2024

Altitude 7200′

Bumthang has its own domestic airport, one of four airports in Bhutan.  It opened in 2011 only to be closed due to damage to an instability of the runway.

After repairs, Drukair turboprops departed the runway, climbed over the surrounding mountain peaks, and flew on to Paro a couple times a week. Not even their “My Happiness Reward” program could convince me to do so. 

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