Bhutan 2007

BSB-07 - Bangladesh, Sikkim, Bhutan and India trip With a stop in Hong Kong Date of travel: Sep 3 - Sep 22, 2007 ITINERARY: Late in the afternoon on Sep 3 I drove from Vista in rented car to Los Angeles airport. With Cathay Pacific I left LAX after midnight. The flight to Hong Kong lasted 13 hours and 45 minutes. The plane landed on the new airport in HONG KONG at 5:05AM local time on Sep 5 (thanks to the Date Line). Because my plane to Dhaka leaves at night, I take a sightseeing trip of Hong Kong from the airport. We go by bus to Kowloon Peninsula, then on Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island, some free time and back by Airport Express train. I am leaving Hong Kong before 11PM. The plane lands in Dhaka in BANGLADESH at 0:20 AM local time on Sep 6. From airport to hotel and few hours of sleep. At noon sightseeing tour of Dhaka in a taxi. Streets are full of people, rickshaws and cars. Among other places we stop at Bahadur Khan Park, Ahsan Manzil Pink Palace, Lalbagh Fort, main Hindu Temple Dhakeswari, Parliament Building and about 30 km outside Dhaka at Savar “National Martyrs’ Memorial” (monument to people who lost lives for the country independence). After 7.5 hour tour I am back in my hotel. In the morning on Sep 7 I fly from Dhaka to Paro in BHUTAN. Few minutes after 11AM the plane lands in Paro. With a Bhutan guide I am sightseeing the town of Paro including a museum and Paro Dzong (a castle). Later we drive to the country capital Thimphu. The following day I am exploring this city. Among other places I see a couple of museums, a weekly market, National Memorial Chorten and a temple from 14th century. On Sep 9 I, my guide and a driver in a Toyota go east some 260 km through mountains with passes more than 3,000 m above the sea level to town Jakar. Along the highway we visit several dzongs. The following day there is a sightseeing of the Bumthang Valley in which Jakar lies. Tamshing Goemba (monastery) complex from the 13th century is the first one. Next to see is Kurjey Lhakhang (a temple) part of which is from the 8th century and then Jampey Lhakhang. In the afternoon Jakar Dzong and the town itself. On Sep 11 we start returning west. In Yotong La (a pass 3425 m above sea) my guide and my driver hang a line with prayer flags I paid for. One has to be sure the gods are pleased. Then a look into the Trongsa Dzong. There are many waterfalls along the way. Overnight in a hotel in Punakha. Next day starts with a sightseeing of Punakha Dzong built above a confluence of two rivers. Then we drive to Thimphu for lunch and to Paro for overnight. The following day is a trip to the famous Taktsang Monastery perched on a cliff 900 m above the floor of the Paro Valley. I rented a horse to get there. I go on foot down. In the afternoon I visit a farm house, where the animals are on the ground floor and the people on the first floor. In Bhutan the daughters inherit, while the sons must find a woman with inheritance. We finish with another monastery built by the first king of Bhutan in 7th century. On Sep 14 we leave Paro driving downhill to the southern border town called Phuntsholing. On Sep 15 after passing the border crossing formalities I enter INDIA. I have an Indian guide, an Indian driver and a Chevrolet Tavera van. Today we are driving through the sub-Himalayan parts in the Eastern India some 240 km to Darjeeling, which was founded by the British in 1883 as a refuge from the summer heat of Calcutta. I am housed in the most famous Victoria style “Windamere Hotel” in Darjeeling. Next day is sightseeing of this town. Starting with the Dali Monastery and it is followed by a narrow gauge train ride, which goes through main street, then a small museum about this train. In the afternoon a visit to local zoo. After 2 nights in Darjeeling we visit a Yiga Choling Monastery and then leave the town. After driving on a highway through jungle we enter SIKKIM at noon on Sep 17. Though Sikkim is a part of India, I am getting a stamp of entry to my passport. In the afternoon we come to Sikkim capital, Gangtok. The following day we visit Enchey Monastery. Here I learn that Tibetan Buddhism has 4 branches (hats – yellow, red, black and gray). Dalai Lama represents the yellow hats. In Sikkim there are red and black hats. Then we pass a King’s Palace. Since 1975 there is no king in Sikkim. A stop at handicraft center. Then Do-Drul Chorten Deorali (stupa) followed by a museum. Before noon Rumtek Monastery belonging to black hats. By late afternoon we come to Darjeeling in INDIA again. This time overnight in a new hotel with no history behind. Next morning, on Sep 19, we drive to a place where there is a beautiful unobstructed view of snow covered Himalaya. Then continuing to Bagdogra airport and my flight to Calcutta, which used to be a British capital of India before Delhi. In the next two days I explore Calcutta with a local guide starting with Kolikata, which is the place where Calcutta originated. Then across River Ganges to visit Indian Botanical Gardens founded in 1786. Back in the city spending some time on ghats (steps or platforms) on the banks of the Ganges River, where Hindus cremate their dead, followed by a walk through a flower market. My guide points to various buildings from the colonial times. The second day we visit the Potter’s Village, where statues for Hindu festivals are made, Calcutta University with stands of many booksellers and making a stop in the Indian Coffee House opened in 1848 for a cup of coffee. Then we take a two station ride on the Calcutta Metro and after that I spend some time in the impressive Calcutta Museum. The last and most memorable is the visit to Victoria Memorial built from the same white marble as Taj Mahal in Agra. Very early on Sep 22 I fly from Calcutta via Bangkok, Hong Kong to Los Angeles where before noon the same day. I pick up a car at Hertz and drive home to Vista. Travel office: Pacific Holidays Who took part: I traveled alone with local guides, drivers and cars.