Day 7 in Beautiful Bhutan - 26 November 2008

Departure delayed - unscheduled extension in Bhutan
- Back to Sonam Trophel Hotel

We had just returned from Paro Airport back to our hotel after our flight on DrukAir to Bangkok did not take off on 26 November because Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport was closed due to the anti-government protestors.

In this photograph taken in our van, we certainly did not look like passengers who had missed their flight. Of course we were disappointed that we had to forgo our proposed shopping, eating, massage sessions as well as visiting Uncle Varasin and Tok Meng and their families in Bangkok.

One of the reasons why we were not so worried over the indefinite flight delay was, I think, because of the local agent in Bhutan, Bae-yul Excursions and its magnanimous and compassionate Managing Director, Mr Chhimmy K Tobgyel whose reassuring words when we were told that we could not fly out to Bangkok were : "whatever the situation, you are my guests in Bhutan... do not worry." And for the next three days, he spent time and effort to make the necessary calls, sms and faxes for our flight arrangements out of Bhutan back to Singapore. In the meantime, we made ourselves really at home as the next few posts will show.

Su-lynn who was the most positive and optimistic member in our group, was hopeful that we could go trekking and do more sightseeing during our extension. The first thing she did when we returned to our hotel was to go around with her camera to capture what each of our priorities was. So here she "captured" Aunty Ngoh doing some of her washing - as Ngoh's immediate concern was insufficient clean clothes, especially socks.

Aunty Tiang's immediate concern was to charge her telephone - hoping that once we could leave Paro, Bhutan her telephone could work again.

Like Aunty Ngoh, Hsiao Yun also did some washing which she seemed happy doing .

As for Aunty Khin, the first thing she did when we re-checked into our hotel rooms, was to take out her mahjong set to resume our mj sessions... Just like her!

As for Su-lynn herself, she charged her Blackberry which was a wise move as during the next few days, she made several calls to our Singapore travel agent as well as to our families in Singapore. Hsiao Yun's "Pinky" was also very handy as it was used to book our SQ flights from Kolkata to Singapore via the internet.

On the afternoon of the first day of our extended stay in Paro, we visited the Kyichu Lhakhang Temple. We would have missed visiting this Buddhist temple if not for the extension in Paro.
It is one of the oldest monasteries in the country built in the 7th century by the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. The story goes that a giant demoness lay across the whole area of Tibet and the Himalayas and was preventing the spread of Buddhism. To overcome her, King Songtsen Gampo decided to build 108 temples, which would be placed on all the points of her body. Of these 108 temples, 12 were built in accordance with precise plans. Thus, it happened that in about the year AD 638 the temple of Jokhang in Lhasa was built over the very heart of the demoness.

A close-up of the Temple which is an important pilgrimage site.

Kyichu Lhakhang comprises a twin set of temples. The first temple was built by Songtsen Gampo (a Buddhist Tibetan King) in the 7th century. The second temple was built much later in 1968 by the Queen mother of Bhutan.

Our guide, Yeshei explaining the history of the temple.

Our group turning the prayer wheels that are installed all round the temple. I am sure we were all praying for our safety and success in getting flights back to Singapore.

A group photograph before we left the temple.

End of day - 26 November 2008.