Vanndana’s Solo Escapade to Bhutan with Thrillophilia- A Story of Rejuvenation
As I walked upon the bridge carved out of black mountain stones, with the Paro Chhu River flowing beneath and the beauty of lush green Himalayan mountains gracing my vision, I discovered something strange.
The path ahead of me zigzagged up the mountain I was standing in front of, leading to a sharp turn after which I literally could not see anything. I did not know how long the hike would take for me to complete, but my guide assured me that it would not be a ‘Herculean task’, but more of a monk's journey.
When I asked him why he said it, he replied,
“It all lies in the essence, ma’am, for us this journey is more of a spiritual and transformative one, than a deliberate attempt to achieve something in return.”
Dear Heart, Be Brave
I could not understand what he meant until I completed the journey and I was greeted with the stunning sight of the Paro Taktsang at a distance. Clouds came and went, shrouding the sight in a blanket of haze, upholding the magical beauty of the monastery.
Standing at the gate, I saw there was another kilometre to cover, but the view of the route hit my chest like a mediaeval weapon- I had to walk through a sharp ridge, one side of which was the mountain walls, and the other side of which rolled down into a deep gorge.
Braving my heart, I started to walk, thinking about the good things that happened to me till date because manifestation always works, at least for me.
I kept on repeating in my head,
This will be the best thing that you can do for yourself, overcome your scepticism and embrace the thrill.
And when I reached the monastery, I had no regrets.
Down the Alleyways
I was a solo female traveller vacationing in Bhutan. It was like refuelling my life, an attempt to start anew. And the best way to do it as per my self-awareness, was to take a trip alone to a faraway place where no one would know me.
But sometimes such journeys can get quite lonesome and self-sabotaging. So I was glad to have found two very special companions on the trip. We kept each other company and even travelled to some places together. They were also travelling with Thrillophilia so we had a common ground to bond, which perhaps was God’s way of letting me know that he was with me.
My driver and guide, Karma, was very helpful towards me, especially during the sightseeing activities and for food recommendations. He took me to places that were not even included in the itinerary, and to my wonder, those places were mesmerising!
We talked a lot about the local festivals and traditions throughout the journey, and after seeing my interest in knowing the local languages and communities, he took me to meet his family on a leisure day in Phuntsholing.
The people of Bhutan are so warm and welcoming that I never felt unsafe. The stays were well kept and so were the eateries. And to talk of the food, simply soul-soothing. I tried Kewa Datshi and Ema Datshi, Ezay, Fing, and much more. They combined the locally available ingredients, sometimes even sourced from their own farmlands, and presented simple dishes that tasted extraordinary.
The hospitality of the locals was also reflected in the way they looked after their customers and attended to their needs. Each and every restaurant that I visited was not just aesthetically pleasing, but also top-notch in services. They would not give you any reason to complain, and would immediately ask you what was wrong if they noticed the slightest frown on their foreheads.
Oh, and they also let me click a picture with their precious Singing Bowls made of brass…it was heavy, but I did manage to click a good picture with the bowl and the women of the Simply Bhutan restaurant standing alongside me.
And last, but not the least, THE PLACE WAS SO CLEAN! There was no plastic fluttering in the winds, nor were there any plastic water bottles or heaps of garbage decorating the lanes and roadways.
Hiccups, but Thrilling
I had never uttered these words before in my life-
Rain Rain, GO AWAY!
But on this trip, I could not help but literally chant it throughout one morning when it was raining cats and dogs in Thimphu. I had the entire city sightseeing tour to complete before heading off to Paro, and with each passing minute, I was growing more impatient.
By the mercy of God, it stopped after two full hours and I heaved a sigh of relief.
When I stepped outside, I was awestruck.
The scenery around me was screamingly vibrant, with bright beams of sunshine adding a touch of glimmer to the views. It felt so refreshing to breathe in the sweet post-rain-mountain air that I apologised to the rain god for not being more considerate.
But I still think that Thrillophilia could have warned me about the possibility of rain beforehand. I knew it was the off-season, but come on, no one expects such incessant rainfall.
Anyway, my tour of Thimphu was made better with the visit to the Great Buddha Dordenma. Its bronze and gold works were something to steal your gaze. Since we were a group of people who were travelling together from Thrillophilia, we had a great opportunity to click a nice picture in front of the statue. I still look back at it and remember the best moments from the trip.
Finally, the tour of Zilukha Anim Dratshang was amazing, as they also let me participate in one of their rituals. The sight of the Wang Chu River, one of the major rivers of Bhutan left me speechless. I felt very happy… and free. Just the thing I needed.
Anyway, Sujeet from Thrillophilia was very proactive in answering my queries and he was a great help even through calls. There was a situation where I needed an upgrade in my stay, and that was handled very promptly. All in all, I had a very exhilarating experience on this solo trip, which served the purpose of my vacation- rejuvenation, refreshment, and renewal!
Read More: Thrillophilia Bhutan Reviews