Planning for the Spring

Another trip on the horizon - yippee! I have been thinking, dreaming and scheming of traveling to Bhutan ever since I did a research paper on the culture and country last year.

It has the lure of a very limited tourist and environmental footprint. The country has closely monitored the impact due to people like myself. The downside to tourism is that those of us that love to travel and experience other cultures also have to take responsibility for at times negatively impacting a country with our tourist dollars, lifestyle and our physical presence. Tourist trade infrastructure builds up and the culture becomes dependent on our first world dollars. A double edge sword. Bhutan's response has been to severely limit tourism and charge alot of money to the people who still want to go there. They allow roughly 9000 tourists in a year, in contrast to Nepal who has an average of 400,000 tourists per year.

Pull out your pocket book if you want to travel to Bhutan. The average cost per day will be over $220USD per day. There is no slumming it here as you must be listed with a government approved tour company to get a Visa into the country.

The way I assess things, is that in 10yrs will I think "I'm glad I didn't go there, it was too expensive" or will I be kicking myself in the ass? I already know the answer hence why I'm wiring money to the Bhutanese tour operator this week. Next will be booking the flight to Kathmandu. A mere 32hrs to get there, including lay-overs. I'll bring a good book or two or three.

This brings me to the discount flight companies we love to hate but use because the prices ARE good. I have only one observation to the aspiring flight taker to international destinations. If you are making international transfers, changing airlines etc give yourself plenty of time in between. I looked at some flights schedules that would have given me a paltry hour to change airlines in Bankok. I almost laughed. I've never been to the Bankok airport but I have spent time in airports in Kenya, Tanzania, China, Peru, Mongolia, England and Mexico. An hour is barely enough time for the logistical areobatics of getting luggage off of one plane to the other in a first world country let alone third world. I've witnessed the cacophony of sounds, people and flurry activity around transferring planes. I'm amazed I got on some of my flights, WITH my luggage. However that is just my experience, if you are blessed with traveling angels who look after you then go crazy. I recognize that I must have been really shitty in my previous life as I am cursed with traveling "issues" shall we say. Suffice to say I am happy with 4hr layovers. I'd rather be bored than stressed trying to make a connection or manage an unplanned situation. Afterall one never knows when a flock of birds will disable one of the plane's engines, your dental bridge will fall out in the Lima airport,  you'll spend an unplanned night in Denver or Saltlake City or your luggage will sit in Italy for a month when you are spending 2 weeks in Switzerland, but those are other stories.

One thing that will make this trip unique is that I'm travelling alone. As alone as one can be on a tour, I will be the only client. I'll be with my guide, porters and pack animals. I'm really looking forward to this style of travel. those of you who follow my blog know that things have been difficult for me these past couple months. I've found myself retreating to my home, creating a quiet and lower-stress lifestyle. Giving myself permission to truly accept and integrate my life experience as best I can. Its not that I'm hiding out from life, but definitely taking a slower approach. The idea of trekking almost solo over mountain passes in a foreign country is so appealing. I look forward to a more intimate experience in a new country.

I can't wait to leave. My soul is calling for peace, for quiet and for healing. In some way it feels like Bhutan holds some of those things. Its also given me something to look forward to, a bright spot!