Hey Bhutan, should our kids visit you?
I was awaken by the vroom of motorbikes, the bucuck of our neighbour’s chicken, the shuffle of our neighbour’s getting ready for a new day. “We’re home”, I realized, after 1 week in Bhutan with you — my little buddies — and the Thao’s. The first question Leo asked me today was: “Mommy, where are we heading today? Are we flying to Bhutan?”. His question reminded me of how much I’ve missed Bhutan. It seems only yesterday that we were still having fun in the kingdom of Happiness. Intense wave of nostalgia and sentimentality took me over.
I won’t tell stories about history, architecture, religion when it comes to Bhutan any more. Since there are our dear customers who have told lively stories via their amazing photos. Please allow me, instead, to tell “little” stories regarding your — my dear children — experiences when in Bhutan. The kingdom whose nature is the ultimate source nurtures love, cultural values which gradually makes human being so humble. In the end, people [who either have lived there or have been there] become kind, sincere, caring, loving, happy and especially peaceful and Not Demanding.
After a short triip from Vietnam to Bangkok, we all slept like babies in a hotel nearby Bangkok so that we could wake up at 4:00am the next morning. We started with the early flight from Bangkok to Paro served by Bhutan Airlines. The only trouble during the entire triip was checking in at Bangkok’s airport. Thanks you to guys — my little buddies — we all got to check in “Priority” line. It’s impressive that uncles and aunties working at Bangkok’s airport custom were so caring and attentive to take care our troup. Your Dad and I were impressed by the professionalism and friendliness of Bhutan’s Airline flight attendants. As soon as they saw you three cuties holding hands to step in the airplane, they complimented: “Oh, Baby, baby, so cute”. In addition, during the entire flight from Bangkok to Paro, Mommy and our little Mia, Apple and Leo were taken cared in a special way. Uncles and Aunties took special caring and attention, they also smiled with us more [than other guests]. Not to mention, an Aunt asked me to let her hold Mia so I could enjoy my meal. How nice of them!
The plane landed at Paro airport safe and sound. The airport was surrounded by alpine mountain under the clear blue sky. In the theme of mountains and the greenish airport, some first photos were taken to mark the event of exciting travelers who got to land at Bhutan. Some of them are total newbies, some have been here once or twice before.
Custom service was in a blink of an eye, our troup of 7 got to be guided by uncle Jamtsho — the tour leader; uncle Uygen — tour assistant, and our driver warmly welcomed us with a white scarf. The message is: “welcome to Bhutan with the purest sincerity of our people”.
Welcome to Bhutan! Let’s start our first day!
Day 1: Paro airport — Metal Bridge — Thimphu
After settling on the shuttle bus which was pretty comfortable and clean, the came the part when I made friends with our tour guides and driver. It’s the most challenging task to remember their names. It indeed took me a while to completely call their names correctly. Normally, there will be a tour guide and a driver for one group of customers. However, I asked for an extra tour assitant due to our troup’s members — 4 kids and 1 elderly — so that he could help Grandma, Aunt Thao and me to hold you all the way. Thanks to their enthusiastic supports, we totally enjoyed Bhutan triip without any problems.
The first destination was the Metal Bridge on the way from Paro to Thimphu. It was built in the 14th century and it is one of the oldest bridges. Looking down from the bridge, intense maelstrom made me scared at first. However, thanks to useful help of our tour guides, you kids could enjoy the harmony of mountain, trees, water and prayer wheels peacefully … on the shoulder. Om Mani Padme Hum.
To get you — kids — get acquainted to the air and the temperature which are totally different from the ones in Vietnam; our guides took us to our hotel for you to rest after a long flight and lack of sleep. Thao’s baby — Đô — was tired so he took a longer nap. The Thao’s had their meals at the hotel. In the mean time, we went off for lunch at Chka restaurant — highly recommended by locals. The head chef at Chka used to work at a 5-star hotel, he loves motorbike and cuisine so he quit to open his own restaurant. We had lunch with river fish, chicken, stirred fried vegies, and soup which are tasty. Unlike the rumor we had heard before: Food in Bhutan is not tasty, it doesn’t seem true at all, I’m sure.
Then we all return to our hotel so that you could rest for other activities. Uncle Jamtsho understood that you guys are young so we’ll be slower than other groups. That is why he kept asking your Dad, me and aunt Thao whether everyone is OK. He did his over best to make us happy. We visited Thimphu Dzong at 5pm that day — the Dzong was amazing. Then we headed off for dinner and rested. What a relaxing first day!
Our family stayed at Namgay Heritage hotel whose rooms are large, beautiful and clean. The only issue was not-quite-tasty food.
Day 2: Thimphu
The morning started off later than usual since we had to prepare breakfast for all of you. That’s why we started at 9:00. Your Dad and I had a business meeting; so, we let you hang out with Grandma, our tour guides and the Thaos. After the meeting, we all met at the Art School of Thimphu then headed off to lunch at the river bank to start conquer Cheri Monastery on the mountain peak — a prep for Tiger’s Nest.
You guys got to visit the National Zoo, to learn about sculpture and weaving arts. The most interesting experience must be our picnic by the riverbank under Cheri Monastery. This is a special addition which I personally asked our tour guide to provide us so that you kids can be close to nature. However, they totally took me by surprise when preparing a huge lunch for us all. The preparation included camping chairs, umbrellas and food. Besides, we also got to eat Bhutanese pizza.
We all enjoyed the ultramarine stream while listening to the “burble” sound of water running and cool autumn swept through fresh water flowing via streams around our camping site. Friendly and cheerful puppies came to share food and hung out with us. We decided to let you play in the area closer to the river bank so that you could soak your tiny hands and feet in fall water. You three did enjoy the rock throwing game. Of course, we didn’t let you have fun on your own. We have three highly professional and careful tour guides to look after you — Uncle Jamtsho, Uygen và Younten — while we could take a step back in a while and rest. In the mean time, waiters and waitresses were busy settling our table.
After lunch, our challenge to conquer Cheri monastery began. They had already prepared some baby slings to carry you guys on the way to the top. We also brought on, you know, just in case. It was a bit tough at first but when we all reached the Monastery, the alpine view from cloud 9 — literally — were so satisfying. After several days, the 2 families at last had some cool photos to “check-in”.
On the way back to Thimphu, there came the colorful rainbow after the rain. It left me uplifted. After barely 48 hours, I realized one thing: it seems that everything here is gentle and mild.
It was almost twilight but we decided to go the Buddha Point — the largest sitting Buddha statue in Bhutan. It seemed that you were exhausted after a long day, thus, we only stopped for a while then headed back to the hotel when it started to rain heavily.
Date 3: Thimphu — Dochula Pass — Punakha
Uncle Jamtsho had told us the day before that we’d have “Free Massage” today. Since the path from Thimphu to Punakha was tough for us all. Fortunately, the breath-taking views on the way, the hills, cool breeze, dreamy cloud were so impressive that you all not only enjoyed your nap without having any car sick but also had fun at Dochula. Dochula was the place where you could see the almighty Himalayas — blurred by cloud and snow — from distance.
In Punakha, terrace paddy fields were turning golden. Also, blossomed yellow peacocks flowers welcomed us all to Punakha. At lunch, we went to Uma both for food and business.
Uma was moderately lovely, they provided us with nice service. Uncle Jessie — a friendly American — guided us with all his heart to show everyone rooms to rooms and different types of food. One thing we learnt while in Uma is the fact that isolated location and fairly high price would make it quite a hard time for customers to stay in Uma [compared to other places in Bhutan].
We were taken to Punakha Dzong then Chimi Lhakhang then the Mad Man’s temple. Decoration patterns on the walls of these temples are not “parental advice” for you kids yet it stroke our mind — women’s — curiosity.
When we got back to our resort at Drubchhu, it was nice and clean. Our view was filled with mountains and fields, my dear!
That morning in Drubchhu, your Grandma, me and you guys were feasted with the romantic and amber sunrise, fresh vegies and fruits: mustard greens, lime, pomegranate, huge bushes of roses, wild flowers. In addion, the fresh and clean air as well as warm smiles of everyone just made lives in Bhutan so happy.
Day 4: Punakha — Paro
After breakfast, we started off from Punakha to Paro, it was anticipated that we would have a long and fun ride together.
On the way from Punakha to Paro, we got to visit an apple garden whose is the owner of Nak-sel hotel. After it, we had lunch on a tree house, picked apples, listened to water running and life-changing stories so that we could all realize happiness is simply living in nature and doing what you love. Don’t you think so?
The afternoon before heading back to Paro, we visited the National Museum of Bhutan, farm house and drunk rice wine, rice crisps. We also got to learn about local life; I bought some gifts and snacks for our challenging Tiger’s Nest trekking the next day.
At twilight, we were all too exhausted to continue. Fortunately, Nak-sel 5-star hotel positioned on the top of mountain. On the way back there, we kept guessing which building is te hotel since it was far. When we got there, Naksel was actually beautiful — every corner was covered in greens, cloud on the them of water running. The moment we done checking-in, it was top-notch comfort to lay on our soft beds with cloud nine surrounding us; especially after such a long day.
Day 5: Conquering Tiger’s Nest
We woke up before the sun today. Instant ramen is our must-have before we killed other snacks. We packed everything we needed: hats, sun cream, water, and snacks to get ready for a long day to conquer the legendary Tiger’s Nest.
Due to the fact that we had 4 kids in our troup so we hired a horse to help traveling faster. The horse will carry an adult and a kid at a time so that everyone gets to rest on the way until all of us reached the peak. Besides, this ways helped our tour guide a lot though they asked to carry you kids on their shoulders all the time.
After the part where horse could walk, it became tougher with the rising intensity of heat and sunlight. We all went exhausted and you kids started to feel sleepy. I was carrying little Mia while Leo and Apple could start walking on your own — except for those stairs reaching Tiger’s Nest where our tour guides had to help you. However, when we all reached the peak, the view and pray, fatigue and boredom flew away with the cool breeze on Tiger’s Nest.
When we got down, it was not as exhausted as when we got up. Apple and Leo showed us you were amazing and healthy kids by not asking anyone to hold you. Leo got to be carried sometimes though. Uncle Jamtsho hold the umbrella so that Mia could rest on my back. How cute!
When we got back to the hotel to get a hot stone bath, we afterwards got to wear Bhutanese Gho and kira while participating in art shows to learn more about Bhutanese traditional dances. There were music, dancing that made you three so excited. At the end of the show, our Vietnamese team sang and danced along with vibe of “Noi Vong Tay Lon”.
At night, we spent time to talk, to share, to take photos, to give-receive presents. How much I miss Bhutan!
Day 6: Goodbye Bhutan — Going home
This was the last day so we spent our last minutes wandering around our hotel, practising Yoga, enjoying last moments together and utilizing amenities provided by the hotel.
Things you need to prepare for your kids
Hey Bhutan, should our kids join our triip?
My answer — as a Mom — is a total Yes! As long as you can prepare the following things for you kids (especially when your kids are under 5 years old):
1. Medicine: anti-fever, car sick pills, ibuprofen, eyes and ear drops.
2. Sweets and Snacks: Vitamin C, gummy bears, chocolate, gerber, rice crisp.
3.Instant food for everyone in case you cannot eat local food: rice crisp, pork floss, dried fish, dehydrated fruit and nuts, dried beef, dried squid, prawn salt — as a sauce to enjoy fruit and instant ramen.
4. Clothes and stuff: proper clothes to wear in different types of weather. Make sure you have enough layers. An excellent pair of shoes is a must-have. Baby sling, sun cream.
5. A relaxed attitude: there will be a high chance of not covering all must-go destinations, parents need to relax so that your kids could have unforgettable memories with you.
6. If you have kids, I highly recommend two families joining the triip together so that we all have friends to share. It is vital to understand the fact that only kids understand their own languages so they need friends at their ages to share, laugh, play and discover together. Parents — however — have already experienced our childhood. We should let them enjoy their own.
7. Let the consultation team know everything your family needs so that they can prepare ahead at their best. Don’t worry! My experience let us know that local tour guides thought FOR us more than we thought about ourselves. So, relax! Remember our picnic time by the riverbank? I was busy taking photos while they had already taken care of my children despite the fact that they were also hungry, like we were. How nice of them!
How much does it cost?
There are no discounts for adults. So, check out the price list at http://singapore.bestbhutan.tours (A product of Triip.me) to know the price scale on adults. For children, Bhutanese government thinks that children are the most precious assets so they have plenty of discount:
- For children under 5 (counting from their birthday), you don’t have to pay the governmental tour fee but you’ll have to pay for air tickets and visa — US $40.
- For children from 2 to 5, air tickets will cost as much as those of over-5-year-old children. The air tickets will vary depend on seasons. But air tickets for children will always be cheaper than those of adults.
- Ticket of children under 2 will be counted as that of infants. Which will be cheaper than that of children under 5. This price included visa will be around US $250 — air ticket + visa. The tickets from Vietnam to Bangkok for infants wont’ cost too much if you use services provided by Vietnam Airlines.
How about Visa?
It’s super simple. All you have to do is finish 100% payment for Bhutanese government before departure date. Once you’ve done that, you’ll have the visa. Make sure you send photos of your passports of members in the gang to http://singapore.bestbhutan.tours (A product of Triip.me)they’ll send visa to you before departure.
