World Bhutan Phuentsholing

Nic and Davie's Year Out Travelogue Indian Subcontinent Trip 2009

Drive across border to Phuentsholing, Bhutan Oct 5, 2009

05-10-09 Departing for the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing we drive (approximately 6 hours) through the vast tea estates of the Gangetic plains of Bengal. Approximately one quarter of India’s tea is grown in West Bengal state. On arrival there will be time for a wander in the town. Indian road signs "Hurry Burry spoils the curry"; "Enjoy the valley - it's not a rally" Up at daft o clock to leave West Bengal and drive over into Bhutan. We are aiming for Phuentsholing - the early start due in part to the uncertainites of border crossings (and probably in part to the guides wanting to get home at a sensible hour). Driving to wards Bhutan we pass over the Coronation Bridge and see lots of monkeys. The drive is very long as the roads a bloody awful. There is not to recount on the drive, 6 hours, and nothing on the Indian side of the border ( Rinchending)- except it's very dusty. It's really only there becuase its a border. We arrive at the border at 12.30 lose another 30 mins (we are pretty lost regarding what time zone we are on). We have been granted permission to take the bus and the guides to the hotel (over the border) which will save messing about with other transport and it means we can say goodbye to Ali and the guys properly. Its a tiny border town and we have the afternoon to chill. As David did such a good job of the thank yous in Bangladesh he's nominated again. Mike sets him a challenge that h can't get "ruggedly hansome" into the speeach. Not a problem, although Ali is a bit surprised that a Scot's guy is using this type of language to describe him!! So its goodbye Mypal, the driver and Raju, handy boy. Tips handed across, smiles all round and they are off in a blast of dust in our big purple bus. The hotel, (Lhaki hotel) looks not bad, reasonably modern. Lunch is proposed and then it's a free afternoon to wander around. We take tea whilst our bags are sent upstairs and the guides filling the endless papers required to get us into this secret little country. As we take tea Mike spots a large portrait of the new King (his father has stepped aside a year or so ago) - takes a picture and points our accurately that he is the image of Jet Li, the Hong Kong movie star. Voices are raised in agreement/debate until we consider this may be an offence punishable by something nasty!! There is not much to see in the town but we go for a wander anyway. A small temple is in the centre of town beside a pleasant little square. We wander to the border gate and decide to test protocol by taking some pictures - no apparent problem. The border gate looks a big Chinese temple enterance but it seems that if you are local you just wander back and forward without any need to be recorded. As we will continually find out its not the same for tourists. Everything is very controlled. Behind the hotel in a small park we find a bunch of locals participating in what looks like a game of "big darts" They are standing about 30m apart, two team of approx 8, and are throwing foot long darts at small targets on the ground (like mini grave stones). The objectives seem to be two fold, one to hit the target with your darts and the other being to rip the nonsense out of opposition before during and after they have thrown their darts!!. Don't know how it is scored or how its won or lost. Later we see archers doing the very same thing but at over 50m distance. Dinner in the hotel as its recommended - its not bad. Chillis with cheese come with everything!!

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