How it came to pass

You're going where? Bhutan? Where is that? I actually had to look myself. I knew it lay in the foothills of the Himalayas, but its relation to neighboring countries was not so clear. Now I know it lies north of India, east of Nepal and south of China and Tibet. 

Next question is: Why? I guess the easiest answer is to say I am following a dream. For a long time now I have wanted to fill my eyes with the sight of the tallest mountains - not sure why - and in my mind that dream is linked with Bhutan.

My chance to fulfill my dream came when long-time Danish friends, Jytte and Ole, who live in Vancouver and spend the toughest winter months in Rio, told me of their upcoming trip to Bhutan. Before they knew what had happened I had made plans to join them. 

We meet in New Delhi very late on March 31, spend 2 days and 3 nights trying to see as much as we can (not to mention shopping) in that area. We will have a driver, Raj, who drove Veronica and her family around 2 years ago. On April 3 we fly to Kathmandu and the Shangri-La Hotel for one night, where our tour begins. Then, on April 4, on to Paro (only airport in Bhutan) - on this part we will actually fly past Mount Everest, so we pray they have seated us on the left side of the plane.

We will spend 10 days in Bhutan, 3 of which will be trekking and camping in the hills near Paro. We are concerned with recent weather reports showing nighttime temperatures of -8C! I wonder whether my newly purchased Summit Mummy sleeping bag will measure up. I will be outfitted with a mixture of warm clothes, some my own, many belonging to the generous Bruno Stern, and a whole lot of accessories sent down by Chris Levin. I will have a headlamp so I can blog and read in my single tent. I also have a whistle - in case a stray yak bursts into my tent! I may, though, follow the advice of a guy who had done a similar trip. It was this: ear-plug in place, stocking-cap covering most of your head, deeply zippered into your sleeping bag, you take a sleeping pill and hope for the best!

Tomorrow I go to the travel clinic at the federal university. I hope they don't insist on rabies shots.