Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal,
Sri Lanka, & India

Welcome to Mumbai and the beginning of the third leg of our journey. Well, we deplaned in Mumbai and thought we had plenty of time….3 hours to be exact. Enter the Indian Zoo. We scanned our passports and filled out the online entry card but when we arrived at passport control it was not enough. They wanted our Sri Lankan visa and our Indian visa and our boarding pass. The boarding pass we did not have because we were tryingto get to Sri Lankan Air desk to print it. We showed our confirmation and all the other papers and he finally stamped our passport and sent us on our way. We made it to the airline desk and got in line. Slowly we made our way up and before long we had our passes and also two checked bags. From here we went to security. I made it through quickly but Hugh did not read the signs or watch the screens and had to go through twice which took about 30 minutes. We walked away smiling but then we saw the immigration lines. I have never seen a larger mass of humanity. There was no right line so we just stood where we were and 50 minutes later made our way to the agent. We then had to go through duty free and out to the restaurant area to find the sign to our gate. Well, 3 hours is exactly how much time you need to get through Mumbai! We arrived just in time to line up and board. They boarded from back to front which is smart but we had seats 7 c,d. On board the service was very efficient. We were served a full meal at 2:45 am on a 2 hour flight, and we even got pillows. Looks like we will arrive on time also.

On the bus we learned an interesting fact, Sri Lanka has 62 varieties of rice. Upul informed us that 540 mm of rain several weeks ago washed out rail tracks near Kandy. We will be doing the train in a different direction. We entered the expressway and travelled through lush tropical forests and past lots of freshly harvested rice fields. The rice was harvested the first week in April just before the Sri Lankan New Year festivals. We made a stop for the toilet and also coffee before going to a coconut processing site. We also stopped at a cinnamon plantation. Cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka and is called Cinnamon Ceylonica! We are traveling through rain and sun right now hoping that it will not be raining at Lion rock. Before we made our epic climb we stopped for lunch at a very nice buffet which had all kinds of foods. We stuck to the Sri Lankan dishes including hoppers.

Our first stop was The Ruwanwelisaya, or "Mahathupa”, a sacred Buddhist stupa built by King Dutugemunu around 140 B.C. after defeating King Elara to unify the country. Known for its immense white dome enshrining the largest collection of Buddha's relics, it represents a tale of devotion, engineering genius, and a king's final, tragic wish to see it completed before his death. We dropped off our shoes, took off our hats , and made the journey around the stupa. It was hot and humid but we persevered. We saw monks wrapping the stupa in flags, heard monks chanting, and even saw a parade of worshippers with flute and drum. From the stupa we went to the Sri Maha Bodhi tree. At more than 2,300 years old, it is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date. From here we claimed our shoes and went to the bus. We traveled to the Jethavana stupa built by King Mahasena in the 4th century AD, it was surpassed in height only by the two largest Egyptian Pyramids of Giza. With a height of 122 metres (400 feet) the Jethava stupa was the tallest brick structure in the world and continues to hold that record. It owes its existence to the sacking of the Chinese capital Luoyang by Xiongnu (Hun) nomads in 311 AD and the ensuing chaos.

Three of us opted for the herbal massage and we all loved it. It ended in a steam sauna and we lasted about 5 minutes. The van was waiting to take us back to the hotel. Hugh was sleeping but I needed a shower to rid myself of all the massage oils. I rested as I blogged. Soon it was time to leave for our Sri Lankan barbecue. We drove a short distance and we boarded a land master which is a funny 3 wheeled hand tractor that pulled 4 of us in a trailer. We arrived at our dinner and drinks were served. Then while the meat was cooking we had a cooking lesson on how to make coconut sambal. It was labor intensive but our teacher was an adorable older woman. The sambal was fantastic as was all the food. Then it was a reverse trip to our bus. Back at the hotel it was off to bed for us. Long hot days are so draining!

On the way back to Dambulla Upul told about the Sri Lankan alphabet which has evolved to having 60 symbols. Then 4 of us plus Upul were taken to an elephant safari. It started slowly and the sun was baking us. Then the afternoon clouds rolled in and it cooled off but we had torrential downpours. When the rain subsided the elephants came out and we had quite the show… a group of ten, a mother and her nursing baby, and one cutie that put on a show of covering herself in mud. There were elephants every where!! It was a great drive but we were all glad to get to the hotel and shower. We all met for drinks at the bar and everyone else went to the buffet. We elected to sit and play trivia and just snack. Slept amazingly!!

We headed to the spice garden somewhere between Dambulla and Kandy. The guide we had was very knowledgeable but the cadence of his voice was most irritating. He quizzed us about every thing and did a hard sell on the medicinal and cosmetic uses of their products. As a bonus we got an oily massage. We did not purchase anything but several people did. From there we drove toward Kandy and stopped for coffee or a soda on the way. When we arrived at the hotel we were pleasantly surprised... it is a lovely old British colonial hotel right on Kandy lake.

We said our goodbyes to our guide and headed to our next stop, a lapidary. We saw how gems are mined, cut, polished, and set. We also had some time to shop but one purchased. We went to a wood carving workshop next and we were all amazed at how heavy some of the wood samples were, especially ebony. From there it was lunch and then back to the hotel for some down time. Hugh and I did the 2 mile walk around the lake, edited pictures, blogged, and showered before we boarded the bus for a cultural show.

We then made our way to Nuwara Eliya. Our driver Dam took us around the city but the traffic was horrible and with difficulty we made it back to our hotel. We are staying at The Grand Hotel and it is very British and lovely. We had warm towels and then a spot of tea before being shown to our rooms. We had just a few minutes to settle in before meeting for High Tea. We sat with Jeanne, Julie and Upul and enjoyed tea, champagne, and lovely savory and sweet treats! There was a saxophone player and the cutest 2 year old little boy dancing! We stayed a long time because it was raining and we didn’t want to go out in it. The rain did not let up so we went to our room to get organized and blog. After dressing for cocktails we took a walk around the lovely English style gardens here at the hotel. We met our group for cocktails and live music and we were having so much fun we stayed until bedtime. Jeane and I even joined Upul on the dance floor!

Before heading to lunch we stopped at the local market. Here we saw all sorts of fruits and veggies, some familiar some new. We had a tour of the golf club on arrival. It was founded in the 1890’s and allowed women from the start. Our lunch was very good with a lot of vegetables! Back at the hotel Hugh and I decided to risk the rain and walk into town. We decided on a stroll in Victoria Park and we were so glad we did. It is a very English park with well maintained paths and a riot of gorgeous flowers! From the park we made our way back to the hotel for some off our feet time! We met our group at 7 for cocktails. Fun times with beer, champagne, and chili fries with Parmesan! Up to our room at 9 to packfor tomorrow’s departure!! Room much cooler with windows open!

We drove to one of the entrances of Yala National park and transferred to a safari vehicle. We were with Kim and Mike and we had a grand time looking at all the elephants, birds, especially liked the horned bills, and a very fat mongoose. The highlight was a Sloth Bear we saw climb a tree and proceed to snack. The day was long and we were all tired when we arrived at Chaarya Resort. It is very lovely but we decided to have a light dinner and head to the showers. Being the oldest in the group we seem to get a bit more tired. The heat and humidity do not help!!

Back at the hotel dirty and tired we cleaned up and took a nap! When we awoke we donned bathing suits and headed to the pool. The water was warm and relaxing and we ordered cold drinks and edited pictures and journaled! Soon it was time to shower, organize, and dress for dinner. We met our group at the pool bar before heading to dinner. It was a great buffet that included a lot of variety. After a long dinner we all headed to our rooms to get ready for a new adventure tomorrow!

Out next stop was a grocery store where several people wanted to buy treacle and or use the bathroom facilities. Our next stop was Marissa Beach . Here we were at a resort and we walked on the beach and had diet cokes and spicy calamari. Our meal came so late we had to gulp it down to get to the bus on time. Fortunately we were not the only ones and Upul was right there with us . Onward to Galle. At the hotel we had time to shower before meeting the group for happy hour. The hotel had a drink menu and we soon found one we loved. Afterwards we all went to dinner in the hotel and the food was delish! Off to bed and journaling!

We headed back to the hotel around 2:30 and I soaked on the tub and Hugh napped. We dressed for dinner and joined the group for happy hour before we were bused to a lovely home. We had a cooking class by the owner and we helped as sous chefs. We then enjoyed a wonderful meal including banana curry, fish curry, dhal, and of course rice. We had curd and treacle for dessert. It poured rain while we were cooking and it was still raining as we were ready to go to the bus. Our trusty Dhanu and Sam were there with umbrellas for us! Premium Intrepid is indeed premium!! It was off to bed to read after we packed and organized for our 9 am departure!

After lunch we visited the parliament building designed by Geoffrey Bawa, the independence war memorial where we had time to make some photos of the amazing architecture, the lotus tower, and the national museum. We also saw the largest cemetery in Sri Lanka which opened in 1931 and is open to all people. We arrived to our hotel and were greeted with cool towels and a fruit tea. We then headed to our rooms to get ready for our farewell dinner. We checked out all the brides and wedding parties going on before we headed up. We arranged our luggage for our flight in the a.m. and then showered and dressed. We had time to go to the rooftop bar for the view but it was pouring rain. back to the room for umbrellas and then our walk to the restaurant. We ate at & Co Pub and Kitchen. I had baked crab and it was amazing! We said our thank yous’ to Upul before walking back.

This morning up early, bags out and off to the airport at 7:45. We said our goodbyes and headed to the Indigo Air check-in to get our documents checked. We spent the next several hours walking around the airport because we did not have a gate posted. Finally we found our gate and our flight boarded and took off on time! It was a short flight to Bangalore India. Here we cleared passport control and made it to the gate area but again we had to wait for the gate to be assigned. On our flight to Kolkata the man sitting next to me squatted on the seat with his bare foot overlapping my seat. The stewardess asked him several times to “sit proper” but he always went back to squatting. We arrived late and even though we had booked a driver he was nowhere to be found. The sounds outside the airport were so loud from horns honking that my head hurt. We waited and he eventually arrived but even though Hugh gave him the address he took us to the wrong hotel. He finally got us to our hotel. I will say this in all honesty, as we drove through the city I was sure we had made a mistake in coming. Maybe my impression will change in daylight. Our hotel had a difficult entrance to find at night but was like being in a colonial grand home once inside. Our suite is huge and filled with a grand four poster bed. The bathroom is modern and has a lovely soaking tub. We fell into bed and slept so well.

From there we went to a Jaime Temple which is considered the jewel of the city. It is elaborate with mirrors and mosaics. Again no pictures inside. Our next stop was Kumartuli, a traditional potters' quarter in North Kolkata. The city is renowned for its sculpting prowess. It not only manufactures clay idols for various festivals but also regularly exports them. The structures are built of wood and straw. They are covered and sculpted in river mud and then painted and decorated. When the festival is over they are put back in the river to recycle. The foms are taken out and reused. We saw Duga the goddess with 10 arms and Kali with her protruding tongue.

We then walked to the river where we saw wedding photo shoots, men being shaved, and another group of men bathing in the river. We continued our walk to the Town Hall and around a lake where all the East India Trading Company buildings were located. They are now government buildings and banks. Sree then took us to a coffee shop where in the 1800s philosophers and business men met. We had coffee, fish fingers with spicy mustard and onion pakoda.

From there it was back to the hotel and time to say good bye to our driver. Sree took us to a sweet shop where we tried several local specialties! We said goodbye to Sree and she went to the bus. She has never learned to drive and after traveling around this city I can understand why. We went to our room and showered or soaked in the tub for me. We then rested until time for dinner. This city is exhausting!!! We had a delicious dinner in the hotel while we watched the light show at the Victoria Memorial. We journaled and looked at our photos until sleep!!

This morning we slept in and it felt so good. We are on our own schedule today and we are moving slow. After a delicious breakfast we journaled and edited photos for a while and then headed out to Park Street which is only several blocks from us. It is supposed to be a safe area for us to shop or eat. We were looking for pharmacies where Hugh might be able to purchase his cholesterol medication at a reduced rate. The first pharmacy we found had 20 tabs and he got all of them for the price of one tablet in the USA. On to the next pharmacy but after checking in several more no one had this med, too new. We headed back to the hotel to cool off and regroup. Later we headed out again and still we struck out. We finally got an UBER to the Howrah Bridge and it was an adventure. The taxi could not stop near the bridge and it was such chaos we had to just jump out and keep moving . We made it to the pedestrian walkway and made our way across. People were lying on the bridge, selling things, and others were moving their goods across. It was loud and hot! When we got to the other side it was just as chaotic as the other side. We decided at the spur of the moment to just take one of the yellow Ambassador taxis. No a/c and the driver had to use Hughs phone to navigate. It took almost an hour to get back and we were ready for showers. I colored my hair and showered and Hugh repacked. We rested before dinner. We had reservations in the hotel dining room and both of our meals have been fantastic! We are ate leisurely and just enjoyed the quiet and calm. This hotel is the best service you can imagine. Back in the room we did the last few packing things and headed to bed as we have a 5:45 wake up!

This morning we were up at 5::15 and in the car to the airport at 6:15. Our driver was great and he gave us a mini guided tour as we left the city. Traffic was remarkably good and we arrived earlier than planned. We got our boarding passes from Indigo and then went to check in at Air India and get our boarding passes only to be told that we have to wait until we arrive in Delhi before we obtain them. Not what we hoped for but nothing to do. We had some breakfast and then walked for an hour before heading to our gate. We were bused to our plane but they had a ramp instead of stairs so boarding went fast. We took off on time which is great for our short turn around! We landed on time and Hugh and I were off to the races. Because we only had carryon and nothing to declare we were through the airport quickly but then the fun began. We had to board an over crowded shuttle to T3. The bus line moved quickly but we didn’t get on the first bus. We made the second bus and then it was a 12 minute ride to the next terminal. Bless my sweet hubbys heart , he upgraded us to business. We checked in quickly with the agent telling us to move quickly. We went to the security line and they had a dedicated one for business. We moved through that with ease. Then we started sprints toward the gate. Before we reached gate 1, we were starting to tire and overheat. We were so blessed that a cart driver saw us and gave us a ride to our gate and we walked onto the plane. We were given cold clothes and juice and it was great. We again took off on time and we settled into our comfy seats and prepared for our meal. Yep we got a 3 course meal on a 1.8 hour flight!! We landed in Kathmandu on time, paid for our Visa, and cleared immigration before meeting Santos from Gate One! He showed us to our car and gave us all the info for our trip as we made our way to the hotel. Thirteen in our group and our group leader is Apud. We arrived at the Yak & Yeti hotel in the heart of town. Lively hotel and we checked in and unpacked quickly. We are here three nights. We decided to walk into town and check it out before dinner. We eventually ended our evening at the Hard Rock Cafe! We were the main attraction and everyone came to talk to us. We ate fajitas and talked to the staff and had a delightful time. On the way back to the hotel we got turned around and had to use Google Maps to get back. After a shower it was off to bed!

The glory of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started from this point. The temple is a symbol you see on most Nepalese ads. We had time to enjoy the views, then we went to a painting establishment and saw monks chanting. Apud said this could go for hours and he could not understand their language. We had time to walk around and look in shops before we headed back down the hill. Back on the bus we headed to downtown and the iconic Durbar Square. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a living museum.

It is under reconstruction from the earthquake but we were able to get inside. The current goddess made a brief appearance. From the temple we continued our walk and had ample time to make too many photos! We then went to a buffet lunch and a Momo cooking demo. After lunch we went to another stupa and again had time to get the photos and hear the history. Boudhanath, dates from 600AD and was built by a Tibetan king. The stupa is a historical pilgrimage site for all the Buddhists around the world. The stupa was built using many kilograms of gold for decoration.

This was a place you have to see to truly appreciate it as pictures can’t tell the whole story. We had free time to wander or shop and then we walked to our lunch restaurant. We stopped to see a gentleman throwing pottery on a wheel he turned by hand. While we watched he made a vase. Lunch was at a lovely hotel and we were served enough food to last the rest of the day. It was all good but the yogurt dessert was my favorite. After lunch we drove to another UNESCO site, Pashupatinth.

We joined 4 new friends and off we went. The ride was very bumpy and there were not a lot of animals to be seen. As the temp cooled we started seeing more birds, deer both spotted and barking, and then we saw our first rhino. Then we saw another and then another. By the end of the drive our group had seen 9. We made it back to camp and had 30 minutes to shower before the naturalist talk. It was the naturalist from our jeep Shambhu, and the talk was great. They served us appetizers and wine or beer and we were a happy group! Dinner was relaxed and soon everyone was heading to bed as we have a 5:30 wake-up call!

At the end of our drive we were again put in boats and we were paddled down and across the River. Our bus was waiting on us and we were soon back at the lodge. We had time for a quick shower before lunch which felt great! It is hot and humid here. We had lunch together and then it was time to relax. I tried to journal but felt too sleepy. Hugh just went to sleep! We awoke in time to dress, get our cameras and head out for the afternoon. We were very surprised when we arrived at the meeting spot and two huge elephants were waiting for us.

They were delights and just as in most of the world the girls were front and center doing what they were told and the boys were in the back punching one another and being silly. We did not get to see the uniforms since it was not a school day. We then walked through a typical village and the people were so friendly. They were raising ducks, chickens, and water buffalo. The women were working hard and we saw few men . The children were happy and playing and giggling. Back on the bus we headed back to the lodge and had time to clean up before the cultural performance. We sat outside and even though we could hear thunder in the distance no rain and cooler temps for us. The show highlighted 5 dances of the region and was very entertaining. We were served drinks and popcorn and fried veggie patties while we watched. Then it was off to dinner which was delicious ! Everyone then headed to the showers and then to bed!!

This morning we could sleep in a bit but our alarm went off 30 minutes early. When I set it I must have hit two buttons as my correct alarm was still set🤪. We took our time getting everything together and when we left for breakfast our suitcases and backpacks were ready to go. We took the hour drive to the airport, checked in, and the flight was 26 minutes from takeoff to touchdown. We arrived in Pokhara and the airport was new and modern but very small with only one baggage claim.

Our bus was waiting on us and we made the drive into town and the Lakeside area where our hotel is. We checked in and had time to unpack a bit before we met for lunch. It was a delicious buffet with lots of great salads and ice cream and brownies for dessert . Afterwards Hugh and I took our laundry to be done across the street at the Tourists Laundry. We then walked in the area until time for our afternoon tour. Our first stop was the Gurkha Museum. The Gurkha Memorial Museum celebrates the achievements of the renowned Gurkha regiments, covering their history from the 19th-century Indian Uprising through two World Wars to current peace-keeping missions. Known as the mightiest warriors in their world, their motto is “Better to die than be a coward”.

As we drove back to the hotel Anup told us some options for things to do the rest of our evening. We are on our own tonight and he gave good advice on restaurants pointing out locations as we drove. By the time we arrived at the hotel it was pouring rain. We went to the room to get our raincoats and umbrellas and off we went to explore. We walked to road 13 and then down to the lake in hopes of seeing the lantern procession at a temple on an island in the lake. It was raining so hard no lanterns appeared so we headed to an Italian restaurant. We sat and watched people and ate pizza. We also played some trivia which we had been missing. We walked back to the hotel and shed our wet clothes and got ready for bed. It was an early night as we had a 4 am wake up call.

The heavy clouds were still there and we could not see the tall mountains or the sun. We walked around a bit and then headed down. Those heavy clouds opened up about half way down and it was torrential! Three of us made it to the bus but the rest sought shelter hoping for a break. A while later they made it down but did not get the break they were hoping for. Wet and tired we headed back to the hotel! Several of us went straight to breakfast and then to our rooms for showers and rest.

Sometimes I feel that we eat more than 3 times a day! Food was tasty but we only ate a small amount. We then took a walk trying to get to a path around the lake. We finally discovered it was not to be found. It was steaming hot so we ended up back at the hotel around 2. We journaled and looked at photos until it was time for my massage and Hughs nap. Both were great but we had to shower and dress for dinner. We finished early and joined two new friends for drinks.

We land in Kathmandu and claim our luggage. Then it was off to the bus. Once we were on the road Anub told us we were not going to the hotel but going straight to our tour because it was so late, after 2:30. We had not had lunch so he provided us with a snack bag with a samosa and a banana. Our stop was at the city of Patan which is Anubs hometown but also the city with Kathmandu’s 3rd Durbur Square. Like its counterpart in Kathmandu, Patan Durbar Square is located in the heart of the city and was once the palace of the kings of Patan.

The older home looks like a small hotel but we are told it is in bad repair. While we are having drinks and what I would call a small meal we had a speaker, Anil Chitrakar. As a Rolex Award winner and true travel lover, he is deeply passionate about restoring Nepal's heritage. He’s an engineer and Ashoka Fellow who uses his skills as a social entrepreneur to bridge the gap between ancient traditions and modern solutions. For him it’s all about creating sustainable development that truly empowers people. This was a wonderful time with a lot of Q&A. We then had a catered meal. At the end we had an anniversary cake for John and. Veronica! Happy 40th! After a group photo with Anil we went to the bus and back to the hotel. Quick checkin and off to bed! We have a 5:15am wake-up!

We landed safely and were met by Arun, our tour manager and we have an assistant tour manager and a bus assistant besides our driver! We were presented with white scarves called Khada. The view from the bus kept us mesmerized until the first person went to sleep and then one after another we took quick naps. We had a 2.5 hour drive to arrive in Thimpu and we all got to enjoy Aruns commentary and the views. Our first stop was lunch and it was at a wonderful restaurant high above the city. We were served ginger cinnamon tea and pumpkin soup for starters and both were delightful! The rest of the meal was buffet and I was delighted to see that it was veggie centered. The pepper potato salad was fantastic as was the eggplant! They served thinly sliced watermelon for dessert and we left filled not stuffed.

From there we went to the National Institute for Zorig Chusum Established in 1971 by HRH Princess Dechen Wangmo, they are dedicated to keeping Bhutan’s creative heritage alive. They offer classes in painting, carving, sculpting, metalworking, tailoring, and weaving. We got to observe some classes and then shop at the store that sells their work. Almost everyone made a purchase including us!

Ready to relax a bit we headed to lunch. Our restaurant overlooked a school so we saw children separating recycling and others playing soccer. After lunch we went to a family owed paper factory, Jung Shi Handmade Paper Factory . We got to observe the whole process and Hugh got to participate.

We then drove to the Great Buddha Dordenma. This is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan celebrating the 60th anniversary of fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The statue houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which, like the Great Buddha Dordenma itself, are made of bronze and gilded in gold. I chose to stay outside and observe the monks but Hugh went in. After everyone was out we proceeded to climb a mountain behind the statue. It was a 2 +mile loop that went to over 9000 ft. It was raining and cool and just a bit slippery as we made our way around. At the end we celebrated and we had an elegant “picnic” lunch under a tent with white linen tablecloths and flowers on the table. The food was delish and we all enjoyed the rest.

In the lobby we picked out our traditional dress for the evening. The hotel staff will come to our rooms to help us dress. Hugh outfit is called a gho and mine is a Kira! We looked quite dapper. We went to the 5th floor where each of us was introduced to an 8 grade student who was our dinner companion. My young man’s name was Kelly and he aspires to be an astronaut. We had so much fun talking but he never would call me anything but mam! He likes school, mountain biking and basketball. Hugh had a young lady who was the smartest person in the grade and no one can beat her in chess. The young people enjoyed the buffet and got to try foods they had not tried before. After the meal we had a group picture before saying our goodbyes! We went to the room and packed as tomorrow is a travel day!

Our first stop was the Punakha Dzong. As we approached the Dzong we saw the confluence of two rivers the father river and the female river . We stopped for photos and you could see the rivers, jacarandas, a beautiful bridge, and the Dzong Lhasa. Lhakpa gave the talk here. Punakha Dzong, also known as the "Palace of Great Happiness," is Bhutan’s second-oldest and second-largest fortress. Built in 1637, it served as the nation's capital and seat of government until 1955. All the kings have been crowned here including the current king. The temple had art showing the life of Buddha from conception to death.

We finished with a walk to our hotel about 30 minutes away. As we walked through the village we saw shops with tons of phalic symbols made out of everything you can construct in. We checked into the hotel and we took baths but the first time we emptied the tub the floor flooded. They sent someone to fix the issue and clean up. Disaster averted we dressed and went to the bar to make mandalas using colored rice depicting earth, fire, space, iron, and water. Hugh made a duck and in the end when we wiped them clean it was very sad for him. Then it was off to dinner and then off to bed.

Back on the bus we made our way to the pass and as it was yesterday it was socked in by clouds. We had our tea and cookies.. They were so good that some of our friends purchased some. Our next stop was at the 300+ year old Sisina Heritage Home . We sat outside for a lively cultural show and enjoyed butter tea. The show showcased 5 Bhutanese dances and for the farewell dance we all joined in. We then had lunch cooked and served by Dechen. The food was varied and all cooked to perfection.

We said our goodbyes and continued our trip to Paro. Our next stop was the Iron chain bridge. The Tachogang Lhakhang Bridge spans the Paro Chhu river. Built in the 15th century using original iron chains, it is an iconic feat of traditional engineering. It is not used now but from the new bridge we get a good view of it and all the prayer flags which decorate it. As we explored we saw a lot of marijuana plants growing wild and we had a nice view of the Paro Tachog Monastery. We continued our trip into Paro and checked into our hotel. It was high in the mountains and had great views of the Tigers Nest in the distance. Our room was up a steep hill and then stairs. It was a warm up for tomorrow. I soaked in the tub before we dressed and joined everyone for dinner . The talk was all about the morning and we headed to our rooms early to prepare.

Tenzin Rabgye, the fourth Druk Desi, established the monastery near this sacred cave in 1692. When we arrived we made our way quickly to the ponies that you can ride to the cafe. There were 150 people on another tour there but being a small group they put us on the path quickly. My horse guide was a man who spoke no English but shortly after we started he gave the reins to Maru,a lovely lady who conversed well and it made the ride seem short. At the cafe we had tea and cookies to fuel up. Then the major part of the climb started.

More and more stairs which was surprising to us. After our visit and I must emphasize that I was so giddy from making it I might not have totally appreciated it to the fullest, we claimed our packs, had a bathroom stop, and ate some cookies for the trek down. Hugh and I were ready much sooner than the others so we started down. What goes up must come down and the steps here take you down at first and then straight back up. Then came the final descent to the cafe. I bought a tee to celebrate and we had a bit of lunch.

Afterwards we had hot tub baths and dressed for dinner. We went to the bar first and soon everyone joined us. I purchased a split of Prosecco to celebrate. I shared it with Arun who had never had any. Then it was dinner.

The next stop of our very full day was the National Museum housed in the guard tower of the Dzong. Established in 1968, it showcases over 3,000 artifacts—including ancient Thangka paintings, weapons, and natural relics—spanning 1,500 years of Bhutanese culture. We had a great time exploring not just the exhibits but the ancient building. After the museum we visited the Dzong it guarded. The complex features sweeping traditional Bhutanese architecture, intricate wooden carvings, and breathtaking murals. We visited the oldest temple .

We had lunch at a downtown traditional restaurant and then got a tour of an incense making shop but we declined and sat on the bus. Hugh was still sneezing from the morning incense encounter! Next came a tour of the Namgay Artisanal Brewery. I did not taste any and Hugh only had a shot glass full but those who had a full glass said it was nice. Our next stop was downtown for shopping and everyone was excited to have some free time. We took a walk through town and saw a small handmade takin in a window. We purchased it as a Christmas ornament.

This morning we had a wake-up call at 3:30 am and breakfast at 4:15. We left for the airport at 4:45 and by 6:30 we were waiting for our flight. The airport is very small and everyone there was on the same flight. They made the boarding announcement and everyone marched out to the plane. Hugh and I were on the right side so we got excellent views of the Himalayas including Everest! We landed early and immigration and customs took very little time. Our luggage arrived and when we exited Santos was waiting for us. The bus was large and comfy and if Santos had not talked we would have all slept. We arrived at the Yak and Yeti and they said a ninety minute wait before our rooms would be ready. By 11 we were snug in our beds trying to sleep. I slept for an hour but Hugh only for a short time. We relaxed before dressing and going for a long walk through the area of town with all the vendor stalls. We did not plan on shopping but ended up purchasing a yak that will look great on our Christmas tree along side our takin from yesterday. We took the long way through to get our steps and ended our journey with a stop at the Hard Rock Cafe for burgers and fries. I ended up with a pulled chicken sandwich which was excellent. We then headed to the hotel to journal and prepare our bags for tomorrow’s flight to Chengdu China.

Our flight was the only one and we cleared immigration and customs very quickly. The only stress came when our hotel address did not show up in maps and the Didi app became worthless. We finally got a taxi to the hotel and that was great. We are in a two room suite with a huge bathroom with a soaker tub. I am a happy traveler!! We were starved so we walked to the food center around the corner. We decided on a hot pot restaurant and after the lovely hostess showed us what to do we had a fabulous meal. Back at the hotel it was tub time and off to bed!

We boarded our bus and started the drive to the hotel. First impressions of Lhasa Tibet are that it is clean, modern, mountainous, has great highways, and they check your travel visa frequently! Tibet first opened to international tourism in the early 1980s, and you rarely see any western tourist even in the airport. English is not spoken or taught here and even the guides only speak a little. If not for Google Translate you good not survive unless you spoke Chinese or Tibetan. Our hotel is in the old town so we can walk to some shops and restaurants.

Perched high up in the mountains, the Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It used to be the winter home of the Dalai Lamas. Today, it’s famous as a masterpiece of Tibetan Buddhism, packed with over a thousand rooms split between its iconic White and Red Palaces. Of course there were stairs to get to the palace, 1080 steps to be exact. Our young companions used oxygen to make the climb to 12,139 feet but we just climbed slow and steady. The views were amazing and the ancient palace did not lack in beauty.

This temple has three levels and about 208 monks reside here. We spent the afternoon wandering through the maze like halls until we were getting tired and sneezing and coughing from the incense. At the end when the girls stayed to make photos we left and went to dinner. We tried yak momos and made the decision that momos are not for us. We gave them a three country trial. We played trivia and relaxed and then ended back in our room for showers and some down time!

As we were driving to our next stop we passed a garbage truck playing happy birthday to you as it collected garbage! The Sera Monastery was a surprise stop for us. Not on our schedule. Sera monastery is one of the largest and oldest monasteries in Lhasa. Before the cultural revolution, more than 5,000 monks lived here. Even though only a few hundred monks live there now, it remains one of the most important monastic centers. The monastery complex includes a printing house and three colleges in addition to monks quarters. It also contains a lot of steps.

We decided to explore Barkhor Street which is in the old city. We had to go through security to enter the square. Once there we join in the clockwise walk around the temple except we were shopping. We picked up several small things , a Christmas ornament, a bracelet for me , and a gift for Bruce and Donna who picked up our mail. The sun was so bright and strong that we headed back to the hotel to pack. All packed we rested, played games, and tried to sleep but by 5:40 we decided to head to dinner. We walked to a new part of town and ate at what was advertised as an American Bar and Grill, called Ice Chili. The menu was extensive and we decided on nachos and a sampler platter with kabobs. It was great and the familiar taste were welcome . We walked back to the hotel and found out our first flight of four had been cancelled. It took us the rest of the evening to get rebooked, notify our flight broker to get a refund, and notify our driver. Exhausted we fell into bed!!

We boarded first and found our Q Suite quickly and settled in. We were so tired by this time we declined food, opted for wine and after takeoff changed into our jammies which were different from the first flight, closed our doors and went to bed. We slept off and on for most of the flight so our experience was not as luxe as some. There was a whole book of available alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks but after the welcome champagne we stuck to water. We had our only meal 2.5 hours before landing and it was amazing! Lobster with crabmeat salad. It was a whole small lobster one top of a crab meat salad with an avocado sauce...so good. This was followed by filet mignon and veggies! Hugh had a cheese plate but I was stuffed. I indulged with an aperol spritz for my dessert! Then it was off to dress and try to hide the dark circles.

I usually do not do a recap but this trip was different from all others. We visited countries where it was hot and humid 24/7, countries where it rained every evening in a torrential style, countries where English is taught in the schools and countries where no English is spoken at all. We travelled with the best people who made the tours fun. We shared cocktails and wine, travel stories, and laughter. We reached heights we thought would be impossible and encouraged each other along the way. Our guides were amazing and my head is filled with facts I never knew. Thank you Upul, Anup, Arun, and Lhakpa. The people we met in each place really made the trip. We were welcomed and treated like royalty everywhere. Hugh and I will always remember the people who would stop us as we were doing something physical, eg..climbing to the Tigers Nest, and would say to us “where you from””?”. When we answered they always asked “how old?” And when we answered they smiled big and said “good, very good!” and gave us a thumbs up. It was so encouraging and funny. So as I end this saga I think I will borrow their line, this trip was “good, very good👍"!