Krishna’s Toast to Bhutan and a Bow to Thrilling Experiences
Krishna Shastri, a software engineer from Chennai, had booked a trip to Bhutan in October 2023. Being the second peak season of Bhutan, Krishna and her partner were first told by Anshuman, from Thrillophilia, that there are probably no more slots available for this trip. But two days later three slots became available and they booked two of them as soon as Thrillophilia informed them about this.
Glad, they were rejoicing when Anshuman called them again to inform them about Bhutan. He explained to them the temperature difference, why it happens, the landscape, possible risk factors, how the itinerary would follow, and what to pack. Most importantly, he told them the do’s and don’ts of Bhutan.
This is one of the best pre-trip services of Thrillophilia, a proper counselling session where one would be educated about the destination they are visiting. This is all the more significant as it eliminates several possible danger nodes- like wrong packing leading to health deterioration, currency info to avoid hassles in purchasing stuff, and terrain information so that the travellers can prepare themselves mentally for the trip.
Krishna and her partner were quite impressed by this approach. They were assigned to Ms. Ayushi Ramrakhyani, the GEO of their trip who was equally friendly and helpful. What they say about their customer experience is true to a huge extent.
For this couple, it got a top-class rating.
The Land of the Thunder Dragon
Bhutan is a picturesque destination whose dreamy sights are enough to make your jaws drop. Just imagine riding on the roads of the mountains while the clouds roll down, or picture the first beams of sun peeking through the snow-capped peaks when the clouds form a cotton blanket beneath your feet. Yes, such is the beauty of Bhutan.
But it is much more than what meets the eye.
It is believed that Bhutan used to have Dragon Gods, which is why they are considered sacred omen in their culture. Krishna was intrigued to hear these stories from Mr. Sangay La and Mr. Karma La on their way back from the National Memorial Chorten. They had de-routed from the Motithang Takin Preserve. Although it was famous for spotting Takins, Bhutan’s National Animal, other animals were also regular.
Krishna was about to ask for more when her partner interrupted the conversation and pointed out of the car…
A red panda was climbing its way up to the highest branch of the nearby Oak tree.
Gasping, Krishna immediately took out her camera, but Mr. Karma stopped her. He said,
“Red pandas are very shy and very smart. If it hears the click of your camera, it will run off. So if you want to see it with your eyes properly, don't take a picture.”
She put it down and looked at that beautiful beast in red and black. She was mesmerised.
Food, Culture, and People
It was the Thimphu sightseeing tour, and they were pretty tired after visiting so many places. They wanted a soothing dinner and a good night’s rest. So they decided to go for some authentic Bhutanese food. Their driver and guide took them to a fantastic restaurant called Bhutan Kitchen. All their crockeries were earthen and copper, and their seating arrangement was also traditional.
They had Ema Datshi, Eue Chum, and Shamu Datshi with their local bread. It was so comforting and light, that Krishna and her partner fell asleep on their way back to the hotel.
The rest of the trip was very serene and uninterrupted. They saw a Takin and another Red Panda on the trip. Krishna dreamed one night that one of the Dragons from the thangkas of Taktsang Dzong came alive and granted her a wish. And her partner grew deeply interested in Buddhism. They also interacted with the locals and posed to click pictures with them.
The day they went to the Taktsang Dzong, Krishna was scared out of her wits. The idea of riding horses along narrow mountain ridges threw her off. But she was good at it. When they first saw the monastery, they were surprised. It was a monastery standing right at the edge of a cliff. The view instilled a sense of danger, and a sense of power to control that danger. Exploring the monastery was an extraordinary experience for them, no wonder it is known as the “Tiger’s Nest”.
They had met many locals on the trip, with some of them they even exchanged numbers. One day they even met a differently-abled person on the road who won them over with his jokes and a bright smile!
They found the people of Bhutan to be so warm and hospitable, that the overall experience of the trip got better.
A dynamic end to a peaceful trip
On the day of return, Krishna was reading ‘The Valley of Flowers: An Adventure in the Himalayas’ on her Kindle.
It was ironic, she was reading this book that day because she felt like the two adventurers in the book. They had lost their way in the Himalayan jungles of Uttarakhand, and they discovered the route to the “Valley of Flowers”, now a UNESCO site. She felt like she had also discovered a new part of herself. Bhutan was familiar, yet it was not. This pushed her into an abyss of introspection.
She boarded the flight and fell asleep while reading the umpteenth chapter of the book. She woke up after the plane had landed and hurried out. But on her way back home, in the cab, she realised her Kindle was still on the flight!
Panicking, fidgeting, whining, Krishna’s partner called Ayushi from Thrillophilia. After hearing the issue she assured him that they would get it back. It was special to Krishna, she had a very precious collection there. In an hour or so, Ayushi called back again with the news that the Kindle had been retrieved and that they would have to go to the airport to fetch it. They did so immediately.
Krishna finally let out a sigh of relief as soon as she held the Kindle. They looked at each other and called Ayushi again to thank her. They were pleased with the services.
They kept the phone, and Krishna said after some moments,
“This trip was truly an unforgettable adventure with Thrillophilia!”
Her partner could not agree more.
Read More: Thrillophilia Bhutan Reviews