Fastest foreign Tour. The Platina reaches Bhutan! and the traveller reaches Tiger nest.

I rode along the border of Bhutan and reached the town called Phuentsholing which was the entry point to the country. The office that was supposed to issue my permit was closed, so I decided to spend a night there. India was just a 5-minute walk away but I decided to stay at the border town itself. Found a room at 500Rs. A room on the 5th floor, neat and clean with a TV and a fan. Dropped my luggage and went out to grab some food. A piece of chicken leg cost Rs. 100 and that wouldn't fill me. So I went around to find a smaller shop where a plate of momos was 40 and chowmein was 60. Ordered both, ate and grabbing a beer on the way, I went back to my room.

On reaching the immigration office, I found out that they didn't issue a permit without prior hotel booking and to ride in Bhutan I had to take an escort along paying him Rs. 2500 a day and take care of his needs as well. For once I thought of dropping the idea and going towards the North of India. But then I really wanted to trek the famous Tiger Nest. So I went back and asked the officer if I could take a cab instead and she said yes.

Came to the immigration office, met a guy who handled the documentation and he got me a hotel reservation which on the whole cost me 2000, that is, 1800 for the hotel and 200 for him as service charge. Damn my Karnataka bank ATM wouldn't work and I even tried the ATM's in the Indian Town, I had 4 thousand rupees in the Karnataka bank and 2500 in hand after withdrawing from my federal bank card. I called up Bhagat and said, I needed 2000 and he did a google pay in minutes. I took out the cash, picked up a sim card for the internet, left most of my luggage back in the hotel itself, carried one backpack and found a shared taxi to Paro.

On the journey, I met Karma, a student going home for the holidays. I talked to him about life in Bhutan and its religion and spirituality. He was a humble person interested in agriculture. We discussed on some crops and harvesting and being able to manage a life with agriculture. The driver was also named Karma, was another beautiful human being. After reaching Paro, he took me to a cheap restaurant where I ate my dinner and he put me in a cab and directed me towards my hotel.

The hotel was a luxury property way above my budget but was priced low. Just Rs.1800 for a 3-star room with complimentary tea and coffee sachets, so imagine. I rested because I had to wake up early and trek so I could get back to Phuentsholing. I was unable to afford another day in Bhutan.

I woke up, freshened and left towards Tiger nest. The base stretched about 5 kilometres and I started walking. A cab dropped me a small distance ahead and I continued walking after a snack and Amul cool. I started trekking with the crowd, some stayed behind at the beginning itself while many continued. The counter said 500 rupees to enter the monastery so I skipped it. Money to even enter temples? After reaching the top I sat outside and meditated. Suddenly something rubbed itself against my hands. A dog had come close to me and I opened my eyes. Patted him for some time and fed him some biscuits and came back down.

It took me just 3 hours to go up and down Tigers Nest. But finding no taxi or cab at the base, I kept walking ahead trying my luck at hitchhiking. A couple in their 25ish, in a waganor dropped me at the taxi stand. I enquired about the shared taxi and people guided me through a market. I stepped inside a fruit shop there and found a fruit I hadn't eaten in my life before, persimmon. Bought some Apricots for 100 rupees and reached the cab stand. Two drivers ran towards me upon saying Phuentsholing while one gave up and let the other take the prize. He drove me once the car was full with 5 passengers.

Such a beautiful sustainable country Bhutan. Interestingly, people love their leader, and he has been ruling quite well, saving nature and people from being exploited. Clean cities, very less population, enough income and employment. Of late people have started to become lazy and trying trending businesses, otherwise, it is a perfect balance of man-machine and mother earth. On getting back to Phuentsholing, I stayed at the same hotel in the same room on the 5th floor, with the windows open, this time holding a peach wine and a smoke.