Happiness Ride to Bhutan – Day 2
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The distance covered 150 km. Route – Phuetsholing to Thimphu.
Last night our Ride Captain Ajit had informed us that we will start from our Hotel to the Immegration office at 8 am after breakfast for doing the paper work for the 7 days permit. Our tour operator guides had collected all the required documents from us last night itself. All were ready after breakfast to collect their respective bikes to visit the Immegration office. It was a little long process to complete individually all the 24 riders paper work. Returned back to the hotel and collected our bikes, loaded our bags in the support vehicle. The next stop was at the RTO of Bhutan to get permits for our bikes. Another formality to be done. It was a bit of a lengthy process, it took more than an hour. By the time we completed the paper and inspection of our bikes and driving licence it was over 11 am. Finally around 11.30 am, we kicked off for Thimpu on our bikes.
The Ride Captain had shared the grouping and riders sequence last night itself. All joined their respective groups, briefing was done and prayers were recited by YC Roy and Asad for today’s safety and success. Finally both the group of 12 riders each left from RTO office to Thimpu, Capital of Bhutan. Encountered two more transit check points immediately after leaving Phuetsholing, completing those formalities. Finally we were riding in the beautiful country of Bhutan.
All were rain compliant due to overcast conditions and soon we were entering dense fog on the roads, it was totally curvy roads with thick forest all around, fog had become too thick that visibility had dropped to almost zero, with emergency flasher lights ON on each bike we were riding slowly. But it took quite some time to come out of the foggy condition. After covering 50 km, it was lunch time, all stopped at a roadside restaurant.
We spent over an hour at the restaurant and had a sumptuous meal, all were bonding and taking pictures of each other. Soon after lunch we left for Thimpu, climbing and foggy conditions had made us slow down, it was taking time. Stopped in between for more photo ops. Bhutan is a truly blessed country, neat, clean and green, people are totally disciplined, no honking, no traffic lights anywhere, all respect each other, no littering of trash anywhere. Traffic protocols are followed by each and every person. We were in our beautiful hotel, Forest Boutique after 6 pm. All were asked to freshen up in the next 20 minutes for attending a scheduled Rotary meeting with the solo Rotary Club of Bhutan.
By the time we reached the city centre of Thimpu for the meeting at 7 pm, we were late but few members had waited for us for the meeting. As per standard protocol all the members introduced themselves, understood the working of Bhutan’s club, did flag exchange and gave away small goodies to each member of Bhutan club present there. Bid goodbye to them after spending quality time with them. Since the meeting was in the city centre all decided to be on their own to explore the night life of Thimpu. Few decided to head back to our hotel. It was truly a great day traveling in Bhutan and exploring their culture and people. Feel envious of the blessed people of Bhutan. Being the capital of Bhutan, Thimpu, saw many beautiful structures like, Parliament House, Supreme Court etc. A great country called Bhutan.