From Bumthang to Mongar

Scott and I are one night away from our new home. We’re in the Wanchuk Hotel in Mongar, which has recently become the largest city in Eastern Bhutan, edging ahead of Trashigang. It’s Julia and Charles’ new home and close to Nathan’s new home.

Today’s journey from Bhumthang to Mongar was a trip through seasons and altitudes – from the frost in Bhumthang to the banana trees in Mongar, from over 12,000 feet to 2,000 feet and everything in between. My journey with this large group of people is coming to an end. I recall meeting Julia and Charles in the Bangkok Airport the early morning hours of January 21 on line for baggage check and now more than two weeks later, hundred of kilometers and conversations later, and an endless amount of guesses, we’re all going our separate ways spread throughout the east and the rest of the country.

We got to see Julia and Charles’ house and Nathan’s apartment and that brought about an anxiousness for what our home may be, made it real. No more nice hotel rooms with hot water and buffet meals. No more evening beers (we’ve heard Kanglung is dry). Tomorrow is our fourth day in the capsule, the small moving room, the bus – that’s a long time to be with seven other people. We’ve seen a lot together – such unimaginable beauty, scary roads, a once in a lifetime ride. Tomorrow.




A trash bin of Happiness.

A view of one of the scarier roads we had to pass. As we drove on it, we couldn't help but look out the window and down over the steep cliffs.