Small airports suck

Google lies.

Also, I *was* terrified on the flight. (Yes, a foreign service officer freaked out by turbulence. Sue me.)

Plus, the Paro airport, which is also small, is essentially in a valley between mountains. You land, exit the plane, wander the taramac and wonder how the hell the pilot managed it.

 

Are you driving on a goat trail? Even at 10 mph you could do the 82 miles in 8 hours

 

82 miles is the physical distance, not the travel distance

 

Google Directions has it as 314 Klicks or 195 miles. When you get off the 405 make a right at Starbucks and go straight into Bumthang.

I guess the bigger question is why do we need foreign service officials in Bhutain
sipping tea?

 

That is the better question.

I have to admit that I am jealous, though. That is a region I want to visit, and Bhutan in particular is a place I want to visit.

I've got to start a CSU foreign student recruitment initiative in Bhutan.

 

If it's a place Americans visit (which is everyplace) you need State Dept. officials there for that alone.

 

Yes on the goat trails.

Wrong to assume I was working. It was a once-in-a-lifetime vacation so far as I was concerned. I went with a U.S.-based tour group.

Bhutan has no diplomatic ties to the U.S.; any AmCit issues would be handled through New Dehli. It's a is a heck of a place to vacation, though. Lots of people talk about "Gross National Happiness" and the fact that tourists have to spend $200 or $250 a day or something, but the GNH is a lot of propaganda IMO and the fee includes the visa, car gas, driver, guide, hotel and food.

Today I'm hanging out with TrooperBari in Hong Kong, though.

 

Great stuff seriously. I learned a lot. Enjoy Hong Kong and give my best to TrooperBari.

 

That Bhutanese charge covers your charges - accommodations, meals and transport. I'd love to there.
Nepal hits you with a charge, too, but it's just a charge. You've still got to pay all of your expenses.

 

What's it cost to fly coach from SFO to Bhutan, though?

Plus the wife would never go for it. My days of exotic or off-beat travel are probably over.