Dear Family, Friends, Acquaintances and Enemies,
I was out on a run today, trying to avoid dogs, cars, cowshit, and well… cows, when I had a genius thought. I was in fact different and special and not like other girls and I should write a blog. What a thought! A long, long time ago, in ancient times really, reifieldtripping.com was created and maintained by my dad to update people back home while my family embarked on an epic journey around the world (Dad if you’re reading this, wasssupppp). Looking back through my blog posts, let’s just say I could have done a better job documenting, but hey I was fifteen. This is where Hazel in her twenties, who loves to write, and is also bad at texting comes in. So let’s see how well this blogging thing goes.
Ok now where was I… oh yes, a run. Running down the paved but very windy road, prayer flags are strung between the trees, once brightly colored, but faded by sun and time. I am descending into Paro Valley, Bhutan, my home for the next three months (if you're a Bhutanese border officer, my official answer is 3 months and 13 days).
Before coming to Bhutan, I had actually never heard of it, so it’s safe to say that I have been learning a LOT. But let me start at the beginning.
After a long, but manageable 24 hour journey, I landed in Bangkok. Yep that’s right, after a several year hiatus, I was back in the BKK babyyyy. During our gap year, Harper and I had spent about two weeks in Thailand, and we had a short but truly wonderful time. (I have vague memories of having to buy devastatingly ugly elephant pants to enter a temple, an impromptu drum performance by Harper in a local bar, a painful foot massage, and food delicious beyond belief). This time around, I was greeted in the airport by a strange man named Billy, the program manager, who somehow already knew my name. I hopped in the taxi to head to the hotel, in which I was told by the driver that I had a “big body”. Oh joy.
Only about half of the program students had arrived, so we had some time to chill and explore the city. I grabbed some grub at a nearby market before heading to the city center to get some last minute things. I shared a Grab (Southeast Asian Uber) with five girls from my program. Aside from it being crowded with four of us crammed in the back, it should have been an uneventful ride. However, about halfway there, one of the girls asked if we could stop so she could use the bathroom. Seeing as we were on a highway, this was a bit of a difficult task, which resulted in a projectile vomit out of the moving car. After this we actually didn't even pull over, and the Grab driver simply rolled down the window and she continued to puke out of the car as we zoomed along. I have to say I was very impressed with the efficiency of the event. It also served as a bonding moment for all of us.
Aside from that, my two days in Bangkok were filled with yummy street food, local beer in the pool, 6 pm bedtimes and jetlagged introductions to many new friends. For the most part, people seemed nice, quirky and down for an adventure (my kind of people). When over text I told Jay that everyone was cool, he pointed out that this was unlikely -- that remains to be seen! One girl is in a situationship with a guy who just got out of prison, so at the very least I can say that these people are not boring!
After waking up at two in the morning, we were off to Paro, the only city in Bhutan with an international airport. It turns out that there are only twenty-four pilots in the world certified to fly into this airport (look it up), and let’s just say I understand why. After a beautiful flight over the Himalayas, we circled the airport about seven times before taking a hairpin turn into the valley, nearly clipping a house and several temples on our way in. Okay so get this; the airport looks like a damn palace, with a massive portrait of his Majesty the King hanging both in and out of the airport. All I could think was holy shit I'm in Bhutan? Huh??? Why? Awesome? YAYY!! I'm so hungry. OMG is that the King?
Paro, Bhutan Intl Airport
Okay, now I’m uninspired, and I can't think of anything else to write. Here are some random tidbits. I have never had such gas-delicious-banging food in my life (literally amazing and wtf, soooo spicy). The beer here is good and weird (it kind of tastes like tires and the alcohol percentage is “less than 8%”). I have to take a cow path to walk to town. There are 52 tigers in Bhutan. I am at about 8,000 ft elevation and can barely walk up the stairs. Life is good. Also I decided I’m gonna do a triathlon when I get home.
On another note, I think the most surprising thing about Bhutan so far is that there are phalluses quite literally everywhere. Seriously. There are figurines, statues, paintings, murals, you name it. If you can think of it, there’s one in Bhutan with a penis on it. They warned us about this in a lecture and explained that it is a symbol of power, and it is thought to ward off evil presences and spirits. In any case, it sure gives me a giggle.
Lastly, a kid on my program named Will has a special talent for making friends. As is such that we now have a weekly date playing basketball with the guy who runs the bodega down the street. He and all his friends wanted to play basketball against Americans (because duhhh all Americans are awesome at basketball). Imagine their disappointment when we showed up to the court and got absolutely demolished. It was quite embarrassing but I would like everyone to know (especially Atticus and Ada) that I did contribute two points to our twenty plus point loss (we had to pay the court reservation fee). After the game I was chatting with one of the guys and he casually mentioned that he used to play for the Washington DC Wizards, so really, I don’t know why we were there. Regardless, I think they appreciated our spirit, and most of all, my awesome basketball outfit (brrrr brrrr, the courts are calling).
Miss you all a lot and wishing I could teleport all of you beside me.
Until next time,
Hazy J
