The last lodge

We’re back in Paro after a week away, and they intentionally assigned us the same room as our first stay.  That’s another example of fine Aman service.  (Jess: you’d like the Aman level service!)

I had been dreading today, as most of it was in the car traveling from Punakha.  But it wasn’t so bad, even though it rained most of the day.  I do admit that I’ve been fantasizing about helicopters a lot.  I even had the manager of the last lodge investigate chartering one for us to come back here.  I told the manager tonight that Aman is missing a big opportunity to upsell people to heli-transport from lodge to lodge.  It’s a big idea – I’m sure of it!

After leaving Punakha early we journeyed first to Thimpu, where we had stayed earlier in the trip.  You see, there is basically one east-west road.  So you always find yourself back in the same places, more-or-less. 

There isn’t more than a few hundred yards anywhere on this road that is straight.  The road protocol is quite interesting.  If you want to pass someone, you come close behind them and give a little beep on your horn.  Then, apparently, they are obligated to hug the side of the road -- the left, since they use the British convention -- while you pass them.  Note that you can make this maneuver at any time, including around curves.  I guess you are assuming that any oncoming traffic is coming slowly enough that you can recover.  At the same time, you are dodging all sorts of livestock, road workers (mainly Indian women) and children, and trucks or taxis that seem to be mysteriously parked in random places.  After a while you just have to relax with the flow of it, and stop thinking that you are going to die on every curve.

In Thimpu we went to the textile museum, which is small.  They are building a big modern version across the street.  The history of weaving in Bhutan is amazing, and they are proud of it.  They do remarkably fine work, using patterns the weavers have memorized.  The technique of weaving in colored threads results in cloth that looks embroidered but actually is woven.   Later we stopped at a weaving factory where we saw the women at work.  They sit on the floor using a “backstrap” loom that has a belt around their back to apply tension to the threads.  They spend hours working to complete just a few inches of cloth. 

We also visited a paper factory where we saw the whole process, starting with the soaking the plant, mashing it up, spreading it thin to make a paper sheet, then hanging it to dry.

Both the weaving factory and the paper factory had small shops, which were two of our very few shopping opportunities on this trip.  (Joan, I’m not sure Bhutan is for you!).

We had lunch at Aman Thimpu, then headed back to Paro.  We were happy to see the familiar staff here, and for me to have a chance to tell the general manager about my Big Helicopter Idea.  We enjoyed the sauna in the spa before relaxing for dinner.
-- Donna