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Stranded in the streets of Bhutan!
I would like to share a very touching incident we experienced. All hotels and restaurants close in Bhutan by 10 pm, with some pubs and discotheques remaining open till 1 am.
One night we went to a pub that had live music. We spent some time there. We had forgotten to inform our hotel that we would be late. We reached our hotel by 10.15 pm and the main door was closed. We rung the bell and knocked on the door for half an hour, still no one heard or answered us.
Our hotel was also run by a family and they stayed on the third floor. We saw that all the lights were out. We spent an hour yelling and knocking on the door. Still no one heard us. My mobile was latching on to Bhutan Telecom network, but I was not allowed to make calls. All local call booths had closed down and we had nowhere to go.
• Airfare for Rs 599 and less!
As a last resort, we went back to the pub and told the pub owner (who also doubled as the bar man) our plight. He was so helpful and immediately called up the hotel's number which was on the room key. No one answered. We were resigned to the fact that we may have to sleep in the pub.
Then the rock band's drummer offered to help us. He came with us all the way to our hotel and started shouting along with us in Bhutanese. By now the time was 1 am. That guy and I even tried going behind the hotel in an attempt to wake up the owners. But we were chased by street dogs and we had to return.
Finally, someone heard us and came down and opened the door. We will never be able to express the relief we felt to be inside the hotel. We thanked the drummer boy as earnestly as we could. This was just one example of the friendliness and sincerity of the Bhutanese people.
Text and photograph: Carol Nettar
Also read: Corbett: Where the jungle calls
Share YOUR travel stories and pix!Have you been to Bhutan? What was your favourite sight there? Where did you have the best meal? Do you have a hotel to recommend? Do post details on the message board below so other readers can benefit from your advice. Remember to add information on what was special about the restaurant, hotel or sight you visited, along with relevant telephone numbers and addresses.
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