From TravelPod
Surprise!!! We're in Bhutan!!!
We know we told you we weren't going to Bhutan, but Phub absolutely insisted that we came here to celebrate the King's birthday. We are able to stay in the border town of Phuentsholing overnight without paying the daily tariff that is normally required. We travelled down from Gangtok yesterday, a 7 hour journey out of the hills and onto the Indian Plains. We stopped for lunch in Siliguri on the way and at the same time got some money out of a cashpoint machine. Phub was a bit excited about this as he had never seen an ATM working before and was astounded that it gave us some money (so was I actually).
Next day, after some immigration formalities we went to the football ground to see the 'March Past' in honour of the King, and some Bhutanese dancers. Then we went to the local school fete - a strangely familiar experience including hoopla, bingo and splat the rat.
After lunch we went up into the hills a little way to a temple which had a fantastic view over the Indian plains and where you could see the Himalayas suddenly rise up out of the ground. We sat on the hillside next to the prayer flags in the warm breeze for some time.
Next down to the best tourist attraction of Phuentsholing, the Crocodile Breeding Centre (or as Phub described it, the Mosquito Breeding Centre). Actually more fascinating than it sounded.
Sat in the park as it got dark, and enjoyed being back in Bhutan and then went and had dinner with Phub's friend, a senior immigration officer.
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