🇧🇹 Mountainous Farewell: A Ride Through Bhutan’s Final Tales

Our departure from Bhutan poses a unique challenge. Our chosen vantage point is the Paro City viewpoint, providing a spectacular panorama of the airport where planes navigate one of the world’s most perilous runways. Flight activity is limited to the early hours due to the daunting obstacles shrouded in darkness. Landing here is no simple feat; pilots navigate through a formidable mountain range with a rhythmic dance of twists and turns akin to a winding road.

Amidst the anticipation, we find ourselves fixated in the wrong direction during the descent, awaiting a departure rather than witnessing the arrival. Only one out of the three planes that touch down manages to capture our attention. Our guides, perpetually upbeat, remind us to rejoice. “We witnessed a Bhutanese plane landing — the smallest for the smallest country.” Only a dozen planes can safely land at this airport, and we’re fortunate to witness one, skillfully piloted by a woman.

Despite the challenges, our guides maintain their infectious optimism, urging us to appreciate the moment. How can we complain when surrounded by such extraordinary people? These days in Bhutan offer profound lessons on embracing the world with positivity — a reminder that reality is shaped by our perception, and nothing is inherently wrong; it’s a construct of our minds.