Well the last day in Bhutan has been pretty big. We stayed at a pretty good 'resort' just near Paro and in the morning when Phuntsho was coming to pick me up his car broke down. Tenzin and I waited for about an hour then walked into town where I did some shopping. Then we caught a taxi to the museum. The museum is in the watch tower of the Paro Dzong and like all museums some stuff was good some pretty ordinary. We had lunch in Paro and headed for the border. The road south is under renovation, as are all the major roads, and what was to take us 5 1/2 hours for the 140km took closer to 8 hr. At one point we arrived at a place where they had blasted the high side away and we had to wait for them to clear the way. There was a line of traffic about 2 km, cars, trucks, bikes and buses. it took us about 2 hr to get past. We came over the pass after dark so a pretty hairy ride down into the valley. They have a complex system of light flashes and indicators to signal wether to wait or go etc. We went from over 2000 mtr to aprox200 mtr and you could feel the change in temp. After we arrived in Phuentshoeling I dumped my bags and went to find internet to check the situation in Darjeeling cos they having trouble with Gorkha's. Anyway the town is a typical border town hustle and bustle and full of pimps, pushers and pro's. Sounds like my kind of town. Since it was last night the boys and I decided to blow the froth off a couple of king browns and reflect on last week Bhutan is an incredible place. I have no doubt it will be a vastly different place in 10 years. There is massive works and infrastructure going on. All the roads, built in the 60s as single lane are being upgraded. There is a new airport going in in the south, new 5 star resorts and hotels. Some of this is for the coronation and centenary celebrations later this year and there is elections this year to change to a constitutional monarchy. With a government there will be money involved and changes are inevitable. There were times the tour bogged down with the philosophy of buddhism, it is more of a way of life than a religion, but when you get past that I have really enjoyed my stay here.I think 7 days was just enough and would love to come back in the spring to see the place in full bloom. The next morning I was to cross the border into India and I was set to walk across but we drove. Wow what a difference a line in the sand can make. From the relative clean and calm of Bhutan to the hustle and bustle and smell and filth of India. The boys had hastled with a few taxi drivers for me and got a good price to Siliguri and insisted that is where I should go. I felt like I was being railroaded but in the end decided to go and check out the situation in Darjeeling from there. The drive down was ok cos we came down through the Jaldhapara wildlife park where I saw an elephant and heaps of monkeys. The train station at NJP was chaotic and it was easier to grab a share jeep to Darjeeling cos the local cops said strike in Darj was over "no problems". I now know ALL the little *******s LIE. Just to get rid of you they will tell you anything. India 1 john 0, still time to make up anyway I went to Darjeeling.