03/02/2014

Left for KTM, was a real long bus ride on awful roads. Zilch leg room. Had an argument with the bus driver but eventually got local price. We eventually arrived, and found a guesthouse next to Durbar square. Which is a famous old courtyard full of funky Asian style buildings. We grabbed some momos and searched for a local place that did tomba. Found an awesome spot called Small Star and it was heaving. This time it wasn't served with a metal straw, but a plastic one, meaning there was no metallic flavour and it was much nicer.

04/02/2014

Went to the consulate where there I met the couples who were also getting their tourists visa, they were front of the queue. I just needed a transit visa and it cost a whopping $96! Absolutely extortionate. I was only going to be in India a few hours. I was met with more India bureaucracy, being super picky and ultra slow. Afterwards I went to the office of the tour company to pay for my Bhutan tour. Had a s*** load of Nepali Rupee and handed it all over. Went for a recky and found a class local place, had to venture through the smallest door known to man to get to it. Got a dhal bhat for dirt cheap. Got some more bait and tombas on the night from the same restaurant. Again were the same people there. This consisted of a big group of around 10 who were all deaf and dumb and were all communicating in sign language.

05/02/2014

Got the worst s***s known to man and was bed bound all day. Found out Ryan was in town, an American guy who I met in Varkala. Stocked up on some more tini and electrolytes. Explored Durbar square and got plenty of pics. It said that tourists had to pay 750rs to enter but it wasn't that much enforced, so we waltzed in. Got the obligatory skran and tomba from the local on the night.

06/02/2014

Done some more sightseeing, went to a place called monkey temple which was a giant stoopa perched on a big hill, full of prayer flags etc. After doing some research we found out we could sneak in round the back for free, which we did. The temple lived up to its name and there were a s*** load of monekys up the there, all fighting for food amongst the pigeons.

07/02/2014

Went to meet cliff and crew as I had lent him some money to get his visa. When trying to find them we actually bumped into them walking around in the street. Later on we took them to our local gaff and introduced them to tomba. Like me on my first try Kurt wasn't a fan and made his feelings quite known to the group. The group had already had some beers before and Keryn was pretty well sloshed by the end. We decided to go back to their digs after and chill on their roof with a few more beers.

08/02/2014

Chill day. Had nap. As per at small star they would cram us all in meaning we would always have to share a table with someone else. The locals were always interested in us. The last couple of times everyone had been really sound but this time it was some annoying drunkard. All he kept doing was rabbiting on and asking us questions. At the end when he left he wanted some of my food as he was saying by, but I refused, so he forced the matter and scooped his hand into my rice and pinched some. Couldn't believe it hahah!!!

09/02/2014

Bumped into the pissed guy again later the next day, surprised he spotted me through the crowd. He shook my hand pretending to his mate who he was with as if he had known me all my life. Went to Patan square later on, it's a cheaper and less visited Durbar square but in my book doubly as impressive. With Lawrence's GPS we managed to find it by walking, and again we managed to stoop around and not pay. However this time they were more vigilant. And chased us out of the payment zone. So we stood 1cm taking as many pictures as we could and they couldn't do a thing, pretty funny lol. It actually gave a better vantage point.

10/02/2014

Went to pick up visa and got told off the cuff it wasn't ready and that it would be ready tomorrow, so casually. It just seemed liked they had forgot and were trying to get rid of me. After doing lots of research when I returned it had dawned on me that this Bhutan tour was a scam. The prices were below the daily tariff, I had looked on the official Bhutan list of tour operators and the company wasn't on there, which you needed it to be, the visa hadn't been sorted, and lastly I didn't get my confirmation email of my flights which apparently only comes through once Druk air receives your visa confirmation. All of this pointed to one thing, and I honestly couldn't believe it was happening to me. Its like when you see on the TV of tourists getting scammed thousands of pounds, this time I was actually that guy! It was real! Why oh why hadn't I booked it with the other company who's prices were kosher.

I decided to steam down and raise merry hell when I got there!! I was in that much of a mood I couldn't help but physically run there, Lawrence's leg was hurting so he just walked. I soon presented my case to him, and he wanted to go upstairs to talk about when Lawrence came in. He must have thought he was another punter and he didn't want him to see. We went upstairs and he revealed they are actually just an agent of another company, who are in fact registered, yet couldn't explain why it was so cheap. He ran the geezer and gave me his phone number. However he still couldn't explain why the price was way under the government tariff. He said he wouldn't have took me if he knew I was that much trouble. He then rang druk air who said my flights were confirmed.

Later on I left and decided to visit the Druk Air offices myself. Turns out the person who he rang was the wifey I was speaking to, and she again confirmed my flight status was good. She also gave me some geezers contact details at druk air who could confirm the status of my visa as well. She was very helpful and I was very happy. I emailed the guy on the night.

Met up with the couples for one last time at their place. I brought some beers and we just chilled on their roof as the sun set. Was nice to say bye as the pair of them are lovely people.

11/02/2014

Went to get my visa, which he produced, and I still kicked off. I still wasn't buying it, it looked so knock, just like some copy and paste jobby. I then demanded to see some of the other Bhutan records of past tours and he was really dodgey and didn't let me see them, and apparently the ones in the office upstairs were locked. Seemed a miracle if this was to come off. I made him give me a hand written receipt that I would get a refund if the tour wasn't genuine. Not that that would mean anything.

Later on me and Lawrence did a last bit of shopping and I bought some authentic Nepali hats for the people in the office back home. Lawrence bought some nice prints as they were a cheap and lightweight prezzie.

Got our bait on the night and Lawrence lectured me about tipping culture and its impact on service. What a load of tosh. The guy is carrying a plate of skran from one end of a building to another before dumping it on my table, how much better that action get if you hoy him some coin every night. Really not that bothered. He also insisted once you start tipping you have to continue it.

12/02/2013

Got last ever chai as well as last ever Dhal Bhat. Done some more shopping. Got an email through off the geezer that my visa had been granted!!!! I was buzzing!!!!! The owener of the tour company in Bhutan also said he was expecting me and we talked to each other on facebook. Man I was so happy!! It seemingly was real.

Hit up small star one last time and got some good bait, masala papa, beef sendeko and American chopsuey, as well as tomba of course. Just for good old sake another randomer started talking s*** to us, this time claiming the oldest man in the world is Nepali, and is in fact 140, but no one can prove it as he predates the inception oftheir birth certificate system. Haha some how I don't think so mate, there' good innings and then there's just downright stupid.

We said bye to Gomander, who had been our waiter all 11 nights in KTM. He was a really sound lad and we always had a good craic on with him every night. We tipped him, and even got some pics with the fella lol. Ate our last ever Parle-G when we had got back, which had developed into legendary status over the 1 and half months we had been there. Bhutan tomorrow!