Another Bhutan Adventure Begins Today

Leaving today for our second Redpoint Collective trip to Bhutan, and as excited as ever to be going back to our favorite country. We’re always asked why we would return so many times to the same place. It’s for a number of reasons, but primary is the inherent contentment that is apparent in everyone we meet there. Certainly the country is changing and becoming more modern, but it’s a culture based on quality of life over consumerism. Their respect for the environment, the slower pace of life and their daily recognition through words and actions that respects and nurtures all people makes this the most amazing place in the world for us. We love to share this unique country with other people who are well-traveled and will recognize how special this place is. We limit the groups we take to small numbers so we can move easily through small villages and monasteries. We specialize in preparing participants in the culture so they’ll know what to expect and appreciate what they see. We make sure everyone gets great photos there, if that means sharing our lenses with you, teaching some new skills before we go, and helping you while we’re there, we make certain you are in the right place to capture great images. We use one guide for every two people to be sure you have a great experience every step of the way. Here’s a link to some of the highlights of our itinerary as well as galleries of the photos Brud Jones and I have taken there. Bhutan Cross-Country Tour 2013 Brud’s Bhutan Gallery Shari’s Bhutan Gallery

21 Oct – 23 Oct

Depart Kansas City | Arrive Bangkok

• 6 travelers – Laura and Dick Flanigan, Betsey and Rick Solberg, Brud Jones, Shari Hartbauer
• 3 flights each – Minneapolis/Chicago – Tokyo – Bangkok
• 26 hours in the air
• 1 flight delayed
• 1 flight nearly missed
• 1 flight canceled

But we all eventually made it to Bangkok, where a 27-hour layover allowed time for us to tour a floating market, a train market, where the shopkeepers move their wares off the train track four times daily so the train doesn’t roll over their freshly caught fish, vegetables and fruits, a roadside stand that roasted coconuts, and a wonderful little ceramic factory that was closed, but the shopkeeper allowed us to come in anyway to take photos. This evening we all indulged in massages to prepare for a 3 a.m. wake-up call. Tomorrow we catch an early morning Druk Air flight to Guwhati, India where our Bhutanese guides will meet us. And then we will finally and officially begin our cross-country of Bhutan. It took a lot of effort to get this far, but everyone is eager to begin our journey through the Land of Thunder Dragon. Our access to the internet will be spotty, so the next post may not be for another few days.