Omkar: - This is the second check post of Bhutan. On your left side, this is the Lord Shiva or Pasupatinath temple. Wait, one of the Bhutanese Army men is coming towards our jeep. Don’t open your mouth. Only, I will talk with him.
*************************
Bhutanese Army Men 03:- Have you given the driving license number to the personnel of the first check post? What is that number? Let me check your driving license. Just wait for a minute. Let me confirm with the security personnel of our first check post though the phone.
************************
Bhutanese Army Men 03:- Ok, confirmed. You can proceed. But, you need to go out of Bhutan within the next 8 hours; otherwise, you will be penalized for every extra hour, as you don’t have any special permit.
Omkar: - Yes, Sir. Not a problem. Now it is 2.10 PM. We will go back to Jaldapara within 7 PM. Thank you, Sir.
***********************
Omkar: - We have reached Phuntshilling market. You have to give me another 20 bucks, as there is a parking charge for every vehicle in this market. In every lane, there are at least 3 Security Personnel of the Municipal Corporation of this Phuntshilling area. If you don’t give the parking charge to the Municipal Corporation, they have the power to seize your car for 1 week and you have to pay a fine to release it from them. Bhutan Government is very strict in its rules.
Debrup: - Ok, ok, take it. Accha, I can see many women security personnel in the streets of Phuntshilling market. Bhutanese women are so courageous!
Omkar: - Sir, unlike India, in Bhutan, there are hardly any inequality concept between men and women. Rather, in Bhutan, women are more active in various risky and intelligent professions than men. Majority of Bhutanese men spend their time in gambling, smoking hi-fi tobaccos, drinking and skin or flesh trading. Anyway, how long will you people take to roam this Phuntshilling market? Now, it is 2.25 PM. Come back to that Parking Zone by around 4 PM. I will park my jeep there only. If you don’t find me in front of the jeep, then just give me a miss call. I have the BSNL number. It works in Bhutan border areas also.
**************************
Sain: - Boss, one thing I must appreciate that Bhutan maybe a very small country, but they have discipline in their country. Can you find any garbage in the streets of Phuntshilling market? Hardly, maybe, in one or two places, I can see some newspapers and beer bottles, but, majority of their lanes are clean. Now, it is 3 PM, still I can see 2-3 sweepers are cleaning the roads.
Roy: - Another thing you have noticed? In almost every shop, be it grocery, stationary or a beer bar-shop, everywhere, you will find at least one woman or young lady is sitting inside, which proves that women in Bhutan play a major role in earning money for their family. In India, the Meghalaya state is the only state, where women are more active than men. Similarly, Bhutan can be termed as second Meghalaya or maybe Manipur also.
Ayandeep: - The liquor is very cheap in Bhutan. Roy and Sain; you people can surely try out here in this Phuntshilling market. At least, ask the bar owner, how much a beer cost?
Sain: - Ok, let me ask him. Accha, what is the cost of this ‘Brown Dragon’ Beer.
Bar Owner: - It is 15 rupaiya, Sir.
Sain: - What? It is only 15 bucks? Are you sure? We are coming from India. Tell us the exact price in INR.
Bar Owner: - Yes, Sir. In this area, we sell our goods in INR only. If we sell in INR, then it is more profitable to us rather than in our Bhutanese local Currency.
Roy: - Ei, Sain. Don’t take any risk. Maybe, the beer cost 15 bucks, but, what is the guarantee that it is not a very strong beer. If anything goes wrong after drinking this beer, then don’t forget that we are in Bhutan, not in India. Therefore, just cancel the plan of drinking Bhutanese Beer in Bhutan.
No comments:
Post a Comment