Bhutan, an ancient land full of mystical creatures and legends. I am sitting on the terrace of my guesthouse looking out on to a captivating sunset beyond the fort valley of Thimpu. I can imagine the dragons breathing fire into the air, protecting the Druk (Dragon) People from its immortal enemies.
Bhutan, this is my 66th Country! I lived in 5 different places and spent 2 years backpacking across Asia. I’ve done a few epic road trips, rode motorbikes cross-country, and trekked up some mountains. But it’s not enough. Being on the road, meeting locals, trying new foods, experiencing the diversity in cultures, and watching breath-taking scenery, it all becomes too addictive. It is time, so I packed my bags and here I am, on the road again!
As I sat there watching the sun go down, I thought how different Bhutan is to Bahrain! A little island I am proud to call home.
I can’t help but wonder how I made it from that Island here, and where it all began. I guess it begins years and years ago, as I sat in front of the TV in my teens watching travellers’ document the four corners of the world. Documentaries of survival and adventure, expeditions to the North Pole, and insane folk base-jumping through canyons, and all the adventures we wish we could do. Like most, I sat there in awe wondering why endure so much pain for a little triumph. How do they get up there? Why do they risk their lives? Too many questions I didn’t have the answers to. I shrugged it all off and got on with my life.
Years went by. I finished University, worked, went back to University, and worked some more! I still watch travel channels and adventure shows and can’t stop thinking about going away. The idea was getting bigger in my head, but my career was taking off. Sometime later, I decided to go on a 2-week holiday, little did I know I would be travelling for 2 years. That was 6 years ago, but it’s a story for another time…
By Ammr Donia
(Founder & CEO of Travel Duck Adventures)