Flight thoughts

29 September

I’m sitting on a plane to Kathmandu with a stopover in Singapore writing this. To be honest, I have no idea what I’m doing or why I’m going. I know for certain it’s more than just a need for adventure or curiosity.

I’ve just somehow ended up coming here, even after the threat of canceling this trip since the September 8th GenZ protest in Nepal. It seemed like a huge sign not to come, but fate has still brought me here.

The morning after I land in Kathmandu I have a Druk Air flight to Bhutan, landing in Paro then heading to Thimpu. I’ll be with a tour group. Bhutan is the most opposite place to comfort I could think to see. It’s a country that has no care at all for the modern world, and I don’t mean that in a way other cultures don’t embrace western culture. I mean, Bhutan genuinely doesn’t give a flying horse about the modern world let alone the west. Let’s start with the fact that Bhutan doesn’t recognise the sovereign independence of the United States, China, Russia, UK and most of Europe and Africa. But it does recognise Lesotho in Africa, as well as Australia and other countries. It’s a very isolated place but unlike the hermit kingdom of North Korea, Bhutan embraces ‘happiness’ and religion. I’m keen to learn more while I’m there.

The idea of embracing ‘Gross domestic happiness’ in Bhutan seems shallow upon first hearing of it. How can you measure happiness? If with a census form, how do you know your citizens don’t just pretend to be happy in order to avoid consequences? Are there even consequences? Would the government not step in if one was admitting to unhappiness seeing as their wealth is measured in happiness? And what on earth defines happiness?

I wonder if the translation of the Bhutanese word for happiness doesn’t even have a direct translation in English, I’m betting that’s the case. Because in English, happiness is a shallow word, at least in my opinion. For example, in Arabic, words you try to translate to English have no comparison, making the translation seem shallow when in Arabic the meaning is much deeper or more poetic.

So, this is what I want to explore, and try to understand the mindset of locals in terms of their own country and understanding of the world.

In turn, maybe I’ll figure out what I am doing. I know a huge part of this is wanting to film it, and edit. Even though it wouldn’t be my first time doing something like this, the bravery comes from putting it out there. I watch travel vlogs and I just know in my heart I don’t want to be a ‘travel vlogger’ or ‘youtuber’ or ‘influencer’ and I don’t think all those who have such labels were given a choice, I think it was forced on many of them after they began doing it for fun. So my goal is just to do whatever makes me happy, it’s not going to be following some formula so that I get views and sponsorships, it’s just going to be playful and experimental and for me. Maybe for my only viewer too, who is my mum 😀

After Bhutan, I’ll be back
In Kathmandu for a different kind of exploring.

First, Singapore Airport for 13 hours. I have a few things to do there. In 2017 on my first trip to Singapore, I didn’t get to tick one thing off my bucket list, try a Singapore sling. I also have a nap room booked in the Ambassador Transit Lounge, and on this 8 hr flight I’ve only had 3 hours of sleep, it’s 5.45am in Singapore and I’m really keen for a nap and shower before the connection to Kathmandu.