Recently I arrived the capital city Thimphu from Zhemgang as a part of my crucial journey of life. I would be departing to meet my college life which I had been missing so badly. The departure date is on 24/11/2017. The ticket has been already booked.
The medical lectures are going to resume on 20/11/2017 but still not prepared to go. Many of the friends are still here in Thimphu waiting for the departure date but I met only a few of them. No sooner had I met with my friends than we planned to ride the bicycles on 18/11/2017 to Paro; a 45 minutes drive by normal vehicle from Thimphu.
Early in the morning, at around 7:00a.m., I joined my friends Kuenga Sonam, Vivek Rai and Rinchen Thinley. Kuenga and Vivek are my seniors in the University of Peradeniya. We all are undergoing a medical course there. Rinchen is doing civil engineering in India. I met with him for the first time the day before our cycling. It’s fascinating to be with them though it wasn’t too long. Moving along the Olakha-Babesa express way, a thrilling sense rushed within me as I enjoyed the exquisite beauty of the places and people nearby. However, as the motion continued, I felt exhausted before I could reach Babesa gate and wondered whether I can make to the destination at Paro hospital.
There is always called an adaptation to everything we are exposed. So am I to the cycling; indeed very soon. I had a little experience before, back in Sri Lanka but I didn’t expect myself to experience this long journey. I could not only enjoy my own ride but also watching the smooth swift motion of my friends ahead. Such a pleasure! It rushed up throughout my spine. Everything turned easy very soon and then I was enjoying unimaginably. Sometimes, I remained far back and sometimes far ahead with a reason to enjoy. Kuenga was really doing well with full stamina and the speed. I tried my best to catch him but I couldn’t. Vivek was enjoying in his normal pace. Thinley was trying his best too. I tried to study each one of them carefully while enjoying the serenity and the beauty.
Our main aim was to make beautiful memories along the road. Vivek had his friend’s NIKON camera. It was interesting taking photos of everything that attracted our eyes. We took our own photo too. That’s to make the memories little bit concrete than keeping in the heart.
The normal cyclist could reach Paro within one hour, it’s said. However, our journey wasn’t only about reaching destination. We stopped at many places in which we found peace and tranquility. We wanted everything out of the journey. We needed satisfaction when we get back to the bed at night. 
Cycling on the main road with many vehicles, chasing some of them while giving sides to many made me feel like I was driving just like many people do. Exhaustion blended with satisfaction, there was no room for regret. Each one of us were flying on our own way.
After 3-4 hours, we had arrived our destination in which we were supposed to have our lunch. It’s the Paro hospital where our friend was waiting for us with his yummy meal. His brother is one of the doctors in the hospital so he was staying with his brother in his short holiday. We spent some time together, talking, drinking, laughing and so on. Finally, four of us waved goodbye to Mr. Sonam Tobgay for giving us a wonderful lunch. Soon, we found ourselves speeding in the Paro valley. Passing the town and the airport was fascinating, it’s only the new road we have followed on returning. Afterwards, we had to take the same road from where we have come before.
While traveling back to Thimphu, we experienced a huge difference in our stamina. Though we had a nice lunch enough to provide us the required calories, our journey back was gradually becoming tougher and tougher. Even a short distance slope was a huge barrier then. We could not enjoy anymore but what we uttered out was all about the success of the day. We crossed CHUZOM BRIDGE after which the road became sloppy but we didn’t give up. We tried with all our efforts. Vivek and I were leading far ahead when we saw Kuenga and Thinley far behind gradually nearing us. After few minutes of waiting, they caught us and we decided to get help from a heavy vehicle from there. We didn’t reach Khatshadrapchu then.
Vehicles were in hurry, we were not given a chance despite our try. Finally, a truck agreed to take us till Olakha. He was going to Wangdue Phodrang via Simtokha Road. We thanked him with all our heart when we got out of it. It was a beautiful night. Streetlights and home lights everywhere, shining like the stars. Cool breeze of Wang Chu across the whole city made people to bury themselves inside thick pants and coats. Moreover, the winter was coming. Obviously, the cold must come.
We departed from Olakha to our own houses. Waving goodbye again to three of them, I went to police camp. Without having my dinner, I slept peacefully. It was a day I had never experienced before. I loved it so much that I would never forget in my entire lifetime.
