Ah Saturday :-) I didn't get up early but stayed in bed and read my book for an hour before climbing out of bed and into the shower. I wanted to go to the bank and change some money because I won't be able to go there for the next 2 and half weeks because of teaching. I walked downtown and came to the bank before noon knowing they will close at 12. And what happened? They had already closed the doors and were only letting people out. Sigh! Time certainly IS different here in Bhutan ;-) Oh well, I'll manage somehow ;-)

I decided to go shopping so my walk downtown wasn't in vain - I still need some clothes. I found a very western looking shop and looked around for a while, found a very nice jacket/sweater and bought it. I also visited one of the more local clothes shops and bought a turtleneck and a sweater - for around 65 kr. (8,7 Euro) for both! Finally I bought some food - carrots, litchi juice and some seaweed snacks - it shall be very interesting to taste the latter.

Steffen was on tour to Punakha today so I decided to eat in my room and cook some pasta for dinner. I am looking forward to hearing all about his trip tomorrow. I remember getting close to carsick when I took that tour in November - those winding mountain roads for hours! But a beautiful trip, nevertheless.

Kinley called me - she wanted to ask me about the table arrangement for Monday. Right now the tables are placed like in a meeting room, she said. I told her that was fine as long as we can move them around according to what we are doing. She will pick me up Monday morning - I don't know where the course will be held yet so it is very exciting.

I continued reading my Ken Follet book in the afternoon - and did some preparation for the next module in May. When I return to Denmark I only have 4 weeks before I go back here again and I need to prepare for 18 days of teaching - making material in English and everything, so it is kind of a lot of work ;-)

Steffen told me yesterday that an instructor at the automobile institute earns 18.000 NU a month (2.050 kr. = 275 Euro), then he pays 1000 NU for his pension and 500 NU in taxes. I know we pay 2100 NU a night here at the Bhutan Suites - 1/9 of his monthly pay for 1 night!!! I can imagine that they regard it as the wildest luxury to stay here!