The Road to Bhutan rally drove 15,000 km for 67 days through Italy, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India, “making music” along the way, and entered Bhutan from Gelephu on November 20. Their rally flagged off on September 26.

Director of Road to Bhutan, Arnold Pilon, who has done ten world tours, called the journey “heavy traveling”. “This 11th journey was the heaviest journey I’ve ever made but I’m very happy that I am part of this celebration.”

The oldest of the group, Arnold Pilon, 62, said that the roads were very bad in Pakistan and India. “But Bhutan’s roads are good like in Holland.”

The rally crew-members, between 24 to 62 years old, comprise musicians, teacher, tour operator, mechanics and film crew, all sharing the passion for travel. Depending on the road condition and traffic, they were sometimes on the road for six hours daily and, at times, 18 hours a day.

Arnold Pilon said that it took him two years to put the rally together. One of the riders, Frits Opdam, 51, calls the journey fantastic. “It’s my first time touring overland in cars and there are no rules, it seems, while driving in India or Pakistan. It’s funny in a way and sometimes also challenging.”

The students of Kilu Bhutan music school flagged the group in yesterday at the Youth Village. The visitors presented the school with musical instruments and a welcome concert by folk musicians Linde Nijland and Bert Ridderbos. They also gifted Bhutan a Road to Bhutan painting by the painter of the year 2008, Henk Helmantel, and his book.

The musicians will perform at the CICCC ground on November 23 along with the vintage car exhibition. They will leave the country on November 24. “We’ll fly home from Kolkata and ship the cars,” said Arnold Pilon.

Another vintage rally group comprising of 35 cars and 70 people, called the Himalayan Trial 2008, will drive into the city today at 3:00 pm.

Kuensel Newspaper