On 3rd May 2019, I was in Thimphu couch surfing at my sister’s place. On that day, at around 3 pm, I received a call from the Director of the Royal Office for Media that I had been selected to attend the Fourth Foundational Leadership Program in the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies and Governance (RIGSS) as His Majesty’s nominee. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

The next minute I received another call from ROM. This time, the staff asked me to report to the ROM office with my Rachu immediately. I assumed I was summoned to sign a document to attend RIGSS. Thus the Rachu, I thought. 

I rushed to ROM. The moment I reached their office, it was nothing like my assumption. The office staff were at their usual pace working. I asked the officer  why I was called to the office. Madam Sonam with the broadest smile told , ‘Denkar, you are going to Lingkana Palace’.  I freaked out! It was unexpected for me to be summoned to the palace. So I reconfirmed if it is true, and she said “yes”. 

I took the most extended breath of my life. I couldn’t believe I was going to Lingkana for an audience with His Majesty the KING OF BHUTAN, my idol and inspiration. Straightaway, I called my parents. They were astonished by the news. 

As I was waiting, my heart pulsated the fastest, and I felt like the people of Thimphu town would hear my heartbeat. Finally, after an hour of waiting, I was at the gate of Lingkana. Still, in disbelief, I was entering the palace gate.

An army waited for me near the entrance and escorted me to the palace. By then, it was dusk and was drizzling. As I was walking on the beautiful lawn, deep down, my heart was screaming with joy and bewilderment. I was astounded by the palace infrastructure. It was a modest one and one-storied palace. The palace I grew up watching  from a distance, and today, I was inside.

As I reached the palace entrance, the chamberlain of His Majesty The King directed me the way towards the reading room. The moment I stepped inside the main door and turned left I heard the voice, “Hello Denkar!” I promptly followed the direction of the voice, and it was His Majesty. 

I instantly bowed and paid my respect. It was my first time standing close to His Majesty. After being seated, His Majesty shared about the changing dynamics of travel behavior among Bhutanese. Although His Majesty shared about beautiful travel destinations in the country and why Bhutanese must also inculcate inbound traveling, he narrated personal anecdotes of travels within Bhutan. His Majesty spoke of how His Majesty the Fourth King took His Majesty and royal siblings to the Manas National Park and Gasa Taschu during the academic winter holidays.

His Majesty summoned me as a travel blogger, and I was thrilled that my work and passion was recognized. I realized how I had made a difference in domestic tourism in Bhutan. 

Ever since, I pledged to His Majesty that I would travel far and beyond to bring fascinating stories about people and the places to motivate Bhutanese people to travel within and participate in being the country’s ambassador.

His Majesty advised me to pursue what I am currently doing. His Majesty also highlighted the presence of social media and its pivotal role today. Later, His Majesty congratulated me for getting selected to attend RIGSS and assured me that it would be an enriching learning experience with young officers and that I would have fun, particularly in the immersion program to the remote village of Rekhey.

After the audience, His Majesty walked me to the main door. When I was about to bow, his Majesty surprised me with a gift box. His Majesty said, ‘Cheychey, this is for you. It’s an iPhone. I learned that you edit and shoot your travel videos on your phone. Here, use”.

After receiving the priceless solera, His Majesty wished me luck for future endeavors. 

On my way, I experienced ecstasy and utter happiness but was still in disbelief that I was granted the Royal Audience. 

I was ecstatic about the most memorable moment of my life. I almost fainted with immense joy and blessings. I wanted to scream my heart out, but it was so inappropriate to shout around the palace vicinity.

Back home, my parents were anxiously waiting for my call. After I exited Lingkana, I called my parents to share the priceless moment. My apa and ama cried tears of joy. 

This moment with my King is priceless and personally for me, historic.

One sentence I will never forget from the audience was His Majesty assertion that, 

‘We Need to Breathe Bhutan’.