We have to make a decision, Andrew and I. How the heck are we gonna get to Calcutta from Bangkok? The choice should be simple, really: Thai Airways costs about $60 AUD more per ticket than does Druk Air. But then again, who the fuck is Druk Air?

The perils and the joys of the internet were revealed to me once more as I scampered away from the travel agency that had put these two options to us, and started to Google.

Fact #1: Druk Air is Royal Bhutan Airlines.

Thoughts on this discovery: 'Royal' is good; that sounds classy. The Bhutan part could go either way, but the fact that they let NO ONE into their country who's not part of some super-expensive tour-fest makes me feel that they are just anally retentive enough to be a good bet.

Fact #2: This airline has only two planes. Full stop.

Thoughts on this discovery: Okaaay ...

Fact #3: Those planes are both rather weeny.

Thoughts on this discovery: How much are the tickets on Thai again?

Fact #4: Despite some passengers having positive experiences on Druk, one post I read makes mention of an extremely brusque Bhutanese cabin attendent who stood at the front of the plane and screamed in English, 'SWEETS!' before cursorily doling out lollies to the passengers on board.

Thoughts on this discovery: Something - sheer perversity? - makes me want to experience this sort of onboard care and attention. Druk's stock begins to rise ...

Googling done, we await word from our travel agent about whether or not seats will be available on the once-a-week Druk Air flight to Calcutta.