Apple Picking Adventure: Sweet & Sour Experience!

It was the 10^th of October 2011, the Canadian Thanksgiving Day. Apple picking was on the agenda for the day. We left the warmth of our home in Montreal, the Sauve House, at about quarter to 10 am. The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny. Perfect day for apple picking!

Maria,Dechen,Simangele,Esmael and Stephanie

It was an exciting day. For some, it was their first apple picking experience. Not for me. Apples are found in abundance in Bhutan. That did not, however, make me any less excited. 

But we had no idea what the day had in store for us at the apple orchard. We knew for sure as we left the house in the morning that we will return with lots of apples.That some of the apples will be used to make pie for our Thanksgiving dinner. And of course it was going to be fun.

Esmael with one of his many poses!

After more than an hour on the road, we arrived at the orchard. Soon, we busied ourselves eating, picking apples and taking pictures. The usual photo suspects from the Sauve house were on the loose. Yimin and Stephanie busy clicking away and Esmael as usual making sure that he is in every photo with different poses.

Mohammed and the apple tree

And then Mohammed, the unbelievable Mohammed, climbed one of the trees. He shook the tree and a shower of apples fell, which was punctuated by roar and shrieks of our laughter.

It was when he shook the apple tree for the second time that a man came running and shouting. Suddenly all hell broke loose. The man was furious. We became the center of attraction. All eyes were on us as the man  yelled at Mohammed in French. Well, we were not prepared for this.

He wanted us to pick all the apples on the ground and pay for it. And then he left. Within minutes, another man showed up.

Man: How is it going? 

Us:  Good.

Man:  Do you want to leave? 

Us: Yes.

Man: Would you like to walk back or get on my truck ?  

Us: We will walk. 

Man: How about you get on my truck? 

Us: Fine.

And then we got into his truck. 

“I think we are being thrown out of the orchard,” I whispered to Simangele as we made our way to the truck. “Maybe... I don’t know,” was her response.  And I was right. We were being kicked out.

The man dropped us where we had our car parked. “You have to leave right away. The guy who shouted at you at the orchard is the owner and he wants you to leave,” said the man as we got off the truck. And so we left.

I felt so sorry for Stephanie. She had to argue with the men on our behalf. Later that night, the incident dominated our thanksgiving dinner table conversation.

What a day! It was quite an experience!