Bhutanese woman serious about voting

THIMPHU, Bhutan, March 24 (UPI) -- Tshewang Dema hates cars so the 65-year-old woman trekked for 14 days so she could vote in Bhutan's first national assembly election Monday.

Dema said it took her that long to cover about 372 miles through rough terrain and biting cold in the Himalayan kingdom, the Press Trust of India reported. She had on rubber slippers and used a walking stick to reach the eastern district of Trashiyangtse.

"It was a long walk, only after people started expressing their amazement that I felt that I had achieved something," she was quoted as telling a local newspaper.

"I have a disliking for travel by cars," as it gives her motion sickness, she said, noting her last ride in a car was four years ago.

"And since I didn't want to lose my vote I walked," Dema said.

Monday's election was for the 47-seat National Assembly or the lower house of parliament. The voters have already elected members to the upper house.