Clinging to the rock 10,000 feet above sea level is the Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), Bhutan's most venerated pilgrim sight. We ascend for two hours up 3000 feet from the valley floor. The monastery was built to commemorate Guru Rinpoche, the second Buddha, having meditated in a cave here for three months in AD620. This sacred, spiritual site moves us deeply as we gaze in awe at the unbelievable feat of human engineering and stunning landscape. It is the highlight of our trip to Bhutan.
Chillies drying on the roofs of local houses are a common sight in Bhutan.
Our trusted guide and driver, Tandin and Phuentsoh wear their male traditional clothing called a "gho" daily as most men do here. Many thanks to them for taking such good care of us and special thanks to Kenchu, the owner of Snow White Tours & Treks, for her perfectly planned itinerary and going the extra mile for us. We are wearing the shirt and shawl with pride—thank you Kenchu!
This little girl can't resist joining in the fun.
Anyone recognize this beast? It's a Takin, Bhutan's national animal. Canadian moose meets Jimmy Durante. Tim says no one but old Americans will know who Jimmy Durante is. He's basically a famous, funny, dead guy who had a really big shnozz.
View from the Khamsum Yueling Temple overlooking the rice fields and Pho Chu River in the Punakha Valley.
Built in 1637 the Punakha Dzong is considered to be Bhutan's most beautiful. Perhaps the most visibly exotic aspect of the kingdom these huge, white citadels dominate the major towns and serve as administrative headquarters of all 20 of the country's dzongkhags and they are the focus of secular and religious authority in each district.
We attend festivals in Wangdue and Thimpu—colourful displays of song and dance celebrated throughout the different regions of Bhutan to teach the rural communities about Buddhism.
Local Buddhist monks enjoy the festivals as much as the tourists. No peeking up that gho.
Anyone for steak? An open-air market in Thimpu, Bhutan's capital city.
Bhutan—a country where buying cigarettes is illegal, where the rice is red and where chillies aren't just seasoning but the entire dish. It's a deeply Buddhist land where men wear a tunic to work, where giant protective penises are painted on walls of houses to ward off evil spirts, a land full of fantastic monasteries, incredible dzongs and undisturbed Tibetan-style culture that sets it aside as the last great Himalayan kingdom. We are delighted to be two of the lucky 20,000 visitors who come here each year. Now back to Nepal to visit Pokhara for a few days before heading back to India. Can you keep up with us?
1 comment:
Rink a dink a doo!!!
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