Blogs from Bhutan, Asia - page 23

This morning we headed to the Gante Goemba. While under construction (entirely) you can tell it is a gorgeous temple. They are rebuilding and repainting what seems like all of it and so far it looks fantastic. We then moved down to the Gante Nature Trail and “hiked” for an hour and a half along the outskirts of the valley. The valley is off limits to people below the tree line because we cant ruin anything for those black-necked cranes! Thus, we meandered through the forest, which was actually very enjoyable. Anyway, we went to visit the Phobjikha Primary School where I was a spectator on a young second grade class that I gave my candy to and taught a few algebra problems to a bunch of sixth graders. After introducing myself, I learned that none ... read more

Day 4 I spent in Punakha. We started at the Punakha Dzong…again an incredible structure but even more impressive were the buddhas inside the temple. Unfortunately we cannot take pictures inside so you will have to trust me. Every little detail is there and it all means something. I don’t know how anyone can remember what it all means! Along the road we saw more workers trying to pave the road…in the photo album it shows the extremely primitive way they make their own pavement! And the construction is also very basic. Much of what they use is man-power and bamboo. I cant imagine…I mean I see it, but that would never fly in the states. We then went for several hikes…both to difficult to reach temples where I was given holy water to sip and ... read more

Day 2 began after breakfast by heading to Thimphu Tesche (the festival) at the Trashi Chhoe Dzong (mind you there is a 9-hole golf course in front). It is quite amazing to see Bhutan at this time. So many local people attend the festival and their traditional getups…gho (for men) and kira (for women). It’s incredible to see how colorful they all are. It is one of the main industries in Bhutan and that is textiles. And there seemed to be a zillion kids around (all of whom apparently were sick…maybe they weren’t but I’m not sure why so many of them had snot running out of their noses). People were ALL over the place…sitting, standing, monks on the main steps in the courtyard and inside peering through the windows, some broken open and some gated ... read more

From Paro we made our way out to Thimphu by mini-bus (not like the little yellow one on road trip). The roads are incredibly worn and bumpy, not to mention there being an excessive amount of cow poop, and much of the way they are constructing to widen the road. This is for next year when the country will introduce a new constitution which will move it to a parliamentary democracy in 2008. Anyway, we passed by a dzong (temple), the Tamchhog Lhakhang. I will leave you to look through my pictures that were also sent in the email for the explanations of what I have seen. Shortly thereafter we hit Chhuzom, where the mother river and the father river merge also called the confluence. It is here that we have now left Paro Valley and ... read more

After a mostly inedible rural breakfast we visited another dzong - we’re basically up for anything when it comes to trying the native food of places we visit, but lately it has been defeating us. This dzong was similar to the others we’d already seen and we were kind of losing our interest in their uniqueness compared to buildings in other countries. The reason we came to look around this particular one was that the person who built it observed 4 ravens flying in 4 different directions, and this clearly auspicious moment was taken to be a good omen for building a dzong on the same site. After this we drove back to Thimpu for one of the main events of our trip to Bhutan. Archery is Bhutan’s national sport but they have never won an ... read more