Going East....

Hello dear Dragon Musers,

Thanks for looking at this. Now when I return, you can't say "So, how was Bhutan?"  You know!

You may remember in my posting about work, I wrote about going to 5 star resorts and teaching the women staff about womens health.  It's a very fun job, and goodness knows, someone has to stay in a thousand dollar a night resort!  Actually, the best part are the women themselves, all wonderful.  But the food is #2.

They gave me a driver and a car (this is huge as you will soon see)  First stop, one overnight in the Gangtey valley where the black neck cranes come every Oct./Nov.  Then 2 nights in Bumthang, the Switzerland of Bhutan, and quite possibly the most spectacular part.   Only downside was that Rick was not included so I had to eat for two.

But here, let the pictures tell the tale----

Yes, this is exactly what you think it is.  I had to stare through this for hours on the road!  Give me fuzzy dice any day.

"So who do you think you're looking at, chillup?"

The view from my room. Not bad. That's Gangtey monastery on the hill.

Who knows what I'm saying here, but all 30 were sure listening!

The Gangtey Valley---makes you want to yodel, no?

You could do this at home---made from prayer flags. Note all the wildflowers!

Bucolic Bhutan

Does the road just go off into space?
This is a 2 lane road....

Monks we picked up.

Trongsa Monastery--3 stories and 4 courtyards.

Outside the Dzong (Govt. + Monastery) in Trongsa.
Wouldn't you like to see that in front of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe?

Art shot!  Windows in Wandicholing Palace, Jakar, Bumthang.

Shangri-la, or no?  Jakar dzong in Bumthang.

Prayer wheels everywhere.

I am rather fond of the blue ribbon.

Flowers everywhere.

      

 Me with Trongsa Monastery in the background. 

A new hat style!

If you've seen the movie Travellers and Magicians, you'll recognize this.  If not,
go put it on your movie list right now. They created this for the movie.  It says:

May all sentient beings be free from:
Wanting to be praised.
Not wanting to be criticized.
Wanting to be happy
Not wanting to be unhappy.
Wanting to gain.
Not wanting to gain.
Wanting to be famous.
Not wanting to be unknown.
Thus prayed at this occasion of filming in Bhutan.
Nov. 2002, Scene 112, Ta\ke 101

A bit tongue in cheek but I like it.

And ending with just one of the 14 dozen waterfalls on the way....

So, the distance from Jakar, Bumthang, the farthest point on my trip, back home to Thimphu was 267 km, or 165 miles. It took 9 hours (subtracting stops to pee and eat a picnic lunch).  This means we averaged about 18 miles per hour.  Now, do I really need to tell you about the roads??  

I want you to ENJOY and APPRECIATE  those super highways!  
Love to all, 
Phyllis and Rick