MUSING # 21: Back in the Boondocks

I just returned from a two week trip to the boondocks of Bhutan.  My purpose was to teach women health care issues in three small villages.  The program I work with is READ  BHUTAN  http://www.readglobal.org/our-work/read-bhutan , an NGO that has created five small libraries and community centers in small villages that ask for one.

The stats:
13 days, 11 mountains passes, 43 hours in the car, 1366 km   OR

31.7 km/ hour  OR  19.8 MILES PER HOUR!!!!

Why so slow you ask?  Here are a few reasons:

Cows just taking their time.

Just a few curves in the road...

I brake for yaks.

Lovely Hanuman monkeys jumping across the road.

Lots of landslides.

Why you don't travel much in the rainy season.

Stalled tractors.

And dozens of very BIG trucks carrying rocks.  Need rocks?  Come to Bhutan!

And the ever present distraction of gorgeous scenery (The highest unclimbed peak in the world)

and some silly scenery as well!

We traveled to all parts of Bhutan--the humid tropical south, the freezing high country and the temperate east. We went from this:

Yes, that's ICE!

to this:

Sign says: With each sunrise, believe the gift of life.
Think, feel, share and love.

We learned:

Teaching Heimlich.

Telling a story about women's empowerment to 10th graders.

We laughed.

Yes, that is exactly what you think it is!
This was a presentation to 300 freshman female students at Sherubtse College.

The funniest thing that happened in all these training sessions was the demo of how  to revive a choking infant,  using a baby doll.  I did the demo and then handed it to a village women to practice.  She slapped the back of the baby doll and.... the head fell off!  We all laughed hysterically.  Humor is such a funny thing...

And to end this, here are just a few weird photos that might make you smile---or might make you ponder...

Meat drying in the November sun.

Tashi making our dinner on her wood stove.

Tashi making butter and cheese(she also milks the cows).

TV antenna probably worth more than the house.

Boy in the window

Monk friends I made.



I so want to do this to my Subaru. 


Boys in Trashigang who are dying their hair purple!
The mask is supposed to be a cool thing...Bhutan as a trend setter??



Reflections---my last "art" shot...

Next Musing:  Rick hikes high enough to see Mt Everest
and
Phyllis and Rick have brunch with the King and Queen of Bhutan!