Oct 18, 2019 - The Tigers Nest

Today was always going to be the highlight of the trip and it hasn't disappointed. The trip itinerary featured the monastery, and perched as it is 800m above the valley it makes a very spectacular sight and is understandably one of Bhutan's most popular sights, definitely more so than the world's largest Buddha. The current wooden monastery dates back to the 17th Century (1692) although parts of it were rebuilt 20 years after they were destroyed by fire. Indeed although the monastery uses butter lamps as our churches use candles for...

Oct 13, 2019 - Jili Dzong

So the first day of trekking is done and we are now high at 3,600m on the pass above Paro. Karma last night pointed out a monastery high in the distance saying that will be us, part of me wasn't too sure, but indeed here we are. It really is what I imagined Bhutan to be, I'm sat out in the sunshine with the multicoloured prayer flags fluttering behind me, higher peaks around us and the white monastery on my left. Added to my image is the very occasional very modern sound of planes coming into Paro airport which is 1400m (or Ben Nevis high)...

Oct 12, 2019 - Paro

So we've made it into Bhutan, arriving in Paro about 10.15 this morning (Bhutan is 5 hours ahead of the UK) after a spectacular flight. Flying above the southern foothills of the Himalayas the views from the left side of the plane were incredible with the highest peaks from Cho Oyo to Makalu and Everest itself standing clear of everything around it. Unfortunately I was seated on the right hand side, so have got to hope for the best on the way back. The airport at Paro doesn't look as scary as Lukla, but at times on the descent it felt as if...

Mar 18, 2019 - Paro Festival Day

Monday March 18 Very lucky today to witness the day's activities at the annual Paro Festival which runs over 5 days. It's also 5 days of public holidays for the area and people come from far and wide to participate. Today was mainly cultural dancing of Bhutan (the main dance, The Black Hat Dance went for almost an hour). Before driving to Paro however from Thimphu we visited what is considered the largest Buddha in the world. It's brand new and very impressive. The Buddha sits atop a gilded meditation hall and is surrounded by a large open...

Mar 17, 2019 - Flying over the roof of the world

Sunday March 17 We are now in Bhutan and what a lovely contrast to Nepal. Kathmandu has to contend with the dust and rubble resulting from the recent earthquake as well as a large population. Here in Bhutan the air is clear, the buildings look great and well looked after, the roads are bitumen, the cars are clean and modern and the drivers appear quite sane. The population of the entire country is only 750,000 so they don't have the problems of overcrowding that they have in Kathmandu. We flew Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines) from Kathmandu...

May 3, 2016 - The crown jewel

The crown jewel. We had a resplendent breakfast at our incongruously western hotel (must. Not. Think. About) which has the most amazing pumpkin au gratin. AB take note. Off we went to ascend the Taksang, otherwise known as Tiger's Nest. I am sure you have seen pictures of it. The good news is we started early. This is some steep climbing. One could have enlisted horses for assistance to the halfway point, but this is not for purists. We slave drive the girls up scree, gravel, slick steep slopes, with our guide and driver bringing up the...

May 2, 2016 - Punahka to Paro

May 2-3 The long and tortuous road from Punahka to Paro. Somehow it wasn't quite as bad going back, maybe because we were prepared for it. We left behind our alpine ski lodge of a hotel (what, is there no more rustic, authentic type hotel for us, please, don't let me start myself up on this arrangement again). I will say the food was quite nice there, a buffet with noteworthy roasted eggplant, asparagus as seen being sold along the road, fish ( I later found out the fish only comes from India as it is not allowed to fish in Bhutan! Should I...

May 1, 2016 - Long and painful road...

Not that I should quote a band I cannot countenance...nor should I complain, but either wait for the road to be completed or fly from Paro to points east! But you cannot fly to Punahka! Aiyo! I pity these poor kids on the trip back to Paro! SUch torture over such short lives!! If I could buy them tickets, I would, but alas, it is not an option. But that is tomorrow's issue. We did have a bit of a rough go from Thimpu to Punahka, but the girls came through remarkably well. Not sure I would have had I been one of them. Thank you, God! We are...

May 1, 2016 - Local color with friends!

After the altitude recovery, I am much better able to enjoy the scenery. Yesterday they had a hike and then we saw the Takin, their national Moose, bison, goat fellow. Today we took in the local government artistry school, Big Buddha, and local culture museum with friends Chris and Emma. We tried the local garb or Kira and goh...and we met with a fellow with CP that the fourth king's wife found, or I should say one of his four wives....and noted how talented this abandoned child was. He was sent for training and can now do 12 crafts. We...

Mar 10, 2016 - Heading to Paro & Thimphu

Starting our Bhutan journey, fly into to Paro and on to Thimphu...with stops at Genekha Primary School & RENEW Happy Home, Gagyel Lhundrup Weaving Centre and Buddha Point along the way! http://www.daraartisans.com/collections/bhutan-home/products/gagyel-lhundrup-weaving-center-bhutan-textile-jadrima http://www.tourism.gov.bt/western-bhutan/buddha-dordenma-statue Staying tonight at the Hotel Amodhara, Thimphu

Jun 16, 2014 - Bhutan

English Version Below =============================================================== Ca faisait longtemps qu'on y pensait et, nous y voila au Boutan...pour fêter nos 10 ans de mariage! sans les enfants. Papoupa et Mouty sont venus garder les 3 lascars et visiter la ville de Shanghai. Le Boutan, un pays difficile d'accès puisque ce dernier a une politique de limitation aux touristes par l'argent. Et ca marche, nous n'étions pas nombreux. Qui y a t-il qui mérite un tel engouement pour le Boutan? Le mystere... On y trouve une architecture...

Jun 7, 2014 - Haa Ha

After the adventures of climbing to the Tigers Nest Monastery, today was set to be a little easier on the feet. We drove up out of Paro and headed to the Chele La pass (actually La is pass in Dzongka the native language, so its like saying Chele pass pass). The pass sits at ~3820m and I point this out because the sign on top says otherwise, yet GPS and every other tool suggests otherwise. It’s a long drive up to the pass close to 36km of winding road. On the way up we saw the Kila nunnery clinging to the side of the mountain. It is an...