Oct 8, 2009 - Visit Punakha Dzong, drive to Paro

Continuing west we take an afternoon drive to Paro. ... ) 09-10-09 To the east of Paro, high above the town stands Ta Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most imposing fortresses. ... Paro is also home to Kyichu, Bhutan’s oldest temple or 'lhakhang’. ...

Oct 7, 2009 - Drive to Punakha via Wangdi Phodrang

07-10-09 On the road to Punakha we climb up through oak, pine and rhododendron forest to reach Dorchu La Pass (3050m). ... Dropping down into the valley, Punakha’s benign climate allows orange and banana groves to flourish within sight of the snow capped Himalayan Mountains. ... En route we make an excursion to the Wangdi Phodrang Dzong.07-10-09 On the road to Punakha we climb up through oak, pine and rhododendron forest to reach Dorchu La Pass (3050m). ... Dropping down into the valley, Punakha’s benign climate allows orange and banana groves to flourish within sight of the snow capped Himalayan Mountains. ... En route we make an excursion to the Wangdi Phodrang Dzong....

Oct 6, 2009 - Drive to Thimpu

06-10-09 We drive towards Thimpu along winding roads, passing paddy fields, apple orchards, pine forests and small hamlets, ‘protected’ by sculptures of the eight auspicious signs of the Tashi Tagye.06-10-09 We drive towards Thimpu along winding roads, passing paddy fields, apple orchards, pine forests and small hamlets, ‘protected’ by sculptures of the eight auspicious signs of the Tashi Tagye....

Oct 5, 2009 - Drive across border to Phuentsholing, Bhutan

05-10-09 Departing for the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing we drive (approximately 6 hours) through the vast tea estates of the Gangetic plains of Bengal. ... Approximately one quarter of India’s tea is grown in West Bengal state.05-10-09 Departing for the Bhutanese border town of Phuentsholing we drive (approximately 6 hours) through the vast tea estates of the Gangetic plains of Bengal. ... Approximately one quarter of India’s tea is grown in West Bengal state....

May 7, 2009 - Working in Thimphu

Charlotte had been putting in honest-to-God work hours! They are getting 8 hours solid teaching/presentation from her each day.Charlotte had been putting in honest-to-God work hours! They are getting 8 hours solid teaching/presentation from her each day....

May 6, 2009 - Getting around Thimphu

So I spent some time at the psych unit last night with Dr.So I spent some time at the psych unit last night with Dr....

May 5, 2009 - Arrival in Bhutan

I always find it strange when I land in other countries and the first person I see is a soldier. But here at least he was very friendly and posed with an endless stream of tourists armed to the teeth with the latest Nikon stuff! Beautiful 90 minute drive to Thimphu, the capital. ... Right off saw a farmer plowing a field .I always find it strange when I land in other countries and the first person I see is a soldier. But here at least he was very friendly and posed with an endless stream of tourists armed to the teeth with the latest Nikon stuff! Beautiful 90 minute drive to Thimphu, the capital. ... Right off saw a farmer plowing a field ....

Jan 3, 2009 - Back to the Bhutan/Indian Border

HIGHLIGHTS • Drive back to Phuntsholing DETAIL Apparently everything happens in three’s.HIGHLIGHTS • Drive back to Phuntsholing DETAIL Apparently everything happens in three’s....

Jan 2, 2009 - Why I came to Bhutan - the Tiger's Lair

HIGHLIGHTS • Taktsang Monastery – the Tiger’s Lair DETAIL We leave Thimphu and head back to the first place I stayed – Paro. ... It’s the second largest city in Bhutan – 36,000 and has the country’s only airport.HIGHLIGHTS • Taktsang Monastery – the Tiger’s Lair DETAIL We leave Thimphu and head back to the first place I stayed – Paro. ... It’s the second largest city in Bhutan – 36,000 and has the country’s only airport....

Dec 30, 2008 - Dzongs - Monasteries and Fortresses

HIGHLIGHTS • Sopsokha Temple • Wangdue Phodrang Dzong • Drive to the capital, Thimphu DETAIL I head for breakfast and the ‘Italian Job’ joins me. ... So we leave for Thimphu and it’s about a two hour drive. ... We drive back along the same roads which whence we came but the weather is much clearer and I get a good view of the mountains.HIGHLIGHTS • Sopsokha Temple • Wangdue Phodrang Dzong • Drive to the capital, Thimphu DETAIL I head for breakfast and the ‘Italian Job’ joins me. ... So we leave for Thimphu and it’s about a two hour drive. ... We drive back along the same roads which whence we came but the weather is much clearer and I get a good view of the mountains....

Dec 29, 2008 - Druk - The Land of Thunder

HIGHLIGHTS • Drive to Punakha • Dochula Pass – 3,000 metres • Druk, i. ... The Land of Thunder and the Wangyal Khangzang Chortens • Visit Sangay’s parents • Punakha Dzong Monastery DETAIL The road from Paro to Punakha rises from 2,000 metre to 3,000 metres and then descends to Punakha at about 1,800 metres. ... We leave and we start our decent into Punakha and I feel it get warmer but not that much. ... Next to the Punakha Dzong Monastery which is in fact a fort built in the 12th century. ...

Dec 28, 2008 - Bhutan!

HIGHLIGHTS • Cross border into Bhutan • A long, bumpy and twist jeep ride to Paro DETAIL Jaigaon is a typical Indian town compounded by it being a border town. ... We are at the beginning of the foothills and we start to climb to Paro, just over 2,000 metres. ... The excuse for the checkpoints is that they want to ensure that if someone goes off the road they can pin-point between two checkpoints – yeh, right! We make Paro and check-in to quite a lovely hotel about a couple of kilometres from Paro which would be wonderful in summer. ... I wish I hadn’t made an air flight booking yesterday as I should have just booked a flight from Paro to Kathmandu so I will try and cancel and fly directly from Bhutan to Nepal. ...