Tango & Cheri

They are another two monasteries in Thimphu worth visiting and can be done in half a day with about 60 to 90 minutes of hiking to get there. It's quiet and peaceful with great views of the surrounding area once you reach the top.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A novice monk @ Cheri Monastery

 

 

Taktsang Monastary , Tiger's Nest

This is one of the must do when in Bhutan, visit the sacred Taktsang Monastery in Paro. My friend Wangpo accompanied me on the three hour hike up to the monastery and although we did not have the necessary papers, Wangpo spoked to the guard and managed to get us into the monastery including visiting the many sacred chambers. No photos allowed inside unfortunately. The other photos were taken with an early model nokia handphone as my oly ni-cad batteries died.
The hike was a steep three hour climb culminating with an exciting end stretch of about a thousand steps on narrow footpath at times near the cliff's edge.  With it's mountainous terrain many monastaries in Bhutan are build on top of mountain or on it's sides but this one was very high up and a real exciting challenge to visit. You will definitely feel a great sense of achievement when you finally reach the top.

Thimphu Dzong and government buildings

Thimphu Dzong

 

 

 

Bhutan National Bank and Post Office

 

 

 

 

Shaky feet and wobbly bridges..

Large rapid flowing rivers are common in Bhutan. Crossing them can be quite a challenge if you are afraid of heights or wobbly wire bridges.

Do you have any pen ?

We met two very intelligent school girls near the entrance to Paro Dzong. They were very eloquent and spoke good english. They asked if we had any pen to give them. Unfortunately we were not carrying any extras but were happy to let them have the ones we were carrying.

Paro

 

Paro Dzong

 

Monks heading for prayers

 

 

Bridge at Paro Dzong

 

 

Landslide and a three hour wait !

There was only one way from Thimphu to Paro and back, when it rains landslides become a common occurance and when it happens, do what the Bhutanese do. Be patient and wait. Three hours in this case. The locals don't grumble or complain. They just find a shady spot and hide from the heat.The white van was our taxi. An english speaking driver we found in Thimphu and decided to hire him for the rest of the trip.

After a while stalls and momo (dumpling ) hawkers started appearing.

I took the opportunity to wander around a bit and took some snaps of the surroundings.

 

 

The workers clearing the soil and fallen rocks blocking the mountain road.

 

 

 

 

Finally the work was done and we drove on towards Paro.

 

 

 

Thimphu morning

Kiddie portraits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Town square, Thimphu

Town square in Thimphu ....

The iconic Clock Tower at town square

Rows of prayer wheels and the clock tower behind.

Changangkha Lhakhang,Thimphu

Built in the 12th century, this is the oldest temple in Thimphu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Downtown Thimphu

Yes this was downtown Thimphu in august 2006. There were lots of developement and construction going on. This is also the main shopping street of Bhutan. 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the only form of traffic control when I was there in 2006. No traffic lights only a policeman directing traffic from his post. You could probably find clips of him in action on You tube.

 

 

 

Paro market

I always make it a point to visit local markets whenever I can.

Prayer Wheels

Bhutanese are religious people. Monastaries and prayer wheels are everywhere.  People pray all the time rain or shine.

Druygel Dzong

All that remains of Druygel Dzong, built in 1646 and was burned down in 1951.