JAM Adventures: Beautiful Bhutan

Our little trooper is still alive and kicking. The flight to Bhutan did yield a glimpse and hazy view of Everest, but not enough to kill our curiosity. So, hopefully the return flight to Nepal in a few days will give another view. If not, we'll take matters into our hands.

Our first day in Bhutan we visited a local fortress, museum, and got settled in to our very welcoming cottage style hotel room. What a change from Kathmandu. Peace, quite, mountain views, and a full service driver, car and guide. The drastic contrast between the two places, despite a short 45 minute flight, is indescribable. Bhutan is a friendly quite country full of homes, temples, and fortresses all their own style (though they share a lot in common with Tibet style buildings). The following pictures will give a brief idea.

On the steps of the Paro Fortress

Anabel making friends by feeding rocks to the hotel pups

Anabel not impressed by the monks, more on that later

One of the famous cantilever bridges

Day two was a recovery day for the girls. Anabel had had enough and got to have mom and the hotel grounds to herself for the morning. She finally slept more than 6hrs and started working into the local time zone. The poor thing was looking pretty rough after 3 straight days of travelling. While the girls stayed in I and the guide hiked to Tiger's Nest, an ancient Buddhist temple perched on the edge of a sheer rock face some ~1,000 feet above the valley floor (~10,000 msl). Hard to imagine each stone was carried there by hand hundreds of years ago. After convincing the guide running down hill was more fun and quicker than walking we made it home to the girls in a 1/3 of the advertised time. Following lunch and another skipped nap we hit the local market and visited the oldest temple in the country built in the 7th century and looking as new as ever.

Almost eye level with Tiger's Nest, named so because the 2nd Buddha flew there on a tiger

Final ridge before the nest

Last set of steps, looking up to the first temple of Tiger's Nest

Mom and Anabel in front of a Stupa at oldest temple in the country

Day three was spent in the car. We drove from Paro to Punakha, about 5hrs worth. Along the way we crossed Dochula pass and stopped there for lunch and to tour the 108 Stupas. Anabel actually seemed to enjoy the car ride and napped better than she does in a hotel bed. We made a game out of finding cows, monkeys, and dogs as we drove. The countryside didn't not cease to impress. After arriving in Punakha we visited its fortress. Anabel was pretty much done with being on the go and let us know it. So, mom hung out in one of the courtyards of the fortress watching as Anabel chased pigeons around while dad got a lesson on Buddhism from our tour guide in the fortress's temple. As you would imagine everyone here is very entertained by Anabel and gives her more attention than she wants (she has gotten shier). Anabel in a final act of defiance waited until 3 monks approached her and tried to make friends then copped a squat and let go of the day's food right in the middle of the fortress (she was wearing a diaper). Mom and baby made a run for the car to start the clean-up process, but not without monks in tow yelling the whole way. All in all another lovely day in Bhutan. Our little girl is getting used to life on the road and her cold is slowly improving.

Along side the 108 Stupas at Dochula Pass

Anabel trying to conquer the stairs at the stupas

Endless stupas

Anabel still unimpressed entertains herself with putting flowers down dad's shirt

Back down the stairs with some local help

A different kind of traffic jam outside the Punakha Fortress, Anabel is finally impressed.

The cow herder and her dogs responsible for the jam.

All this talk about jam and no where to go in the car made Anabel want to show off her dance moves to the local school children

Crossing the cantilever bridge to Punahka Fortress

A view of the fortress from the bridge

Anabel and mom a few minutes prior to the pooping, notice the 3 monks not yet mad

Day four more driving. We got an early start (0730) as the road through Dochula pass is only open for a 30 minute window in the morning and 1hr in the afternoon. Along the way we found more cows, yaks, and plenty of puppies. Anabel is still most interested in the animals and simple things. After arriving in Thimpu, the capital city, and finishing some lunch we visited the textile museum and saw how the traditional garments are made. Some take over a year to weave and are often mistaken as embroidery. Anabel just thought it was fun to play hide and seek and run around the mannequins. The rest of the day was hers though as we went to see the Takin (national animal of Bhutan) Reserve. Anabel loved it and spent the first 45 minutes digging holes in the dirt, throwing rocks and helping the locals who were constructing some new stone buildings by hand. All in all a very nice day in Bhutan. Sadly, we already have thoughts of the next place in the back of our minds as we only have 2 more nights here.