Tuesday 16 October
The day started with a hike up to a stupa high above the valley. The walk started through rice fields beside a small stream bur gradually became steeper as we approach the valley sides.
The stupa itself is not very old - made of concrete and it seems paid for by one of the current King’s 4 wives - but consisted of three stories the top one affording 360 degree views.
Lunch was buffet but nice - rice, potato, squash & broccoli.
The next stop was a major fort which house the district adminstration and monastic body. The fort is approached over a wooden bridge and entered via a steep set of steps which would be easily defended. Inside the fort was laid out in a series of courtyards with narrow covered alleyways connecting the larger spaces.
The centre piece was the hall used for the coronations of the Bhutanese kings.
Our final stop of the day was the temple dedicated to the Divine Master who while a Tibetan seems to have had a major impact on Bhutanese history - largely by the use of foul language and his penis ! He was an early anti-establishment figure now deeply revered !
The temples centre piece if a large phallus which is used in fertility rituals. The local village does a lively trade in wooden penises in all shapes and sizes !
Having checked out the temple we took or final walk of the day up to the main village and the promise of tea. Unfortunately as we had moved in the opposite direction of the main tourist groups the shops shut. Unperturbed Sonan found the owner who russled up tea ! By way of thanks we bought a clay monk model.
For dinner we tried another hotel up the road which was not Tourist Recognised but the service was good. The food was also good and marked by the fact that they clearly had invested in a crinkle cutter which they used on every occasion.
The day started with a hike up to a stupa high above the valley. The walk started through rice fields beside a small stream bur gradually became steeper as we approach the valley sides.
The stupa itself is not very old - made of concrete and it seems paid for by one of the current King’s 4 wives - but consisted of three stories the top one affording 360 degree views.
Lunch was buffet but nice - rice, potato, squash & broccoli.
The next stop was a major fort which house the district adminstration and monastic body. The fort is approached over a wooden bridge and entered via a steep set of steps which would be easily defended. Inside the fort was laid out in a series of courtyards with narrow covered alleyways connecting the larger spaces.
The centre piece was the hall used for the coronations of the Bhutanese kings.
Our final stop of the day was the temple dedicated to the Divine Master who while a Tibetan seems to have had a major impact on Bhutanese history - largely by the use of foul language and his penis ! He was an early anti-establishment figure now deeply revered !
The temples centre piece if a large phallus which is used in fertility rituals. The local village does a lively trade in wooden penises in all shapes and sizes !
Having checked out the temple we took or final walk of the day up to the main village and the promise of tea. Unfortunately as we had moved in the opposite direction of the main tourist groups the shops shut. Unperturbed Sonan found the owner who russled up tea ! By way of thanks we bought a clay monk model.
For dinner we tried another hotel up the road which was not Tourist Recognised but the service was good. The food was also good and marked by the fact that they clearly had invested in a crinkle cutter which they used on every occasion.