Thursday, October 3, 2013

Touring through some of the 20 Dzongkhags- A photo essay


The travel opportunity of a lifetime

Early days in the capital Thimphu



covered bridge leading to the weekend market


Buddha Point


Morning sky from the main street - Norzin Lam


First stop on the wayside Trongsa



The spectacularly located and impressively designed Trongsa Dzong


lions' heads adorning the Dzong


View through a peephole

To bless our journey flying prayer flags at Yotong La - the only pass at which we managed to fly some on our way out of Bhutan in 2012.



never too windy for a flag to fly

In Chumey



fields of buckwheat


mysterious and magical painting on the walls of a monastery


farmhouse with picturesque garden


Back in fond and familiar territory in Trashigang



my favourite Dzong 


those eastern rivers, valleys and views 


prayer wheel and traffic circle in the small smoke


Home at last in Rangjung



Sunrise over the mountains


ST super cyclist riding home from school- a week earlier he even completed the Tour of the Dragon 268 gruelling kilometres but he wasn't wearing a gho for that!!


view of Mimilarang from Joyce's Chorten


Special memories and commemorations in Phongmey



The sacred Thongdrel hanging at the Phongmey Tschechu


prayer flags at the memorial to madam Martha


colourful new flags added to commemorate the one year anniversary


Yangtse, showcasing the wilderness and traditions of rural Bhutan



pristine mountain fed rivers


sculptures in class at the Zorig Chusom School for traditional arts 


the signature landmark Chorten Kora


Passing through Trashigang again



new cut and colour from the best barber in the country- he even provides his services to the royal family


When we left Bhutan in December last year, I really wanted to fly a string of prayer flags at each of the significant passes as we crossed the country from east to west, but the weather and time conspired against us, so this time we did just that.

1st pass-  Kori La



 the road in


the flags



the pass


2nd pass- the king of them all Thrumsing La



 the road in


the flags in hand and the stats


the pass


Bumthang (aka Jakar and Chamkar) the mid point of a long journey whichever direction you travel



walking along the river from Kurji Monastery


spinning prayer wheels


Kurji Monastery monk quarters


3rd pass- Yotong La revisited




the flags


the pass


4th pass- Pele La



 the road in


the flags


the pass



Lobesa -2 hours from Thimphu and almost there



over the valleys and across the mountains in Punakha district


the famous Chime Lhakhang 


Water Lilies



5th and final pass- Dochu La



the flags


the pass


Briefly back in Thimphu



Memorial Chorten in the capital


Norzin Lam in full swing


Western most Dzongkhag Haa



the snow capped mountains of Tibet beckon in the distance as one approaches Haa


Haa Tibetan rammed earth house


the hotel in Haa and the vehicle that covered the distance


the 6th unexpected pass- west of Paro- Chele La 

This really is the highest pass in Bhutan sorry for previous misinformation


the flags


the pass



the stats 


Paro point of entry and exit



Taksang or Tiger' Nest the number one tourist destination and an amazing hiking challenge


cairns dot the trail 


the beautiful Paro valley just before harvesting the rice




We are very grateful for the rare opportunity to have been able to travel at our own speed and in our own style. Having taken time to see the many things we were unable to while working here, we feel extremely connected to the people and the country. It is our fervent hope that we will be back in 2014 in a teaching capacity and with the enthusiasm to embrace the culture once more.  


For those without the experience of long hours of road travel to inform them of Bhutan’s geography and the specific location of these small towns, villages, communities and passes, this may help.




3 comments:

  1. aha Deepak saloon... I missed him also

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  2. Such a beautiful collection that would inspire anyone to want to come to Bhutan! I love your idea of flying flags at all the passes, something I think we need to do as we travel at the end of the year to say goodbye to this special place.

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  3. Beautiful photos Vicky - I love the spinning prayer wheel! I always try and capture them but never manage it so succinctly and elegantly!

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