JUNE 1st I AM … re-retired and very excited about the upcoming adventure. Despite having repeatedly stressed to students not to bring us gifts of course some of them did. I adore this bouquet given to me yesterday and what better gift for a former English teacher than a handful of books
JUNE 2nd I HELD THIS … keep cup full of coffee at a little rest spot on our hike this morning
JUNE 3rd I WALKED HERE … at the Zangdo Pelri Lhakhang today. Circumambulating the chorten and the whole compound turning all the giant prayer wheels along with the old timers who were delighted to see us there
JUNE 4th I FEEL …
At last I’m free
To breath and be me
To wander where I like
To go slow and see
To take my time
And just to be
This is re-retired me
JUNE 5th I SAW … this on the early morning City Bus today. Three orange clad “De-suups” (which translates to guardians of peace) heading to their assignment for the day sitting on the engine cover as the bus was packed with commuters, school children and others like us enjoying the service
JUNE 6th I LOVE … Bhutanese Culture. Today we went to see the ‘Her Expression’ exhibition celebrating women artist and this was probably the most traditional piece and the one I was immediately drawn to. It is titled “Window of Devotion” and it was created by Choney Pelzang
JUNE 7th I HAVE … an obsession with both prayer flags and prayer wheels and this shot ticks all the boxes. I also have a feeling this road trip is off to a great start
JUNE 8th I LIKE TO EAT… local and sustainable whenever possible. Now that we are in Haa that means Hoentey: a kind of dumpling made with buckwheat flour in the pastry and dried turnip greens in the filling. Both local products
JUNE 9th I READ THIS … “Monk Chasing Monkey” by Kunzang Choden who happens to be my favourite Bhutanese author. I bought it when we first arrived and read only half before there was no time to read and then started it again yesterday and read almost half in one sitting. It’s fabulous
JUNE 10th I STOOD HERE ... at the lookout point for Tigers Nest Monastery just 10 minutes ago. Bhutan’s most famous landmark. Now visited for the sixth time and always well worth the strenuous climb
JUNE 11th I WORK HERE ... I’m happy to say I no longer work anywhere for a salary but my current “work” is showcasing the beautiful Bhutanese culture to our guest and I am enjoying it very much
JUNE 12th I LIKE TO … eat momos and these were extra special as they were three different vegetarian varieties - chillies and cheese, mixed vegetables and cheese and sag
JUNE 13th I KNOW … I have visited and photographed this gorgeous Dzong many times before but I had to go inside once more today as I may never get another opportunity and I simply love the original 17th century structure
JUNE 14th I LOVE THIS VIEW... Any view involving the masked dancers of Tshechu is definitely one I love and this small rural Lhakhang in Nimalung this morning was really delightful
JUNE 15th ON WEEKENDS I ... always try my best get outdoors and explore and hike. Today was no exception and we discovered the monks at Tamshing preparing butter lamps and sculptures for a ritual
JUNE 16th I CREATE … room picnic meals when we travel because I miss having at least a third of my diet raw every day. This was dinner last night
JUNE 17th I BOUGHT … ten sets of prayer flags to fly at every mountain pass on this road trip and today at 9am we hoisted this set at Thrumsing La. At 3752 metres it’s the highest pass heading east
JUNE 18th I LOVE THIS TIME OF DAY … when we circumambulate any chorten that happens to be nearby, as we have every day since we arrived in Bhutan in late February.
I love it even more when we have just added the splash of colour of these prayer flags in memory of a friend’s mother, who recently passed away and for whom a funeral was held today in Adelaide. We did exactly the same for the deceased’s good friend over a decade ago and as luck would have it, this was our one day in the same town. Memories and memorials to mark big life events.
JUNE 19th I LIKE TO DRINK … red wine but only when the weather is cool. Despite being summer it’s still pretty cool out in Trashiyangste so we were on a mission today to find some. Its isn’t easy to come by but we have ourselves a treat or two night
JUNE 20th I DON’T LIKE TO …. get to places only to find them closed. Today we visited the College for Zorig Chusum (tertiary institution for learning the 13 traditional arts of Bhutan) arriving just before lunch so we got to see several classes in action but the showroom and shop were locked up tight and I would have made a purchase to support the talented, budding, young artists had they been open
JUNE 21st I WENT TO … College for Zorig Chusum or more accurately went back there today and we made a small purchase to support their vital work in maintaining the arts and crafts of Bhutanese culture
JUNE 22nd ON SATURDAYS I … do my best to live in the present and appreciate time and place. Today we departed Trashiyangtse and we just had to stop by Gom Kora to circumambulate, turn the prayer wheels and take in the atmosphere of one of Bhutan’s most historically significant sights. She was beckoning me to join her and like all locals thrilled we were participating in the everyday rituals
JUNE 23rd I ONCE … stood in the police box in the main traffic circle in Thimphu but I made no attempt to direct traffic. It was a public holiday and the street was closed but I later discovered you are definitely not meant to do that …. Oops (Archive shot)
JUNE 24th I SAT HERE … in a new to us vegetarian restaurant for breakfast. I also donned my new T-shirt for the first time - it says “Hello Bhutan”
JUNE 25th I CAN … still bring a smile to a child’s face and make a connection even without a shared language. Today’s excursion to Trong Heritage Village in Zhemgang was delightful and the scenery on the drive in was surreal
JUNE 26th I CAN’T … even begin to imagine working these steep sloped paddies all my life, but today’s vista included many even steeper than these and it was mostly elderly folk out doing the work too
JUNE 27th I LIVE … in the present and have returned to my long term commitment to a slow, simple, sustainable and safe lifestyle. If there is a fresh salad made from local ingredients available in town, I will sniff it out! Today I did exactly that
JUNE 28th I WORE THIS… One of my most comfortable travelling outfits and now we are back in Paro I’m glad to abandon the hiking pants for a while
JUNE 29th I FOUND … the perfect Bhutanese birthday gift for the man who loves to cook and will miss this cuisine. That’s to say nothing of me also reaping the benefits of a few delicious dinners. Who cares if the luggage is overweight?
JUNE 30th I DO THIS ON SUNDAYS: I make a point of Sunday being a fun-day and today was no exception. As our last day in Bhutan with a late departure, it had to be about spending time with the fabulous four and they even brought a surprise guest too. Spending time together over the last 18 weeks has brought us so much joy. Fingers crossed this isn’t the last time we all hang out together in the kingdom but it will never be goodbye
THE PROMPTS
