Kichu Resort Paro

... amazingly beautiful and serene lodge, where I was greeted by the lodge host and given a 'khadar' which is a beautiful white silk scarf, embroidered with beautiful protection and longevity motifs, and was introduced to some of the 'family' that work here. Their philosophy is very similar to ours at The Radiant Hand, where you treat the Lodge as if it was your home, and the staff are known as your family whilst you are here. It really reminded me of being at home, everyone ...

... Bhuddist manuscripts. It was an amazing experience. Within 15 hours of arrival, Jeremy became violently ill and spent the night close to the bathroom. Wiz, not wanting to waste our short time in Bhutan, explored the villages around Paro with T while Jeremy was curled up in the feotal position. By mid afternoon on the second day, however, he was well enough to take the 45 minute drive to Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan. There are very few main roads in Bhutan - 2 in fact - and the newly ...

Hi All! Back in the electronic age, having returned from the simplicity of Central Bhutan. There was one place I stayed where there is the endangered Long Neck Black Cranes (only 500 in the country). To preserve their wetland habitate, Bhutan has banned electrical lines in the area as well as any pollution. Hence, no electricity and wood stoves. How charming! ;) Here are some photos I took during my trip in Bhutan. I also just learned that male ...

... One of the many lasting legacies he offers is a national policy that does not focus on capitalism and domestic financial growth (a GDP), but rather focuses his policy on ways to improve GDH (Gross Domestic Happiness). Its amazing how the country can be at the same time so much more civilized, wisened and progressive compared to the West, yet so many people are still living in such rural conditions. Bhutan has one foot in the past, and one foot in the future...

... I'll be staying for eleven days. Interestingly, it sounds like the country has such a demand for tourists (even given the extremely high per day visa price), that the limited number of seats on the airplanes is the main thing that restricts how many people can enter into the country. Since now is the off season, I'm enjoying being a lone traveler. It sounds like most people who visit are from the U.S. and the U.K. and typically stay for about a week ...

... having ended in the best possible way. Now all that remains is to get our flights home, through Bangkok (via Calcutta!) and Singapore. Hopefully we will make all our connections and be home on Saturday morning. After 4 months of travel through some amazing but sometimes challenging destinations, I am very much ready to come home. I look forward to seeing my family and all my Aussie friends soon. Thank you for joining me on my journey.

It's impossible to travel in Bhutan without being affected by the dogs here. They are everywhere and almost as numerous as the dogs in Bali. However, despite their being wild (they are fed, although not let into houses, and apparently not pet too much). they are a good looking lot! Stout and with thick fur, they are surprisingly cuddly. The one trait they do have in common with Balinese dogs is a dedicated habit of barking ...

... lunch because taking a break in the middle of a snow storm didn't seem very appealing. I obviously did what I always do in this situation: gorge myself on whatever food they were going to bring out for a snack. Heavy exertion and no lunch left me starving and my eyes lit up when a plate of pakoras (Indian deep fried veggies that are kind of like potato pancakes) came out of the cook tent. I went at it and ate 12 of them over the course of about 10 to 15 ...

... Buddha. My guide said we were going to go at 4h30am. I said OK, but in my mind I knew I could not wait that long. I had missed the unfurling of the thangka in Lhasa because my brother had made me stay up late the night before while he was getting drunk, so I didn't want to miss it this time. I woke at 3am without my alarm and by 3h25 couldn't stand it anymore. I could hear some cars passing by and then some tourists were up in my hotel. I got dressed and ...

... Nawang (who was our driver/tour guide during our stay). Over our 2 week stay we met up with almost all of Tharchean's family as we spent a great deal of time enjoying the comforts of family time from one home to another; we shared in the delights of several Bhutanese home-cooked meals and Norm and I even cooked a few meals to share with them; we played cards, jump rope, and hop scotch with the kids; and just sat around chatting about all ...