Meri Punsum Resort Punakha

... of the monastaries along the way, A senior monk from the area made her guess how many stairs led to the top, and she got it right! Good to see we are staying mentally fit as well. Our first night north of the capital was way up in the hills above the river, in a small village, where we participated in a homestay. It was an odd experience, as we felt as if we had displaced the owners for the night while they slept in the kitchen and we slept upstairs, but T assured us that 1. they were ...

... were muddy and steep, and we battled for space in sections with giant redwoods and the occasional pack-horse armada making its way down the mountain. About 2.5 hours later, we reached the trailhead and were met by our drived from the first day of arrival in Paro. Happy to be sitting in a car, we made the rest of the way down the mountainside, veering off into the tiny villages that dot the mountainsides above Thimphu in search of our ...

... wobbly video. I've never been this close to royalty !!! National Memorial Chorten A small Stupa built in honour of the third King who died at the age of 44. You are meant to be able to go inside, but it was locked up, so we joined the locals doing laps, whilst chanting the first prayer. Om, blah, blah, blah !!! Changangkha Lhakhang Another monastery on top of a hill. It was pretty old, and there were oldies doing laps of ...

... we arrived. There is the usual prayer wheel, which we spun and did the Bhuddist prayer Om Ma Ni Pe Me Hung And as I had impressed the local monks, they let us in the temple !!! It was small with three statues, so we left a donation because Lucy wanted to be blessed by a ten inch dick !!! That's another thing about this country, they are painted everywhere !!! And even after a donation, Lucy never got the dick, so we moved on Punakha Dzong Our guide said that ...

... located at very high elevations and feature stupendous mountain scenery. Traditional architecture in both countries utilize very large white washed houses with the barn on the first floor, wood trimmed windows, and shallow angled eaves (although the Bhutanese tend to like elaborately painted wood trim as well as large paintings of either animals or giant penis' on the outside of their abodes - more on this later). First impressions of this country matched the reputation. It is very ...

... party elements to arrange. The evening gets off to a wonderful start. The meal is excellent, and the birthday celebration done in a traditional Bhutanese way, with a prayer offered by the guide and the lighting of a butter candle. Awards are given, and then I am pigeon holed by the local tour operator who desperately wants me to do business with him again. The fact that ...

... s reading is on the topic of "A Genuine Smile," and it is full of wisdom and inspiration. My favorite part is when the boy compares a smile to the most cost-efficient form of energy. A genuine smile sheds a great light, and does not cost anything. We head out of Thimphu and up into the mountains, crossing the 10,000-foot Dochula Pass. At the summit is a huge hill with many Stupas. We can barely discern the high ...

... and ask them questions about their art as we move among them from room to room. A nearby craft shop provides an opportunity to purchase the finished products. Our next stop is in the hills outside Thimphu at a small zoo showcasing several of the National Animal, the Takin. This animal is unlike any other in the world, and has stumped scientists as to its origins. They have given it a unique classification. Have a ...

Punakha valley is lower and therefore quite a bit warmer than the area around Thimphu . Like many others, the local Dzong was damaged some years ago (by a flood), so it looks rather new now. Some important battles between the Bhutanese and the Tibetans were fought here ...

... was the crown prince at the time, but some high lama told her that this would bring him luck. We drove as far as possible, and then crossed the river on a footbridge before walking/hiking up 1 hour. The walk was brutal because of the heat. But once we arrived, it was totally worth it. The view from the top of the chorten was spectacular. The walk down wasn't ...