Sherubling Lodge Trongsa

... You chew on the nut and it gives you a bit of a buzz - farmers would often chew this to maintain energy and some are addicted eating 40+ a day. It tastes pretty good actually - nutty and tangy - though the nut dramatically stains your mouth and teeth red. You have to spit out the saliva it stimulates (like chewing tobacco). It tasted good and I immediately was like 'I'll have another!" (never a good sign). I stuck to only one ...

... into her tea and was watching it float in her mug. What a magical moment! Here we are, both not speaking each others languages, sitting on the floor as equals, and she does this wonderfully playful thing with her cookie. It was so endearingly... human. To think the basic joy of tea and cookies could so transcend culture. What an absolute pleasure. I asked several questions which Sangay kindly translated. I was wondering what the old ...

... the neck. Having made it across safely, we immediately started up the first of many steep slopes that would lie ahead. We trekked slowly and steadily for the next 3.5 hours before we broke for tea and cookies at the peak of one of the mountains. The view was stunning, though it was windswept and a damp cold. It had started snowing lightly within the first hour of the days' trek, and had not stopped since. Having done away with the tea ...

... somewhat clean, and following an amazing breakfast of toast, omelette, sausage and juice, we were off again, leaving our support crew to break camp. Today we would hike for just over 6 hours, aiming to reach Phajoding Goemba at 3750m (though climbing as high as 4150m). This was a particularly beautiful strecth of the trail, with severe inclines and declines, narrow passages through mountain peaks and awesome lookout points ...

... Basically, the only way to get there is by trekking, it's also something that we haven't done since we left Nepal in 2006, but as we had done loads of walking in Liths and Kolkata, we were up for it. And then we headed off, and not long into the trip I realised two things 1) I spend way to much time behind a desk 2) I am so unfit !!! Sweat was pouring, but there was some consolation, the monastery was getting closer. At the ninety minute mark, it looked as ...

... of everyone. Again your thinking, how the hell is this a story about a revered figure in Bhutan? Well here comes the moral of the story. Well it turns out that because of Kuenley's powers he knew that his mother, who had led a life of sin, was going to die soon. The shame brought up on her by this public proclamation purified her sinful soul and saved her from death. She then moved on to become a deeply religious woman and lived to be greater than ...

... in their faces. I get a lot of wonderful photos, and wish that I had some means of uploading them to a news service in the United States, as we have no idea if anybody is paying attention to what is happening here today. Before leaving the area we visit the crane observatory and museum, and then drive up a hill to visit the Gangtey Gompa (monastery). It is massive, and currently undergoing a comprehensive renovation. We continue through another pass, stopping ...

It's been very hard not to be in Dharamsala these past few days. I know people who have been put in jail for peaceful protest. I know people who have family in Lhasa right now. We've been very disconnected from the world, here in Bhutan, and it's been painful. My plans to visit Lhasa after the trip are most likely not possible, and I feel for the first time what it's really like for the Tibetans to not be able to visit their homeland. Lhasa was ...

... the other end of the valley but it was by no means boreing. Everywhere you look is a post card.The scenery is spectacular. Down into the valley, across the valley everywhere you look. We continued up through the Rhododendron forests towards Pelela pass and I could only imagine what this place would look like in Spring. I might come back to see it? Pelela pass was above the snowline but it was surprisingly warm so we go a few pics. Lunch stop was late cos there is not a ...

... but we forgot our camera, so you'll just have to use your imagination. It started to rain shortly thereafter, so we came back, ate dinner, and read books... Day 6 Bhutan (Trongsa - Punakha): We got up and had breakfast at 8am so that we could get a headstart on the day. Our plan was to visit the Trongsa Dzong and then to head to Punakha in the ...