Breakfast at the Buddha - Thimphu

Began the day with something that has never been done in Bhutan before. We went to the Buddha Dordenma which is 100 foot golden Buddha statue that overlooks the city of Thimphu. The Buddha its self, is a more feminine version and nothing like the squat Chinese Buddha. He sits on a large platform surrounded by smaller golden figures. The entire platform is set on a huge terrace on a mountain slope. The city and the river are below. 

We arrive about an hour before the venue even opens. Once we stop 'ewwing and ahhhing' about the Buddha and the setting, we realize the there is a long table set at the far end of the terrace and that would be our breakfast. Apparently it took some serious string pulling to make happen.

While it was cool and overcast when we arrived, as the sun broke through things warmed up. And breakfast was amazing!

After breakfast we visited the natural medicine museum and shop to learn about the Buddhist ancient art of Sowa rigpa. It is much too confusing to even try to explain but it cause and effect of actions and illness. And of course, plants that can help a remedy.

Next on the full agenda was what was advertised as a 30 minute return walk along a wooden trail high sbove the city. While it was lovely walk, it was actually about an hour each way. And the half way point was an ancient temple from the time before the king when the monks ruled the country. Unfortunately we were able to take pictures inside but after a flight of stairs there was a large Buddha with four stupas lining the interior, left and right. In the middle was a prayer area and at the foot of the Buddha are all sorts of offerings of food - candy, milk, bread, fruit even a litre of coke.

(Ps: stupas are everywhere and burial places for highly religious people. They generally contain items that the person owned and not always a body)

After our hike we enjoyed a very late buffet lunch of delicious Bhutanese foods which always includes red rice, chicken or beef is a spicy but not hot cream sauce, vegetables (a lot of eggplant), flat bread and usually soup (season for pumpkin)

A few of us decided to stick around for a trip to the cooperative weaving center where we had a chance to try our hands at a loom - not easy - and playing around with natural dyes. My tumeric gold thread was quite nice. 

After a very short respite, we were treated to a very special dinner at the home of the owner of the tour company, Breathe Bhutan. Unfortunately the house did not allow everyone to sit together but I got a prime seat next to a fire drum on the outside patio. There was local beer and wine and whiskey and the pot on top of the fire was filled with momos which are dumplings filled with either meat or cheese. We had some great conversation about living in Bhutan and the future of tourism.

Dinner was nice and traditional but the topper was a little dish with a cooked hornet and a bit of onion. It was crunchy and kind of nutty. I guess it is illegal so it was a bit of a treat. 

 

Overall an amazing first day.