Eek a penis! - headed back to Paro




Don't be surprised to see a penis painted on the side of a house in Bhutan. It's not random graffiti. They believe it to be a symbol of good luck and fertility.

After a nice breakfast was an amazing view of the valley we set off on the days adventures.

Our first stop was a Buddhist monastery - Gangtey. There was a small village surrounding the actual monastery to support the monks as well as the visitors. And then the structure itself is rows of dormitory rooms that create a courtyard and in the center is the temple. Most of the monks are young but they conduct themselves accordingly. Laughing and carrying on. Derek said they often hide cellphone under their robes so they can play video games. Had a brief tour of the temple and then were able to watch them gather for prayer with drums and horns and chants.

After the monastery we took a lovely hike down from the monastery and into the valley through some woods and farmlands. Honestly from a distance, even the houses less the decoration remind you of an alpine village in Austria. The farm house are quite large and three story but there are no barns or out buildings so the first floor is livestock, the second is grain storage, third floor living and then the attic is open at the eaves for drying meat and cheese and vegetables. 

  We saw a couple of the cranes but they were at quite a distance. A couple folks opted to forego the walk and went to 'crane rehabilitation center' They saw a few injured birds up close.

Our next stop was already lunch. And it was DIY. A few guys from the tour agency drove out to organize lunch al fresco at at camping area. When we arrived we had tea and popcorn and then went to work building a fire and preparing some vegetables. I was tasked with pealing the 'slippery gourd' which is a bit like okra but we just used the skins. There was a wok over the fire and the skins were stir fired with some tomatoes and ginger, topped with slices of American cheese and then mixed and cooked until soft. It was a good laugh followed by a host of items already prepared by the team.

We left the valley mid afternoon for our final stop of the day, to hang our prayer flags. Flags are everywhere and the only requirement is that they be in sight of water so that the three elements of earth, water and air are present. They are very often near a stupa as well. We tied our thirteen together and the guides scampered up the hillsides so stretch them across the road. There is no real ceremony except to think good thoughts as they are raised up.

After a few hours we were at our new home for a few nights. Dinner wasn't great and the WiFi is spotty but we are high on a hill and there is a bright full moon. I suspect sleep will come easy once again. And it does. 

Breakfast was rice porridge and omelets and pancakes and we are out the door to one of the oldest defensive sites in Bhutan. Built to protect from invaders from the north. The fortress sites on a hill between two rivers. After tossing the old wooden bridge there is a long set of stair up to to the doors. Once inside the walls there are rows of doors and a large courtyard with a giant tree.

Most of the building is used for government administration and the other half is controlled by the Buddhist monastery. There is another large temple. And several large buildings surrounding it.

This temple is quite old and significant in the history of Bhutan. The king is coronated here and the current king was married here. 

(Sorry! No pictures in the temples)   

Interesting you must walk in a clockwise direction while visiting the temples. So after departing we walk all the way to the left around past the defensive overlooks to the river and then back out of the right side to exit.

In addition to the prayer flags you often see large poles which fly pray flags vertically. On this day a new flag has been attached to the pole and it appears to be ready to be hoisted upright again. But the process isn't moving very quickly.

We have been invited to visit a nunnery which is female monastery. It high on a hill near our hotel. And while the layout is similar the nuns seem much more active. Tending the gardens, drying rice and cleaning all the stupas for fresh paint before an upcoming holiday.

We tour this temple which is much more lavishly decorated and we are told it is fairly new.

Outside we are taught how to braid bracelets which is easier said than done. And then we join them for lunch. As thanks for hosting us we have sponsored their lunch for the day. Not much different than the boys, it is like an all girls cafeteria. There are a lot of smiles and giggles. And they are curious and chatty if engaged and thankful for our contribution.

The Llama that runs the nunnery came out to thank us and wish us well on our journey.  He said to take all the good feelings and thanks for our time in Bhutan home with us and that would be a sign of happiness.  It was nice.

We had some free time in the afternoon which lent itself to a nap. Then another Llama came and spoke to us about the origins of Bhuddism and the first Buddha.

We went into town for dinner and it was a nice change of pace. Along the river was a nice promenade and we stopped at a little cafe for a drink. Then we went to a modern style bistro for a buffet dinner, some more drinks and some music videos from some Bhutanese bands that performed decidedly not Bhutanese tunes. 

https://youtu.be/chppFJ43tUA

So that is two days condensed into one post. We move on in the morning.