What a day we had in Bhutan

Bob started the day very early, so he and 54 others (about 75% of the guests on the trip and most of the staff) could get to the trail head for the climb to Tigers Nest.  This is the monestary that is at 10,000 + feet and is one of the 5 best hikes in the world.  Bob was able to make the climb (only 20 made it).  He said it was very difficult but enjoyed the challenge.  Here are some of his photos.

Bette did touring around Paro.  First we went to a farm where we learned about their family life.  The largest room in the house was the “shrine room” – not sure of the technical name.  Interestingly, the land and houses are passed from mother to daughter.  The house we visited was over 400 years old.  We asked our male guide how he was able to inherit and he said he could not.  When he married he would go and live in the house of his wife’s mother and either work at a regular job or help them farm.  They were harvesting their rice fields and we assume they were a wealthy family since they had a gas powered machine to mow down the rice.  We had passed many rice farms and the rice was being cut by hand.

Then we went to the big fort on the hilltop overlooking the town.  It is currently a government administrative building and Buddhist temple.  Again we could not photograph the interior.  We learned a lot about the wheel of life according to the Buddhist religion.

Our next stop was at a lovely hotel high in the hills for an alfresco lunch.  We had singers and dancers entertain us and ended our time with an archery demonstration.  Archery is the national sport of Bhutan.  We even got to shoot the bows and arrows.

After some shopping in town we returned to our hotel.  Had a lecture by two prominent Bhutan experts and then dinner.  Early turn in because the hiker is exhausted 😀 – so is the non-hiker.

Fitbit – 7793 steps, 3.69 miles, 75 floors

Shrine at farm house

Double rainbow