1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #238 - Thimphu at dawn, Bhutan

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #238

- Thimphu at dawn, Bhutan

 

(Dawn at 5.15am in Thimphu was a cool 15C, and at 2500m, was heavenly with floating fog against the towering mountains. Massive roses and willow trees lined the main road, which was eerily quiet..until we found out it was a once a year "no-cars-into-town" day. We took the opportunity to play traffic-warden at their famous roundabout, and people were milling along this main road, their equivalent of Orchard Road)

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #237 - Thimphu, Bhutan

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #237

- Thimphu, Bhutan

 

(The first glimpses of the royal capital of Bhutan, Thimphu, were in sight and just look at that "traffic light" system..the cop with the white gloves does the job, and there is only one of him in this city of about 110,000. With a cool 24C temperature, it was a nice stroll through all the sidewalks, off the main street. Our hotel was the delightful Namseling boutique hotel, located a convenient 10min walk away. But look at the view from the room - the Golden Buddha sitting on the mountaintop, some 5km away)

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #236 - National Museum, Paro

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #236

- National Museum, Paro

 

(The unique design of the National Museum stands out from far off the Paro valley below. The building was undergoing structural repairs after land movements - including earthquakes - weakened some of its walls and roofing. All its exhibits have been relocated to another building beside it. From this vantage point, one gets to see another part of this gorgeous Paro Valley, with flowers in full bloom during this late spring June period)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #235 - Drukgyal Dzong, Paro

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #235

- Drukgyal Dzong, Paro

 

(The Drukgyal Dzong was the 1st dzong we visited. Perched atop a hill in Paro, it was built in the 1600s and was once a fortress against invading Tibetans. Dzongs are uniquely Bhutanese, with most part-monastery and part-administration for the local government. The view from this dzong was spectacular, high above and overlooking rice fields down at the valley. It really gives Bhutan that "Last Shangri-La" look that writers always talk about)

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #234 - Paro temple, Bhutan

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #234

- Paro temple, Bhutan

 

(Our 1st visit was to a Bhutanese temple to offer our prayers "for a safe and happy trip to Bhutan", as told to us by the local guide. Seeing these prayer-wheels, both small and large, was quite a sight. And amidst the temple grounds is an evergreen tree, which remains green all through summer to winter. With monks relaxing under a tree and clear cool water streaming from the mountains just outside, it was indeed a relaxing and prayerful start for us)