Hangin in the Himalayas

Only a month later, I'm finally getting around to sharing some photos from Bhutan.   That does not make them any less majestic. . .

The photo does not do justice to the 'coming of the plane' experience, and I had while taking it and four days of peace and zen experience in Bhutan.  Yes, this is the airport. I was coming from hot, muggy, polluted Dhaka and an hour later landed in clean air, mountains, quiet, and no traffic.  There's also a build board with the King (the fifth king) and his new wife (married October 2011) to greet us.  Can you see it?  India borders Bhutan to the west, east, and south and has strong ties there, the rupee is generally accepted and the Indian army was prevalent in Para, there to train the Bhutanese army.  To the north is China and the Kingdom of Tibet. The national language is Dzongkha and currency is the Ngultrum.

The Valley of Thimphu, the capital, seen through prayer flags. 

Downtown Thimphu! There is a police officer
in the gazebo directing traffic

Archery and darts are the national sports. 

Rice for sale in the market

Amazing weekend market.

The drive from Thimphu to Punakha over a mountain,
this pass at the top provides gorgeous views. 

The Punakha Dzong. Each district has a Dzong housing both the
 monks and administration of the district. 

The front gate of the Phunaka Dzong. 

Front door of the temple inside the Dzong. 

The Tigers Nest.  A Buddhist monastery built
on a cliff side in Para. A two hour hike up and a
highlight of my trip to Bhutan.

Closer, we were hiking in the clouds!

Prayer flags everywhere there was even a waterfall,
it was surreal. 

After the Tigers Nest, we visited another monastery in Paro,
about 5 minutes prior to snapping this photo I was in a
temple with all of these monks chanting. It was beautifully
electric. Now they are gathering for lunch.

The traditional dress of Bhutan, spinning some
prayer barrels with Monks lunching in the
background.

"Many Eastern classics and books of wisdom have referred to 

the Himalayas as the abode of the gods. These descriptions did 

not stem merely from the majesty and grandeur of the natural

surroundings but alluded to a special environment where 

communion with the divine was possible through

contemplation and meditation.  And so since time immemorial,

ascetics, mystics, scholars, philosophers, and Pilgrims have

been drawn irresistibly to these remote and rugged mountains

in their personal search for wisdom, inspiration, solitude, and 

happiness."