Bhutan 2008

Donchu La Pass is 3140 meters above sea level

 

Bhutan is an agrarian country

The vast majority of people do some sort of subsistance farming.

 

Every where you go, people are working the land.

 

Domesticated animals are everywhere, including the roads of the "cities."

 

A Dzong is a temple/fortress/government building

The Punakha Dzong is the most beautiful in Bhutan and sits at the confluence of two rivers

 

No shoes allowed inside the Dzong

 

The Ubiquitous Prayer Flags of Bhutan

Patty in a sea of prayer flags at Donchu La Pass

 

Each of the five colors of the prayer flags represents an element of the Earth: blue is the water, green is wood, red is fire, yellow is earth and white is iron

 

One of our guides, Lobzang and I hang a prayer flag at the Yotong La Pass

 

Spin the Wheel

Buddhists spin prayer wheels (of all sizes) to accumulate karma

 

Archery: The National Sport of Bhutan

A young man competes in an archery contest in Paro, Bhutan. Teams take turns shooting at targets 130-150 meters away.

 

Trash-talking is a big part of competition

 

Follow the White Line

Many of the road workers in Bhutan are from India. This crew is painting the center dividing line on the main road east out of Thimphu. They were stunned we stopped to see what they were doing.

 

Faces of Bhutan

Happy Kids in Bumthang

 

Face in the stadium crowd in Thimphu

 

Reflection of two monks having an animated conversation

 

Making Friends in Bhutan

"Dog, meet Huja. Huja, dog."

 

Our Infinitely Capable Guide, Choki

After 2-plus hours of hiking up, we came upon the spectacular Tiger's Nest Dzong, which clings to the side of a mountain

 

Gone to the dogs

Bhutan must have the most dogs per capital in the world

 

 

 

Street Scenes of Thimphu, Bhutan

Thimphu is the only capital city in the world without a street light. Instead an officer stands in the pavilion to direct traffic - when there is traffic, that is

 

The reflection of a woman on the sidewalk appears on the window of a shoe store in Thimphu: population 70,000

 

Dreamy, misty morning in Bhutan. Novemenber 2008

 

Jetlag and procrastination are powerful forces. Here is a single picture to tide you over until I edit all of my photos