First visit on a ridge SE above Thimpu, 12c Changangkha ,
where we were blessed by the cellphone monk. Lots of people bringing offerings, like chips...
Then off to Mr. Ram's neighborhood, Simtokha
Dzong.
I really liked the architectural layout of this place with monks in an outer cloistered square surrounding the temple.
Stopped on the road out of town stepped in a pile of ox shit (good luck) but got the shot across the valley
Then off to the Dachu La pass. Crazy number of tourists - not used to this. Hung around the 108 stupas
gazing at the amazing Himalayas
Then on down the valley to the Punakha Dzong at the confluence of the Phochu and Mochu rivers
Nice cantilevered bridge
To enter
Then back in the car and 5km upstream on the banks of the Phochu as far as the road widening road block and then a vigorous hike up to the 5th queen's recently dedicated temple, Ksamsum Yuelley Namgyel chorten.
Where we met an energetic nun of 89 years who smiled all the time except when I took the photo
Descending we got lots of great rice paddy views like
The sun had set and we arrived at the local hotel in the dark. Lots of tourists. Buffet dinner very tasty. No wi-fi but a hardwired connection was enough to send off mail to Sree suggesting canceling Hampi and doing Allora caves instead
I wiped out a bunch of photos with Apple' fabulous Photos app but pulled the card as soon as i saw what was happening and am hoping to restore the deleted files as nothing more has been overwritten and I put the write-only switch on and swapped in a new card. Need some SDHC file recovery s/w
- from my iPad
Location:Meri Puensum resort, Punakha
