THIMPHU, BHUTAN
Sun, Mar 27, 2016
After a restless night, due to being serenaded by the Dogs of Thimphu, we ate breakfast and headed out to see some of the various sites in the area.
The first stop was the National Royal Choeten, a stupa (which is a memorial or a shrine) built by the second queen of Bhutan for her son (the third king) who died in 1972 at 44 years. Many Buddhist pilgrims visit the memorial and pray.
As a background, Bhutan has only been a country since 1907, when Ugyen Wangchuck became the first king, after defeating his various rivals across the fairly isolated regions of Bhutan. Currently, Bhutan is on its 5th king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Next we drove above the city for scenic views of the valley and the city of Thimphu. Here we could see the Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the Bhutanese government and the king’s palace, which is quite small as the king requested the money be spent on infrastructure (e.g. roads, hospitals and schools). We then drove high above the city where they have erected a massive (169 feet / 51.5 meter) statue of Buddha with a temple inside the base. The surrounding courtyard is still under construction, but the statue offered stunning views of the surrounding area. While the surrounding courtyards are still under construction, the main statue was complete. The viewpoint offered stunning views around the area.
On our way back down, we stopped at a takin preserve. The takin is the national animal of Bhutan, and seems to be a cross between a goat, antelope and a buffalo, (see pictures below). The animal roams the Himalayas in Bhutan and western China. The takin roamed with a large area surrounded by a high fence. We were lucky because several of the takin were fairly close where we could get a good look at this strange animal. Belinda was able to coax one over to eat some grass out of her hand through a hole in the fence.
One of the most interesting stops of the day was to watch an archery match. Archery is the national sport of Bhutan, and their rules are unique to the country. Two teams of archers take turns shooting two arrows each at a small 3×1 foot wooden target, 476 feet (145 meters) across the field. Teams have archers at both ends of the field and they shot arrows first one direction, then the other. Players taunt one another from the other end, and every time an arrow hits the target (which isn’t often) they perform a celebration dance. A match can go on for days. It was absolutely fascinating to watch.
We ended the day by visiting a local outdoor food market where they sell a large variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, incense, and other articles. We always enjoy visiting markets when we travel, seeing what locals buy and what kinds of products they offer.
After a long day, we were back to the hotel in time to freshen up and make a 7:00 dinner in the hotel.
Tomorrow we take a long drive over rough mountain roads to Punakha, the original capital city of Bhutan.
