Bhutan: The Himalayan Kingdom of Happiness

Over Easter break we had the chance of a lifetime! We experienced the Land of The Thunder Dragon, The Kingdom of Happiness, The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan! Where they prioritize measuring their nations GNH (Gross National Happiness) before their GDP. Enjoy the photos and captions...

A Bhutanese house, built in the traditional architectural style

Prayer wheels and praying women at the Jigme Doji Ra Memorial Stupa in Thimpu.
 Thimpu, pronounced - tim-poo- is Bhutan's capital city.

Relaxing and listening to the radio at the Stupa while the people go round-and-round in prayer

No, it's not the entrance to a Las Vegas casino, it's The world's largest Buddha statue! Made of cooper and completely from donations.

Meet our all-knowing and enduring guide, Kota! Seen around town wearing his traditional Gho.
(Answering all of our weighing questions, like: "Where can I find the Yeti?") 

Conserving their natural resources, one of Bhutan's 4 pillars of Happiness. 

Beetle nut chewing monks coming down from the Tonga Meditation Center

OM MA NI PE ME HU CHI 

Nothing left unpainted at these monasteries. 

Our Farmhouse experience!

Starting out with some hot butter tea... salty! Senda, our driver throughout the trip in the background. 

...and capping off with some local Ara - home-brewed wheat wine.

Dave and Kota -not in his Gho- on our trek! 

Our lead horseman playing a flute he found.

D playing a nomad game - a mix of darts and horseshoes. 

Our 1st night camp!

A brief peek of the Himalayan peaks!

A humble camp! ;D 

D looking for the Yeti in a bear's den. Unfortunately he only found a tick!

Only the necessities... 

Some friends we made along the way! Awe... so cute... 

Views of and from the Chorten Nyibo Monastery - our last camp of the trek. 

Did I mention the 2 horsemen, 2 cooks, 1 guide & 6 horses required for D & I to go trekking?!!! Yeah, I know, still working on that pillar of conservation! 

Some kind friends to greet us as we finished our trek...

The Punaka Dzong. The home of Bhutan's original capital.

D was always making our guide, Kota, so proud! 

Views from the Temple of The Divine Madman.

Tiger's Nest!

Happy Easter!

This Palm Sunday we spent far away from the palms & ferns of Tembagapura's cloud forest! We drove over 2000+ meters up the HEAT road and hiked to where may as well have been the moon. With the appropriate balance of Geo-Techs, mining engineers, Gurus & a feminine touch - me - we set out on our moon expedition to the prominent features of Lost Lake & The Prow!

Lost Lake - you can see how lost is an accurate descriptor... the lake, however, is debatable! 

Our route! The benefit of hiking with hyper-techy geologists & engineers!

Over 10 hours later, door-door, we returned inspired & tired!  Before crashing in bed for the night we forgot our tiredness for a bit at The Lupa Lela while enjoying a delicious steak dinner!


Some of our  recent weekday adventures have included:
    Organizing team building activities at the local dorm, Asrama Tomawin...

      And leading ladies hikes to The Air Terjun (waterfall)...

2 latinos + 1 South African + 1 gringo/bule = muchas laughter!

This weekend we are off to The Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, where we will learn about Gross National Happiness! More photos and stories to come...