After the large Buddha we went to
the Tashicho Dzong (royal citadel) which was amazing too. It was built in the 17th century and would
have housed the nobleman, his family, servants, soldiers etc plus some
monks. Nowadays it’s a national monument and just
occupied by monks.
Unfortunately we weren’t able to
buy a guidebook before we came out (only Lonely Planet do one and we don’t like
them, but now wish we had it!) and Tenzing doesn’t always volunteer much info.
Anyway it’s a jolly nice building
and the photos really don’t convey its size, or near perfect condition. It really was a monk spotter’s paradise
The following morning we had the
first of our hard hikes, up to another Dzong and gosh was it hard. Still suffering really badly with energy
levels and breathing problems the pair of us were very slow and that was just
on the road below. We were walking past
a farmyard and a little old lady was trying to close two gates without stepping
in the mud but her arms weren’t long enough and she kept letting go of
own. My reward for helping her was just
a few paces along.
It was a very difficult walk and
several times I didn’t think I could carry on but Tenzing kindly carried my
camera and by stopping and resting every few minutes we eventually got there.
Once at the top the monastery didn’t
seem very different to the others but I’m sure it was. Quite rightly you can’t take photos actually
in the prayer rooms which is a shame as they are nothing like any Buddhist ones
we’ve seen before.
The prayer wheels, like the flags, are hard to resist.
The walk down was obviously
easier but we were very glad of our walking poles as they really do help on the
downward stretch. Tenzing still had my
camera and thought it great fun to run ahead and snap us from the bushes.
The photos don’t really show the
beautiful colour of the water, it's gorgeous and very cold I should imagine.
After lunch we drove up to a
vantage point outside Thimpu which again was strewn with prayer flags.
And then on to the Zoo to look at
the Takin, their national animal and a very peculiar beast too.
Then we went to the National Memorial
Chorten (or Stupa) which was fascinating.
It was very crowded and everyone just walked round and round (clockwise)
whilst the monk chanted.
Groups of elderly men and women
sat around chatting as they do the world over.
Ian spinning yet another prayer
wheel
