Blessings from the Chief Abbot / Bhutan pt. 2

At the time of writing I´m on the Andaman Islands way out in the Indian Ocean. Internet connection has been absent the last 10 days, but I´ve finally hunted down a tiny good old Internet café. All though I’m so keen on sharing snaps from the tropical island life, Bhutan deserves some more attention. 

The most special and spiritual experience in Bhutan was definitely whilst visiting Phunaka Dzong (temple). This dzong houses hundreds of young monks. It is also where the religious leader of Bhutan, Chief Abbot (equivalent to Tibets Dalai Lama), lives most of the year. As we were walking around this stunning place, our guide soon realized that something unusual was going on. All the monks started to gather at an open space, and older monks were walking around hitting the floor with a broom. This was an act to get the monks attention. The chief Ebbot was apparently going to out of his room to hold a ceremony. Obviously, it was strictly forbidden to take photos of this holy man, but we were welcome to receive blessings from him as he passed buy. And minutes later, Bhutans religious leader, strolled past us and as we covered our mouth and bowed, he touched our heads giving us his blessings. After this we could overlook the ceremony where the monks were meditating and playing silent drums and the chief was reading mantras. This was such a magical and spiritual moment, taking us straight into the depth of Buddhism. I was totally mesmerized by the sounds and smells of surrounding us. 

 

    

   

Our road trip ended up in Paro, where we climbed the mountain to Tigers Nest, one of the highlights of the cultural Bhutan tour. We had such a fun day hiking together with Bull and Thinley, and finally getting the pulse to rise after a rather lazy week. On the very last day they drove us to the Indian border, where they laughed their ass off by the look of two confused pale Scandinavians with backpacks who were continuing by foot to the nearest train station in India.
 

  

Lunchtime!

 

 

  

  

PS: never forget to kiss horses and cuddle stray dogs!

Klem,

AK

Kuzuzangpola, Butan!

“The land of the thunder dragon”

After falling in love with Tibet whilst traveling in the Himalayan region two years ago, my dream has been to visit the even more mysterious Buddhist country Bhutan. Tourism is more restricted in Bhutan compared to Tibet, and the government controls it through high daily rates and obligating visitors to hire a local guide in order to obtain a visa. This ensures that the country is free of touristy traps and commercialization and it´s unique cultural and religious heritage are very well preserved.

Even now, after visiting Bhutan, I still haven´t figure out how they have managed becoming such a structured, peaceful and clean country compared to their neighbours. Mashed in between the chaotic and poorer India and China, Bhutan seems to have found some secret key that the other countries totally missed out on.

It´s a monarchy with a fairly ”well-working” democracy. Rickshaws are illegal. Tobacco and smoking is prohibited. You´re not allowed to cut down trees without a permission from the government, no fishing allowed, and obviously no killing of animals. What a dream for the nature and animal-loving Anne Karin! The king has introduced the expression ”gross national happiness”, and already at the age of 34, he is known as ”the peoples king” because of his compassion for the poorer ones. 

Stepping of the plane between massive forest-dressed mountains, the first breath of Bhutan consists of cold fresh air. Our awesome guide Bull meets us outside the airport, and we are ready for 6 days of road tripping in search of the thunder dragon! 

View over the capital Thimpu 

At farmers marked, Thimpu

Tea-break on the road to Punakha 

White flags in memory of the lost loved ones. 

Doma chewing little old lady.

108 stupas at Dochula pass, the way to Punakha.

"If I had to name the biggest difference between Bhutan and the rest of the world, I could do it in one word: civility"  

(Linda Leaming, author of "Married to Bhutan"). 

More adventures from Bhutan coming up as soon as Calcutta (where I´m in this moment eating a sweet and very needed chocolate pancake) can give me a decent WiFi.

Klem til deg, 

AK.