A day in PANAKHA

 4/13 PANAKHA

 

 

 

After breakfast there was a drive to a trailhead. We decided to hike part of the way up hill to a temple. Here we turned around and spent time in the valley talking to locals and taking photos. 

We met a couple local farmer ladies and were given a couple cucumbers. We got down to the suspension bridge and waited for the group. 



Then we drove to a picnic site for lunch. 

Next was the Punakha Dzong. This fortress now serves as a temple and government offices.

Guru Rinpoche fortold of this Dzongs building. Later the Blue Bearded Monk supervised the construction of the Dzong. The dzong was built without any plans. It is said the Blue Bearded Monk had a dream and he took the carpenter into the dream to show him the design. 



It was here when invaders from Tibet invaded the Blue Bearded Monk tricked the invaders into believing he had destroyed a sacred object by throwing it into the river. The invaders thought there was nothing to fight for so the left. 

This is one of the most beautiful temples I have ever been to and it is spectacular in many ways.

 Our tour guide’s cousin is a master here and he gave us a tour of the grounds. 

Many of todays photos will be found on my photo website.  

 

 

VALLEY OF THE CRANES TO THE MAD MONK:

 VALLEY OF THE CRANES TO THE MAD MONK:



 

After breakfast we returned to the Crane Center where we had a lecture by David. He spoke on a broad spectrum of topics. These emphasized the inter relatedness of geography and people. 

Then we drove to Lawana Pass where we were able to take some yak photos and shop with local vendors. Here we got some baby Yak fur scarfs. They are really soft. Then as a group we each had a length of prayer flags, these were tied together and we walked up the hill and placed it as one. 



Driving down the pass we stopped for lunch and then proceeded to Punakha. Here many of the shops, if not all, sell phalic items. 

 

This is an area where many come for a fertility blessing. 

It is also the home of The Mad Monk. The Mad Monk, Lama Drupe Kunley, was born in Tibet and became enlightened. He would use humorous songs and bawdy tales to further the teachings. He would shoot an arrow into the air and where it landed is where he taught. He was a ladies man and his conquests are well known. 



We made a walk to his temple where we met with the Master. We enjoyed tea and a very open Q&A session with him. One might say it was enlightening. We then went into the main temple where we were blessed with very special items. These items were the property of The Mad Monk himself. These sacred items were kept in a safe and not readily removed for visitors. Then we were also blessed with a bow and arrow symbolic of The Mad Monk. 

This experience was amazingly special. This is truly a spiritual journey we are on. 

We used this ancient mini Stupa Mold we used to make our individual Stupas. The Master will be taking them to the temple for blessing.



On the way to our hotel we learned we are the first to ever experience such a visit.

Drinks and dinner and then bed.  

 

 

Phobjikha Valley Exploration Day

 Phobjikha Valley Exploration Day 

After breakfast we drove to Gangtey Goemba, an important 450-year-old monastery and the main seat of the reincarnations of Pema Lingpa, a Bhutanese saint and renowned treasure hunter. We attended a prayer ceremony followed by a butter lamp lighting ceremony. 



The monks served us Butter Tea and snacks during the prayer ceremony. 



Then we headed out on a morning hike through the forested areas along the Phobjikha Valley, keeping an eye out for any birds and wildlife that may be present. During the winter months, hundreds of black-necked cranes migrate over the Himalayan Mountains to roost in the valley.

The hike into the valley floor was very nice, albeit a little steep and rutted at times. At the end of the hike we were greeted at a local farm house for lunch. We hiked about 3.6 km.



We started with learning how butter tea was made followed by a demonstration of the making of Chili Cheese. 
This was the hottest chili cheese we have had thus far. 

Then Lunch was served, all rather tasty. Veggies, Rice, Chicken, and noodles. 


Then there was a Q&A session with our host. The lady head of the household was so, so entertaining. She the offered us some homemade booze made from barley. I was surprised it was rather mild and tasty. 

 

 



Then it was time to sing and dance. We did 3 dances as 3 is an important number. There are several important numbers here, mostly based in Buddhism. 



 

 

 

 

This was a wonderful heart warming time. While we may not speak the same language and are different in various ways. We can be bonded by laughter, singing, dancing, and food. 

The families temple/shrine room.

  



Then a visit to the Black-Necked Crane Center to meet with a representative from the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature (RSPN), who will discuss RSPN’s research of the black-necked cranes and their efforts to preserve and protect their roosting areas. We did see a great video about their migration.

 There are two disabled cranes there so we could get a close look at them. There are over 600 Black Necked Cranes which visit this valley to winter form the months of
October/November to mid March when they leave to fly over the Himalaya to winter.  

Back to the Hotel for the evening.

TO THE VALLEY OF THE CRANES

 DINNER PARTY, THEN TO THE COUNTRYSIDE:

Last night (4/9) we had a dinner party with local dignitaries. They included, professors, doctors, Bhutan Power officials, Sales managers. It was a great evening as we exchanged questions about our respective countries. 



We were able to dress is traditional garb, I in a Goe and Lynn in a Kira.



Today, April 10, the plan is to have a lecture on Buddhism. After this we depart for the Phobjikha Valley. Enroute  we will be making a stop at Dochula Pass with an elevation over 10,000. (Will try and remember to check my watches altimeter). Then we visit the Druk Wangyal Chortens, where there are 108 Buddhist monuments to the martyred Bhutanese soldiers.

We hear the accommodations will be more plain and rustic. This I look forward to.

David Scott gave us an excellent lecture on the development of Buddhism in Bhutan. Yes, as we have different churches i.e. Methodist, Catholic, Lutheran, etc.,  so it is the same in Buddhism. 



Further it is noted there are old world and some really old symbols from very diverse regions that are very much the same. An example is the Buddhist endless knot and the Celtic knot. Some words also are amazingly close i.e  Aum and Amen, forget the spelling and listen to the sounds. 



Simply, while we are different, we are really the same.

We then drove to the  Dochula Pass. The Chortens were very nice. I was really expecting the pass to be bare rock. It was still a very nice forest.

We descended off the pass to a restaurant where a Grand Master had his painting available. They were AMAZING!! (No Photos allowed)

Prayer Flags- The white are for burial prayers and the colored flags are for other prayers.

We continued our descent through an area known for the Gray Langur monkey. Lynn did an excellent job of spotting a group in trees along the roadside. A photo stop was made. 

 

 



Next was a stop for the restroom break. The nice ladies outside the building let me get some photos. 



Down we went and then started our next climb on a one lane road heading to our lodgings. Over a pass and into the Valley of the Cranes. The cranes have already passed through this area and we will visit the crane center tomorrow. 



We gathered for cocktails and dinner and called it a day. The drink unique to the lodge is called a “Dragon Warmer.”  Rum, lime/lemon juice, bits of cinnamon stick, warm apple cider, honey, and pepper to taste. Rather good.  

Yak in the Valley