http://www.lejade.org Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:39:54 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Visited Wangduephodrang Dzong, near Timphu, where I saw the antique prayer wheels from back when they were still made of leather and paper. Sadly it will soon be time to leave Bhutan. Of course, despite the heavy emphasis on Gross National Happiness, the country has some very real problems and ... http://www.lejade.org/2011/04/spinning-the-prayer-wheel/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=spinning-the-prayer-wheel Two things Bhutan has in abundance: colorful trucks ...and dogs! The worst nuisance is not necessarily the one you would expect... As the saying goes: "The dogs of Bhutan sleep all day and bark all night"! http://www.lejade.org/2011/04/trucks-and-dogs/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trucks-and-dogs In Bhumtang we were lucky to stay directly on the grounds of Wangdcholing palace, previously home of the royal family and now handed over to the monks. In the afternoon, we drank safflower tea and practiced traditional archery with the locals in the palace's backyard. In the evening, we either ... http://www.lejade.org/2011/04/at-wangdicholing-palace/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=at-wangdicholing-palace Gangtey valley and its endless carpet of dwarf bamboo (Yushania microphilla): the favorite meal of yaks. Gangtey is the favorite landing ground of the beloved black-necked cranes. Alas, by the time we arrived they had already all left for summer, but for one laggard. Even when the birds are not there, ... http://www.lejade.org/2011/03/gangtey-valley/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gangtey-valley Wandering in the mountains, one will often stumble on a small forest of white prayer flags planted in memory of a deceased relative. Just add milky mist to witness Bhutanese magic... http://www.lejade.org/2011/03/prayer-flags-for-the-dead/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=prayer-flags-for-the-dead The mighty Trongsa Dzong - the political heart of the kingdom during many generations, and the longest dzong in Bhutan. After reading "The hero with a thousand eyes", it was easy to picture life inside this fortress back in the times before the Bhutanese fiscal reform, when taxes were still levied ... http://www.lejade.org/2011/03/trongsa-dzong/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trongsa-dzong Today, I was supposed to teach English to young monks. But we quickly found a much more interesting subject matter... Our Doodle Jump champion for the day! A couple of observations: - I was struck by how easily the young monks shared the game. Doodle Jump is addictive and it is very tempting to ... http://www.lejade.org/2011/03/educating-young-monks/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=educating-young-monks There is a Dzong in every region of Bhutan. Impressive white fortresses circled with a red khemar band just below the roof, they are the heart of the political and administrative systems, serving simultaneously as seat of local government and as temple. Dzongs are architectural marvels, built without any plans ... http://www.lejade.org/2011/03/punakha-dzong/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=punakha-dzong Chimi Lhakang, Drukpa Kunley's temple, is a renown pilgrimage site as it is widely believed that childless couples who pray there will then conceive children. Inside, a monk blesses you with an ivory and wood replicas of the saint's lingam as well as his bow and arrow. The temple is also ... http://www.lejade.org/2011/03/chimi-lhakang/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=chimi-lhakang A most surprising sight for a foreigner in Bhutan is that you will see penises everywhere. Yes, you read that right. Turgid phalluses proudly painted or sculpted on houses and doors and even flying dicks hanging from the corner of roofs. No joke: it's even worse than Second Life! ... http://www.lejade.org/2011/03/drukpa-kunley/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=drukpa-kunley