Bhutan!

Bhutan! As Rick and I were sitting this morning on a patio, a crow walked in front of us. They have red bills and feet here. Isn't that interesting? Everything else is the same, but red bills. I wonder what about this environment made them adapt that way, or vice versa, why yellow in CO. I don't exactly have a silent mind when I mediate.
I love Bhutan and I've only been here a year. Well, that was Freudian, I meant a day.  The people, the architecture, the country, it's all a feast for the aesthetic senses.

Looking out from Paro Dzong. 

Paro Dzong from the plane

View of Paro airport from hotel

I had a conversation with about 5 school kids yesterday that was a hoot. There's often one ring leader in these groups (same in India) that is willing to be out there with their English and in making fun of the foreigner. In this case it was  a saucy girl who mimicked everything I said once I asked her if she was studying English and did she want to ask me anything. Best part was that when they asked how old I was, they didn't gasp in horror and even told me that that wasn't very old. Of course, they venerate their elders here, maybe I fall in that category?

My favorite piece of traveling: The girl on the far right was the one who took the lead, and the little boy was just like a puppy scrambling to keep up with the girls.

We flew from Bangkok yesterday and before we even got to Bhutan events were happening. The soon-to-be queen was in the row before us, flying back (maybe she'd been trousseau shopping?) for her wedding this week. It's also her birthday this week, she'll be 21 and she was truly beautiful. Can't even imagine what was going through her head. I was glad I was just a tourist.

Hotel room in Paro

View as we flew in

We got into our charming hotel, had lunch and then went to a Dzong, fortresses built on hilltops around the country that then became monasteries once peace came. Gorgeous.

Fortress above big fortress, just up from Paro Dzong. Now a museum, but damaged from earthquake two weeks ago and closed.

(Per lookout picture: You can see why this space was chosen as a fortress, high above. In the foreground is a palace for some royal, but look how modest it is compared to what we think of as a palace and at the same time, it's just simple and beautiful with the town just beyond.) 

                                                                         The wood carvings and painting around the upper exterior and then much more on the inside were wonderful. A little reminiscent of Switzerland without the geraniums. Then inside there were truly amazing worship halls with different Buddha figures and then paintings that I could have studied for hours. You think you kind of got the images and then would suddenly realize that there were whole new layers, get those and then realize that you had still only tapped the beginning of what was being told by the painting.

We then saw an archery competition, done every weekend with people using compound bows (not as many left using the original giant long bow) and shooting 300 feet. I have no idea how they learn to hit the target, but they did. Not that often when we were watching, but still. Then the team winning each inning (?) would do this little dance and then continue.

Archery contest

Then a temple, Dungtse Lhakhang,  built in 1421 by the "iron builder", a mahasidha (between lama and boddisatva), a highly accomplished master.  Thangtong Gyelpo was a Buddhist master and when he first came to this valley a demoness was terrorizing the valley the hill at the top of the valley was her head. Thangtong Gyelpo built the temple in the form of a chorten to overpower her since it was built on her neck. He immobolized the demon as well as proclaiming the victory of Buddhism for the valley, those with leprosy were cured and others began to move into the valley. This Buddhist master, built 8 bridges all over the country.  We saw one driving to Thumpu the next day.
Climbed in the near-dark (forgot my flashlight) up four levels  of the chorten, a circular building, with incredible paintings covering all of the walls.

Iron bridge builder's bridge, 1400's

Typical shop/building front

Inside Paro Dzong

Pickup with young monks