Thimphu - shopping capital of the world
Trip Start
Sep 27, 2003
1
7
8
Trip End
Oct 16, 2003
Paro, Bhutan
Monday, October 13, 2003
We stopped for lunch just below Pelela Pass on the side of mountain overlooking the valley and then carried on our way. Miranda was feeling a bit rough as she picked up a cold after the trek, and slept most of the way to Wangdue Phodrang. At Wangdue we took a turning off to Punakha Dzong which has recently been renovated using the traditional arts and crafts. The temple in the Dzong is completely amazing with giant statues of Lord Buddha, Guru Rimpoche and Shabdrang Rimpoche. The huge temple has been hand painted and was totally awesome.
Then back on our way to Thimphu arriving just as it was getting dark. We went out for supper with "the Phubs" (guide and driver) at Plum's Cafe and then went to bed and watched TV!! Hotel room has bath and hot water too - total luxury!
Next morning we went around Thimphu, to the bank and the post office and bought a few little things in the handicraft shop (yes - more weavings). Then we went to a textile museum (more weavings) and to a folk heritage museum. A quick trip to visit the Paper Factory, circumambulation round the National Memorial Chorten then back to Plum's for lunch. In the afternoon we went to the weekend market and then had some free time wandering around Thimphu. Back to the hotel for more hot baths. In the evening we had a dinner engagement with Soenam, our host and her husband. We went to her house and met some other tourists but unfortunately Miranda's cold was too bad and she had to make her excuses and leave, collapsing with relief into bed. Belinda stayed on for the drunken sing-song.
Up early again for breakfast at 7.15am with Soenam and her husband Subarna. Luckily Miranda feeling much better. Then off to Paro at 8am.
The weather in Thimphu and Paro was completely glorious - warm and sunny, blue skies with the odd fluffy cloud. In Paro we raced up to the end of the valley for a view of the snow-capped peak of Jmolhari - Bhutan's second highest mountain at over 7000m. It was wonderfully clear. Then we went to watch an archery match going on between some local villages. Again a bit hard to drag Phub 1 and Phub 2 away from this, but we didn't mind as it was very interesting. Popped into a 7th century temple then had lunch in a restaurant in Paro town. After lunch went to another temple (the Iron Bridge Builder's temple) then Phub 1 took us home to meet his parents and show us his house. We had butter tea and rice snacks - freshly made from the new rice harvest. Then we went up to the National Museum, housed in the Watchtower on the hill above Paro Dzong, followed by a trip into the Dzong itself.
We were then taken back into the town for a quick wander around and then we went to the Phub Gyeltsen's family shop. We were invited into the back for more butter tea and rice snacks. It was wonderful to be invited into these people's homes and lives. We felt very privileged. This was the last thing on our agenda for the Bhutan holiday. Miranda felt that if she got up to go, the holiday would be finished and we would begin to awaken from the dream that is Bhutan. Belinda felt that if she didn't go back to the hotel very soon she was going to be sick. This decided it, and we left.
Back to the hotel to pack. Up early tomorrow (4.30am) to catch our plane at 7.30am.
