Gho up
Trip Start
Nov 04, 2005
1
12
23
Trip End
Jan 31, 2006
Thimpu, Bhutan
Friday, December 23, 2005
So we drove- about 2 hours along winding, bumpy mountain roads. Our driver and guide, Mr. Mongol and Mr. Daza respectively, were very kind and helpful. Mr. Daza ending up to help my father more than anyone could've imagined~ but more later.
Thimpu is a capital of around 70,000 people, nestled in a small valley. Our hotel overlooked the town, next to a mountain river. All the staff at the hotel, and most citizens generally, wore the local garp: a short striped robe of earthy colors, cynched with a belt; long argyle socks hiked up and old fashioned black dress shoes. Mr. Daza informed me that this is essentially like their buisness suit.
The servers at the hotel restaurant were of course dressed in this uniform, and were incredibly sweet, soft-spoken, and shy; as well as incredibly short. Most delivering our food stood eye-to-eye with my father sitting. The food was surprisingly delicious~ this included, for example: tasty chicken dumplings in a chinese style; sliced potatoes surved in a creamy cheese sauce; cooked yak and spinach- those were some of my favorites. Some didn't sit so well, for example the yak-cheese on a string... we discovered this on the side of the road on the way up to a mountain pass, and I swear I did my best to give this the hardest cheese in the world a chance; but after a good hour of gnawing and chomping on the white rock like a toothing baby, I gave up and spit it out...
We spent our (brief) time hanging around the city, viewing a few ancient temples and dzongs (fortresses).. Another thing that struck me was the uniformity of the architectural aestheic. Apparently all Bhutanese families have a home, and they are all in this unique Bhutanese style. All the buildings have a stylized shape, with large splaying flat roofs, and all have colorful paintings that decorate the widows and the white walls above the doors.
Later, our man Daza was able to fufill my father's hope to meet a sage~ but that's another story, next time-
Comments
ohohoh!
yak cheeseeeeeeeeeeeeee.... mmmmmmmmmmm... mmm... i have never ever been so envious in my life. dont forget to gobble down the yak yogurt in tibet... mm mmmmmmm......
kisskiss