The Asia Series: Bhutan, Part 2

We stopped over in the town of Punakha and stayed at this lovely hotel overlooking the city.  We visited the Punakha Dzong (fortress) which is the most beautiful fortress in Bhutan.  2015-12-07_0042

The Phallus is a sign of fertility and good luck in Bhutan....so yep, it was everywhere (insert giggles)2015-12-07_0043 2015-12-07_0044 2015-12-07_0045 2015-12-07_0046 2015-12-07_0047 2015-12-07_0048 2015-12-07_0049 2015-12-07_0050

2015-12-07_0051The Buddha Tree 2015-12-07_0053 2015-12-07_0054 2015-12-07_0055

The Dzong (fortress)

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Our last day was an intense hike to the Tiger's Nest Monastery- It is 2000 feet up on a sheer cliff face!  It's about a 3 mile, steep uphill hike (1 way). Not for the faint of heart, but well worth it!2015-12-07_0065

You can take ponies halfway to the top- not us though!2015-12-07_0066 2015-12-07_0067 2015-12-07_0068 2015-12-07_0069 2015-12-07_0070 2015-12-07_0071 2015-12-07_0072 2015-12-07_0073

Another Dzong (fortress) in Paro2015-12-07_0074 2015-12-07_0075 2015-12-07_0076 2015-12-07_0077 2015-12-07_0078 2015-12-07_0079Our last evening was a traditional Bhutanese meal at an old farm house.  Complete with a real hot stone bath! 2015-12-07_0080

The Asia Series: Bhutan, Part 1

My two week adventure in Asia was an amazing experience, and of course filled with a LOT of photos!  So I am introducing the Asia series to share with you some of my favorites from the trip! First up is Bhutan- a small and beautiful kingdom just north of India and to the east of Nepal.  Set in the Himalayas, it is an absolutely stunning landscape.  Having only introduced television and the internet in 1999, much of it's rich culture remains in tack and untainted from the rest of the world.

These first photos are a glimpse of Mnt Everest from the plane!

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Prayer flags2015-12-07_0007 2015-12-07_0008 2015-12-07_0009 2015-12-07_0010 2015-12-07_0011

Amber and Edith on the bridge2015-12-07_0012 2015-12-07_0013 2015-12-07_0014 2015-12-07_0015 2015-12-07_0016

Lots and lots of delicious tea at every stop and every meal! 2015-12-07_0017

The biggest Lord Buddha statue in the world overlooking Thimpu valley2015-12-07_0018 2015-12-07_0019 2015-12-07_0020 2015-12-07_0021 2015-12-07_0022 2015-12-07_0023 2015-12-07_0024

The national animal- the Takin!2015-12-07_0025 2015-12-07_0026 2015-12-07_0027Visit to a local nunnery 2015-12-07_0028 2015-12-07_0029 2015-12-07_0030

The Dochu-La Pass and view of the Himalayas2015-12-07_0031 2015-12-07_0032

Tea at the top!2015-12-07_0033 2015-12-07_0034 2015-12-07_0035 2015-12-07_0036 2015-12-07_0037 2015-12-07_0038 2015-12-07_0039 2015-12-07_0040 2015-12-07_0041