Villages and rice terraces at the start of the hike to the Temple of the Divine Madman |
Lobesa - the village where we started our hike |
Dragon painted on a house in Lobesa, Bhutan |
One of the cruder phallus paintings - Lobeysa |
Bhutanese fertility symbol - a giant erect ejaculating penis painted on a house |
Dennis and the Big One |
House in Lobesa painted with traditional symbols |
A pair of phalluses on either side of the front door |
The erect penis is believed to drive away the evil eye |
Traditional Bhutanese house, Lobeysa |
The phallus paintings in Bhutan have their origin at the nearby Chimi Lhakhang, the Temple of the Divine Madman |
Garuda eating a snake (naga), another painting to protect the home |
Monk and traditional house, Lobesa |
Traditional houses are built without a single nail |
Bhutanese phallus painting |
In addition to the paintings, wooden phalluses (lingam) are placed around the house |
Buddhist text, Lobesa |
A touristy restaurant at the start of the trek to Chimi Lhangkhang |
Rice in the field |
Dennis in a field of rice |
In the rice fields near Lobesa |
The next village across the rice fields |
Vine with a yellow flower |
Dennis likes yellow |
The rice harvest has begun - early October |
Path through the rice fields |
Village on the way to the Temple of the Divine Madman |
Bhutan is not self-sufficient in rice production - the balance is imported from India |
This region of Bhutan produced two rice crops per year |
A stupa with prayer wheels set among the rice fields |
Stupa enroute to Chimi Lhakhang |
Corn growing alongside the rice |
Rice planted at two different times on adjacent fields |
It's a bit cloudy but good for walking |
Dennis in Bhutan |
Starting the short climb up to the Temple of the Divine Madman |
The house could use a whitewash |
Steps carved from a tree trunk leading to the second floor of a house |
Chimi Lhakhang - the Temple of the Divine Madman |
The temple was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa on a site blessed by Drukpa Kinley, the Divine Madman |
Large prayer wheel, Chimi Lhakhang |
The Divine Madman (1455-1529) founded Chimi Lhakhang in 1499 |
Dennis at the Temple of the Divine Madman |
Women sought out the Divine Madman for a blessing in the form of sex |
Window, Chimi Lhakhang |
Dennis - Chimi Lhakhang |
Me and Dennis at the Temple of the Divine Madman |
Dragon shaped spout on the corner of the temple roof |
Doorway - Chimi Lhakhang |
Prayer Wheel and a painting of Namthosey, the gold king of the north, who holds a mongoose and victory banner |
The mongoose held in the hand of Namthosey, the Guardian King of the North |
Dragon hammed out of metal |
Door with a painting of the Khorlo, or Wheel of Life |
Prayer wheels at the Temple of the Divine Madman |
Thunpa Punzhi - the Four Harmonious Friends |
Respect age, be selfless and help others |
View of the villages and rice fields from the hilltop temple |
Hiking back down through the fields and villages |
Rice terraces around Lobesa |
Path back to the village of Lobesa |
Path along an irrigation canal |
Hiking through the rice fields back from Chimi Lhakhang |
Villagers passing through the fields |
Looking back, Chimi Lhakhang is on the hillside beyond the village |
Even without the temple, the pastoral setting is very pleasant |
Stupa in the rice fields around Lobesa |
Rice Harvest, Bhutan |
A cow in the freshly harvested field |
Bhutan farming village at harvest time |
Rice harvest, Bhutan |
Tie your shoe laces! |
Cornfield, Lobesa |
Arriving back at Lobesa with its welcoming restaurant |
Lobesa's tourist restaurant |
The road to Punakha |
Terraced rice fields on the higher slopes |
Bhutanese village - Lobesa |
Restaurant view - Lobesa |
A couple of village dogs, Lobesa |
Gay Restaurant Cum Bar - Bhutan |
After hiking to the Temple of the Divine Madman, we continue our drive to Punakha |
Leaving the rice fields of Lobesa behind driving on the road north to Punakha |