Our vehicle for the week in Bhutan |
Roadside marker - 19TF DANTAK RCC |
Roads Information - distances from Thimphu |
Leaving Thimphu for Punakha via the National Highway past Simtokha Dzong |
Simtokha Dzong - 1629, now a language institute |
Simtokha Dzong outside Thimphu |
Simtokha Dzong outside Thimphu |
Simtokha Dzong |
Traditional house along the National Highway - Kencho Bar Shop Hongsu |
Bhutanese folk tradition for fertility |
Dennis with a giant penis - Hongtsho, Bhutan |
Phallus painting are common in rural Bhutan since the 15th Century |
Pine trees along the National Highway of Bhutan |
National Highway of Bhutan |
Logging is severely restricted in Bhutan |
Roadside fruit vendor |
Climbing Dochu-la Pass |
Roadside shrine on the way to Dochu-la Pass, Bhutan |
Dochula Pass (3140m), about 30km from Thimphu |
First view of the snow-capped Himalaya forming the Bhutan-Tibet (China) border |
On top of Dochu-La Pass with the first real snow of his life |
The highest mountain in Bhutan, Gangkhar Puensum 7570m |
Masang Gang (7165m) on the Bhutan-Tibet (China) border |
Jichu Drake, on the western border of Bhutan (6809m), seen from Dochu-La Pass |
Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple on top of Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan |
Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Donchu La Pass |
Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan |
Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan |
Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan |
The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
The 108 Chortens were built in 2005 as a memorial to the violence forcing Assemese guerrillas out of Bhutan |
The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
Buddhist prayer flags, common to all the Himalayan countries |
The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass |
Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass |
Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass |
Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass |
Bhutan - Dochu-La Pass |
The Sanskrit mantra - Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ |
Slate relief of Buddha on one of the 108 Chortens |
Slate relief of Buddha on one of the 108 Chortens |
Among the 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
Among the 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
Bhutan2009 1580.jpg |
Dennis on top of Donchu-La Pass, Bhutan |
Dennis on top of Donchu-La Pass, Bhutan |
On Top of the World! |
The rare photo of me, Bhutan |
The noble dandelion, Bhutan |
Donchu-La Pass |
108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass |
108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass |
Dennis at Donchu-La Pass |
108 Chortens (Stupas) Donchu-La Pass |
108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass |
Donchu-La Pass |
Coffee Shop, Donchu-La Pass |
Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, built in 2005 |
Green banner |
Donchu-La Pass |
Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Tiny pavilion, Donchu-La Pass |
Temple detail |
Temple detail |
Painted and carved wooden pillars |
Painted and carved wooden pillars |
Snow Lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Dragon, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Tiger, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Snow Lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Carved dragon, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Donchu la Pass |
Mural painting of the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass |
Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass |
This new temple, built in 2005, has modernized the traditional temple themes for its murals |
Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass |
Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass |
I wonder if real models were used by the artist |
Wood carving, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers |
Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers |
Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers |
Temple paintings in the traditional format, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Carved lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
Wood carving, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
The 108 Chortens from Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Dochu La Pass |
Smoky offerings, Dochu La Pass |
The guide, Tandin Dorji, with the driver Jimi (left) |
Dennis with our Bhutanese hosts |
Tandin and Dennis |
Driving down the north side of Dochu La Pass |
Bhutan is small, but it's still 525 windy km to Trashigang in the east of the country |
Roadside Bhutan |
Descending through the mountainside forest, Trashigang-Semtokha Highway |
Waterfall on the north side of Dorchu La Pass |
A small stupa along the National Highway |
Tiny Roadside house |
Descending into the agricultural area with its rice terraces |
Rice Terraces along the National Highway |
Rural Bhutan |
Tiny hillside farmhouse with green rice terraces, Bhutan |
Bhutanese farmhouse |
Rice terraces and farmhouse, Bhutan |
Rice Terraces, Bhutan |
Rice terraces and farmhouse, Bhutan |
Man weaving a basket, Bhutan |
Large farmhouse near Lumisawa, Bhutan |
Rural scenery between Dochu La Pass and Lumisawa |
Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan |
Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan |
Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan |
Bhutanese phallic house art - Lumisawa |
Wooden penises on a house in Lumisawa, Bhutan |
Lumisawa, Bhutan |
Road work along the National Highway - it wouldn't take much of a landslide to cut off half the country |
Roadside erosion along the National Highway |
Fruit at a roadside stand, Bhutan |
Strange vegetables, Bhutan |
Gyeltshen General Shop, Thinley Gang |
Thinley Gang |
A small monastery near Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
A small monastery near Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
Basic Health Unit, Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
View of terraced fields from the Trashigang-Semtokha Highway, Bhutab |
Panoramic view - Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
Thrinleygang, Bhutan - 500 km to Trashigang |
Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
A monastery high on a hill on the opposite side of the valley |
A famous fresh-water spring along the road to Punakha |
Natural mountain spring water, Bhutan |
A truck driver collecting spring water |
Rice terraces, Bhutan |
A pair of hilltop stupas |
The fields around Chimi Langhkhang |
Small villages near Chimi Langkhang |
Chimi Langhkhang |
Large farmhouses near Chimi Langkhang |
Descending into the valley at Chimi Langkhang |
Descending into the valley at Chimi Langkhang |
Village at the intersection of the Thimphu-Punakha Highway and the road to Wangdue |
Koffee House Bar & Snooker, Lobeysa, Bhutan - starting point for the short trek to the temple at Chimi Langkhang |
Chiles drying on a rooftop |
Chiles drying on a rooftop |
Chiles drying on a rooftop |
Metsina, Bhutan |
Lobesa, Bhutan |
After the visit to Punakha, a drive downstream along the Puna Tsang Chu River before returning to Thimphu |
A new village being constructed on the opposite bank of the river |
The houses will surely look traditional when complete, but have concrete pillars and floors |
Residential construction, Wangdue Phodrang |
Puna Tsang Chu River, Wangdue Phodrang |
Simple wooden house along the river by Wangdue Phodrang |
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong overlooking the Puna Tsang Chu River |
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, founded 1638 |
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong |
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong |
Wangdue Phodrang Dzong |
Sign for Dragon Nest Resort, Wangdue Phodrang |
Pumps taking water from the Puna Tsang Chu River, Wangdue Phodrang |
Bhutanese half-timbered architecture |
Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, Lobesa Regional Office |
FCB - Food Corporation of Bhutan, Lobesa |
Bhutan Post Letter Box |