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By Dena Bartolome, MTS Writer & Editor
It had been about 15 years since I had been to Asia, so I jumped at the chance to take part in our Festivals of Bhutan trip in the fall of 2002. I had heard many nice things about this tiny kingdom—its quiet serenity, hospitable people, adherence to traditional ways—and I was not disappointed. |
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 We flew into Bhutan and started the trip with a drive over the mountains to the Punakha Valley, stopping en route at the Dochu La ("la" means "pass") at 10,000 feet. This is usually a great viewpoint to see the peaks of the Eastern Himalaya, but the pass was enshrouded in clouds that day and we would have to wait until the next morning to see the mountains. The pass (like all passes in Bhutan) was marked by colorful prayer flags that fluttered in the cool breeze. |
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| The next morning we visited Punakha Dzong, a beautiful fortress/monastery built in the 1600s. Over the course of the trip we would visit many of these. (Notice we finally had a glimpse of the snowcapped Himalaya peeking over the ridge!) Young monks inhabited all the dzongs we visited and this one was only too eager to take a break from his studies to pose for a photo. |
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Our trip leader was Singye Dorji (AKA "Jack"). Jack, a well-connected, engaging fellow with a terrific sense of humor, is in charge of our operations in Bhutan. You'll notice that he's considerably taller than the average Bhutanese—he once played on the country's national basketball team! |
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| Throughout our trip, we were immersed in the details of everyday life in Bhutan. Here, we visited a grammar school, where kids jostled for the privilege of having their picture taken. On the right is a photo of a touching essay that was posted on the classroom window written by a 10-year old. It started out: "Books Are Friends. I love to read books. I adore them and their looks. I always read something, and I see wonderful things…." |
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| The inner walls of most dzongs feature elaborately painted murals. (The colors and attention to detail are simply incredible!) The one on the left depicts the Wheel of Life, with its endless circle of birth, death, and rebirth, while the one on the right depicts the famous Fable of the Four Friends, which illustrates the concept of teamwork. |
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For more information and reservations, please contact:
Mountain Travel Sobek
1266 66th Street, Suite 4
Emeryville, CA 94608 USA
Toll Free (USA and Canada): 1-888-831-7526
Phone: +1-510-594-6000
Fax: + 1-510-594-6001
Email: info@mtsobek.com
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