Phobjikha Valley

October 6th was a day full of Buttanese culture.  We started the day by driving up to the Monk’s College for a special ceremony that had been set up for us.  It involved the monks chanting and playing of some music and then we were each given a candle lamp which they lit and then more prayers and chanting were offered.  The per pose was to help us let go of the negative factors in our lives and I personally found it to be a really moving ceremony.  Afterwards the monks served us tea and snacks before we carried on to the temple.  The temple was just down the hill from the college looking over the valley and today was a special family day celebration in Bhutan so all the locals were there dressed in their finery.  The outside of the temple was beautiful and we spent time in the square walking about observing the people and marvelling at the architecture.  We did not go inside as a respect to the locals who were observing a holy holiday.

From the temple we did a wonderful two hour hike down the hill, across fields and through the forest heading towards the village.  It was a great opportunity to observe the local farms and homes and spend some quiet time in nature.  Today was the six year anniversary of Eric finishing the Camino so for him it was very special.  We finished our walk at a farmhouse where we went in for lunch.  The owner of the home had been on Master Chef Buttan and her chilli  and cheese was delicious. We were served Somme area which is Bhutan moonshine.  It smells absolutely horrible but tastes not bad.  The same can not be said for the butter tea that our host made for us.  It smelt and tasted absolutely horrible.  It really must be an acquired taste.

The Monk’s College 

Inside the chapel for our ceremony. One must never point your soles of your feet towards the Buddha’s 

The head monk led the proceedings 

Eric’s lamp being lit by the monk

We left our welcoming scarves as offerings along with some money

Bill is explaining the importance of the fish to the Buddhist religion 

Kaysang explaining more of the symbolism within the chapel 

The alter with all our lamps lined up. They are left burning to burn away the negativity 

The grounds of the college

The farms of the fertile valley

The valley was created thousands of years ago by a glacier 

The Gangtey Goemba Temple

A gathering of locals on the front entrance of the temple 

Monks washing the vegetables behind the temple 

Intricate designs on all the windows 

Collection of shoes at the entrance as the locals enter the temple

All the Bhutanese carry their small children on their backs.  Did not see a stroller anywhere.

Once again the corners of the temple were all decorated with symbolic creatures 

Beautiful porches from which the monks can observe the people below

A monk climbing the common steep stairs to his quarters

An unusually unadorned home but extremely neat and tidy 

Quite common to see these steps up and over the fence which keep animals both in and out

Eric reliving his Camino 

The red field are buckwheat which is a common crop in this area

Prayer fags high on the hill.  They are always put where the wind will carry away their prayers 

This is the farm house where we had lunch. The houses were often very elaborate on the outside but this one and apparently most are very sparse on the interior 

This was our host.  Many of the older generation chew the betel nut which permanently stains the teeth and mouth as well as accounts for a very high cancer rate

Making butter tea for us

This is the kitchen stove. In the winter the family put their sleeping mats in the kitchen for more warmth 

This was my lucky walking stick. Plallic symbols are certainly everywhere and no one is the least bit embarrassed by them