Touched by Gross National Happiness at Thimphu

God Bless Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

 From the time we boarded Druk Air and sighted Everest to the time we boarded Druk Air on the way back and sighted Everest again, our Gross Internal Happiness knew no bounds.

So, I will share some pointers to Happiness, for the time you do go to Bhutan.

If this posting inspires you to go to Bhutan, I will send Mr. Wangchuk a bill for promoting tourism to his country.

We will start with the Capital city and some pen-and-inks to tickle your appetite.

Thimphu is the capital city. Overcrowded by Bhutanese standards. But, lovely nonetheless. 

The River that is the lifeline of Thimphu has some traditional bridges. They are good places to hangout at. I spent some time bird watching near this bridge and when the birds refused to oblige, I decided to sketch it. 

Dochula Pass is a short drive away from Thimphu. Low flying clouds, thick pine forests and the sharp air make for a lovely drive to this hill top.
They say that you can see the Eastern Himalayan range on  a clear day.
I had difficulty locating the cafetaria from 20 metres away owing to the clouds.

The 108 Chortens or Stupas built there are beautiful and the forest nearby has some interesting flora and fauna.
These Chortens were built after Bhutan managed to subdue the rebels raiding India using Bhutan as a base.
so, all the more reason to go there and celebrate the friendship between our two countries.

Then, there was the unscheduled hike up to a 13th century monastery called the Tango Monastery. It was rebuilt in the 17th century and was under renovation when we huffed and puffed our way up after an hour's hike.

The hike up is a frustrating for bird watchers. You can hear them chirping, but the thick canopy is an effective barrier. However, lugging an 150-600 up the mountain in the hope of seeing some birds is pretty useful in developing your triceps.

People not blessed with a 150-600s are welcome to use 10 pound dumbells.

Tipe of the day: you pretend to sketch the dwellings along the way, when you are actually catching your breath.