Visit to Phajoding, Bhutan

Again here are some pictures from my visit to Phajoding trek, in Thimphu, Bhutan

Hiking at night

Corydalis

View of the Thimphu city from Phajoding

High up int he Himalayas among the dwarf rhododendrons  

National Day and Me

Fourth King and the Fifth King of Bhutan serving the crowd during the 107th National Day (17 Dec. 2014)
                                                                                                                                     (Courtesy: facebook.com/KingJigmeKhesar)

What it’s like to miss the National Day, when my own brothers and sisters are happily celebrating the occasion? I know I am part of it but all I know is, what media informs me. What I do is, closely follow up with certain media and imagine I was right there.  Wonder, how I would feel if I was there the very moment standing and smiling before the beloved monarchs of Bhutan like I always wish. Well, it’s the 107^th National of Bhutan and the year is declared as the 60^th birth anniversary celebration of the Fourth King of Bhutan.

Indeed, King’s speech was inspiring, I read it online. I could see very huge crowds, I saw the picture. Every moment seems to be updated every single minute on that particular day, 17^th December 2014. Here, I am sitting and watching the wonderful occasion through my computer window.

Celebration in the fairy tale like Kingdom is something that everyone wishes to set for, and if you are a citizen of that Kingdom then the urges are extremely high like mine.

Silly but a lesson

Desperate friends

Unexpected things are always a surprise! People are good and bad at times. I and my friends were on a ride around the streets of Thimphu at night right after head banging some music numbers. It was a pleasant night with light drizzle. But only to encounter with tire puncture and with no tool-kits in our car to fix the tire issue. We knew no one from the vicinity. Called a friend but to no avail. Finally, stopped several vehicles including taxis just to borrow some toolkit to fix the unexpected but in vain.

Several taxis seemed to be deprived of the tool-kits, requested them but we were told that they got none. After all, money counts for them and especially Fridays and Saturdays are what they expect to earn more than the normal routine of other weekdays and in addition providing helping hands was not their priority. Fortunately, a taxi driver, who is a friend of my friend provided us with some tools but it did not really seem to fix the problem, since the ranges turned out to be larger for our wheel fixation. Yet, we stopped several vehicles and they seemed not to care for the troubled strangers.

Punctured wheel

This reminded me of how the tourists always praised Bhutanese for their kind gestures and hospitality. Our hopes started to decline for just to obtain some good helping hands. Waited for hours waving our hands to the vehicles passing by, only to receive blank and dumb glances. I cannot really explain the expressions of the friends, don’t even know what kind of expression did I expressed.

Police patrolling was on full swing. Fortunately, we managed to stop one of the cop's van after waiting for more than an hour and got the problem fixed finally. That’s when I noticed that my friend’s smiles were just as fascinating as one could expect.  Realized that cops are always there for the citizens even if it’s for minor issues at any time.

This was my first experience, but to many it seemed, it’s just a normal process of their life. I am almost on the conclusion that we hardly receive any help from our own fellow citizens. Thimphu is traveling with time at fast pace and the time is precious too, whether people carry out important or useless tasks. 

Hawkers and the Buddha Point - Pictorial Tour

Buddha Dordenma statue, popularly the location is known as Buddha Point located at south of Thimphu.

We can of course offer butter lamps, I did one.

An established roadside hawker at Buddha Point with whirling lights. They require no license for the business. You can hop in on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Hawkers ain't established during day time.

Well, we get drinks, snacks and light cuisines with camp fire set up.

You can hear or can play music! And yeah, party beings start dancing till morning. 

Onosma Plant

Onosma hookeri, Thimphu (November)

Jomolhari - One of the highest Bhutanese mt. peak

Bridge on the way towards Jomolhari

A phallus curved out of rock

Jomolhari Peak

Aconitum plant growing abundantly nearby the peak

Yaks grazing at the Jomolhari base

This is Jomolhari Peak more than 7000 meters above sea level

Thai Buddha

 Location: Coronation Park, Thimphu, Bhutan

Snowfall in Thimphu (11/01/14)

At the Jhomolhari Base

Jhomolhari Peak, Aug, 2013

Ruins of Soe Dzong

Utse of Soe Dzong

Jichudraky Peak

Simply Bhutan ~ A Living Museum

'Simply Bhutan' is a living museum created in order to showcase the live Bhutanese traditions and cultures. It is located at the Youth Development Fund complex in Thimphu. It can really show you the unseen! It is the first of its kind in Bhutan. It aims at the preservation of Bhutanese culture and traditions and to create awareness among the Bhutanese youth and the tourists. Here are some of the photographs from 'Simply Bhutan', not so good pictures though.

Entrance

Some antique pieces on display

Buddha statue

Liked the innovative idea of Bamboo usage

Group of dancers, Ever ready to show some traditional moves

Picturesque surrounding

Yeah flowers are in full bloom!

Azalea

Azalea

Thorn-less rose

Rose

Magnolia

Rose

Azalea

The above still photos are photographed at Royal Botanical Garden, Serbithang, Thimphu on April 27, 2013

Snow fall is never expected in Spring

Snow is never expected to fall in Thimphu in spring and neither it will fall.
But Thimphu city is freaking cold nowadays as if snow will fall for the third time.
But none will expect it, because it is known that it's showering everyday and snow never fell in spring.
I am feeling like its a very long winter and I am reminded of the snow fall.
So, here's some pictures of snow fall in far south Thimphu taken in February, 2013.

Far South Thimphu. Hope you spot the Buddha Statue.

Cypress tree. A view from the Royal Botanical Garden, Serbithang, Thimphu.