The Details. Colours. Punakha Valley Temple, Bhutan.

Monastery (Dzong) in the Punakha Valley, Bhutan

Punakha Valley walk through the rice fields.

Vegetable Market.

Gangte Goemba Monastery. Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan

Great walk through the Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan.

Ceremonial Prayer Flags.

When a person dies, 108 prayer flags are put up high on the hillsides. Above are two ceremonial sites. 108 is a sacred number to the buddhists and the flags get replaced throughout the year.

The Dochu La Pass between Thimphu and Punaka Valleys, Bhutan. 11,300 feet

Monastery, Thimpu. Bhutan.

This monastery in Thimpu was known for being the place where all families with newborn babies come to have their children blessed by the monks. It was such a spiritual place and we watched parents with their few week old babies coming in, giving their offerings of food, and then being blessed by the head monk. Incense in the air, candles alight, chanting, praying...truly moving. It was a hard place to leave.

Ceremonial Prayer Flags

The white flags here are ceremonial prayer flags in memory of a deceased person. You see these all over the country side on the hills...108 flags are placed in the ground and replaced over the year. The number 108 is a sacred number to the Buddhists.

Buddha Dordenma, Thimphu Valley, Bhutan

 Driving up to this statue was overwhelming...seeing him from the distance through the forest...150 feet tall...you can see our guide, Dorji, standing at the stairs. This gives you a sense of the scale.

Heading into the Thimpu Valley

Painted wall of a traditional home.

The King and Queen of Bhutan.

When the King took the throne his words to the people were:

Throughout my reign I will never rule you as a King. I will protect you as a parent, care for you as a Brother and serve you as a son. I shall give you everything and keep nothing. I shall live such a life as a good human being that you may find it worthy to serve as an example for your children.