The women and men wear their families best attire and jewelery, handed down from generation to generation. In daily life, they generally wear traditonal attire and western clothing is rarely seen.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Paro Festival, Bhutan
After a few days, the festival moves outside where the hillside is covered in the most beautiful array of colour...with the backdrop of the Paro Valley and the Dzong. The eldest Queen was present amongst the people celebrating this incredible event.
Paro Festival, Bhutan (located in the interior of the Dzong)
The Paro Festival happens once a year in the Dzong and attended by all. This is a major National holiday week so that everyone can participate. The mask dances are held all day throughout the week to convey religious messages to the people. The festival is a sea of colour between the dancers, the monks in their deep red robes, the people who dress in their finest traditional attire and the buildings all hand painted in the vibrant colours.
Paro Dzong (Fortress), Paro, Bhutan
The Paro Dzong was built in 1644 and was used on many occasions to defend the Paro Valley from invasions. The Dzongs houses the monastic body and district government offices. Scenes from Bertolucci's 1995 film, Little Buddha, were filmed here.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Offering at the Wat Mai temple.
I spent a lot of time at this temple. A place I plan to return to again.
It is so easy to find that quiet place in oneself surrounded by all the images of buddha , the monks silently walking barefooted, the silence, the offerings, the candles, the respect for nature and all that is around us. Gratitude.
Waterfalls...
These waterfalls are about 30 minutes from Luang Prabang...the limestone radiates this blue light which glows all throughout each pool...
Banana Flower.
This flower is commonly added in soups and salads...beautiful colour. It blossoms after the fruit has grown on the tree.
Paper Making Village.
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| Crushing the bark of the tree. |
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| Soaking the pulp in the water and straining it. |
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| Adding flower petals for decoration in the paper. |
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| Drying it out in the sun. |
The Caves...
Here you climb about 200 or so steps up to the caves --one of which is 50 meters deep...the golden buddhas are hidden all all throughout the crevices of the caves...very beautiful.
Down the Mekong River.
The riverboats are long and shallow in the water allowing for the dryer seasons when the the Mekong is very low...water buffalo are along the shoreline grazing...we are headed to the famous caves where thousands of buddhas were hidden during the war times...
6AM Offerings for the Monks
At 4am in the morning, the monks will meditate for a few hours before leaving their temples to receive offerings from the local people. They walk single file down the streets and the locals will set up outside their houses to hand each one an offering...mainly sticky rice and other bits of food. They walk for about an hour before returning to their temples. The sun is rising at this time of day.
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