Busy weekend

Drove to Paro Saturday with my driver and guide, Tshering.  First stop was Ta Dzong, which is now 

The original watchtower, now undergoing renovations

the National Museum. Part of it is an old watchtower, originally built in 1656, that was renovated in 1968 to house the museum. The unusual round building is in the shape of a conch shell, with 2.5m-thick walls. The watchtower was closed about five years ago due to earthquake damage and is expected to re-open in 2015.  Meantime, the exhibits have all been moved to an adjacent building that used to be the portrait gallery. Displays include a collection of thangkhas elaborate painted textiles), festival masks, natural history, artwork, and a special exhibit of teakettles. 

View of Paro Valley from National Museum

Went from there to Rinpung Dzong (generally referred to as the Paro Dzong). The fortress/monastery was built in the 1600s and houses the district Monastic Body and government administrative offices.

Entry to Paro Dzong

Royal Court of Justice

Artwork inside the Dzong

Next stop was Kyichu Lhakhang, built in the 7th century, it is one of Bhutan's oldest and most beautiful temples. Below is a closeup of a prayer wheel with "mini stupas," each made of ashes from the cremation of a loved one and placed there for blessings by family members. The middle photo is Kyichu, and the one below is people planting rice in a field on the way to the Lhakchang.  Our final stop before heading back to Thimphu was to view the famed Tiger's Nest Monastery. Climbing to visit there will be an entire day in itself.

Sunday was for sights closer to home. Tshering and I hiked up to Chagri Monastery, usually referred to as Cheri Monastery, about ten miles outside Thimphu. Built in 1620, it is now a major teaching and retreat center where some monks spend three years, three months, and three days in silent meditation. The hour-long hike took me only 1 ½ hours to reach the 9400’ altitude monastery. The views are unbelievable, and I was fortunate to hear a monk playing drums, bells, and chanting while inside the temple. Mountain goats grazed on the hills below the temple.The walk down was much easier on the lungs than the hike up but way tougher on the knees. We returned to town and visited Changangkha Lhakang. Built in the 12^th century, this is the temple where local parents bring their newborns to get auspicious names and be blessed by the resident lamas. (Sorry about the lack of captions,but the program goes bonkers when I try to add them.)

Finished the day with lunch (I’ve been carefully sampling for the best momos in town) and shopping at the weekend produce market.  I was very grateful to Tshering for carrying the produce, five dozen eggs (I bought these to bring to the rehab center), and two cases of bottled water up to my third floor apartment!