Last days in Bhutan

I’ve spent today packing and cleaning the apartment.  Early tomorrow morning I go to the Paro airport to begin my travels to Chiang Mai, Thailand where I will have a week-long vacation before heading home to Portland.  A couple of friends I know from Mexico have been living and loving it there for several years, and I look forward to spending time with them and checking out possible places to rent for Terry’s and my escape from the cold PNW winter this December.  (You won’t be seeing this blog entry for several more days because I’m without internet until I get to CM.)

The past few days have been filled with many bittersweet goodbyes.  I have more friends and know more people here in Thimphu than I do back in Portland!  My last week had many memorable moments.  Thursday was another Auspicious Day and I was invited to attend a ceremony for the enthronement of the child proclaimed to be the reincarnation of an internationally renowned lama.  Here’s a few photos from the day:

Offerings from the people that later are shared with all

Big audience in attendance for the morning ceremonies

Young monk monkeying around

Joy and friend Rinzin having their own fun

Traditional lute player

Musicians performing in the afternoon

Friday was my last day at the hospital.  The staff brought lunch and I brought a decadent chocolate cake. They gifted me with a beautiful woven bag made of yak wool. I will miss the staff (and even some of the patients!) very much.  They were all so warm, welcoming, and helpful.  I hope my time with them was as helpful as it was meaningful for me. 

Farewell lunch

I enjoyed a home-cooked meal that evening with my neighbors who own this apartment building, and then joined them the next day for their daughter’s first birthday party with all their family at Centennary Park. The picnic was later followed by a night on the town with my co-workers from JDWNRH.

The next morning I met a very dear friend for breakfast.  She and I bonded so much in my time here that I call her my Bhutanese daughter.  Yeshey came back from school in Punakha just to wish me well before I head home. 

My neighbors and owners of my apartment building: Jigme, Kuenden, Rinchen with baby Kitso, and Ugyen.        

Grandma Ugyen and "baby in a box"

Family picnic for Kitso's 1st birthday

Yeshey and Joy in handicraft shop

Kitso and her mom, Rinchen

And so, with less than 24 hours left in Bhutan, I thought I’d post a few photos of this ‘n that that haven’t yet made it into the blog.  Next stop: Chiang Mai!

The Bhutanese love chewing this nasty stuff called doma.  It's composed of betel nut wrapped in some kind of leaf with a dab of lime paste (the mineral lime, not the fruit).  It smells nasty and turns the chewer's mouth and teeth red.

The excess lime paste can be seen smeared on walls everywhere.

Doma chewers frequently spit the red liquid it generates.  

Many of the big trucks are from India and are painted in happy designs like this.

These cows were strolling down the main road through Thimphu.

Artists working on a mural at the National Painting School

   

One of Bhutan's great mysteries I have yet to solve:
Amidst all the sacred murals and relics, why is Spiderman painted on the hills above Thimphu?

 

Last night in Thimphu dinner with friends from work: Darren, Ugyen, Joy, and Sangay