Going Back to Thimphu and soaking up the scenery

After taking in the sights of Trongsa we spent the night in Wangdue. We stayed at the Hotel Tashiling where we had eaten lunch on our way to Bumthang. We checked in, ordered dinner for 8:30 p.m. (preordering makes life easier for the customer and the cook), and went to Bajo, the new town, to find an internet cafe.

Planning for Bajo began in 2000. Wangdue had no space for growth, and it was fire prone. A request to delay the move was  turned down because Wangdue was not safe. The governor said, "in the event of a fire, there is nothing we can do to prevent the whole town from being razed to ashes." Less than 2 years later Wangdue's Dzong burned down - a major loss to the country. (See our entry "Into Central Bhutan" from 23 July,)

Bajo was non-descript, but with good sidewalks, wide streets, and no traffic lights. The shops had large glass windows, leaving them less dark and gloomy. The internet cafe looked like an urban area's community youth center - when we went it was filled with teens playing computer games.

The next morning (Tuesday) we headed for our actual destination, Punakha. Punakha Dzong is the winter home for the monks, who go to the Phobjikha Valley (black neck crane area) to escape the summer heat. The Dzong is located at the convergence of two rivers - the mother river (Mo Chhu ) and the father river (Pho Chhu).  Note, we were traveling on Tuesday, pedestrian day. Inter-city car travel is allowed. Tourists can travel in cars. As we watched people trudge along, the privilege of riding in a car was uncomfortable. (The "tourists can travel in cars did not apply in Thimphu. Rattu even tried to get a permit at the police station - not possible. We hired a taxi.)

It"s Tuesday. We're walking and your aren't?

Doing road work. Is the fuel walked along every day?

Punakha's Dzong was the site of the king's marriage in 2011; it is said to be the country's most beautiful Dzong.

Portion of Dzong fronting Mo Chhu

Relaxed & Happy

Our time in Bhutan was drawing to a close. We concentrated on soaking up the scenery and committing it to memory. As we traveled I never thought about the rivers, but as we review our pictures we can recall rivers at every stop. No wonder that hydropower is Bhutan's major export.

Somewhere behind those clouds are really big mountains!

Phokhukha is a major rice growing area (white and red rice). It gets two crops a year.

Throughout the trip we were surrounded by heavily forested mountains. One cannot help but hope that Bhutan succeeds in its efforts to preserve its green environment. Living in Malayia we are constantly saddened by seeing what has happened to Malaysia's forests - flights over East Malaysia are distressing - swathes of bare land filled with construction equipment.

Barely visible in this picture  is a temple built by the royal family.

Some time when we travel we should remember to take more pictures of flowers. They are a nice counterpose to the granduer of the mountains.