Bhutan 2006

The photos in this album were taken during our trip to Bhutan in April, 2006.

Bhutan is a tiny country (110 miles x 200 miles) in the Himalayas between India and China. Its people call the country "Druk Yul" - which means "The Land of the Thunder Dragon".

Bhutan has kept itself isolated from the rest of the world for centuries and its culture, religion and general way of life were not affected by "western development". Tourists have only been permitted into Bhutan since 1974 and the numbers have been, and still are, strictly controlled.

Bhutan is a strongly Buddhist country, with a population of about 800,000. It is mountainous, with long and relatively narrow valleys with fast running streams and rivers. Most towns and villages are in the valleys and, although the distances between towns may seem short, travel between them involves long climbs through mountain passes.

This trip was really something special. This tiny country, hidden in the Himalayas, is a revelation. The people are still not used to foreigners in their land, but are always friendly and helpful. Day by day, the individual experiences throughout our visit to Bhutan amounted to an amazing time which can only be recommended to anyone interested in learning more about the world they live in.

Click on any image to see the larger picture.

1. Arrival at Paro, in Bhutan	2. Paro dzong	3. Masked Dancer at the Paro Tsechu	4. Masked Dancer at the Paro Tsechu	5. Masked Dancer at the Paro Tsechu
6. Masked Dancer at the Paro Tsechu	7. Masked Dancer at the Paro Tsechu	8. The Devil is always among the Masked Dancers	9. The Thongdrol at the Paro Tsechu	10. The people surge forward to touch the Thongdrol
11. Approaching Taktshang - the Tiger's Nest monastery	12. Taktshang - The Tiger's Nest	13. Archers in Paro	14. Archery in Bhutan	15. Boy with Prayer Wheels
16. Sabine with Prayer Wheel in Paro	17. Prayer Wheels in Paro	18. Thimpu	19. Getting the right weight at the Thimphu Markets	20. Sabine and Tamdin at the Thimpu Markets
21. Boy at Thimphu Markets	22. The Four Harmonious Friends	23. The King's Memorial Chorten in Thimpu	24. Prayer wheels at the King's Memorial Chorten in Thimpu	25. Prayer Wheels at the King's Memorial Chorten
26. Prayer flags over Thimpu	27. Dochula Pass Stupas and Prayer Flags	28. Dochula Pass stupas	29. Dochula Pass Prayer Flags	30. Prayer Flags at Dochula Pass
31. Punakha Dzong	32. Punakha Dzong	33. The Four Harmonious Friends at Punakha Dzong	34. The Four Harmonious Friends in Punakha Dzong	35. Two monks in Punakha Dzong
36. A Young Monk in Punakha Dzong	37. Young Monks in Punakha Dzong	38. A Large Prayer Wheel in Wangdue Phodrang	39. General Shop in the Village of Wangdue	40. A Wangdue family acknowledging visitors
41. Another Shopfront in Wangdue Village	42. Leaving Paro and Leaving Bhutan	43. Last view of Bhutan

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