Bhutan had been on our wish list for a long time and since Untamed Traveling has never disappointed us with our Africa travels, we decided to embark on our adventure in Bhutan with them as well. After a leisurely SwissAir flight Brussels-Singapore and an overnight stay in the city-state, early in the morning we were waiting with great curiosity for our flight to Paro. We were lucky to have a seat on the right side of the plane and, after a layover in Calcutta, we were able to enjoy the morning sun over the high Himalayan peaks. The landing in Paro, navigating between the surrounding mountains and under a clear blue sky, went as planned.
Our private guide was waiting for us; our visit to Bhutan could begin.
THIMPU AND SURROUNDINGS
A car trip, with a few stops, brought us to Thimpu . The security of the city and its small-scale character made us immediately feel at home. The following days we were immersed in a bath of history, culture, architecture and - last but not least - the influence of Buddhism and the royal family in the daily life of the Bhutanese.
The tour around the National Memorial Chorten sliding along with hundreds of Bhutanese to the repeating tones of the mantras made us feel like we really belonged. The visit to a nunnery, the beautifully situated golden Buddha statue and a visit to the art and craft training school took us further into the world where respect and karma are a common thread in all daily activities.
The tour around the National Memorial Chorten sliding along with hundreds of Bhutanese to the repeating tones of the mantras made us feel like we really belonged. The visit to a nunnery, the beautifully situated golden Buddha statue and a visit to the art and craft training school took us further into the world where respect and karma are a common thread in all daily activities.
Through the majestic Dochula mountain pass we settled in the valley of Punakha . After the discovery of the city and its surroundings, the Chimi Lhakhang Temple on the program. The temple and its history gave us an insight into the origin of the ever-repeating phallus symbol on the facades of many houses.
THREE-DAY TRIP THROUGH UNTAKEN NATURE
The Samtengang trek , a three-day trekking in untouched nature, in harmony with many Buddhist relics, gave us the feeling at the end 'we will come here again'. The wide area with varied landscapes confirmed to us that Bhutan is a super destination in terms of multi-day hiking and trekking tours. The entire organization of the trekking, camping and meals and snacks, under the watchful eye of our guide, were more than excellently arranged!
PARO AND TAKTSANG
paro and surroundings became the last stop on our journey. However, not without a visit to the well-known dzong and historical museum, but also with, as a conclusion, a tough walk to Tiger's Nest. Despite its fame a 'must' and one of the highlights of our trip.
AGAIN WE HAVE A FANTASTIC TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
The end of our Bhutanese adventure. As is often the case, much faster than we could imagine. We were lucky enough to have a fantastic guide. We will continue to cherish the stories he told during the various visits, the fascinating information we received from him about the way in which the Bhutanese develops his life and we will always carry it in our hearts. Once again we have a fantastic travel experience richer!
AS VALVE SINGAPORE; A MUST IF YOU ARE NEARBY
The short stopover in Singapore on the return trip the intention was to give us a taste of this metropolis. Not easy as two days forced us to be selective. The maximum presence of 'green' in the city combined with the ubiquitous cleanliness, architecture and of course the exuberant culinary life in Singapore gave us a feeling that it was over before it even started. In short, a 'must' if you are in the area and can spare a few days.
Thank you for your service and see you next time!
Regards,
Geert Vercauteren