The Travel Connection

If I had to choose my favorite structure, It would be the bridges without any hesitation. Bhutan renewed my fascination for bridges with their traditional cantilever bridge called the Bazam. Tintin's knowledge about architecture was limited. My questions on the location of  the toilets, kitchens inside the Dzong  or how the water supply/ drainage worked  and other queries must have driven him mad or made him think that the mountain air had made me go bonkers. So my hopes of understanding the bridge through Tintin was futile. Punakha Dzong is undoubtedly one of the most elegant structures in Bhutan.  To get to the main building , one has to cross Mo chhu through one of the most beautiful bridges I have come across so far. Most buildings in Bhutan are a replica of their ancient self. Due to natural calamities or fire, almost all the prominent sites in Bhutan have been rebuilt in the recent years. The Punakha bridge is no different. You can read more about i...

If ever Alfred Hitchcock made " The birds" in Bhutan, he would have to use Oriental Turtle Doves. Not that there is anything scary about them, but the peace mascots are out there at every nook and corner. Giving them company are the sparrows and pigeons.We never spotted the handsome cousin of the crow, the raven which is  the national bird. But Bhutan is indeed a birder's paradise. Oriental Turtle Dove Sparrows at Dochula Pass Like the golden fish which is one of the eight auspicious symbols, we decided to fearlessly migrate from Thimphu without danger of drowning in the ocean of suffering . Just as a fish that swims freely and spontaneously through the water, we embarked  onto Punakha. To make it even more memorable and spiritual ,Sangay our driver promised us a well deserved massage. This is what i call life. Yes, We got what we deserved! We were whacked,thumped,knocked,smashed,jolted,smacked,rapped,walloped in the Toyota Hiace or was is it o...

KING'S GUARD   Ceremonial Soldier at Tashichho Dzong , Thimphu AT YOUR FEET, LORD Humbly yours at Tashichho Dzong , Thimphu SPIRIT OF ENQUIRY The curious Bhutanese Gentleman at Memorial Chorten, Thimphu   CIRCLE OF LIFE Protected by 108 stupas at Dochula Pass THUNDERING DRAGON Tame the evil at Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong SCREEN THY MYTH   Protect thee at the Palace of great happiness, Punakha   PROSPECT   Three dimensional at the Fortress, Punakha       FORTRESS OF BLISS   Overlooking Punakha Dzong   ECHO THE GREEN Valleys of Punakha and Wangduephodrang       WAIT   Line at Paro Dzong     FOGGY DISPOSITION, NO PROBLEM   Pass the Dochula Pass NO NONSENSE   Respect ! Sangchhen Dorji Lhuendrup nunnery VEIL Haze over Taktsang Monastery and an invisible cloak on o...