 Our vehicle for the week in Bhutan |
 Roadside marker - 19TF DANTAK RCC |
 Roads Information - distances from Thimphu |
 Leaving Thimphu for Punakha via the National Highway past Simtokha Dzong |
 Simtokha Dzong - 1629, now a language institute |
 Simtokha Dzong outside Thimphu |
 Simtokha Dzong outside Thimphu |
 Simtokha Dzong |
 Traditional house along the National Highway - Kencho Bar Shop Hongsu |
 Bhutanese folk tradition for fertility |
 Dennis with a giant penis - Hongtsho, Bhutan |
 Phallus painting are common in rural Bhutan since the 15th Century |
 Pine trees along the National Highway of Bhutan |
 National Highway of Bhutan |
 Logging is severely restricted in Bhutan |
 Roadside fruit vendor |
 Climbing Dochu-la Pass |
 Roadside shrine on the way to Dochu-la Pass, Bhutan |
 Dochula Pass (3140m), about 30km from Thimphu |
 First view of the snow-capped Himalaya forming the Bhutan-Tibet (China) border |
 On top of Dochu-La Pass with the first real snow of his life |
 The highest mountain in Bhutan, Gangkhar Puensum 7570m |
 Masang Gang (7165m) on the Bhutan-Tibet (China) border |
 Jichu Drake, on the western border of Bhutan (6809m), seen from Dochu-La Pass |
 Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple on top of Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan |
 Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Donchu La Pass |
 Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan |
 Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan |
 Dochu-La Pass, Bhutan |
 The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
 The 108 Chortens were built in 2005 as a memorial to the violence forcing Assemese guerrillas out of Bhutan |
 The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
 The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
 Buddhist prayer flags, common to all the Himalayan countries |
 The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
 The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
 The 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
 Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass |
 Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass |
 Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass |
 Panoramic view of the 108 Chortens, Dochu-la Pass |
 Bhutan - Dochu-La Pass |
 The Sanskrit mantra - Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ |
 Slate relief of Buddha on one of the 108 Chortens |
 Slate relief of Buddha on one of the 108 Chortens |
 Among the 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
 Among the 108 Chortens, Dochu-La Pass |
 Bhutan2009 1580.jpg |
 Dennis on top of Donchu-La Pass, Bhutan |
 Dennis on top of Donchu-La Pass, Bhutan |
 On Top of the World! |
 The rare photo of me, Bhutan |
 The noble dandelion, Bhutan |
 Donchu-La Pass |
 108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass |
 108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass |
 Dennis at Donchu-La Pass |
 108 Chortens (Stupas) Donchu-La Pass |
 108 Chortens, Donchu-La Pass |
 Donchu-La Pass |
 Coffee Shop, Donchu-La Pass |
 Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, built in 2005 |
 Green banner |
 Donchu-La Pass |
 Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Tiny pavilion, Donchu-La Pass |
 Temple detail |
 Temple detail |
 Painted and carved wooden pillars |
 Painted and carved wooden pillars |
 Snow Lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Dragon, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Tiger, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Snow Lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Carved dragon, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Donchu la Pass |
 Mural painting of the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass |
 Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass |
 This new temple, built in 2005, has modernized the traditional temple themes for its murals |
 Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass |
 Murals of the new Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple at Donchu La Pass |
 I wonder if real models were used by the artist |
 Wood carving, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers |
 Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers |
 Mural of Tsechu Festival dancers |
 Temple paintings in the traditional format, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Carved lion, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 Wood carving, Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple |
 The 108 Chortens from Zangto Pelri Lhakhang Temple, Dochu La Pass |
 Smoky offerings, Dochu La Pass |
 The guide, Tandin Dorji, with the driver Jimi (left) |
 Dennis with our Bhutanese hosts |
 Tandin and Dennis |
 Driving down the north side of Dochu La Pass |
 Bhutan is small, but it's still 525 windy km to Trashigang in the east of the country |
 Roadside Bhutan |
 Descending through the mountainside forest, Trashigang-Semtokha Highway |
 Waterfall on the north side of Dorchu La Pass |
 A small stupa along the National Highway |
 Tiny Roadside house |
 Descending into the agricultural area with its rice terraces |
 Rice Terraces along the National Highway |
 Rural Bhutan |
 Tiny hillside farmhouse with green rice terraces, Bhutan |
 Bhutanese farmhouse |
 Rice terraces and farmhouse, Bhutan |
 Rice Terraces, Bhutan |
 Rice terraces and farmhouse, Bhutan |
 Man weaving a basket, Bhutan |
 Large farmhouse near Lumisawa, Bhutan |
 Rural scenery between Dochu La Pass and Lumisawa |
 Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan |
 Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan |
 Pema Hotel & Bar, Lumisawa, Bhutan |
 Bhutanese phallic house art - Lumisawa |
 Wooden penises on a house in Lumisawa, Bhutan |
 Lumisawa, Bhutan |
 Road work along the National Highway - it wouldn't take much of a landslide to cut off half the country |
 Roadside erosion along the National Highway |
 Fruit at a roadside stand, Bhutan |
 Strange vegetables, Bhutan |
 Gyeltshen General Shop, Thinley Gang |
 Thinley Gang |
 A small monastery near Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
 A small monastery near Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
 Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
 Basic Health Unit, Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
 View of terraced fields from the Trashigang-Semtokha Highway, Bhutab |
 Panoramic view - Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
 Thrinleygang, Bhutan - 500 km to Trashigang |
 Thinlaygang, Bhutan |
 A monastery high on a hill on the opposite side of the valley |
 A famous fresh-water spring along the road to Punakha |
 Natural mountain spring water, Bhutan |
 A truck driver collecting spring water |
 Rice terraces, Bhutan |
 A pair of hilltop stupas |
 The fields around Chimi Langhkhang |
 Small villages near Chimi Langkhang |
 Chimi Langhkhang |
 Large farmhouses near Chimi Langkhang |
 Descending into the valley at Chimi Langkhang |
 Descending into the valley at Chimi Langkhang |
 Village at the intersection of the Thimphu-Punakha Highway and the road to Wangdue |
 Koffee House Bar & Snooker, Lobeysa, Bhutan - starting point for the short trek to the temple at Chimi Langkhang |
 Chiles drying on a rooftop |
 Chiles drying on a rooftop |
 Chiles drying on a rooftop |
 Metsina, Bhutan |
 Lobesa, Bhutan |
 After the visit to Punakha, a drive downstream along the Puna Tsang Chu River before returning to Thimphu |
 A new village being constructed on the opposite bank of the river |
 The houses will surely look traditional when complete, but have concrete pillars and floors |
 Residential construction, Wangdue Phodrang |
 Puna Tsang Chu River, Wangdue Phodrang |
 Simple wooden house along the river by Wangdue Phodrang |
 Wangdue Phodrang Dzong overlooking the Puna Tsang Chu River |
 Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, founded 1638 |
 Wangdue Phodrang Dzong |
 Wangdue Phodrang Dzong |
 Wangdue Phodrang Dzong |
 Sign for Dragon Nest Resort, Wangdue Phodrang |
 Pumps taking water from the Puna Tsang Chu River, Wangdue Phodrang |
 Bhutanese half-timbered architecture |
 Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, Lobesa Regional Office |
 FCB - Food Corporation of Bhutan, Lobesa |
 Bhutan Post Letter Box |