Wednesday 11 November 2015

A busy, busy day

Today started with a 4km walk up to the Tigers Nest monastery. The Taktsang monetary is situated on the face of a 1000 ft cliff and is only accessible by foot. Having been built 1700's it unfortunately burnt down in 1998. They use butter milk candles which the rats like to eat. The cats like to eat the rats and between them all they knocked one over and burnt a World Heritage site to the ground. It has been subsequently been rebuilt through contributions both financial and physical from all over the world.

Its a fantastic walk up to the monastery. Slow and steady, Paddy, George, Hugo and I marched to the top in about 2 hours followed by a number of our ralliers. Full marks must go to Joyce and Gerry for making it right to the monastery. I think that about a dozen got half way to the cafe, and about a dozen to the top.

We got back to the hotel at around 2pm and immediately set off to explore Paro. This morning the whole of Paro was celebrating the old kings birthday and there were celebrations all morning. We sadly missed these but managed some shopping and a snack of cheese momo which were delicious as always. There are only two streets in Paro so site seeing doesn't take very long.

This afternoon we tried our hand at the national sport of archery. Paddy, being a Queens Archer, and I, having attended Millfield summer school archery course in 1973, both felt confident that we would hit the target. Sadly it was not to be but neither did any of the locals. I have been questioning whether being able to hit the target is a prerequisite for being a Queens Archer but an answer is not forthcoming! Paddy was infact the best archer there but I wouldn't want him to know that.

We also had a go with the giant darts which we watched being thrown on our first day in Bhutan and were no more successful.

Tomorrow we head off into the Haa valley where I think communications will be more difficult so as Miranda says, "bear with". It should be a great drive.

RHC

Sent from my slyPad

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the colour and smiles as always, Chaps!

    Full points for making it to the Tiger's Nest, but glad I wasn't anywhere near the arrows or darts... ;0)

    "Bearing with" (reluctantly) until your next blog.

    Have fun!

    Sandy

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