Although this is a more statistical, factual account of my 18 days in Bhutan, I think it will give you a sense for the country and the trip through it. Over my time in Bhutan I:
- Stayed in 10 hotels
- toured 20 temples
- toured 10 dzongs (in my opinion, you’ve seen one dzong, you’ve seen them all)
- drove 1600 kilmeters (960 miles). ( in a country that is only 150km tall and 300 km long)
- hiked 101 kilometers (63 miles- uphill, downhill and sideways)
- ate more rice than I’ve eaten in my previous 55 years
- ate more chili peppers than I’ve eaten in my previous 55 years
- saw 10,000 cows *
- saw 50,000 dogs *
- saw 100 yaks *
- was at a low altitude of 200 meters
- was a a high altitude of 4000 meters (12,000 ft)
- hung a prayer flag
- was blessed by a penis (this could be misinterpreted unless you read the previous post on hiking in Bhutan)
- took my first hot stone bath (you don’t want to do this in Bhutan if you are modest)
- had 1 terrible pizza
- did not see one sunrise or sunset (mountains are in the way)
- saw the moon and stars only 2 times since the mountains play with the clouds at night
- had my first case of altitude sickness
- read and learned a lot about Buddhism
- escaped death on some of the craziest mountain roads I have ever seen
- had dinner and ara with a former minister of the country (who I later learned was indicted for corruption and forced out of office). Actually a very nice guy and the experience made me question the judge in me.
- saw more breathtaking views than you can shake a stick at (never understood this phrase or for that matter why people say “uncle” when they give up or concede)
* estimates
Bhutan is one beautiful country!
I strongly ported to the lack of pictures in your blogs. You spent 18 days in a beautiful country and all we get are 4 pictures? And inner of them is a bucket of kerosene chips and another is a bad beer?.
welcome home…take it slow 🙂
50,000 dogs?!
That sounds like paradise!