Our last day in Bhutan was just marvellous…
I had a list of Paro stuff to cover that wasn’t on our tour and Kinlay was only too happy to accommodate us so we set off that morning after a final brekkie and some final goodbyes to some of the group who were catching earlier flights. There were just 3 things on the list for what we called the “O’Doherty memorial last day tour”.. a temple surprise surprise, another temple (7th century and privately owned) and some yak scarf shopping!
The first temple, Dumtse Lhakhang was built in 1433 and had 3 floors representing heaven, earth and hell. A caretaker came and opened it up for us and other than his prayers we had the place to ourselves. We had to climb some precarious wooden stairs (essentially ladders) with flashlights but it was worth it as they had the most amazing murals on the walls.
A final swing of some prayer wheels outside and we were done.
Next was the privately owned Puna Lhakhang which Kinlay didn’t know of. After a quick discussion with some locals at the temple they pointed us across the road to a house on some land. As we approached, a young boy waved us in and directed us around the house past some ladies brushing their teeth and washing clothes outside at a water tap! A lady appeared and Kinlay asked her if we could see inside the temple. She opened it up and had no problem allowing us in, shoes off of course!
It was a great find.. a full on temple with statues and everything we’d come to expect and it was literally in this family’s back garden. The lady explained (and Kinlay translated) that they have festivals here and the locals come to pray and give offerings. She opened up a large cabinet that went the length of one of the walls and it was packed with ancient scripts (108). There was one that we got to see up close and touch.. it was somewhat damaged, written in Bhutanese and honestly it looked like something that should be housed in a museum and turned over with a tweezers! It was amazing to be allowed in to see the place and we were all thrilled to have gone off the beaten track to find it. We thanked the lady with a small offering and were on our way.
A final stop in “downtown” Paro to buy some yak scarves (Christmas pressies!) and my Chenresig compassion Buddha and we were more or less done. We had a delicious final lunch at The Travellers Rest restaurant and a beer to bid adios. Back on the bus we presented Tenzin our bestest driver with a solar powered prayer wheel for the dash of the bus:
What an amazing trip – I loved everything about Bhutan (well maybe not all the toilets!!) and will remember this trip for a very long time.
Next country Cambodia.. well with a short stop off…….. oh and I met the Bhutan youth cricket team in the airport!!
odohertyelaine 