Above the clouds at 4,500m
Breakfast above the clouds at 4,500m
After a quick washing up with hot water provided by the crew, we were on our way
Today is downhill day. I had recovered completely from yesterday's ordeal, but downhill is not my forte so it was still a slow day for me.
So slow that he had time to muck around. This climbing shrub is known as the "old man's beard" and found hanging around the trees and bushes all along the trail.
You know you are near when you see prayer flags converging like this
They come in five colours - red, green, yellow, white and blue - representing the five elements - air, fire, water, earth and space - and on which are inscribed Buddhist mantras and sutras. It is believed that blessings will be dispersed to all beings when the flags flutter in the wind
We made it! First view of the Tiger's Nest Monastery, built on a edge of a cliff, 3000 metres above sea level
OK, so I omitted the details of how we climbed down and around several mountains, emerging into grand, humbling vistas, passing several secluded basic meditation huts and etc. As we drew closer, we could catch the faint hum of prayers while the smell of incense wafts close to our noses. After a 3-4 hour hike, our trail converged with the regular path that day visitors use, and the only way to reach the Tiger's Nest Monastery. Well, that, and by flying on the back of a flying tigress.
The Tiger's Nest Monastery was built in the 17th century, although there has always been a sacred meditation spot. Legend says that the consort of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) transformed herself to a flying tigress (hence the name) and flew him to this spot, where they meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, and three days in the 8th century. Other Buddhist teachers and monks have followed suit since then.
Today it is an active monastery with some tens of monks running the place. We visited it before they closed for lunch. It is a labyrinth of small temples, rooms and altars inside, with prayers going on in different parts of the complex, which is lively with visitors, albeit in a pleasantly manageable number, unlike some hot spots in other countries.
I am still amazed how they tied these prayer flags across two mountains
The Tiger's Nest Monastery is a popular place of worship. We passed many local families on our way up (or down, in our case), including little ones and the elderly, all very sure-footed and not at all panting like a tired dog like us.
These two young girls were chatting in English about friends they met at a recent tennis game. Yeah, the incongruity of it all made my head twist a little at that time.
By the way, the normal way to approach the monastery from the car park takes about 3 hours on foot for my guide.
This elderly lady was hiking up in slippers. We slowed to allow her to pass, but she gestured for us to continue. And then behind her we saw three other friends of hers, equally elderly and yes, also in slippers. It's a girls' day out, OK?
Another view of the monastery set in the middle of the Himalayas
Et voila, that was the story of our little trek. Bhutan boasts of many, many, many treks in and around the spine of the Himalayas, most lasting more than 3 days, including what is considered the world's toughest hike, the Snowman Trek that takes 24 days and where few have ever completed it.
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