GANGTEY
The drive from Timphu to Gangtey is brutal. The roads are sometimes dirt and sometime
paved. These roads are made by
hand and cut out of steep mountainsides by laborers from India. If you can tear your eyes away from the bad roads, there is some pretty scenery and waterfalls.
We were able to break up our drive with another hike to a mountainside temple.
Typical hillside with plantings of rice |
Steep Slopes |
Kids at school in traditional uniforms |
Washed out roads, waterfalls along the roads |
We were able to break up our drive with another hike to a mountainside temple.
We hiked through farms that grow potatoes |
We passed school girls along the way |
We were always rewarded with a temple at the end of our hikes |
Stupa next to the temple |
At the entrance Tashi with the Lama. There is always a caretaker and usually a few monks at each temple. The monks will usually stay at each monastery a couple of years |
Prayer flags like this in all white indicate a death they are honoring |
An old stupa on the trail with a prayer wheel |
The temple |
This is a prayer wheel stupa that turns with hydro power. The water wheel runs through it to turn the wheel and send continuous prayers |
This is a new farm house that was just built. Notice the picture of the penis. They believe that if you have a penis hung over your door, it will bring much luck |
The first pass we cross is Dochlu pass at 10,500. It is the site of 108 stupas donated by
the Queen Mother of Bhutan. Our
guide told us they represent the 108 bones or joints in the body but we are not
clear on this.
Pass with 108 Stupas |
Barb with the Himalayas in the far distance |
Monks enjoying lunch |
Scott on the top of the first pass at 10,500 feet |
The next pass we cross is 11,200 feet. Driving on these roads is scary but we
have confidence in our driver named Namgay. Along the way we see many landslides that have taken out
part of the road. One landslide
crushed a dump truck. The driver
survived but the dump truck is a mess and is on the side of the road as a grim
reminder of the dangers of driving on these roads.
Gangtey is a small agricultural area nestled in a beautiful
valley and is famous for the migration of the black neck cranes that occurs
from November to January. The
crane have their babies in Tibet and then fly to Gangtey to roost. The Bhutanese believe these cranes to be sacred and will not allow hiking around the area or roosting when the cranes are there. We spent 2 nights in Gangtey.
The beautiful valley of Gangtey |
In the morning we go to the festival at the Gangtey
Monastery. It is a small festival
and you can mingle with the festival characters. People watching is almost as colorful as the festival.
This festival is smaller than the one in Thimphu. People mostly sit on the ground in the monastery courtyard |
Horns played by monks, along with drums for the dances |
Dancers each perform individually for the high monk at the end |
The Gangtey monastery. It is up on the hill and this is where the festival takes place |
Crowds and families gather to watch with their lunches |
Most of the dances are performed by monks |
Looking through the entrance at the monastery |
Gangtey is a farming community. Most only own a tractor. For the festival they use their tractors to carry their families to the festival |
Enjoying the festival |
The dancers have to be pretty athletic |
Cute girl |
Watching from the balcony |
Scott watching the festival |
These girls just presented an offering |
Intent faces |
There is a dance that has these performers that are what we would call clowns |
The clown performance |
Monks on the drums |
They eat a nut that is red. I think it is like a tobacco (although smoking is not allowed in all of Bhutan). It rots their teeth. |
The entrance to the monastery |
All ages enjoy the festival |
This is the high monk that is the reincarnation of Guru Rinpoche. He comes at the end of the day and people line up to get a blessing and get a string for your wrist or neck. |
Just outside the monastery is the old village of Gangtey. They were selling trinkets for the festival. |
One character comes by and waves a scarf over you and gets
donations. Everyone makes a
donation. The festival character
is carrying a big wad of cash.
Some of those who make donations ask for change. The Buddhists believe that any donation
is fine, even water. All donations
gain merit for the giver.
Giving blessing with a wave of a scarf and getting monetary donations |
After the festival we went on a beautiful hike along the
foothills and past where the cranes roost during the winter.
Scott pointing to prayer flags |
Barb and Tashi |
Riding past horses and people walking to the festival |
Riding up the hill to the monastery |
We looked a little unusual. I don't think too many people own bikes. |
There was a steep hill. I could tell we are finally acclimating because I rode it without stopping. |
That night we opted for a hot stone bath in a tub for 2 people set up on the hillside in a bamboo hut with divided wooden tub. The divider is to keep the hot rocks away from us. The water must be about 106 degrees because we can hardly get in. Soon we are enjoying our bath in nature. We ring the bell and our attendants bring drinks and put more hot rocks into the water. The rocks are taken directly from the fire and put into the water and they are glowing red.
First they give us tea. Our bath is behind those doors |
Once inside the tub, they open the doors so we are having our bath in nature |
Our herbal hot stone bath in nature |
The rooms |
Enjoying breakfast outside |
Dining area |
Sitting area |
Bedroom |
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