Tuesday, September 22
Our last day in Bhutan, and it was a big one. We drove very early from Thimphu to Paro, left our bags and ate breakfast at the hotel, and set off on our climb to Tiger's Nest Monastery. It is perhaps Bhutan's most famous site, and a suitable finale to our time in this beautiful country. It's a rigorous climb, rising about 1300 feet of steep trail, made more difficult by the rain that made the downward mud path quite slick in places. Our guide said we were the oldest people he had ever taken on this hike. After about seven hours we were up and down, and after a brief lunch checked into our hotel, the Zhiwa Ling Hotel, perhaps the most beautiful we have ever stayed in. It's listed by National Geographic as one of the unique lodges of the world.
Our last day in Bhutan, and it was a big one. We drove very early from Thimphu to Paro, left our bags and ate breakfast at the hotel, and set off on our climb to Tiger's Nest Monastery. It is perhaps Bhutan's most famous site, and a suitable finale to our time in this beautiful country. It's a rigorous climb, rising about 1300 feet of steep trail, made more difficult by the rain that made the downward mud path quite slick in places. Our guide said we were the oldest people he had ever taken on this hike. After about seven hours we were up and down, and after a brief lunch checked into our hotel, the Zhiwa Ling Hotel, perhaps the most beautiful we have ever stayed in. It's listed by National Geographic as one of the unique lodges of the world.
The standard view of Tiger's Nest, seen from a rest stop below,
dramatically situated on a sheer cliff and shrouded in fog.
A less standard view, at level, but still requiring 424 steps down and
424 steps up before we could reach it.
Our group - driver Suba, Vic, Elsa, Edie, and guide Yeshey - with Tiger's Nest in the background.
The Zhiwa Ling hotel is adorned throughout with ornate, colorful carving.
This is just a small sample of carved ceiling beams above a column.
The hotel has its own temple. We were unable to take photos inside temples throughout Bhutan, so I took this opportunity to show a little of the sumptuous statuary and rich color and decoration that characterizes all of them.
In the evening we were treated to a performance of traditional folk dances in resplendent costumes.
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