BHUTAN DAY 2&3
The Tiger’s nest, Bhutan & Thailand. Legend says Guru Rinpoche arrived in Bhutan on a flying tiger, visiting caves and cliffs to meditate and subdue demons. Eventually he spent most of his time on the mountainside at Paro Valley, blessing the place that would then become Bhutan’s holiest monastery.
ANOTHER STEAK I COULDN’T BITE INTO
At the beginning of the hike I heard a familiar sound which turned out to be the number one hit “Who the fu*k is Alice?” it was the guides ringtone!! I haven’t heard that tune for about 20 years or more!
The Tiger’s nest, Bhutan & Thailand
THE HIKE
The hike took 5 hours with many photo stops, coffee breaks, lunch, and a temple tour. There are many photo opportunities, making it hard not to stop often, but I wondered how they built it. It is without doubt one of the most impressive temples in Asia
The Tiger’s nest, Bhutan & Thailand
TIGER’S NEST….
- It sits 3,000 feet above the valley.
- 10,000 feet above sea level.
- The original building burned down in 1998.
- It was restored at the cost of $2 million which finished in 2004.
- Prince William and Kate Middleton made the trek in 2015
ARCHERY
After archery, I relaxed in a 300-year-old hot stone bath and sampled more Bhutanese food. I always say I’ll try anything, but the food on this trip hasn’t impressed me; it’s part of the experience. The meat was questionable and the wine tasted like watered down vodka. There was an American who happened to be there at the same time and was quite happy to talk about trying all these new experiences and how much he enjoys the food everywhere he goes.
The Tiger’s nest, Bhutan & Thailand
The Tiger’s nest, Bhutan & Thailand
ANOTHER STEAK
I tried to bite into the beef but it nearly broke my tooth and he couldn’t wait to try it and show me how much he loves it. Not a word of a lie but when I caught him with the same piece of meat in his mouth 10mins later he’s still wouldn’t admit that the food was nasty. Same goes for the wine, as he sipped away at it he was offered a refill but declined instead for some water, got to love the hipsters. 🤣
DAY 3
My final day in Bhutan and the guides were keen to fit a few more attractions into the itinerary before getting back to the airport. The guides were brilliant, always going at my pace, taking photos, and having a great sense of humor! They really go over and beyond what is expected, nothing is ever too much hassle
BEAUTIFUL AIRPORT
After a quick town viewpoint stop, we returned to the airport, which resembled a temple, one of the most unique airports I’ve visited. I bumped into the American I met yesterday; he was still chewing on the steak! 2 hour delay and then it was back to one of my favourite countries Thailand for a few days chill before heading home!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Check out my reflection post here.
NEXT UP
West Africa Series, pt1. Click to read episode 1.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x 130/229
This post is part of the Central Asia Series, click to explore or for episode 1 click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
Question Time
- Did you climb to Tiger’s Nest, would you like to?
- Do you enjoy hikes?
- What do you think of Temples?
Let me know in the comments below . . .
