I just realize that I think yesterday was Thanksgiving in Canada. A holiday I quite enjoy!
I sleep in ’til 7:30 as I am tired. Such a poor sleep and restless night. Breakfast at 8AM. Fried rice & eggs with a bit of chili paste. Tea of course. Oh yes – potatoes too.
We are off at 9:30 to see the statue of the Lotus Born – about 1 1/2 hours north. We have high clouds, so a good view of the mountains, valley, and river below. Also of all the sheer cliffs I missed on “the great road trip”. But I don’t feel afraid – well once when we came around a curve and there was a truck coming the other way – sharp adjustment by Kinzang – and I’m on the down side. Heart beating for sure. At one point two rivers meet and the crematorium & stupa are there. An amazing image.
The statue & temple I enjoy. Something about the location & the temple itself – all 3 stories are good! As we arrive at the gates there is an old woman (could be no older than me!) and she inquires if I am alone? This leads to a bit of her story. For the past 5 years she and 4 other women have been living here – in the very rustic huts the workers that built the temple & statue lived in. They look after the grounds a bit – though are not required to do so. Pray & hang out together. Family bring them ‘rations’ at intervals. She seems pretty content.
I pass out some of our candy to the little monks – though it would appear they have money to buy treats at the store.
Off back to Khoma. We stop with a beautiful view of a farm on the far hillside with lovely rice terraces. It strikes me – how I have not thought of it before I don’t know – that it would be amazing to plein air paint in Bhutan. I really must speak to Sangay. I excitedly talk to Jamyang about it. What season? Locations? How To ‘s? It would be such an amazing painting adventure. I must speak to Anda too.
Project thoughts: Jakar – recipe book; Khoma – branding, cloth labels with marks, website, different garments & pieces; plein air painting tour; fishing for 1 or 2 days – added to a culture tour – equipment provided; basic wine training. From my mother – it is enough to change one persons life! (pretty privileged position here) I scout locations (for painting) on the way back to Khoma. It could be so amazing.
Back at Khoma I am tired – so a nap. Tshering will teach me to make chayote squash. Great fun sitting on the floor peeling & thinly slicing. It turns out well.
Dinner is great – again some homemade Ara as well. After dinner a group of women come to entertain us – lots of hot Ara. Then singing & dancing. Kinzang has a lovely voice – and does not stop dancing. I dance too, but at some point the steps & hands get too complicated so I sit until the last dance – which is really fun. It reminds me of other times, other ethnic dancing. I enjoy dancing with an older woman on each side, rather than the young, city woman, who wants me to have everything perfect. The older women just dance, and let me do my best. Yeah! Such a great evening. Jamyang has a huge tip for the dancers. I will check to be sure I should be contributing more.
Oh my – writing the journal even the next day and I have left critical events out! The women from the whole village have come to the courtyard this afternoon, and brought all of their weaving – 2 COVID years worth! The selection is overwhelming. I want to buy so much – but again only pieces I will use. I settle on 5 silk scarves for gifts, 1 table runner also a gift, 2 squares of the finest silk on silk, one for Yeonmi & one for myself. I will need more Bhutanese money! I also buy a belt from Chimi. (Chimi has shown her most fine weaving at MOMA in NY!)
Another missed – Frank & Judy are here for their picnic and to see weaving. We have an update on their too scary trip from Jakar to Mongar – including walking after the dynamiting – in the dark and the mud and rain – everything slippery and only cell phones to light the way in the pitch dark! We all agree that we’ll never be able to truly describe this trip back home – and besides no one will believe us! There are a few other tourists, so it seems the weavers have a good afternoon selling, and quite unexpectedly the other tourists. Yeah!