We are off to Trashiyangtse. We’ll spend 2 nights there.
Breakfast – chat a bit more with 3 tourists from Moldova. They ask a bit about Merak – will they see people in traditional clothing (yes, some)? Is the village clustered – yes the old part? I tell them it’s noisy at night. Dad not happy. As Dad has been trekking I don’t comment on the accommodations, though I’m not sure how the young son will do. Son is happy for his first ‘real’ meal – pancakes and fried eggs. They will travel later far north to a highland festival. They will have to walk for a day. How will this child do? I see the son later and we chat a bit. He is finding it difficult. I remind him to watch for the scarecrows! Later I have Jamyang tell their guide where to find them en route.
I decided prior to breakfast to take up the cost of laundry with the front desk. Actually the price of socks and underwear! Each is $ 200 NU, but jeans and dresses and shirts only $ 130 – $ 160 NU. I try to explain that I just find it odd, but if correct then fine. I even bring a pair of socks & underwear – these are smalls! Checking out the laundry has come with a 10% discount though I just want to understand why 1/2 my bill of $ 44 USD is socks & underwear? I decline the 10%. Jamyang I think now gets this issue – which may well not be an issue!
We are off. First shopping – kleenex, bags for textiles, herbal tea, chocolate bars, Danish car cookies, and money. No post cards and no journal. (Danish car cookies – this goes way, way back to holidaying in St. Croix and always buying these cookies for car trips. They soon become a car must for we three.)
Then we drive. The road for most of the way is very good. Then through the construction poor. I find this trip a bit unnerving. The road is right to the edge of the cliff down – and it’s a long, steep way down to the river at the bottom of the valley.
We stop at a temple. The gardens are quite lovely – well tended for monks – usually only good gardens at the nunneries. There is a large sacred rock here – with a cave that Buddha meditated in for 3 months. Around the large rock is a small group of lovely rocks – say 10″ – that have the most lovely layers. A large rock to the side – you pick it up and walk 3 times round the small stupa for fertility (for women) or blessings (for men). Kinzang manages it. I can’t even move it, and Jamyang barely. I think it’s likely a hernia maker! There is a beautiful fig tree in the garden. The temple has very old paintings – 17C. They are beautiful and the small, fine detail painting extraordinary! They apparently have funding for the restoration of the temple, including the paintings. Hopefully they have art restoration people – not re-painting.
Off to Trashiyangtse. I thought we were to stay in a farm house, so I packed my backpack for 2 nights. But we are at a hotel. A really lovely one too – I’m pretty sure it will be my favourite to date. The traditional architecture, but contemporary additions. A queen / king size bed!! Lovely whimsical trees in wooden buckets filled with small, round stones, placed, not tossed into the bucket. A small piece of local furniture. I really like the feel of this hotel! The mattress if very firm, but not hard as in Khoma and Merak and even Thimphu.
A good lunch followed by a 2 hour rest. There is internet in the restaurant so I check email – nothing of interest. I buy a book to read on my tablet. Try to nap, but just rest.
At 3:30 off to the old fortress. There is a temple as well. Each temple and fortress, especially the temples, definitely have their own feel. Some are far more interesting than others. This temple has been moved from the temple just opposite as the older one is in need of repair / restoration / rebuild. This is to begin soon. The view to the valley and mountains across lovely. Tall stone steps up to the fortress, Shades of Tiger’s Nest to come.
We go to a very large stupa – right beside the river. (Somehow I think this is not in Trashiyangtse.) There is a huge field in front that is being dug up with a large roto tiller, and a small group of people picking a type of worm – that looks more like a larvae or maggot. They cart these away. Apparently they will turn this huge space into a lawn! Oh my what a shame. There is a nicely planted garden at the top of the field, and to continue to add to this and make a garden with plants and trees would be so wonderful! Lawn will be weeds in no time without constant care – as the stupa in Thimphu had. But this lawn is 4 times the size.
The stupa is Tibetan – with the eyes. And is very large with hundreds of prayer wheels. There are also 2 water prayer wheels, and the river right beside the fence around the stupa. Quite a grand feeling.
Back to the hotel. Dinner for 7:30. I’ll read. Cards after.
I enjoy dinner, most especially the local sauteed mushrooms. There is almost no spice though – so good thing there is still chili cheese.
The young man from the hotel and I talk about the card game – he knows it well from playing it at his hostel – Uno he calls it. This is the name I know, and definitely from the DeAngelis family. He joins us. Better with 4. We play until 10:15. Great fun. Kinzang wins the last challenge of 5 games. Jamyang competitive for sure, but also did not have the best night of luck.
A really fun evening, after a good travel day. Tomorrow I’ll do morning yoga outside.