Bhutan Day 2 Continued

Once we left Dochula Pass we drove through a tiny town called Wangdu Phodrang.

There was a small market which was fun to walk around (as most small town markets are) People are so friendly here and they love their picture taken.

Once we left there we went to the Punakha Dzong which is a huge fortress/monastery. Buddhist monks are everywhere in Bhutan. And Dzongs are everywhere as well. Beautiful buildings inside and out.

Punaka Dzong , just one of the many amazing Fortress/Monasteries

We stayed in a great little hotel, The Meri Punesum, which is part of the standard $200 a day fee. The rooms were average, the food very average but It was surrounded by terraced rice patties up in the hills above the town and it had a nice little pergola where you could sit and have drinks.

The scenery around our hotel in Punakha.

Later that afternoon we took a little hike through a town to another temple. It's pretty interesting what they paint on houses here. A penis symbol is meant to bring fertility to the house. So couples wanting to have children will paint a penis on the house.

Religion is obviously a big deal in bhutan. It is engrained in the entire country.. It is all around. Every place you go there are prayer wheels. Anytime you pass them you are supposed to spin them. Spinning the wheel is the equivalent of saying the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum.

Dion SApril 8, 2010