Thimphu Drubchen
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan. The The Je Khenpo, the Chief Abbot of Bhutan, head of religion
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
Thimphu DrubchenThimphu Drubchen festival in Bhutan
My trip in Bhutan continued with a visit to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. After our standard Bhutanese tourist breakfast, we headed out to the Thimphu Drubchen (festival). Finally got a chance to get some better pictures of the locals. Even got to see the Chief Abbot, head of all religion in Bhutan. The costumes for these performances were unbelievable.
Afterwards we headed back into town to grab coffee at Ambient Cafe, a surprisingly modern coffee place, and not what I was expecting at all. Expensive coffee, free Wifi, and locals on their laptops. Could have been located in Brooklyn for all I know.
Thimphu, BhutanViews from the streets of Thimphu, Bhutan
Thimphu, BhutanViews from the streets of Thimphu, Bhutan
Thimphu, BhutanViews from the streets of Thimphu, Bhutan
Thimphu, BhutanThe government tried installing the country's first traffic light here, but it caused so much confusion that after an hour, the king decreed it be removed and replaced by a crossing guard.
After coffee we all got to wander around the capital of Thimphu before heading over to the bus. I remember how everyone has pretty much embraced the stray dog situation. Yonten says he can’t sleep at night if he doesn’t hear dogs barking. The kids here enjoy running around and playing with the strays. Got my tourist picture of the Thimphu crossing guard. Years ago the government tried to install the country’s first traffic light at this intersection. The population couldn’t understand what the light signals meant and it was evidently a disaster, so after one hour the king commanded that the light be removed and a crossing guard be placed there instead.
Thimphu, BhutanTibetan craft stalls in Thimphu, Bhutan
After lunch at Tara Inn, we headed over to a handicraft market. I usually don’t do souvenir shops, but after learning about the local moonshine that was brewed by the Bhutanese, called Ara, I was determined to find a handmade ara carrying jug to take back home with me. Yonten our guide helped us pick one out. Figure it would make a good conversation piece on my bookshelf.
Thimphu, BhutanView overlooking the town of Thimphu, Bhutan and the Tashichho Dzong
We set up for blue hour overlooking the Thimphu Dzong. I think this was the first time on the trip that I focused on framing my shot, then sticking with the same exact frame from golden hour all the way through sunset, thinking I would try my hand at blending in the light from a few different times.
After taking what seemed like way too many bracketed shots, I had a few of these to help me fall asleep. All in all a great day of shooting.
Kuenselphodrang, Thimphu, BhutanViews from the large Bhudda that overlooks the town of Thimphu, Bhutan
Kuenselphodrang, Thimphu, BhutanViews from the large Bhudda that overlooks the town of Thimphu, Bhutan
Kuenselphodrang, Thimphu, BhutanViews from the large Bhudda that overlooks the town of Thimphu, Bhutan
Next morning we got up early to grab pictures of the Buddha overlooking Thimphu before our long drive over to Punakha through Dochula pass. The road was essentially non existent. Just a muddy bumpy drive for what seemed like hours and hours. We reached the top of Dochula Pass and grabbed coffee since we couldn’t really see anything through the fog. Our tour leaders had been here 5 times previously and had always seemed to get stuck with the same fog. After more driving, we checked into Hotel Vara after lunch.
Punakha Dzong, BhutanViews of the Dzong in Phunaka, Bhutan
Got some nice blue hour shots of the Punakha Dzong down by the river that runs near it. Even though we had seen several temples already, I was still enjoying walking around each one. All very similar in looks, but all different.
That evening a couple of us decided we wanted to have a few beers at dinner. We spent the first part of the evening running around the town at night, going from place to place searching for beer. It was definitely an adventure. There are not exactly convenience stores where you can just go and pick up anything you’d like. It seemed like we were going door to door to people’s homes, asking for alcohol. Refrigeration is also not big in Bhutan. That was a must though. Everyone wanted a cold beer. It finally worked out for us. We found a couple watching TV in this little corner “store” who had a fridge in the back and sold us 6 bottles. We then circled back around to the other place we had found earlier and bought another bunch of warm bottles. While I do enjoy the idea of a photo tour where you are driven to ideal locations for shots, experiences like this is really what stick with me. As I continue to go through all my pictures, each one brings back memories of the trip. But the act of running around with a group of people I just met, in a foreign place completely different from what I am used to, with the common goal of just buying and drinking a cold beer is something that I won't need a picture to remember.