After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel we left for the airport to catch the plane to Kolkata.

On our drive through the city we saw old Austin cabs, totos (tuk tuks), and rickshaws. There are still approximately 10,000 man-drawn rickshaws in Kolkata. We also saw some marriage carriages and even a man riding a horse.

We stopped to visit The Mother House – Mother Teresa’s home and memorial.

We also stopped to use an ATM on the way to the ship – our first adventure among the locals.

Diwali is celebrated nationwide. In Kolkata, bamboo structures are erected to hold lights. Also, temporary temples are erected to house Kali statues (rice straw, covered with mud, and then painted). The Kali Puja ceremony, where statues are taken to the river for immersion, is typically performed on the full moon night of Diwali,m. This year the full moon was on Tuesday which is the night of the mother goddess, and some devout followers wait an extra night to perform the ceremony.

After breakfast at the hotel, we boarded buses for a tour of Delhi. First stop was Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Then we rode through old Delhi.

Then we stopped at Humayun’s Tomb, a 16th century landmark of Mughal architecture on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

After lunch at a local restaurant, we visited Qutab Minar, another a UNESCO World Heritage site.

India Gate.

Monkeys

Views from rooftop bar:

Today we flew from Bhutan to India where they are celebrating Diwali. Most decorations were on the ground outside of the shops, but some were on the floor inside and some where hanging in front of the shops.

Built into a sheer cliff face above the forested Paro Valley, the monastic retreat Paro Taktsand is the most famous temple in Bhutan.

Padmasambhava, the great 8th century Buddhist saint and teacher, is thought to have landed at this spot after flying over the mountains from Tibet on the back of a tigress, thus bringing the teachings of Buddhism to Bhutan. The primary temple was built around Padmasambhava’s meditation cave in 1684.

After breakfast we boarded the bus for a 30 minute drive to the trailhead of the hike to the Tiger’s Nest. Horses are available for the first leg and several members of our group took that option.

Round trip, the hike was around 5 miles, with a 1,979 ft elevation gain (from 8,395 – 10,176).

The first leg of the hike was about 45 minutes to the cafe where we rested, had tea, and used the facilities.

Second leg was to the temple. You actually hike above the temple, then down to a bridge by a waterfall, then back up to the temple.

Unfortunately they do not allow cameras inside the Tiger’s Nest. We visited three temples, then hiked back to the cafe for lunch.

Tsa-Tsas are miniature Stupas that are memorials to the dead (they may contain ashes of the deceased) or offerings created on the advice of an astrologer. There were several places along the trail where Tsa-Tsas had been placed.

On our way back to the trail head, this water-driven prayer wheel was in operation.

Some pictures from our ride back to the hotel.

It seems fitting that on our last night in Bhutan, my hotel room faces west.

Another beautiful morning. Our hotel was just below the college/nunnery that we visited yesterday.

We head back through the Dochula Pass on our return to Paro (home of the International Airport).

Photo stop – Masagang (7194m), third highest mountain in Bhutan.

Rest stop at Dochula Pass.

Bicyclists headed up to the pass.

Rest stop at Indo-Bhutan Friendship Bridge.

We stopped for lunch in Paro

After lunch we visited Paro Dzong Rinpung Dzong, the “fortress of the heap of Jewels”, built in 1646. Our visit ended with us crossing the cantilever bridge.

There was time for shopping in Paro before heading to the hotel.

Short cultural show before dinner with group participation.

Sunrise from my room, and views from the restaurant. Our hotel is above the clouds – at least today.

Bus ride to Nezigang, the starting point for a hike to the Khamsum Yuley Namgay Chorten, a shrine recently built by the royal family.

We ate lunch beside the river and then walked to, and across, the longest suspension bridge in Bhutan.

Last stop of the day was a Buddhist College and nunnery further up the mountain from our hotel.

The road to Punakha takes us over the Dochula Pass (3100m/10170ft).

We stopped outside of Thimphu for a giant Buddha photo-op. The smoke is from cooking. Across the road was a migrant-labor camp.

We stopped at Dochula Pass to visit the Druk Wangyal Lhakhang (temple), the Druk Wangyal Chortens (108 memorial stupas built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother) and enjoy the view.

Sights along the way: a cow resting peacefully in the middle of the road, donkeys, Tsasa (miniature stupas) alongside the road, and rice fields.

The last stop before lunch was at ChimiLhakhang, the fertility temple dedicated to famous Buddhist Lama Drukpa Kunley.

The road was one lane and unpaved but all three buses arrived safely.

Lunch was across the river and up the mountain – good food and great views.

Our last stop of the day was at Punakha Dzong, a 15th century fortress standing on an island at the confluence of the Pho Chhu and Mo Chhu rivers.

Today was a full day! Our first stop was the Folk Heritage Museum.

The we visited an Arts and Crafts school. Students choose to study one or two of the 13 disciplines taught here. It is a six year program with 90% dropout rate. Students are 7 years old and up.

Our next stop was Changangkha Lhakhang. Built in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest temples in Thimphu Valley.

After lunch at a local restaurant we visited the Memorial Chhorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan.

Then we rode the bus into the mountains to the giant (51.5m) Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. There was a month-long festival in progress here. Hundreds of people seated under canopies and along the walls. There were lots of makeshift tents set up in the vicinity of the temple.

The last stop for the day was the Motithang Takin Preserve, home to several local breeds of animals including the Takin – the national animal of Bhutan.

Today was a full day! Our first stop was the Folk Heritage Museum.

The we visited an Arts and Crafts school. Students choose to study one or two of the 13 disciplines taught here. It is a six year program with 90% dropout rate. Students are 7 years old and up.

Our next stop was Changangkha Lhakhang. Built in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest temples in Thimphu Valley.

After lunch at a local restaurant we visited the Memorial Chhorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan.

Then we rode the bus into the mountains to the giant (51.5m) Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. There was a month-long festival in progress here. Hundreds of people seated under canopies and along the walls. There were lots of makeshift tents set up in the vicinity of the temple.

The last stop for the day was the Motithang Takin Preserve, home to several local breeds of animals including the Takin – the national animal of Bhutan.

Today was a full day! Our first stop was the Folk Heritage Museum.

The we visited an Arts and Crafts school. Students choose to study one or two of the 13 disciplines taught here. It is a six year program with 90% dropout rate. Students are 7 years old and up.

Our next stop was Changangkha Lhakhang. Built in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest temples in Thimphu Valley.

After lunch at a local restaurant we visited the Memorial Chhorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan.

Then we rode the bus into the mountains to the giant (51.5m) Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. There was a month-long festival in progress here. Hundreds of people seated under canopies and along the walls. There were lots of makeshift tents set up in the vicinity of the temple.

The last stop for the day was the Motithang Takin Preserve, home to several local breeds of animals including the Takin – the national animal of Bhutan.

Today was a full day! Our first stop was the Folk Heritage Museum.

The we visited an Arts and Crafts school. Students choose to study one or two of the 13 disciplines taught here. It is a six year program with 90% dropout rate. Students are 7 years old and up.

Our next stop was Changangkha Lhakhang. Built in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest temples in Thimphu Valley.

After lunch at a local restaurant we visited the Memorial Chhorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan.

Then we rode the bus into the mountains to the giant (51.5m) Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. There was a month-long festival in progress here. Hundreds of people seated under canopies and along the walls. There were lots of makeshift tents set up in the vicinity of the temple.

The last stop for the day was the Motithang Takin Preserve, home to several local breeds of animals including the Takin – the national animal of Bhutan.

Today was a full day! Our first stop was the Folk Heritage Museum.

The we visited an Arts and Crafts school. Students choose to study one or two of the 13 disciplines taught here. It is a six year program with 90% dropout rate. Students are 7 years old and up.

Our next stop was Changangkha Lhakhang. Built in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest temples in Thimphu Valley.

After lunch at a local restaurant we visited the Memorial Chhorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan.

Then we rode the bus into the mountains to the giant (51.5m) Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. There was a month-long festival in progress here. Hundreds of people seated under canopies and along the walls. There were lots of makeshift tents set up in the vicinity of the temple.

The last stop for the day was the Motithang Takin Preserve, home to several local breeds of animals including the Takin – the national animal of Bhutan.

Today was a full day! Our first stop was the Folk Heritage Museum.

The we visited an Arts and Crafts school. Students choose to study one or two of the 13 disciplines taught here. It is a six year program with 90% dropout rate. Students are 7 years old and up.

Our next stop was Changangkha Lhakhang. Built in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest temples in Thimphu Valley.

After lunch at a local restaurant we visited the Memorial Chhorten, built in 1974 in memory of the third king of Bhutan.

Then we rode the bus into the mountains to the giant (51.5m) Statue of Sakyamuni Buddha. There was a month-long festival in progress here. Hundreds of people seated under canopies and along the walls. There were lots of makeshift tents set up in the vicinity of the temple.

The last stop for the day was the Motithang Takin Preserve, home to several local breeds of animals including the Takin – the national animal of Bhutan.

Our flight took us over the Himalayas and we got another glimpse Mt Everest.

After landing at Paro International Airport we caught our buses to Thimphu.

Beautiful dawn and sunrise.

Breakfast at the hotel with the crows, but without one member of the group who had to fly home early.

Kathmandu from the airplane:

Momo Cooking Lesson and Gyakok Dinner

Tonight we rode to a nearby hotel for a cooking lesson and a traditional Newali dinner.

We made chicken and fish Momos. There are three shapes: spiral, crescent and leaf. (All of mine ended up being crescent shaped.)

They served vegetable and chicken Momo as appetizers and Gyakok (Hot Pot) for dinner.

The restaurant was on the seventh floor, so we had great views from the terraces.

Clear skies this morning and breakfast at the hotel. If you leave your plate unattended, the crows might swoop down and help themselves.

After breakfast we took a short bus ride to the Pashupatinath crematorium. The crematorium is on the banks of the Barmati river which flows into the Ganges.

We saw Hindu priests performing ceremonies, Hindu Brahmin, a mourning ritual, a bathing ritual, and several cremations.

The vendors were there selling souvenirs and religious items. There were also cows, dogs and monkeys.

We left the hotel at 5:30 and drove to the Airport for our Mountain flight on Yeti Airlines.

Everyone gets a window seat to view the Himalayas from the air.

On the drive back to the hotel, we saw a cow on the street. Cows that don’t have ropes around their necks are not owned by anyone and are “temple” animals.

There are areas where the cows are normally housed, but occasionally one wanders off.

Swayambhu Stupa, also known as monkey temple, is on a hill and has panoramic views of the Kathmandu valley.

Views of Kathmandu Valley:

Rhesus macaque monkeys at the temple:

Vendors surround the temples selling souvenirs, art, food (for people or animals), clothes, and other items from tables or booths.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

We visited a “community” temple on the walk to the square.

This temple near Durbar Square is where Kathmandu’s got its name. Kat (“temple”) and Mandu (“made of wood”).

Views from around Durbar Square

After breakfast at the hotel, we boarded the bus for the ride to Patan City – the city of fine art.

The Nepali workweek is Sunday to Friday. Today was Saturday and the morning traffic was very light.

These are telephone lines, not power lines. When one goes bad, they simply run a new line without trying to identify the bad one.

The tour guide took us through some side streets of Patan, into Durbar square, and through the palace.

The pit with the post is where they perform animal sacrifices. The most common animals are: water buffalo (anger), goat (lust), sheep (stupidity), duck(ignorance), and chicken (cowardice).

We stopped at a healing bowl shop for a demonstration. Then we headed for the bus to go to lunch.

After lunch we took a tour of Bhaktpur. Highlights were the Durbar square, the five story temple and a Thanka painting school.

According to our guide, 70% of the population make a living from agriculture. We drove by rice fields on the way to Bhaktpur. On our walk back to the bus after our tour we saw women winnowing grain.

By late afternoon the traffic was more like what we had been used to. Tihar (the Festival of Lights) is approaching and people were lined up to catch buses back to their home villages.