I have just received a number of pictures and a “post” from Esther and Karen Holden, sent from Bhutan which they are visiting before moving on to Woodstock. I’ll update this as I get more.
Esther says:
GNID CONTINGENT IN BHUTAN EXPERIENCING GROSS GROUP HAPPINESS
We've seen the Bhutanese king, we were blessed by a reincarnated saint, we saw the Number Two Prince shoot arrows at a target 140 meters away and hit it, and we've laughed hard at most of Ted's bad jokes.
Bhutan is an incredible experience, unlike anything we've done before. There are five of us here: Ted and Jackie Chitambar, Karen Holden, Esther Jantzen, and Will Manton. To our surprise we are getting along marvelously, but whether that is due to our boarding-school-trained personalities or because we're in a Buddhist country, we're not sure.
The weather has not cooperated in allowing us to see the Himalayas much, but today we caught a glimpse of second highest mountain in Bhutan for about five seconds. We have an incredible guide--a story-teller, a joke-maker, and a man very well informed about Bhutanese history, culture, and religion. It's required for tourists to have a guide here, and we feel very fortunate to have this one. In addition, our accommodations have ranged from good to excellent. We have buffet meals morning, noon, and night, and the vegetarians/vegan in our group are satisfied. We think Rajiv Mehra has done an exceptional job in planning and travel arrangements, and his representatives at each place have taken tender care of us.
We're looking forward to meeting up in a few days with our GNID comrades who've been in Dharmsala, and trekking Tehri road together our old stomping grounds.
Note: photo comments are mine (Hank's), for the most part.
Ted, Karen, and Esther aboard the GoFlight to Bagdogara, on the way to Darjeeling and Bhutan.
Having met up with Ted and Jackie, the group bonds (or so they say).
Tiger’s Nest Monastery above Bhutan’s international airport in Paro. I’m not sure if they flew into Paro or drove, but if you’re interested in seeing a video of the tricky approach and landing of a Druk Air flight into the Paro airport, click here.
Esther and Karen make peace at Darjeeling’s Peace Pagoda.
The world’s tallest sitting Buddha, Bhutan. This temple complex is still under construction and will, reportedly, include 100,000 small statuettes of Buddha when it is complete with an estimated total cost of over $100 million.
Ted, needing all the help he can get, spins prayer wheels.
Ted, still looking for help, opens the “world’s largest book.”
Ted and Jackie out for a Bhutan stroll.
And then there is Will, always looking for a fitting fashion, tries on a Bhutanese gho.
Esther says:
GNID CONTINGENT IN BHUTAN EXPERIENCING GROSS GROUP HAPPINESS
We've seen the Bhutanese king, we were blessed by a reincarnated saint, we saw the Number Two Prince shoot arrows at a target 140 meters away and hit it, and we've laughed hard at most of Ted's bad jokes.
Bhutan is an incredible experience, unlike anything we've done before. There are five of us here: Ted and Jackie Chitambar, Karen Holden, Esther Jantzen, and Will Manton. To our surprise we are getting along marvelously, but whether that is due to our boarding-school-trained personalities or because we're in a Buddhist country, we're not sure.
The weather has not cooperated in allowing us to see the Himalayas much, but today we caught a glimpse of second highest mountain in Bhutan for about five seconds. We have an incredible guide--a story-teller, a joke-maker, and a man very well informed about Bhutanese history, culture, and religion. It's required for tourists to have a guide here, and we feel very fortunate to have this one. In addition, our accommodations have ranged from good to excellent. We have buffet meals morning, noon, and night, and the vegetarians/vegan in our group are satisfied. We think Rajiv Mehra has done an exceptional job in planning and travel arrangements, and his representatives at each place have taken tender care of us.
We're looking forward to meeting up in a few days with our GNID comrades who've been in Dharmsala, and trekking Tehri road together our old stomping grounds.
Note: photo comments are mine (Hank's), for the most part.
Ted, Karen, and Esther aboard the GoFlight to Bagdogara, on the way to Darjeeling and Bhutan.
Having met up with Ted and Jackie, the group bonds (or so they say).
Tiger’s Nest Monastery above Bhutan’s international airport in Paro. I’m not sure if they flew into Paro or drove, but if you’re interested in seeing a video of the tricky approach and landing of a Druk Air flight into the Paro airport, click here.
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| The Darjeeling hotel room looks a bit cold. |
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| The Ghoom Railway station is the highest in the world and now a World Heritage Site. |
Esther and Karen make peace at Darjeeling’s Peace Pagoda.
The world’s tallest sitting Buddha, Bhutan. This temple complex is still under construction and will, reportedly, include 100,000 small statuettes of Buddha when it is complete with an estimated total cost of over $100 million.
Ted, needing all the help he can get, spins prayer wheels.
Ted, still looking for help, opens the “world’s largest book.”
Ted and Jackie out for a Bhutan stroll.
And then there is Will, always looking for a fitting fashion, tries on a Bhutanese gho.
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