Trips

We got back on the bus and drove along more narrow, potholed roads with cattle and horses and colorfully decorated large trucks and stopped to walk to the Temple of the Phallic Buddha at the Chimi Lhakhang Monastery. If a couple wants to conceive, they come here to be blessed by a wooden or bone carved penis. We all got blessed anyway! A small monastery is also associated with this temple.

Rice growing in the field

Cow and phallic haystack

It was a hot walk

Prayer wheel

Entrance to the temple

Lily pond

Marigold reflection

Trimming firewood

Wind-driven prayer wheels

We walked back across the rice fields to the town of Sopsokha, stopped to observe all the phalluses painted on the walls of the buildings, and ate lunch (another buffet of rice, lentils, curried chicken, and steamed local vegetables).

Phallus painted on the wall

On our way back to town we passed Wangdu Phodrang Dzong which burned down in a fire in June 2012.

We have had lots of opportunities to view construction methods in Bhutan.

Wangdu Phodrang Dzong

Street and buildings in Punakha

Bamboo scaffolding

Bamboo supports and an interesting ramp

Our last stop of the day was at the new nunnery (Bjachung Karmo) built by the queen's rich maternal grandfather only three years ago. The girls are trained just like the boys. Their heads are shaved and they wear red robes. The girls here are ages 9 to 14. Some were forming and painting miniature stupas like the ones we have seen placed in caves and on ledges along the roads. Some girls were rolling wicks out of cotton for burning the butter lamps. The girls pray all morning, learn religion, and work at the nunnery. They eat breakfast at 7 and dinner at 3 and live a very unexciting life.