Summer vacation & Thimphu conference

I'm feeling rather guilty about sharing my summer vacation story with the rest of my fellow Bhutan Canada Foundation teachers, but share I will.  Charly and I rented a small car in Mongar and drove east to Trashigang and visited Aum Deki's resort which is being built 9km south of Trashigang (it is being built in traditional Bhutanese style but with many modern amenities-it is beautiful!)  During our stay with her we traveled down to Kaling and had lunch with Nick and got to see his campus and also the huge stack of English mid-terms he was preparing to grade.  Next we stopped in Kanglung to see Lisa and Scott who had just returned from an intense three day trek to Saktang and Merak with Mauren & John, Shauna & Julian, Scott, and Jean- Daniel.  During our stay with Aum Deki we drove to her home village of Rangshikar so she could vote in the local elections.  Democracy is happening even in the smallest of villages.  Lisa joined us for the day and we then traveled up to a temple where we had lunch with the lama of the goemba who spoke no English.  Aum Deki interpreted for us.  Staying at Aum Deki's farm house was a wonderful experience because we got to see first hand how extended families live and work together in Bhutan.  We met three of her brothers, father, and many others during our visit.  


Our next stop was up to Trashiyangtse to see Kendra and meet the hikers Scott, Mauren, John, Shauna, and Julian, who went hiking in Bomdaling Wildlife Sanctuary.  Ian and Vicki showed up the same day we arrived and Natalie came the next.  It was a great reunion with lots of laughs, sharing of stories, and good food and drink.  Trashiyangtse is beautiful with the river flowing through it and the impressive Chorten Kora.  We all hiked up to the traditional art school in Trashiyangtse and even though the students were on break we did get to see and purchase many of the items for sale in the showroom.  We all enjoyed the mini-reunion and vowed to try to make it back to Trashiyangtse in Nov. when the black neck cranes return to Bomdaling.  


After a brief two day rest back in Mongar, I was off in the opposite direction to Thimphu for a special education conference.  I rode with my principal and his wife to the conference.  Most Bhutanese stop for the night in Bumthang, but my principal drove it in one very long 15 hour shot.  Unless you have experienced the national highway (that's what they call it), you can not image the roller coaster, curvy, narrow, and gut wrenching drop-offs if you get to close to the edge.  Needless to say it was fine and though I don't ever want to do it in one shot again, my principal was a great driver.  


In Thimphu I got to see Nancy for two nights before her annual Canada trip, and of course I got to the office crew at BCF, Meena, Karma, and Nima.  The part that will make my Eastern BCFer's jealous is that I also got to spend lots of time with Loretta and Sue who went to the conference too.  Then who should be staying at "Mark's palace" but Meagan and Carson.  I also had coffee and dinner with Matt.  So during my three week break I got to see every BCFer except, Jean Daniel, Keira, Andrea, and Lynda.  It was a wonderful break traveling from one end of Bhutan to another but seeing and sharing with everyone was the best part. 


My American followers may not appreciate this blog much but at least look at the pictures below to see more of beautiful Bhutan. 

Meagan & Carson at Ambience Cafe 

Sue, Loretta, and I with Special Ed. presenters at conference