October 18, 2023 from the itinerary: Today’s trail is a gradual climb down of about 11 kms (3-5 hours). After about half an hour you will arrive at a clearing at Jangchu lhakha at 3770 m (12,365 ft). Continue to follow the ridge through a forest of blue pine and rhododendron. Next you will also be crossing the beautiful 14th century Jele Dzong on the way. Stop here to visit the monastery and to enjoy the views of Mt. Jhomolhari and Paro below. After the visit continue walking through rhododendron and yak pastures until you reach a clearing. From here you will be walking mostly through a blue pine forest until the end of the trail. Your vehicle will pick you up from the end of the trail and drive you to your hotel for check in. Rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Lunch will be at the hotel (On direct payment basis). Paro is a historic town with many sacred sites and historical buildings scattered through the area. It is home to many of Bhutan's oldest temples and monasteries, National Museum and the country's only airport. Mount. Jhomolhari reigns in its white glory at the northern end of the valley and its glacial water plunge through deep gorges to form the Pa Chu (Paro River). Paro is also one of the most fertile valleys in the Kingdom producing a bulk of the locally famous red rice from its terraced fields. Rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
The day started at 2am when something woke me up. Listening further, it sounded like someone drunk pushing over my washstand outside my tent. Then someone was pushing on the front of the tent. I pushed back and started to say "go away" and "help". There was just enough signal for me to message Dorje for help. Then I put my light down at the bottom of the zipper and I saw... a nose. It turns out there was a cow outside tent who decided to sit down in front of it. We all had a good laugh. Here are some pictures - the cow pushed over the wash stand, pulled up a tent peg and one from the toilet tent. It was the only night I didn't have to go in the middle of the night, which I guess was good.
It was the first time in years I hadn’t been to the bathroom several times in the night- I need a cow more often. There was another lovely sunrise and a very frosty morning because the night was clear.
We started out from the camp and came across a baracade, put up by thepony potters to keep the ponies from running away in the night.
The walk was along the side of the hills with some lovely views. Mostly undulating.
Along the way we saw a rare Satyr tragopan and a blood pheasant.
At 11500 feet we stopped for tea and had a nice view. I was exhausted, which I didn't expect as we were coming down.
I really couldn't take another up hill, but, sure enough, we had one more dip to get up to a monastery.
We continued down and up. Similar sort of landscape. There were several Himalayan Larch Trees which look a bit like like a weeping fir tree
We finally made it up the hill and then there was a lovely open space with spectacular prayer flags. The weather was perfect and the wind was lovely coming over the hill.
We stopped for sandwiches outside the monastery.
And started the long trek down to the car
We saw some other ponies along the way.
And started to look up the hill to where we came from
Here are the boys...
Then on to the hotel - felt good to sit down.
Once we got to the hotel I met James the manager. Here's my room
I finally found some information on FB about why Richard Branson was in Bhutan
Dinner was fine, I thought it might be better.
Comentarios