Bhutan – Land of the Thunder Dragon
{ Tags: Aman, Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon, Paro \ Jun25 }
Art student at Bhutanese National Art School. The Bhutanese are attempting to preserve 13 forms of art, amongst which are sculpture in the traditional Hindu idiom, and weaving on a traditional loom.
Bhutanese architectural technology centres around their fairly dry air, the ready availability of stones and mud, and the terrain which discourages the use of cannon. The buildings are mandated by the government to display decorative patterns and frescoes.
The Bhutanese Gho is part of an array of actions to preserve the Bhutanese way of life. The Gho is to be worn to school, work, and for religious purposes. It is to them what the shirt and tie is to us.
The phallus is a symbol of protection against evil spirits and hence decorates doorways and walls. Wooden phallus sculptures also hang from the eaves of buildings. It is unknown if the wooden sculptures, usually around 7″ in length, is a typical Bhutanese phallus or an idealised one.
Though modern technology is slowly pervading the Bhutanese way of life, small sturdy horses are still a viable means of transport when traversing the mountains where the paths are rocky and narrow.
We attempt a mountain trek in a typical Bhutanese horse. Not shown in the picture is our SUV which followed us to this point, but higher in the mountains where the paths are narrower, only a horse will suffice. Smuggling cheap goods and contraband from the Chinese border is therefore accomplished only by horse caravan.
Lush greenery surrounds the centrepiece of Bhutanese heritage. The Tiger’s Nest is a place surrounded by myth and legend which the Bhutanese appear to fully believe in. The Tiger’s Nest, sitting precipitously on a cliff edge, was built by hand and restored after a fire burned it through a few years ago. What refreshingly opposes the usual modern knee-jerk army of preventive legislation is that the cause of the fire, traditional butter lamps, was not banned, simply moved slightly further.
Monks are an integral part of life for Bhutanese people, a culture that depends on stories and legend for their lives’ virtues and raison d’etre. The monks are schooled in the traditional beliefs, prayers and cultural aspects. Many continue their prayers and meditation throughout life, but other are sent to teach at schools. It is significant to note that the larger government buildings are half monastic and half administrative.
A telescoping mountain horn is part of an array of artifacts and culture imported from Tibet. Tibetan and Nepalese nobles founded kingdoms here in Bhutan and with them they brought music, art, written language and war. The traditional Sunday activity of relaxation is archery.
Trees draped in Spanish Moss are a common sight in the higher altitudes of Bhutan. Here at a height of 3,100 metres, the thick drapes create a Sleepy Hollow look to the trees. Spanish Moss is neither Spanish nor a moss, it is instead an epiphytic bromeliad that grows where there is relatively high humidity.
Climbing to the Tiger’s Nest is no mean feat especially considering the Gho. For some reason, the Bhutanese insist on a strangulating tightness of the woven belt that holds the Gho up. The thin air at an altitude of 3,100m at the end of a 3.5km hike is another obstacle.