Tiger’s Nest

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Early in the morning we drove to Taktshang Goemba, which translates to Tiger’s Nest Monastery.  It is one of Bhutan’s most famous monasteries, sits on a sheer cliff face.  A goemba is a type of monastery that is in a remote location.   When a monk wants to become a master or lama, they go there to meditate alone and in silence for three years, three months and three days.  It is believed Guru Rinpoche, a Bhutanese hero who spread Buddhism around the country from Tibet, flew across this particular valley on the back of a tiger to banish some demons.  We hiked up 2000m from a base in Paro Valley only stopping at teahouse with great view of Tiger’s Nest.  The actual monastery was breathtaking.  The prayer flags, blowing in the wind are strung across the valley between the monastery and the neighboring mountain.

On the way down, our guide Kinlay, taught us a bit more about Bhutanese culture.  Apparently it is completely normal for a man to have many girlfriends (and in the old days, many wives) and vice-versa.  It is called “night-hunting”.  In the old days, the whole family would sleep together on the top floor of the house, with the girls in the middle, and the man would have to climb the wall at night and sneak the girl out.  They don’t really do that anymore but the tradition continues!

When we got to the bottom and started to drive to Thimpu, we saw an archery competition on the side of the road.  Archery is a favorite sport in Bhutan and while some people use the traditional wood bows, now the mostly use American-made compound bows.  All the men sang and did a dance when their teammate hit bullsye.  After watching for a while, we got back in the car and drove on toward the capital, Thimpu.

+Gallery
  • Gross National Hapiness
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Mandy Turning some Prayer Wheels
  • On the Way to Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Adam and some Prayer Flags
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Adam and Amanda at Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Tiger's Nest
  • Man lighting yak oil lamps for the monks
  • Sleepy Baby
  • Donkeys coming down the path
  • Nice old man on the path
  • The fountain has a funny shape
  • Riding over the prayer flag bridge
  • Bhutanese Archery
  • Bhutanese Archery
  • Bhutanese Archer
  • Bhutanese Archer
  • Bhutanese Archery
  • Bhutanese Archery
  • Bhutanese Archery
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Posted: July 7, 2012

Author: Adam and Amanda

Category: Asia, Bhutan, Blog, Continents

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