Phobjikha Valey

This was our hotel for two nights and although not fancy, one of my favorites. Perched on the shoulder of the valley, this part of Bhutan has not been electrified. The hotel had a generator which provided electricity from about 5:30 PM until 9:00 and from about 6:30 AM until 9:00 the following morning. Heat was provided by a woodstove in each room and room service included lighting your stove in case you had forgotten to bring kerosene with you. We had. It was here in this hotel we tried a native delicacy for dinner. Because Buddhists revere animals and kill them for food only reluctantly, they attempt to use every part of the animal. We had a ground chicken dish, served over rice where they had ground up the chicken bones-and-all so as not to waste any part. As you ate it, you discovered bone chips mixed in with the meat. While it was tasty, chewing it was difficult. Since it was ground finely and served over rice, chewing was actually optional if you could get past the concept. Quite a few Cliff Bars and Power Bars were consumed back in the room that evening.

Dawn the next morning was gorgeous. This is the view from the hotel down into and across the valley. Check out the roof of the farmhouse in the foreground. Solar cells to generate electricity and a satellite dish for TV. Talk about contrast.

Our second evening brought us rainbows ... but our weather karma held and we got no rain.

Just below our hotel was a farmhouse. We met these two mothers on a walk and they consented to having their pictures taken with their kids. I have later learned the farmhouse serves as a sort of B&B. I'm glad we stayed in the hotel on the hill.

Just below our hotel was a farmhouse. We met these two mothers on a walk and they consented to having their pictures taken with their kids. I have later learned the farmhouse serves as a sort of B&B. I'm glad we stayed in the hotel on the hill. These mothers seem vry young to me.