Punakha House

The exterior of the house was unremarkable, at least by Bhutanese standards.

Inside we met the mother and her daughter who prepared tea for us.

The tea was served with rice added. I am very conservative when I travel about what I eat and drink. In this case, I passed on the tea. Others tried it and found it to be okay. Later, about a dozen flies descended on the cup and I was thankful for my decision. This family lived closely by lots of farm animals so the flies were a normal part of the environment.

The darlings of the family were three precocious kids. In spite of their limited English and our nonexistent Dzonga, we seemed to communicate just fine. They were charming, delightful, curious and seemed to be well fed and in great health. After interacting with them, shaking hands with them and high-fiving them … I was, however, feeling in need of a Purell moment.

The darlings of the family were three precocious kids. In spite of their limited English and our nonexistent Dzonga, we seemed to communicate just fine. They were charming, delightful, curious and seemed to be well fed and in great health. After interacting with them, shaking hands with them and high-fiving them … I was, however, feeling in need of a Purell moment.

The darlings of the family were three precocious kids. In spite of their limited English and our nonexistent Dzonga, we seemed to communicate just fine. They were charming, delightful, curious and seemed to be well fed and in great health. After interacting with them, shaking hands with them and high-fiving them … I was, however, feeling in need of a Purell moment.

The house itself was interesting. It was a collection of a few simple rooms. It was clean, but not antiseptically so. It was simply furnished as though the family spent most of their waking hours working outside and their principle occupation here was eating and sleeping. And I suppose that was true. In this picture you can see a ceremonial drum. We saw these at the temple dedication, and I presume it was used here in worship at the shrine the family built.

Here's a basic sleeping room. Notice the mattress on the floor and the linens in the cabinet.

Here’s another sleeping room. This family lives a simple live. Nothing is ever lost in these rooms. Nothing extra is owned as a personal possession. It is a smarten existence ... yet the family we met was obviously happy, broke into smiles frequently as we interacted with them, and gave no evidence whatsoever of discontent. Maybe there is something to the simple life and Bhutan's focus on its Gross National Happiness Quotient.

And here's another room, simplicity exemplified.

I mentioned earlier that Buddhism was close to the surface here. Here's an example. This family, and nearly every other if our guides are correct, has set up a shrine in their home.

Mankind is inclined to decorate. Here too we see this tendency in action.

Mankind is inclined to decorate. Here too we see this tendency in action.