Nov 10, 2014 Monday Gangtey

The views of the Phobjikha Valley from the hotel (both balcony and rooms) are spectacular and serene.  Could have stayed here and sat on the balcony for a week soaking up the scenery and the quiet calm of the area.

View from the Balcony

View from our room

We could also see the Gangtey Monastery in the distance.

Gangtey Monastery in mid-right of the picture.

Gangtey Monastery

This morning we went to the Gangtey Monastery, which is only about a 10 minute walk from the hotel.  Randy was staying at a guest house right next to the monastery. 

While there we visited with a young monk from India that Tara had met on her last visit to Bhutan.  He introduced us to another monk, a 13 year old who is believed to be the reincarnation of a 16^th century chief abbot.  He seemed to be a very serious and contained young man although he did say he liked playing soccer and volleyball.  He is studying here, then will spend time (I think 3 years) meditating, and will eventually take over as the head of the monastery that the chief abbot headed.

Reincarnate - Second from right

We then spent some time watching the monks practice for a festival that they would be performing in the next day.  

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Four young monks killing time while the older ones were practicing for the festival.

The next stop was the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park Black Necked Cranes center.  The cranes had just started arriving a couple of weeks before we got there and the count that day was 54 cranes.  We saw about 50 of them, from quite a distance.  Fortunately they are very large birds at about 4 ½ feet tall.  Otherwise think we wouldn't have been able to see them very well.

After our return to the hotel the three of us headed out for an archery lesson with old fashioned bamboo bows and arrows.  The targets were set fairly close together (maybe 50 or 60 feet).  Mary hit the target on her first try (but never again)

Jessica also eventually hit the target.

Paul never hit the target but he was the object of a lot of attention by some monks who were passing by.