Bhutan Day 2 - Thimphu

This picture was taken from the window of my hotel room.
Saw the big soccer field? That's the place where the current 5th king held his marriage in 2011.
The celebration lasted 3 days and 3 nights! The locals came to catch a glimpse of the wedding ceremony and also to give their blessings to the King and Queen.

University of Buddhist Studies

After an early breakfast, we set off to the University of Buddhist Studies which is located at about 2800m above sea level. We had to take a hike up, which lasted about 45 mins

This university is equivalent to any other universities where the students (monks) have to attend lectures and examinations. These monks are highly respected in the country and people come to them to seek their blessings.

It was a good morning exercise for us. I like the cool, clean fresh air, the gentle sunlight make it a good weather for hiking. I was glad that I had prepared myself physically for this trip. However, the high altitude makes it slightly difficult for breathing and that slowed me down.

Along the way, I enjoyed the tranquility of the surrounding, hearing the birds chirping and the river flowing. This is probably something I would not experience in the city.

You would have got a sense of the height of this place just by looking at the clouds and the mountain! It was relatively quiet, as the monks were having lessons. Photography is not allowed at monastery, so we had a quick walk round the compound before descending.

We were back to Thimphu where we had our lunch in this Bhutanese restaurant. Lunch is scrumptious.

Local Market

It's always interesting and fun to visit the local market as it reflects the livelihood of the people. The marketplace is clean and organize. The place is organised based on the items sold, for example, you have sections for fruits, poultry, vegetable and spices. As no slaughtering of animals is allow in Bhutan, all the poultry are imported. About 80% of the local ingredients are imported from the neighborhood country, mainly India. Bhutan also produces crops such as apples, potatoes and chili.

One of the things that I have noticed in Bhutan is that English is commonly used. Many of the notice boards and signboards are in English. The local are also able to speak English as well.

According to the tour guide, it was the 3rd King who encouraged the use of English language in schools. He was also responsible for introducing democracy. You can read more of it here.

My opinion of Bhutan changed. It is a country that has transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a multi-party democracy. While trying to introduce modernism, it ensures that its culture and traditions are not eroded in any way. Now I understand why I often could hear "Gangnam Style" as one of the ring tones while walking in the marketplace. Some of the people were using smart phone too. Lol.

Across the marketplace, there is a bridge that links to another bazaar. It sells souvenirs, clothes, accessories and local hardware such as pots and pans.