TIGER'S NEST - BHUTAN

While in the pristine countryside of Bhutan…

I trekked up to a monastery called Tiger’s Nest…

Located in the lower Himalayas…

Not to be confused with the high Himalayas…

Where Mt. Everest is.

The local tale is that Padmasambava, a Brahmin royal…

(also known as the second Buddha)

Who brought tantric Buddhism to Bhutal in the 1600’s…

Arrived in by way of a flying tiger—his concubine…

To Paro Taktsang to meditate in a cave for four months in the mountains where this monastery is located.

There, he also subdued local demons.

With no flying tiger in sight…

(and thank God no demons)

I went halfway up by way of a gassy pack horse…

The other half by foot, plus all the way back down.

The monastery is perched at 10,000 feet.

Starting point is already 7,000 feet…

And then you trek the remainder 3,000 feet…

On loose soil, jagged rocks…

With shear drops down.

Tricky!  Slippery!  Sometimes scary!

But the scenery? Jaw dropping!

The flags you see are prayer flags…

And are everywhere in Bhutan.

I of course...

Hung a few recommended by locals.

Halfway up is a tea house…

Where we stopped for much needed nourishment.

 

And finally...

I and my group of 6 made it! 

Of course there's a foot bridge we had to cross...

To get the monastery.

Me and our guide, Chadau

Well, that's it for today...

Monday?

Nepal.

Have a great weekend!

Always, Em-Musing

I SEE PENISES

Ah, Bhutan…

Your pristine waters flowing…

Your Himalayan mountains showing…

Your temples glowing…

Your monks of the Buddhist mind…

Your people friendly and kind…

Chadau, our guide

And everywhere…

Penises of every color and size! 

These are hung on the 4 corners of a house
for good luck. 

Chadau with penis statue in a restaurant

Made in workshops everywhere

Bhutan is known for....

GNH - Gross National Happiness...

And perhaps with the penis...

And what it stands for (pardon the pun)...

That's the reason why?

So?

On the happiness scale...

What's gives you...

Your GPH - Gross Personal Happiness?

Tomorrow I'll share my trek up to Tiger's Nest, 9300 ft.

Always, Em-Musing 

BANGING OUT BANGKOK

Phew! 
I’m back…
Jet lagged…
A bit sick (actually major) from something or other.
But all in all?
The trip of a lifetime!
I’ll sum up each city this week the best I can.
Bangkok….
Beautiful new city…
Beautiful old city…
Loved the open night markets...
a.k.a. red light districts…
Such as Patpong and, Soi Cowboy,
What?
I’m a writer. It’s research! I had to see for myself.
And actually...
Those districts, at best, seemed silly to me...
Or at least, pathetic.
But the new riverside market, Asiatique?
Awesome!
Also awesome, the food in Bangkok…
And the people.
And of course the unbelievably gorgeous temples.
I only spent a day and a half in Bangkok…
But it was enough to make me fall in love...
And I would definitely go back.  
Here’re a few photos… 

Me at the Asiatique riverside market

Getting around by boat

Getting around in a tuk tuk

Just one of many temples at the Grand Palace

World's largest reclining Buddha

Just one of many Buddhas

At the Grand Palace, don't know what these are called

Me pooped after a long day, hence no smile

Well, that's all for today...

Obviously there are more photos...

But these are my impressions of Bangkok.

Always, Em-Musing

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO INSIGHT

Guten tag….

Sawasdee Ka

Kuzu Zampo…

Namaste

I’m staring today’s post…

With greetings from Bangkok, Bhutan, Nepal…

And Germany.

Why?

Because I’m going on a journey…

A spiritual journey…

And these are the countries I’ll be visiting.

To say I’m excited is a huge understatement…

I’m off the wall excited.

Life has been strange for me this past year…

Who would have ever thought…

I’d be living now by myself in Mexico?

But I’ve always felt that Mexico…

Was the beginning of my path on my spiritual journey…

And when my friend Donna invited me on her tour…

These faraway places called to my soul.

I’ll be spending most of my time in Bhutan…

Visiting monasteries and attending festivals.

And this is what Bhutan’s philosophy is:

The wise and farsighted King of Bhutan has introduced this philosophy of gross national happiness. According to this philosophy, the progress and development is measured in terms of the Gross National Happiness (GNH) rather than the gross domestic product (GDP).

Can anyone not find happiness with this already?

I won’t be posting again until the end of November.

I can’t wait to see what this trip does to my muse.

Bye for now…

Auf Wiedersehen 

la kxn

Kuzu Zampo…

Namaste

And of course, adios.

Always, Em-Musing

DEATH DOES NOT BECOME ME

Hmm?

Perhaps gringas…

Shouldn’t celebrate holidays…

That are not of their culture or custom.

Why?

This morning..

I posted on Dia de los Meurtos…

Day of the dead…

And then hmm?

My car died.

But then again

Perhaps the car died due to karma?

I killed a dog yesterday…

Not on purpose, of course…

And I didn’t even know I hit it…

Until the irate owner tracked me down..

To my Spanish class.

Thankfully my teacher ran interference.

Because I don’t know enough Spanish..

To have maneuvered that conversation…

Other than, lo siento! Lo siento!

Mind you, there were no body parts on the car…

But the security cameras clearly showed…

Me at the wheel…

And the pooch running under my tire.

I had hoped to spend today social networking…

But now I’ll spend it finding a mechanic…

And seeing what’s up.

I’d wish you all a happy weekend…

But I’m afraid I’ll jinx that too.

As I knock my head on some wood.

Always, Em-Musing

THE DAY OF THE LIVING DEAD

Happy Dia de los Muertos!

Day of the Dead!

It’s been celebrated for centuries here in Mexico…

And originated with the Aztecs…

Who honored their dead for a month…

But when the Spanish took over…

Of course they had to change it.

And they incorporated it...

With the Catholic holiday of All Saints day.

Here in Mexico...

Families go to the cemetery with food and gifts…

That their loved one loved....

Or set up a temporary alter in their home

As you can see in the pic below… 

            Celebration at the gravesite  
Dia de los Muertos is a colorful holiday…
With most images being skeletons

                Catrinas

      Catrinas face painting 

       Face painting of skeletons

               Pan de Muertos
It's a traditional bread eaten on this day...
And has an image of a spider.
             
   Calaveras de azucar

    The last one is a pic of actual skull candy
And speaking of pics….

Check out the 1910 vintage photo of Halloween…

Um, yeah…

Those people coming at me would definitely freak me out. 

 

Have a great weekend...
My computer is still limping along...
Perhaps I can celebrate it with candy and flowers...
And bring all my software back to life?

Always, Em-Musing