crazietalk.net

This one's for you, Lavabe!

Mom is in India and Bhutan for a few weeks. She sends me daily texts on her adventures. Texting is a new skill for my Duke-educated English teaching mom. We had to give her a crash course in abbreviations and shortcuts in grammar.

Here's what the travel company writes about Mom's itinerary, and afterwards in italics, I'll include Mom's texts:

Day 2: Kolkata, India Depending on flight schedules, you'll arrive in Kolkata either late this evening or early on Day 3.
Arrived 3:13 pm 5:43 NC Flew St John Ireland Berlin Warsaw Kiev Caspian Sea west of Qandahar east of Kabal and Islamabad over mts to Delhi Ate 3 times Slept

Day 3: Kolkata, India Enjoy a leisurely morning. Later, tour the city, stopping at Mother Theresa's "Mother House."
10 am: Do not no if Cathy got message Darrald no luggage Toured Kolkata today. Poverty. Beggars. British architecture. Crowds. Curry good. Saw funeral practice at river. (Darrald is my cousin's fiance. Mom was worried to death prior to the trip that she would lose her luggage. Apparently, this is a common experience for Americans traveling to India.)

My mind's eye is so enjoying its vision of this cute lady having all these adventures. Her warm heart is probably having a tough time seeing all that poverty, though. She's a doll. Please keep up the journal entries and tell her to stay with her guide and above all BE SAFE. We need her back in WW!!!
Love, Ima

Bhutan=Trachypithecus geei (golden langur)

Probably my favorite non-lemur primate.
I simply MUST see landscape photos or nature photos.
I always teach about Bhutan in Primate Conservation class. REALLY cool country. Economics revolve around GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS!!
I am insanely jealous and would love to see stuff from there.
Thanks for setting up this thread.

I don't know if Mom is going to be seeing any golden langurs. They are beautiful. Thanks for posting the picture, Lavabe. I will make a point to ask Mom if she saw any when she returns.

Day 3: Fly to Paro, Bhutan/Transfer to Thimphu

After breakfast, you fly from Kolkata to Paro. In clear weather, the flight to Bhutan provides a wonderful view of Himalayan scenery. Flying along the Himalayan range from Kathmandu, it is a fascinating journey, culminating in an exciting descent past forested hills into the kingdom.

Your Bhutanese Trip Leader will meet you on arrival at Paro airport. Then we’ll take an interesting drive of about 2.5 hours’ duration to Thimphu (7,600 feet), the modern capital town of Bhutan, and a stop at the Confluence. Throughout our drive, we will have the opportunity to see, firsthand, the road building program currently underway. We’ll have lunch at our hotel in Thimphu.

Leaving for Bhutan may not have service Saw Victoria Memorial Noisy horns Preparing for festival of lights Hot Dusty Well rested Send to David / Cathy Love Mom

So, who knows whether my brothers and I will hear from Mom tomorrow and the following six days or not? I know she's having a good time.

Day 4: Thimphu

Exquisitely beautiful and brimming with traditional Bhutanese art, architecture, and culture, this tiny capital of Bhutan is nothing less than Shangri-La. As we spend the day exploring, notice the touches of modernity, each one introduced thoughtfully and gradually to protect the environment.

This morning’s tour is sure to provide insight into Bhutan’s unique culture. We begin with a visit to the National Library, which holds a vast collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts as well as the world’s largest book, followed by a stop at the Arts and Crafts School, also known as “Zorig Chusum,” the traditional school of the 13 arts and crafts. Next, the Textile Museum offers us rare glimpses into Bhutan’s finest textiles through demonstrations of production techniques such as weaving, dyeing, and spinning. We then enjoy a visit to a factory that produces hand-made paper before lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon we’ll visit the Handicrafts Emporium to see the exquisite artistry of traditional crafts and textiles. Then we’ll drive to the Memorial Chorten. Built in 1974 in memory of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the “Father of Modern Bhutan,” this multi-storied monument displays numerous paintings and statues that provide a rare insight into Buddhist philosophy.

We will also visit the Takin Reserve, where we will see the national animal of Bhutan—an odd beast that confounds the experts, who have managed to relate it only to sheep. A Bhutanese myth suggests that the takin is a cow-goat hybrid, but its strong resemblance to the North American moose is difficult to ignore. We’ll continue up for a bird's-eye view of Thimphu and take a brief hike beyond to enjoy a stunning view of the valley.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

No report from Mom today.


Day 5: Thimpu/Travel the Dochula Pass to Punakha

After breakfast, we'll depart for Punakha. We arrive at the hotel in time to enjoy lunch. Then, we drive over the stunning 10,000-feet Dochula Pass, one of Bhutan's most enchanting views. Weather permitting, we can see the craggy peaks of Bhutan's northern Himalayan border. After a short stop at the pass we continue to Punakha.

The fertile valley of Punakha is drained by the Phochu and Mochu rivers and blessed with a temperate climate. Before Thimphu was made the capital of Bhutan, Punakha held the title as the winter capital because of its more temperate climate. Today it is the winter seat of the Je- Khenpo (the Chief Abbot) and the Central Monk Body.

Later in the afternoon we’ll visit the Punakha Dzong or (Palace of Great Happiness), built at the junction of the Phochu and Mochu rivers in 1637 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. This majestic dzong served as both the religious and the administrative center of Bhutan in the past. It measures some 600 by 240 feet and has a six-story, gold-domed tower. Inside are courtyards and religious statuary that hint at the depth of history and spiritual tradition embodied here. Your guide will illuminate your understanding of this intricate culture that is exotic to us, though long established here.

After dinner at the hotel, our evening is free.

Curving roads Harvesting rice Snow capped Himalayas Visited Punakha Dzong King married here Free schools English required Free health care Send to C & D

Scroll to the bottom to read Mom and Janice's email. It's our first non-text communication from them!

Day 6: Wangdue Phodrang Dzong/Chhimi Lhakhang Monastery

After breakfast, we start the day with a nature drive of the surrounding valleys and learn more about the abundant regional flora and fauna en route. Then we head for Wangdue Phodrang, a nearly 400-year-old town that is home to a dzong located on a ridge with a commanding view of the valleys below. As we enjoy a guided tour here, we’ll be fully immersed in Bhutan’s spectacular Himalayan world, where the works of a long-isolated culture exhibit a dignity and spirituality to match the loftiness of their natural surroundings. You’ll visit Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, which was founded by the Shabdrung in 1638. The dzong is strategically located on a promontory overlooking the meeting point of the Sunkosh and Tangmachu rivers. The district of Wangdue Phodrang is also famous for its bamboo products and slate and stone carvings.

After lunch at our hotel, you’ll hike to Chhimi Lhakhang Monastery, a 30-40 minute gradual hike. Situated on a hillock below the village of Metshina, the temple was built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley (also known as the Divine Madman) and is believed to enable conception to childless women who visit it and receive a blessing.

A walk through the village near the temple will give you rare glimpses into the daily life and lifestyle of the villagers. We’ll also visit a local farmhouse and spend time with its occupants, enjoying the warmth of their hospitality.

Day 7: Punakha/Paro Dzong

After breakfast, we drive to Paro via Thimpu, stopping at Dochula Pass for another opportunity to view the spectacular scenery.

After a late lunch at our hotel, we visit the Paro Dzong: "Fortress on a Heap of Jewels." Considered by many to be the most impressive dzong in Bhutan, it's a fine climax to our explorations of these magnificent structures. Gleaming white above the surrounding valleys, this dzong was built in 1646 to defend the valley against repeated invasion from Tibet.

Later this afternoon we enter Paro by crossing a traditional bridge. We then have the rest of the afternoon to explore the town at leisure. We have dinner together at our hotel in Paro this evening.

Day 8: Paro/Tiger's Nest Lookout/Kyichu Lhakhang

In the morning, we’ll hike (approximately 90 minutes) to Tiger’s Nest (Taktsang) Monastery viewpoint. Perched seemingly impossibly on a cliff 3,000 feet above the valley floor, Taktsang is a place of pilgrimage for locals—and for visitors like us, a hike to the viewpoint opposite the monastery is thrilling and mystical. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew to the site of the monastery on the back of a tigress from Tibet, and meditated there for three months—thus bringing Buddhism to Bhutan. The main building of the temple was destroyed by fire in April 1998 but has now been restored to its original splendor and glory. It is possible to take the ride up by horseback—but only for the brave!

Today, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we explore sacred Kyichu Lhakhang. The temple was reportedly built in 659 by King Sontsen Gampo of Tibet. According to legend, it pins the left foot of an ogress so large that she covers Bhutan and most of eastern Tibet. Time and weather permitting we continue on to the National Museum, housed in an ancient watchtower. Here, we’ll view a fine collection of ancient thangka paintings, textiles, weapons and other historical artifacts.

Tonight you’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel.

Greetings everyone,

This is another group e-mail, so some things may not apply to everyone. We are in Paro and this is the first free computer access that we have had. Of course we really haven't had any free time to speak of. The weather has been great except for one rainy day in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan.

Food has been generally good; one lunch was excellent, one was poor. There is always cheese with chiles--veeery hot!!! but served at lunch and dinner. They dry chiles on the roof tops everywhere. We have rice at every l and d. Breakfasts are westernized. Here they serve red rice which is sometimes pink (That's for you, Caroline).

The beds are firm and hard, but we seem to sleep pretty well because we are so tired. We did have soft pillows last night at our resort/spa. Plumbing is interesting, they are not very skilled, BUT they are western not eastern so far!!! Em, they can use your expertise--you could go into business. We of course use bottled water and they are very generous with water for drinking, brushing teeth etc. here in Bhutan. We hope that it will be the same in India. We have had very good TV service. Usually we have CNN and always the BBC. English is spoken quite a bit among those who deal with tourists.

We have seen lots of monasteries and Dzongs which were built in the 1600s. There were either 20 or 24, built by a man who is now a saint. Four of us women are staying behind while everyone else 2 women and 4 men are on a 5 hour hike to the Tiger's Nest Monastery. The 800+ steps down and 800+ steps up convinced Janice that she did not need to subject herself to this adventure (Catherine did not go partly because she did not want to ride the mule which was an option). I will go on a shopping adventure this morning.

Darrald's suitcase did not arrive in Calcutta. He has done fairly well because we did some cross packing. But his last nerve has about had it with the nightly washing of clothing.

Bhutan is a very happy place with lovely scenery, however the hairpin and blind curves at 50 mph is a scary ride.

We met cows in the road several times and there was always a drop off on one side of the bus. We are glad that those travels are over. Of course they did not have roads until the 1950s. When we went from Thimphu to Punakha we traveled over the Dochula Pass at 10,000 ft and had wonderful views of the snow capped Himalayas.

Tomorrow we fly to Delhi. and we will be returning to the land of horn blowing in traffic. They drive with their horns over here. We will also return to the land of curry and wall to wall people on the sidewalks. We thought that Cairo was dirty, but cities in India (not so much in Bhutan) are just dirty with debris everywhere, and smelly.

Well that's our update so far. Stay tuned for the next free computer service. We hope that all of the grandchildren are enjoying fall and school!

Love,
Janice and Catherine and Darrald
(the traveling grandmothers and granddad)

Day 15: Jaipur, India

Float high over the countryside on an optional balloon ride excursion. Discover Jaipur's Palace of the Winds and Jantar Mantar, a remarkable 18th century observatory. Uncover untold treasures at the City Palace Museum. The afternoon is yours to explore.

Happy Birthday! I remember two happy people when Baby Cathy arrived 50 years ago today. Your dad bought cigars. Hot today 87 Where was snow Sorry about Herb Jaipur great Love Mom

Cigars. I didn't know my dad bought cigars the day I was born. That was one form of tobacco I never saw him consume.

Thank you for sharing. Your mom is amazing.