Tigers Nest, Paro Bhutan
Day 6.
Woke in Punakha and we are driving to Paro today. Stopped at the Dochula Pass but unfortunately it was socked in and so we were blessed with no view. I did however get my mother a beautiful gift, (took out what it was since she will read this and I’m saving it for her birthday.)
We continued to Thimphu, where the Six Senses had asked to host me for a site inspection and lunch. There are no other words other than - WOW. When you walk into the lobby your jaw hits the ground and your soul transcends to heaven. No, I am not over exaggerating.
The GM told me many guests cry when they walk in for the first time.
This property holds an element of peace and beauty I have never experienced from a hotel before. Serenity- captures its essence. There is no detail not considered in its structure, then paired with its impeccable service makes this property flawless. I had the privilege of seeing one of their Villas and a Lodge Suite and I was left breathless. Then there’s their spa and pool…another wow factor at play.
We had lunch. Again, superb. What really put the cherry on the sundae was they brought out a birthday cake for my father. I had briefly mentioned to the GM that the reason for the Bhutan trip was to celebrate my fathers 70th birthday and it was his life long dream to come here. He remembered that and literally had a cake brought out that read “Happy 70th”!
After lunch we continued our journey to Paro. A bit exhausted we had time for one tour activity and went to the National Museum of Bhutan. What a beautiful building and view! (Definitely not to be missed.) It used to be the watchtower for the Paro Dzong. Built in 1649 and then converted into museum. It is 7 uneven stories and holds beautiful art and artifacts. The lighting and the way it flows makes you feel that your in another grandmothers really nice house. Architectural wise its the most unique museum I have been to.
We were then dropped at our hotel. Told to rest and relax because tomorrow was Tigers Nest hike day. Dinner was meh.
Day 7.
Where has the time gone? We have never felt in a rush, yet the days slipped away quicker than I could have ever hoped. This place is a dream. It holds the same sentiment as when you finish a new favorite book and you almost wish that you hadn’t read it so you could read it again for the first time. That is how Bhutan is. I want to experience everything again for the first time, repeating my exact footprints. There is nothing about my time here or the itinerary that I would change. Like the book, I envy the ones who get to come here for the first time.
There is a peace that I haven’t felt anywhere else in the world. It radiates and resonates from the temples, stupas, dzongs, people, landscape… Life seems to be simpler here. Maybe I just have rose colored glasses on?
Today was our last day and we are hiking Tigers Nest.
We, (Pops and I) were picked up at 6am by Karma and Amber. The ticket office (to purchase your entrance ticket to enter Tigers Nest) opens at 6:30am and we wanted to get there immediately. We started hiking at 6:35.
We passed a couple groups. I was determined to be the first ones to the top, I just had no idea how feasible that actually was. We kept climbing. Passed another group. (I was wondering how in the world they were already that far ahead if they had to wait till 6:30 to get their tickets… )
I then saw the horsemen. With a couple in front. Felt a bit deflated. Yet, continued to climb and passed them. We made it to the “look out” point that was completely socked in. There was a guide and woman there. I then expected we wouldn’t be the first, but they had actually NOT bought a ticket and started at 6am, to only hike to the view point- but not actually enter Tigers Nest.
We hiked down the final 400 steps and then up the other 400, past the raging waterfall that was larger than normal because of all the rain Paro had been receiving. We got to the golden gate and opened it. WE HAD MADE IT FIRST. We continued to climb the last few sets of stairs. We got to where the policeman checks tickets and theres lockers. Nothing is allowed into Tigers Nest. I was sad to leave my camera. More stairs and we finally were there. After Karma gave us a brief history lesson on the outside he signified to me the first door and said I could open it, it then remains open the rest of the day. Its an honor to be the first person there and to open the temple. My father then had the honor of opening up the next temple room. There, we got to sit down and meditate in complete solitude. Being at the main tourism attraction of the country and having it completely to ourselves is now a core memory. Being able to sit cross legged, open minded, and open heart; and just soak in the energy the place held, in complete silence and tranquility - I mean, there are no words. It was a complete once in a lifetime experience that just happened to be.
We lit butter lamps that Karma had got us as a gift and made a good fortune wish for the ones we loved. By the time we finished at all the temples of Tigers Nest the clouds had cleared. We started our journey back. Passing all the ones who were just now arriving. Seeing the exhaustion in their eyes. I totally understood. Haha. We made it back to the main look out point directed at Tigers Nest. Perfectly clear, but with no clouds came an accompaniment of people. That waiting for a few minutes in line to get the perfect shot and angle, type of tourist cheese feeling. But the view, that vantage point is truly special, so it’s worth it, undoubtedly.
Everyone who’s made it that far is happy, excited, and grateful. Theres just this good energy all around.
On our decent we stopped at the half way point restaurant. I got a latte and continued to enjoy the view.
The rest of our decent down took actually longer than I had expected. Lots of vert. We reached the car and headed back into town. We stopped at one of the main bridges and Karma & Amber surprised us with prayer flags to hang from a bridge. Karma said they wanted our flags to be somewhere they passed frequently and would think of us, Karma has literately been the best.
After the bridge we walked down small path and were surprised by a picnic lunch and a far view of Tigers Nest. We all got to eat our last meal together and it was really special.
From there we went to a local farm house that did hot stone baths, where Pops and I got a little special treatment. 1500N (equivalent to $18 usd) a unique and local experience. In the tub had some leaves and the stones are said to have heeling minerals. It takes place in a square wooden bathtub that has been divided into 2/3rds. You sit in the larger section of the bathtub and then the other section is blocked by a large wooden grate where heated stones form the river are placed . The rocks sizzle as they touch the water. They will keep adding stones until you say stop. So you need to remember that. I soaked for about 30mins. It was wonderful. (I’m writing this the following day and I am not sore in the slightest form our hike yesterday… the mineral in the stones absolutely work!) For some reason I’m surprised, but then again, this place is straight magic, of course they have heeling stones in their rivers.
