Druk WangyAl Chorten: Our first stop on our drive to Bumthang was at Druk Wangyal Chorten, actually a collection of 108 chorten arranged in an oval pattern on an island splitting the roadway. Most cars passing this Chorten take the time to circle the island at least once by car before continuing on their journey. Peep and I took the time to walk around the chorten, clockwise of course, while our driver circled it several times by car.
Chendebji Chorten: After a lunch break, we continued on our way stopping to admire the beauty of the mountains and valleys, as well as to stretch our legs and give our driver a break from the winding mountain roads. One stop was at the Chendebji Chorten. Other stops included observing some wildlife, like a couple groups of monkeys we encountered, and several of the countless waterfalls we passed.
Gongkhar Guest House: We finally arrived in Bumthang shortly after six and checked into Gongkhar Guest house, a new guest house part of which is still under construction. As with all buildings in Bhutan, the stones used for construction are hand formed and the woodwork is all hand painted. We ate dinner at the guest house’s restaurant where we met an Australian couple whom we ran into at one of the temples the following day, as well as back in Thimpu and finally on our flight to Bangkok. After dinner, we relaxed next to the wood burning stove in our room before retiring for the night.