Culture

We embarked on a Cultural Tour with a farm homestay, archery viewing (the national sport!), paper making, visit to an astrologer and lots of picnic lunches (which is a common activity for locals).

Archery was quite impressive with the small targets located 150 meters away.  The opposing team would stand in front to watch as the arrows flew towards them - high stepping or just slightly dodging the arrows.  Lots of chanting and hoopla, and yes every year a few deaths.  It was fun to watch.  Villages play each other and usually pay to enter with one team taking home the loot. 

We visited the local astrologer before heading up to the highest pass of our trip to offer our prayer flags.  Both my Dad and I based on our birth dates are wood - green.  My Mom is fire which initially sounded bad but the astrologer says the wood feeds the fire to make it bigger and they both need each other - trees needing fire as well.  Interesting point.  Jeff's element is steel which is the opposite of wood - the astrologer and our guide thought it was funny; however apparently if signs are completely incompatible there can be accommodations made.  In our case I need to buy a Green Tara statue and Jeff a statue of power - I didn't buy them but asked if a photo could suffice!  ;-) 

Beetle nut is practically part of the Bhutanese people's culture with a lot of people chewing the red paste in a leaf.  I thought it was neat how our Guide just took Beetle nut from people as it was offered in the street.  Yuk!!! 

Our picnic lunches were amazing - great food usually prepared from the night stay before with 5 course meals and with great views.