How I Spent My Summer Vacation

There are two weeks' vacation in the middle of the Bhutanese school year and because Tashiyangtse is the most beautiful place in the world, I had lots of BCF visitors!



We went on a three day hike to the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. We saw the most picturesque landscapes I have ever seen...

...as well as the most terrifying tree leeches! They just reach out and grab 'ya.



We visited three monastries. Rigsum Gonpa has incredibe views:



Peri Gonpa is tiny with only one monk but he is absolutely delightful:



And Dechen Phodrung is just beyond all beyond. It is built into a boulder and splashed by a rushing river:

Back in town, we watched local artisans work. This man is making wooden bowls on a lathe:

This is a kira loom:

And here are some student woodworking projects at Zorig Chusum, the local institute for traditional arts and crafts:

It was a refreshing holiday, just what the doctor ordered to obliterate the last traces of my illness. I came back to school at full power and ready to rock!