Day 10 in Beautiful Bhutan - 29 November 2008-

Visit to Zhiwa Ling Resort


Before we left for the Paro Airport for our flight home via Kolkata, we asked to visit the Zhiwa Ling Resort (Place of Peace). Mr Chhimmy, the Managing Director of Bae yul Excursions, our travel agent in Bhutan who knows the owner of this hotel personally accompanied us for the visit. We were shown around by one of the senior staff, Ms Sonan.








Ms Sonan with the four of us - Hsiao Yun took this photograph.

Ngoh at the entrance of the 45 suite Zhiwa Ling - which combines the traditional intricacies of Bhutanese architecture and modern technology with its Swedish under floor heating.

Once inside the hotel, one cannot but be impressed with the hotel's elaborate hand-carved wooden cornices and beautiful stonework.

This is the Reception counter.

Another view of the intricate cornices and balconies.

The beautifully carved columns ...

From the balcony of one of the rooms in the main building. We visited the most expensive suite - the Royal Room which costs US$950 per night without taxes . The suite comes with 2 huge bedrooms which can accommodate 4 to 6 guests, a large conference room, attached baths and other facilities. In fact, we feel that the price is not expensive if we have 6 persons to share the cost especially when the room is very luxuriously furnished. Perhaps on our next visit, we may book into this hotel...

The other facilities in this resort include the Spa, a Business center, a tea house, a restaurant, disco, a meditation hall and a temple. According to the brochure, all winter, weeklong Buddhist Retreat programmes are conducted by world renowned Rinpoches.

View of the other buildings which house the Junior Suites.

End of post

Day 9 in Beautiful Bhutan - 28 November 2008 (b)

Walking along the River in Paro





Ngoh and Su-lynn together with our guide, Yeshi went for a leisurely walk along the river that runs through Paro while Khin, Tiang and Hsiao Yun stayed in the hotel - as we had volunteered to cook dinner for ourselves and a few others including Mr Chhimmey and the boss of the Sonam Trophel Hotel.

The "trekkers" captured these scenes during their walk:


These are the very unique trees along the bank of the river...

The river with crystal clear cold waters with lots of pebbles...

Ngoh walking with guide Yeshi while Su-lynn took this shot.

During the walk, Yeshi was called back and he took a short cut by crossing the river.

Crossing a river is no problem for a local Bhutanese like our guide..

For certain parts, Yeshi had to jump over stones and pebbles...

Look, it's easy ...

There are lots of logs in the compound of this village house.

A part of a village house.

This house has clothes hanging outside its compound and it also flies the Bhutanese flag.

Ponies grazing and drinking water from the stream

A typical scene along the river - women washing clothes by the river.

A scenic view of the river with the village/town in the background.

Another beautiful part of the river.

A few local Bhutanese taking a stroll along the river and throwing pebbles along the way...

A little boy enjoying a packet of titbits outside his house - very simple joys of childhood - like most children we met in Bhutan.

Another simple joy - watching people passing by.

These three boys are engaged in some kind of play.The boy in the middle is wearing the national costume ("gho").

Cows - there are plenty of them in Bhutan and they are also regarded as sacred animals - like in India.

There are also many dogs in Bhutan. According to the guide, many of them are vaccinated so that they do not spread rabies.

70 % of the Bhutanese are farmers and they work hard and are contented. Primary producers like farmers are an admirable lot in any country.

A family walking home - one member was carrying a white sack of rice? while the mother was carrying a toddler on her back.

This woman with weather-beaten complexion was carrying a basket of wood and other stuff.

Ngoh stopped to have a picture taken with this local villager.

And then he walked briskly, probably heading for home.

These two local Bhutanese had an easier mode of transport - a three-wheeled "tractor"?

It was no wonder that both Ngoh and Su-lynn enjoyed their walk along the river as they had a glimpse of the local village life as well as enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

End of Day 9 (b)