The never-ending maintenance… mostly out of view except for us nosy visitors…
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… a fort from about 1650…
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A “new” “barn” like many across the landscape as we hike through villages filled with people with eager smiles.
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Bamboo scaffolding that the workers scamper over carrying concrete, etc. Probably would have some difficulty meeting OSHA standards– even in the era of Trump….. (first time I have uttered his name in days.)
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We spent a couple of days at the Black Necked Crane Reserve for the last few hundred of these magnificent birds. They breed and summer here before migrating to the Tibetan Plateau for the winter–flying at an astounding 33,500 feet! This poor one is living in a compound (they are building it a bigger and better one) because a predator ripped one of its wings and it can no longer fly (even after two surgeries). Their eye coloration is fierce. Their red crown is befitting a bird with holy status among the Bhutan people.
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As a juvenile, it is still almost as tall as Bunny.
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The King’s palace at the junction of two rivers (male and female). Reportedly, when this and all of the other forts and temples were built in the 17th century, it was without drawings–working instead from the vision in the head of the architect. Whether or not it is true, the architecture and construction (e.g., no nails) are amazing. The gold roof is the temple where the King and Queen were married. It was not permitted to take photos inside the temple (or any other temple) but you can imagine how over-the-top it is.
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The approach to the palace. This is the closest the guards will allow exterior photography (unless you sneak one… see the next photo). The King’s residence is behind me and across the river.
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(I think) this is the entrance to the courtyard where the King and his newly married Queen made their entrance for the reception of their marriage.
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This tree in the center courtyard (of many courtyards) of the palace where the King got married is reportedly from a cutting from the tree under which Buddha received enlightenment.
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