Tag: Bhutan

PARO, BHUTAN STREETART: DUALITY by DALEAST

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The day I finally connected with Ugyen, the guru’s housekeeper, to see a mural by DALEAST, will go down as one of my best days in Bhutan. I usually don’t go anywhere for any extended period of time that doesn’t have a surplus of street art. Bhutan was my exception.
And then to find out that there are a few pieces from one of the most recognized street artists in the world here, I had to chase them down. The artist himself has put me in touch with the keepers of these private residences. Long story short, he got stuck here during Covid 🦠, hence, it is depicted in this mural.

The artist’s explanation of the mural is here. I did some additional research in reference to what he mentions about Padmasambhava and Parnashavari:

Padmasambhava embodies the union of opposites—wisdom and compassion, destruction and creation—transforming obstacles into enlightenment. Parnashavari, the forest goddess, bridges nature and healing, embodying the tension between wildness and protection. Both represent duality as a path to transcendence: opposites not as contradictions, but as complements guiding toward wholeness.

I have been invited to do a retreat here anytime, and I am very much looking forward to it. ☮️ 🕉️☸️☯️
Padmasambhava, a.k.a. Guru Rinpoche, considered the second Buddha.
Ugyen, the guru’s housekeeper, and the one who helped make this visit to the private residence possible.

Paro, Bhutan 🇧🇹
19dec24

THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: MAN-BIRD

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Garuda, man-bird, wings spread wide, sun beats down, scales shimmer, ancient power, protector of the Dharma, eyes of wisdom, watching over the land, Bhutan’s sky spirit, soaring high.

December 2024

PARO, BHUTAN STREETART: JOKER

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The Joker grins on a wall in Paro, painted chaos in a land of order—laughing at the prayer flags, daring the mountains to blink.
18dec24

PARO, BHUTAN: FOOD & TEA

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I spent the week before Christmas in Paro and enjoyed some good food.

The four items directly below are from the Mountain Cafés. The first two are from the one on the Main Street. And it only offers veg-options. The other two are from the one facing the city center park. This one offers both veg and non-veg-options.

Christmas Oreo cheesecake
Aloo Tamatar

Bhutan Cordyceps Tea by Bhutan Cordyceps Sinensis is a blend of Bhutanese Wild Cordyceps, Tulsi and Green Tea.
*Cordyceps are known to boost your body’s immune system by strengthening the defence mechanism in the body. Packed with antioxidants and anti-carcinogen,  it delays the ageing process and also helps replenish the kidneys and gastrointestinal system. It was good.
Hamburger. I live in Thimphu and I’ve been trying to find a burger for the past six months, not one that’s going to match something from the States, I’ve given up that hope…BUT, I keep looking for something that’s going to at least satisfy my craving. Suffice it to say, this is the best hamburger I’ve found. Not disappointed.
Steamed pork momo at Sonam Trophel restaurant. Their dumplings are popular in Paro.
Sea Salt Caramel pie from Brioche Café

December 2024

PARO, BHUTAN GRAFFITI: THE WALLS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY

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Even here, in Bhutan, where mountains guard tradition and prayer flags whisper peace, rebellion finds a voice. Graffiti creeps along whitewashed walls—half-hidden, half-bold. A splash of black, a cryptic symbol, a crude phrase. It’s defiance, but not loud—more like a quiet challenge, a mixed message where sacred meets profane.
A spray can marks a fleeting claim. A traveler leaves words no one will read. It’s rebellion and belonging, chaos and order, a need to say, I was here. Even in a land of harmony, the walls have something to say.

Paro, Bhutan 🇧🇹
December 2024

PARO, BHUTAN ART: DEER PARK

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A traditional Bhutanese Buddhist motif featuring the Dharma Wheel (dharmachakra) in the center, painted in golden yellow with ornate details and sitting atop a lotus flower. It’s flanked by two deer, which likely represent the deer from the Deer Park in Sarnath where Buddha gave his first sermon.

Paro, Bhutan 🇧🇹
December 2024

PARO, BHUTAN ART: COILED FURY

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Coiled fury, sacred breath—Bhutan’s dragon, a myth alive in color and cloud.
18dec24

PARO, BHUTAN: KICHU LAKHANG

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The road to Kichu Lakhang twisted like a mantra spoken through mountains. ⛰️ I walked for a long time until a taxi 🚕 gave me a fair deal. “I live in Thimphu. I’m not a tourist.”
Time slowed as I stepped into its embrace—old white stone walls breathing stories, prayer wheels spinning whispers of faith.
Built by Tibet’s Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century to pin down a demoness of chaos, this was no mere monastery; it was a map of devotion. I learned that in the book I’m reading on The History of Bhutan.
The air, thick with incense, carried echoes of a thousand pilgrim footsteps, and I stood still, lost in the rhythm of ancient chants, the pulse of eternity beating in this sacred heart of Bhutan. 🇧🇹
19dec24

THIMPHU, BHUTAN: HISTORY-MAKING ED SHEERAN CONCERT AT CHANGLIMITHANG STADIUM

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Ed Sheeran – History-Making Concert in Thimphu, Bhutan 🇧🇹

Ed hopped onto the stage with his signature humility, guitar slung over his shoulder, and a smile that seemed just as excited to be here as we were. The crowd erupted as he opened with “Castle on the Hill,” a song that somehow felt fitting, given the towering dzongs and mountain ranges surrounding us.

thimphu bhutan
24jan25

PARO, BHUTAN ART: DORJE DROLO

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This is a Dorje Drolo, a wrathful deity in Tibetan Buddhism. The large phallus symbolizes his ability to overcome obstacles and the dragon represents his power and ferocity.
Dorje Drolo is often associated with protection and the defeat of evil. He is said to have the power to subdue demons and bring peace to the world. ☮️ 🌍
18dec24