Tue, 5/8. Many sights in a small area. Heavy traffic in a city with population 70,000.
A gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue dominates the skyline. 169 feet tall, containing 125,000 buddhas. Some of a little bits of the complex are still under construction.
Takin (national animal) Preserve is more to benefit the takin than tourists. They were all lying down far from the fences. Weird looking animals that scientists still can’t quite categorize.
Got a hillside view of the country’s government buildings. Alongside was the King’s “Palace”, which is modest in the extreme. The perception that a cornerstone of Bhutan is humility and fairness is reinforced. (Bhutan’s low international grades for the forced removal of non-Bhutanese citizens becomes even more inconsistent. I plan to ask Chen about this subject eventually.)
Textile Museum. This is the fifth textile place I’ve seen in two years. (Navaho, Japan, Morocco, China). I still am unsure how it works. I need a slow motion video. Weaving in Bhutan is very very detailed and the techniques vary by location. A proud heritage. Material ranges from silk to yak hair.
Small paper making factory. Used mostly for religious text. The most interesting thing of the day for me. Unlike industrial paper mills, no stink. I actually think I understood the process. Bought some.
Tour of school for the arts. It’s essentially vocational training for students who fail to pass the nationwide advancement exams after 10th grade. The extreme (and mandated) artistry of the country’s architecture seems to assure the students’ lifelong employment.
Strolled along entrepreneur row, each selling Made in Bhutan goods. Largely textile products ranging from small bags to beautiful boots.
Dinner had some actual beef! I stayed far away from the chili cheese.
Stupa built in 1974. More closely similar to those in Mongolia than Tibet.
$200 Million project. Not quite finished. Very large (people are barely visible).
An attempt at false perspective. The statue is about 12 feet tall.
Finishing some of the carving/painting. Clay/sand composite.
Hand and camera is on his side of the fence.
Takin, the national animal. Undefined species. Maybe 150 yards away, through a fence. Much closer at the San Diego Zoo.
Soaking tree bark in water. Afterwards, it’s cooked for 5 hours.
Grinding the softened bark into pulp., then blended with water and vegetable starch. The solid components are shifted into into thin sheets.
Pressing a stack of wet paper, squeezing out the water. When finished, it’ll be about a quarter the height.
Drying individual sheets.
Entrance to Arts School.
Hard at work, learning to draw. A buddha.
A student with our team leader.
This is about the only building in the city that doesn’t confirm to traditional architecture.
Traffic management.