Bumthang, Central Bhutan (October 27, 2011) — Thimphu to Bumthang with a stop for lunch and another stop for fresh roasted corn by the roadside. Phuntsho provided the transportation, Tshewang provided the accommodation, and I bought the famous Bumthang cheese. After about 10 hours in the car, we stopped at Kurjey Lhakang but it was closed. Offerings had to be made mentally and from outside the gates. Tshewang’s sister Sonam’s house up the hill was empty so we crept in and spent the night. We ate pizza that Phuntsho picked up and Tsehwang whipped up one of his famous meals. Funny to find ourselves back here; we spent Christmas Eve just down the road last year. While Tshewang cooked and Phuntsho took a nap, I read a copy of the New Yorker from 2005 that I found between kid’s books and Sonam’s distance education manuals. I am grateful that we are no longer in the Bush era. So much has happened in 6 years. There was a story by Nick Flynn and a disturbing piece of fiction about a changeling baby. It was very cold in the house but there were many blankets to choose from and I slept well. The sonorous snoring of my travel mates harmonized through the dark house.
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