Paro and its famous Tiger's Nest

What trip to Bhutan is finished without seeing the amazing Taktsang Palphug Monastery also known as Tiger's Nest. Located on the edge of a cliff in Paro valley 3,120 meters up, the journey takes about 2-2.5 hrs to reach by foot and is one of the most important temple in Buddhism. According to legend it is said that the Guru Rinpoche flown here on the back of a tigress. He then proceeded to meditated in a cave for three months and emerged in eight...

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The Old Capital - Phunaka

On route to Phunaka on a clear sunny day you are rewarded with one of the most spectacular views of the Himalaya. Since the country has one road in and out of Thimphu in order to travel to Phunaka you will pass by the famous Dochula Pass. It is there where you will find the Druk Wangyal Khangzang, a cluster of 108 stupa built in a circle that spirals up to one big stupa in the middle. It was a tribute to the selfless service and visionary leadership...

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Land of the Thunder Dragon: Bhutan (Thimphu)

When I think of Bhutan my mind draws a blank. Aside from knowing that the country is extremely controlled for tourism I have to admit there not much more I can say. Nested between Nepal, India and China, this tiny country is often thought of as a mystery by many. With a population of only 700,000, the country is perhaps one of the last true Shangri-La remaining. Flights from Kathmandu to Paro runs once a day, three times a week on Drukair, their...

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Exploring Kathmandu

After a week in India, I was excited to head to Kathmandu. It was fairly easy to obtain a visa on arrival and within half an hour I was out the airport and ready to go. The airport itself was a little shabby to be the capital's international airport however once outside I was pleasantly surprised. Though the country is clearly a third world country, it was much more organized and well ran than India. In fact the roads were cleaner, the cars honked...

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Last stop in India: Amritsar

As my India adventures comes to an end I'm making one last stop to Amritsar, the home of the Golden Temple. Deciding to try my luck one final time on the train I booked the Amritsar Shtbdi Express, supposedly the best train in the country. The train shockingly enough arrived and left the station extremely promptly. In their AC first class, the seats were roomy and soft while announcements were made in English. Throughout the whole six hour ride they...

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The Holy City of Varanasi

What an night I had trying to get to Varanasi! The original plan was to catch a 11:20pm train out from a station near Agra and arrive in Varanasi in about 7 hours. Little did I know that Indian trains are hardly on time and often with no explanation as to why or when it will actually arrive. In addition, not only was the station dirty, ill equipped and lagging even the tiniest technology but even the ac sleeper sections on the trains left much to...

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