Bhutan - Mar 2008

• Phuntsholing is a town at the border between India and Bhutan. It was here that we first encountered Bhutan.
  
• The road to Thimpu is one of the few highways in Bhutan. It was first built in the early 1960's and still serves as an important link to the outside world.
  
• Thimpu is the capital of Bhutan. It is the only capitol city in the world without a traffic light. While there, we visited the Farmers Market, Changangkha Lakhang, the Folk Heritage Museum, Trashi Chhoe Zhong, the Matithang Takin Preserve and an Arts School. We also learned about weaving the cloth for Gohs and Kiras and about paper making.
  
• The road to Punakha is much like the road to Thimpu but the journey is shorter. It climbs up over Dochu La Pass as for the three hour journey to Punakha. Along the way, we stopped for a hike to the Chhimi Lakhang (the "Child-giving Temple). This is where childless couples come for blessing when they want to have a child.
  
• From Punakha, we drove to Wangdue Phodrang in search of Langurs. After having lunch in the market town of the same name, we drove back to Punakha to see Punakha Dzong.
  
• Following our stay in Punakha, we traveled back over Dochu La Pass and down the road to Paro.
  
• Paro is a small town in west-central Bhutan. It is the normal point of arrival and departure due to its proximity to the only airport in Bhutan.
  
• Taktshang (Tiger's Nest Monastery) is built high on a cliff on the site where, it is said, Guru Rinpoche flew on the back of a winged tiger to defeat the demon Singey Samdrup. This done, he meditated in cave at this site for three months.
  

India - Mar 2008

• Kolkata a.k.a. Calcutta. It was here that our journey began. Our next stop was Bhutan (see above.)
  
• From Bhutan, we flew back to Delhi. Here we spent two days and saw the Sikh Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, the Muslim jama Masjid Mosque and the Bahai Lotus Temple. We took a rickshaw ride around and through Old Delhi and we visited the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. In addition, we visited the Qutab Minar and the National Railway Museum (see below for these.)
• The Qutab Minar is the world's tallest brick minaret. It and the surrounding site are one of the earliest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture.
  
• Marieke and I had a free afternoon in New Delhi so we took a taxi over to the National Railroad Museum
• On the Road to Jaipur we stopped to have lunch at the palace of on of the minor Rajahs. This place is now a hotel that is usually booked more than a year in advance.
• The city of Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan.
• The Amber Fort (pronounced Amer) is a Rajput fortress and palace north of Jaipur. Construction began in 1592 by the Maharaja Man Singh
• Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory.
• After leaving Jaipur, we stopped at the village of Yarlipura in order to visit with the students at R.C. Public School. This school is sponsored by the Grand Circle Foundation.
  
• Ranthambore National Park is a nature photographers paradise. It is simply amazing how many different animals one can see there in such a short period of time. The most fantastic of all, though, were the tigers! One can count themselves lucky if they get a fleeting glimpse. We were blessed by the chance to see a family of four (three cubs who will soon leave their mother) up close.
  
• Geejgarh is a small village whose primary virtue to us was that it is half-way from Ranthambore to Agra. While where, we celebrated Holi and took a ride around the village on camels.
• Abhaneri is the home of a famous step well named Chand Baoli.
• Fatah Sikhri
• There is no doubt about it. The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. Like the Grand Canyon or the Great Wall of China, photographs do not really do it justice. (But please enjoy these photos anyway...)
  
• Agra Fort
• The temples at Khajuraho were built when the Chandela dynasty arose in the 10th century A.D. Originally, there were over 80 temples. Only about 20 of these temples remain today. These temples belong to two different religions - Hinduism and Jainism. These temples are decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. Most famous of these sculptures are those that depict erotic themes.
• Varanasi is one of the holiest cities in India. Hindu pilgrims come here to bathe in the Ganges and to cremate their dead. Just north of Varanasi is Sarnath where Buddha is said to have given his first sermon on the middle way to nirvana.