Sunday Post: Culture

Some people retain their local historic culture better than others who give way to the all-pervasive western culture. We loved to see Bhutanese culture when we were there, the people so proud and natural in their national dress. We were able to visit a cultural festival in a remote place, where there were no roads, the only access was by foot, and involved crossing a narrow bridge over a rushing river. Our Bhutanese guide and driver delivered us safely and explained it all to us as we watched. Bhutan is a Buddhist country so the dances have a very significant role in maintaining the fabric of life, of keeping the balance of nature creating harmony for all creatures. Here are some images to enjoy! Click on the small images to make them larger and scroll through them.

crossing the river

looking at the foreigners!

festival

children watching

men again

women’s dance

elaborate costumes full of meaning

helpers assisting with dressing and costumes

dancers

Jake says:

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Here’s how the weekly photo Competition works:

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A-Z Archive: D is for Dance, Dzong, Dragon and more

Some of my blogger friends will have noticed that I started a new blog for these photo challenges. I have a vague idea of keeping dadirridreaming for things to do with home, yoga, spirit, the natural environment where I live. So this blog, and the A-Z Archive is the place for me to explore my photo archives and dig out those special shots I want to see again. I have had the good fortune to travel quite a bit in the past 10 years, and the most fascinating destination was Bhutan. This is a small Buddhist Kingdom in the Himalayan mountains, where instead of Gross National Product they measure Gross National Happiness. When we visited I was practising Dzogchen, so our guide took us to some special caves and temples, which was a great privilege. Here are some “D” photo from Bhutan. I have tried different ways of publishing the photos, but I think I like BIG best ..what about you?

Bumtang Dzongkag sign on the mountain pass

Prayer flags fly high over every mountain pass, here the sign tells us that we are entering the Bumthang District, and displays a map to help us find our way. There are no straight roads in Bhutan despite the sign!

Dancers at Ngang Lakhang festival, Bhutan

Men wear flowing robes for this vigorous dance.

Donkeys block the narrow mountain road

Driving was hazardous, roads very narrow and cliff hugging, I think the donkeys would feel safer than we sometimes did.

Danger, heavy loads on narrow roads!

Sometimes our way was blocked by fallen rock, but this time late one afternoon, it was a timber truck that had fallen over, luckily in a valley and not on a hillside.

Herder's dog follow us on trail to cave

We were walking for hours uphill to reach a special cave, when three dogs appeared and kept us company for the rest of the trek. One walked in front, another in the middle and the last at the rear. We felt they were spiritual guides in the guise of the fierce sheepdogs.

Trongsa Dzong, the centre of government, religion and defence for the Central Trongsa District

The Dzongs of Bhutan are magnificent structures, built for defence at strategic points where all traffic had to pass through the Dzong. Now they are still centres of administration and religion.

Dragon logo on Bhutan's airline Druk Air

One of the thrills of Bhutan is flying in, as the pilot brings the plane ever lower while following a narrow valley, until suddenly it widens and you touch down at Paro!

To join in the Weekly A-Z Archive photo challenge see Frizztext’s site http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/a-z-archive-d challenge/ and check out some of the other entries.