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Back in Bhutan

We arrived back in Bhutan after a winter's holiday to India and the US for the months of January and February. Even though snow did fall in Thimphu while we were away, we were pleasantly surprised to find spring with magnolias blooming and tulips just nearly there. The trees are full of new leaf buds and the pollen count must be on a steep rise with the willows blowing in the strong winds. Spring is definitely arriving with strong winds-strong enough to keep the Begana house door closed when one is trying to push it open. When we first went into the Begana house, the floors and counters were covered with dust and dirt from incoming wind clouds. Since the newly constructed house has many gaps in the windows and doors, the dust is easily welcomed inside our country abode.

When we arrived to Paro, the first day of school was underway and we watched all the children in their respective ghos and kiras walking to schools with their grown ups. The sun was rising as it was only 7 am and the mist was lifting from the red rice and crop fields.

Thimphu town has changed just in the two months that we were away. New construction, new signs and new people line the crowded streets of a fast-growing capital city. School is back in session and hope is restored for many students.

Today we go to Begana for some relaxation. Tomorrow morning we will have pancakes with syrup-a new addition to the grocery store here. For months, we have had pancakes without syrup but tomorrow we will have blueberry and boysenberry syrup to accompany our brunch feast!

Monkey Walks

One thing we have been doing each day in India is taking “monkey walks.” We walk out the big iron gates, latch the gate back, and walk down the dirt road walled in by the farm house fences that reach at least 12 to 15 feet high. These lanes are travelled frequently by monkey families. Henry and I take morning and evening “monkey walks” to watch and learn the monkey ways. We have discovered that there are clear territorial boundaries between packs and a few groups of very young monkeys playing among the branches and bushes. The monkeys don’t pay us much attention as they are used to people going by on bicycles, foot, scooters or vehicles. But, they do not seem to be used to people stopping to watch. They are not bothered by us watching unless we make noises and look them straight in the eyes, usually trying to get their attention. Then, we may get the famous “fake monkey lurch” where a monkey looks like he or she (mainly the males) is about to leap onto our heads. We have seen this a few times and it is now obvious that this is a defensive technique. Of-course, if the monkey really did leap onto our heads, we would be in big trouble. The closest “monkey encounters” we have had were in Dehradun and at the place where we are staying in Asola. In Dehradun, Henry and I were walking down a city street watching a monkey family playing on a house rooftop. The house owner was looking too and motioned to us that it was safe to watch. But then the person we were waiting on appeared to be walking away (because he did not see us in the monkey lane) and the alpha male climbed down from the house at the same time. The alpha was between Henry and me and the place where we needed to go. We cautiously walked on because monkeys are used to co-mingling with people. As I walked by, the male monkey walked right behind me and then I felt a monkey hand on my leg. I didn’t look, attempting to not aggravate the alpha further. Luckily, he just went on by. His “pat” was most likely a curiosity pat. I told Henry and we looked at my leg where there was a large monkey handprint. I wiped the dusty print off but now I wish I had taken a picture of it. Our other encounter was early in the morning while we were still sleeping. I heard some commotion outside in the hallway. People were making noises as if they were trying to get some lost chipmunk or bird outside. I decided to peak out the door and, to my surprise, I saw a monkey climbing the curtain cornice board only 10 feet away. I woke up Henry and he watched with me from the bedroom door. A couple of people were trying to coax the monkey into a sack with a pole. The monkey was not being aggressive and seemed somewhat amused with the pole, as if she was willing to play. Then the people chased the monkey around a bit and she began to look worried. She looked back and forth between the people and Henry and me. I had a sudden feeling that she would...and then she did. She leapt across the bannister and onto our door. A blanket blocked the complete closure so Henry and I held the door as closed as it could go while the monkey hands pushed to pry it open. For a couple of minutes, our hands and the monkey’s hands were in the same places. Finally, she fled from our door and one of the people opened an exterior door so she could monkey on out. She was very happy to get out. I have seen this monkey a couple of more times. She climbs down from the garden wall to eat with the puppies.

Happy New Year Everyone!

We hope that this year brings the best for all in 2011.

Christmas in Delhi

On Tuesday we went to the Railway Museum in Delhi. Our friend from Bhutan joined us before her flight out to the UK. The three kids climbed up on all the trains, ranging from 1895 to 1974. All of us rode the "toy train" around the museum grounds full of school children. One treat was watching wild parrots nesting in a tree.