A house and general store in Laya village Me in Laya village Common house ornamentation in Laya Some kids singing and dancing. Just after filming this, I joined them in dance and they taught me a few Bhutanese dance moves. We played soccer later in the day, difficult at 4100m. Gasa village Gasa fortress
Looking north from the fortress, the direction from which we had just arrived Door framing Window framing
Outside Gasa village on the way to the hot springs Continuing down to the springs. Looking north. Looking back up the hill at Gasa fortress
International Border/Gate between India and Bhutan Paro Fortress Fields in Paro Valley Town of Paro Beginning of trek to Jomolhari Base camp, then on to Laya and Gasa Indian army camp/checkpoint. The Indian army has a large presence in Bhutan, seemingly to ward off the threat of a Chinese invasion The left path leads to a closed border pass with Tibet/China, the right leads to Jomolhari basecamp along the border
Left building is a center to treat animals, the middle building is the Basic Health Unit Jomolhari base camp - Mt. Jomolhari (7315m), with a ruined fortress in the foreground Jitchu Drake (6714m)
Looking east from Nyile La, at ~4900m. Between Jangothang and Lingshi Looking west from Nyile La - Jomolhari (left), Jitchu Drake (right)
Into Lingshi valley - if you look closely you can see Lingshi Fortress in the center A closer view of Lingshi Fortress
A man on his way to the capital Thimpu, a 4 day walk due south Lingshi Village (~4010m) - they have the only phone in a 100km radius so i called mom and pops I ran into this man when searching for the modest Tandro Gompa monastery, located off the trail in a rock face of a valley under Sirima Gang (5784m). He led me around to his hut and to the flat stone at the base of the monastery where sky burials are held (when a corpse is exposed on the stone and the lamas observe whether vultures appear - a good omen - since it indicates the rebirth of the deceased)
Tando Gompa Goyok Village Gangchetea or Great Tiger Mountain (6840m) - I wish I was able to get a better shot of this magnificent peak: its width is staggering (in person at least) Laya village
Darjeeling Tea field below Darjeeling Yuksam, Sikkim: Coronation throne of the first king of Sikkim Lake Beginning of the trek to Guecha La Looking south back to Yuksam Approaching the Tibetan village of Tshoka First view of Mt. Pandim (~6600 meters) Mt. Pandim (left) My first cricket game, at ~4300m
Khangchendzonga (8585m) on the right with the spiky peak Me
Guecha La with Khangchendzonga covered with mist, at ~4950m A large falling glacier Ground The last dinner
