Temple Hopping - Punakha, Tongsa, Bumthang

Upon arriving in Punakha, we were greeted by exceptionally friendly and helpful staff on our Bhutan trip and a breathtaking view of the valley, mountains, and Dzong (you know, that mix of fortress, monastery, temple, and secular administration). This Dzong was particularly magnificent with huge Buddha statues. It housed Bhutan's first parliament. Punakha is also the ancient capital city.

The problem when traveling to Bhutan is that you can't book cheaply. As it is only permitted to book through certain travel agencies that work closely with the government, you are always accommodated in magnificent hotels with huge rooms, the highlight of which is always the view. The following days promised us dreamlike views as well (mountains with Dzongs, a rushing stream, and a plateau with grazing cows and yaks against a picturesque backdrop of mountains).

Lunch and dinner were always good as well. The food is either served as a buffet or as a sort of buffet for two with about seven bowls offering, for example, red rice, buckwheat noodles, a kind of Bami Goreng, ginger carrots, green beans, asparagus, fern with chili (very delicious), lemony white cheese, eggs in curry sauce, buckwheat pancakes, potatoes in cream with peas, dumplings, or chili. Our driver Yang sometimes had to suffer when we ordered vegetarian meals when he dined with us, as he is not a vegetarian unlike our guide Yin. Desserts usually included fruit. Once we were also served homemade liquor (Ara) while dining in a farmhouse that opened its living room to guests. We also visited another so-called