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Paro Festival

3/4/2015

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I was really looking forward to photographing the festival dancers but when we got there we were cut  loose and told to do our own thing. The crowd was massive and I was sort of pushed and directed up the hill but there was nowhere to sit and after perching there for a wee while, miles from the dancers I gave up.  A long lens can only do so much & it wasn't enough.
We had been told that the grass was reserved for locals to sit and that as this was a religious event rather than a cultural show, is it inappropriate to stand in front of them to take photos. I tried to take photos from the back but was moved on.  Apparently most of the others had the same problem.
T
he festival itself was actually held in the grounds of the dzong (the fort). Everyone was decked out in their finest traditional costumes. The men’s outfit is called a ‘gho’ and the women’s a ‘kira’.  It was a lovely sight with the beautifully woven & colourful costumes and flags everywhere.  Bhutanese women excel at traditional loom weaving and typically do it during the long dark winter nights.
I had a look around the dzong which was quiet and peaceful as most people were up at the dancing.
It is a beautiful building and you are allowed to photograph anywhere except the temple. (A useful rule of thumb is no shoes, no photographs.)  
I
n the evening we visited a local farmhouse for dinner. The family were lovely, fed us and showed us around the house. I don’t know whether the food was amended for foreigners (chilips) but there was no hint of chilli anywhere.  We had red rice, mashed potato, asparagus, spinach, chicken, beef with noodles & scrambled egg.
Potatoes in Bhutan are just superb, fabulous flavour. I gather it has something to do with the altitude.  We also had a local brew made from rice & wheat. Very like saki and absolutely lethal.  Declined to try salt butter tea…
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