Kunga Rabten

Before it becomes a distant memory I wanted to share the last adventure of our election holiday to Kunga Rabten about an hours drive south of Trongsa. We visited the winter palace of the second King (now a monastery and home to 50 monks) and also Karma Drubdey Nunnery.



Approaching Kunga Rabten. It was a beautiful day and the scenery looked lush with tiered rice fields all down the valley.

Approaching the palace we saw an archery game was underway.

Entering through an old stone door-way added ambience to the already atmospheric setting.

 

Archery players celebrate a hit on the target with dancing and singing!

I'd never seen this many hits on the target!

It was so lovely to spend the day with Sarah.

 

When I saw all these sandals outside I thought of the monks who must be inside - turns out they were all in a small room watching 'Lord of the Rings'!

View from the palace of terraced rice fields below.

Happy family times on holiday.

This monk, Yeshi showed us around and was an excellent guide, explaining the history of special rooms in the monastery, including the bedroom of the second King.

The nunnery definitely had a 'women's touch' in the way the gardens are so lovingly cared for, with beautiful flowers.

The nuns have found ingenious ways to reuse things as plant containers, here is an old tea flask, painted and planted with marigolds.

 

We were invited to have tea and snacks which was very welcome as we ended up missing lunch.

 

And then it was home to Chumey and work the next day, thoroughly refreshed for the last week of teaching before Mid-Term Exams.