From Punakha, the road led us back to the Dochula Pass and then the Wang Chu and Paro Chu river valleys before arriving at our lodge in Paro. En route we visited the 17th century Simtokha Dzong about 5 km outside of Thimphu. Simtokha Dzong was built in 1629 by the great lama Zhabdrung Ngawang … Continue reading Paro Apr 2018
We left Thimphu early in the morning heading over the 3,050-meter mountain pass of Dochula towards Punakha. There are 108 memorial chortens here known as “Druk Wangyai Chortens” built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. They were built in memory of the soldiers who died in the December 2003 battle against the … Continue reading Punakha Apr 2018
The long awaited trip to Bhutan has finally happened. I have always wanted to visit this small Himalayan Buddhist nation coined the “Happiest Country on Earth”. Unlike its south asian neighbors, Bhutan was never colonized. It is not an easy place to get to compounded with limits set by the government as to the total … Continue reading Thimphu Apr 2018
From Grenada, we flew about an hour northwest to Barbados. Barbados used to be a British Colony since the 1620s and it was the English center of the African slave trade because it was a major sugar colony. Barbados abolished the slave trade in the early 1800s and became an independent state in 1966. It … Continue reading Barbados Feb 2018
We made a day trip from Grenada out to the island of Carriacou which means Isle of Reefs and is the largest island in the Grenadines. There are no large resorts or cruise ships visiting here. It is quiet and relaxed and has that undiscovered feel to it. Things haven’t changed much over the years. … Continue reading Tobago Cays Feb 2018
Located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago is the island of Grenada. Grenada is often known as the “Spice Island” and is one of the world’s largest exporters of nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger crops. It has been colonized by the French and the British until its independence in 1974. Grenada has a mountainous interior … Continue reading Grenada Feb 2018
From Tobago, we took a 25-minute flight to Trinidad. Alternatively, you can take an almost 3 hour ferry ride. It was a good thing we had bookings for the flight because during our visit all the ferries for several days were cancelled due to rough seas. For our short stay in Trinidad, we stayed at … Continue reading Trinidad Feb 2018
