Our final day!
On our final full day of the trip we woke early to begin the 5hr drive to Thimphu. We hit the ground running when we arrived. Our first stop: Buddha Point which has the largest statue of Buddha in the whole kingdom. 
From there we headed to the National Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students learn traditional Bhutanese arts and crafts like painting, wood working and sculpture. Pretty much every building is ordained with art done by students from the school. It was so inspiring to see what they created, especially now-a-days when so much is made by machine. Seeing what they could create by hand was remarkable.
From there we visited the Takin preserve. The Takin is the national animal of Bhutan and they are quite funny looking. 
After the Takin Preserve we hiked to Wangditse Goemba, a hillside monastery founded in 1750. And you’ll never believe it but Eric & our guide also found four leaf clovers!!
Our final stop before calling it a night was the local market, which put Pike Place to shame!
The next morning we drove to the airport and where we sadly, said our goodbyes to our new friends, Tenzin & Ugen.
The trip was one of the most spectacular experiences. I learned so much about the culture while also feeling like I really got a peak at the day to day life of a local in Bhutan. One of my favorite parts about travel is getting to know the locals and I think that is what made this extra special… we spent 10 days with them! They happily answered all of our questions and really invited us into their world. I love getting a different perspective on life. A reoccurring theme that I’ve noticed through my travels is the value that other societies put on spending time with their loved ones and spending time in nature. I think it’s a great reminder for all of us to slow down and reevaluate what really matters in this life.
This trip has left me clear headed and creatively inspired. If you haven’t had the opportunity to travel off the beaten path yet, I encourage you to strive to experience it someday. I know it’s a privilege but it will change your life.
Thanks for being here.