TGIF: Folklife Festival

a few blogposts back, i mentioned that one of the obscure countries that i would like to visit one day is Bhutan. Surrounded by China, India, Bangledesh, and Nepal, its a landlocked nation that has managed to maintain it traditional ways. well, one of the country exhibits at the Festival is Bhutan (the others are Texas and NASA--i guess they consider themselves a country!!!) and i have been eagerly watching from my office window--seeing the tents go up and literally an entire village being built. on my lunch break, i took a stroll to the Festival and i must say i'm as giddy as a Japanese school girl at a Hello Kitty bling-bling sale!

with that said, here are a few pictures of what i saw--and i still need you to pay no mind to the poor photography. not only am i still learning but, you know, giddy, giddy school girl thing(lots of photos!):


outside view of a reconstructed Bhutanese buddhist temple


urn-like structure outside to the right of the temple entrance. the tent in the background was for one of the monastic arts.


detail of a series of carvings on outside temple walls












center of mural inside temple--it was very crowded. inside the temple there were monks chanting and playing instruments. i just didn't think it was appropriate to take their pictures while chanting.


left corner of mural wall


right corner of mural wall


alter inside temple with offerings of incense and fruit. at the right end of the alter was a monk who was placing strings around visitors necks.


mural on ceiling of temple. instead of getting a string, i was looking up...


considered a monastic craft, various sculptures all made of clay. Brother Dorji (not shown) was sitting to the left on the ground working on a large Buddha using nothing but some whittled sticks and a wooden mallet.


incense making


this is the tent that was located behind the temple urn. a monk is showing children how to weave yarn between sticks.


finished work of the stringing craft the monk was teaching


sand mandala--the monks were taking a break to eat


exhibit of high altitude medicinal herbs used in Bhutanese medicine. Sornam Dorjee is an actual Bhutanese physician and he was there explaining the various herbs and uses

all of the exhibits have actual Bhutanese citizens there to show you their craft and culture. this visit has just reinforced my desire to vist this country of the GNH--Gross National Happiness.