Showing posts with label Bumthang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bumthang. Show all posts

Friday, October 26, 2012

Bhutanese cuisine

Bhutanese cuisine

BHUTAN STUNNING TOURS

Toughest Trek in the World - Snowman Trek
Bhutan Festival Dates 2013
Map of Bhutan
Bhutan weather
Gross National Happiness
Flights to Bhutan
Visa
Recommended 3 Star Hotels
Classic Treks of Bhutan
11 Days Enchanting Bhutan itinerary
7 Days Bhutan Festival Tour Itinerary

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The basic staple food is rice, white, and red rice, though white rice is more common. There are a great variety of vegetables, and I had eaten spinach,cabbage, cauliflower, brocolli, eggplant, and etc. Potatoes are in abundant, so I have potatoes in almost every meal. Together with the rice, we have five to six dishes of vegetables , and some dried meat. Do note that the Bhutanese do not slaughter the animals for the meat, so most of the meat that the tourists get to eat are actually imported from India.

Basically, the Bhutanese love chili. Yes, they add chili and salt, and sometimes saffron or curry spices. Generally, their food is greatly influenced by Tibetan and Indian food. However, as a tourist, you normally eat at the restaurant which serves the tourists. I came to understand there are restaurants or rather eateries, which are only meant for the locals. After all, the food the Bhutanese eat is much more spicy, and due to cleanliness issue, your local guide will never bring you to eat at the local eatery. The reason for me to ask the guide to bring us to such eatery is to actually try the authentic Bhutanese food. You would probably know that food that is prepared for the tourists is always not so authentic, as they try to cater to the taste bud of the others. In this case, they use less chili, especially a lot of the foreign visitors are from the Western countries - USA, and Europe, and most of them would not be able to take spicy food. However, for those Asians who love chilis, there is no issue, and probably you might like the ema datshi (chili cheese, national dish) especially if you love the cheese.

In Bumthang, I had tried the buckwheat pancake, and it was quite nice.

The national dish is ema datshi, which means chili cheese.
It is quite common to see bright red chilies (small peppers) drying on the roof and strips of yak meat of beef hanging out to dry in the sun.

And you must try their yak butter tea. Very heavily salted, and very concentrated taste of the butter. Butter tea - sudja. And you can often find the Indian style milk tea - ngad-ja

If you love beer, try the Red Panda, which is locally brewed in the Bumthang area. And perhaps the Black Mountain Whiskey which is often called the BMW.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

11D Enchanting Bhutan itinerary

This is the itinerary that I covered in Oct 2011.

BHUTAN STUNNING TOURS

Toughest Trek in the World - Snowman Trek
Bhutan Festival Dates 2013
Map of Bhutan
Bhutan weather
Gross National Happiness
Flights to Bhutan
Visa
Recommended 3 Star Hotels
Classic Treks of Bhutan
11 Days Enchanting Bhutan itinerary
7 Days Bhutan Festival Tour Itinerary

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It was my first trip to Bhutan, and prior to that, I have read a lot about Bumthang, the Central Valley. Thus, I was very eager to include this on my itinerary. With a duration of 11 days, it was at a comfortable pace for me to travel to Trongsa, Bumthang and Gangtey.

Do note the travel time below:
Paro - Thimphu, 1 hour
Thimphu - Punakha, 3 hours (over Dorchu La Pass)
Punakha - Gangtey, 3 hours
Punakha - Trongsa, 3 hours
Trongsa - Bumthang, 5 hours
Bumthang - Punakha, 8 hours


TIGER'S NEST / TAKTSANG MONASTERY HIKE

For the winter months, you could go on a winter trek in Phojika Valley to see the black-necked cranes which migrates there from Tibet starting from late November till March the following year. Otherwise, consider a Semtengang Trek, which is also a low altitude trek, that is suitable for the winter season. Winter is from November till February, just like in the Northern Hemisphere.

If you have any question regarding your planning to Bhutan, the Last Shangrila, do feel free to write to me Olevia Cheong
olevia@gmail.com



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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Bumthang the Central Valley

Bumthang - the Central Valley


Watch this video for the attractions in Bumthang.

WATCH VIDEO OF BUMTHANG

Attractions in Bumthang
Jakar Dzong
Kurjey Lhakhang
Tamshing Monastery

You could do a 3 day Cultural Trek in Bumthang area.



If you like more information on travel to Bhutan, please feel free to email me -
Olevia Cheong
olevia@gmail.com