OF HAPPY LITTLE THINGS: MY STORY ON THE TREK TO BUMDRA

The well planned and much awaited trek finally came on the auspicious day of 22nd February with 15 of enthusiastic trekkers with determination to overcome any obstacles aka altitude sickness!!! Since i had never trekked such high mountains my entire life, i was on self doubt whether i can even start climbing from the base of the mountain. Moreover, i was worried whether i can get up so early for the trek.

The plan was a one day trek.

The day started by getting up at around 3:30am and getting everything ready by 4am. We departed at 4:15am from Thimphu to Paro. I squeezed a quick nap worried i might doze off while walking.

We reached the base point at Sanga Choekor, Paro, a Buddhist Institute at around 6:15am and had some tea and snacks before starting the journey.

The way to Bumdra took us through steep slopes, through verdant forests and dusty trials strewn with little pebbles and rocks.

Half way across the destination, we even managed to get lost where we eventually found our way back to the main trail. This incident took me to my memory lane where once my friend and i got lost during a school trip. We had to weave through thick prickly, bushy forest with tears and fears in our minds. This time it was just half an hour into the wilderness. Relieved, we continued our trek to the destination.

Walking sticks came as a welcome relief to the tired legs to an ametuer trekker like me.

Finally, after climbing uphill for almost four and half hours we reached the destination and the scenery there was simply breathtaking.

We preceded our way to the Bumdra Temple where we lighted butter lamps and offered prayers.

According to the priest there, Khandro Yeshi Tshogyal manifested into 100,000 dakine and flew to the rock where the present temple resides. The sacred place was blessed with many more great scholars and lamas.

The view of the temple is simply breathtaking where it is built on a steep rock. The nearby mountain reminded me Pandora from the Avatar Movie.

From the temple, we hiked another about 2km uphill mountaintop where the last vestigial vegetation gives way to winter landscapes of ice and snow and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the mountain.

We sat down among the fluttering prayer flags and considered how far and high we have come. It all seemed like a Dream.

The Trek all in all took about 8 walking hours.

Back home i enjoyed my coffee which i had been craving for the whole day with different taste of happiness and satisfaction.