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Paro Tsechu Festival
The festival marks the birthday of Guru Rimpoche who founded the Tiger’s Nest Monastery and brought current day Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th Century. Many of the masks represent what one might see as they transverse from one life to another on their way to being reincarnated. Everyone wears their best clothes. They work on making them all year long.
Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Ayutthaya existed from 1350 to 1767. It was finally sacked by the Burmese (Myanmar) in 1767, when the starving inhabitants could no longer resist the advancing army. Every building was burned and tens of thousands of its citizens were captured and taken to Burma. The Grand Palace, which had been home to 33 kings and 5 dynasties was totally destroyed. The King was murdered. A black mark still exists today between Thailand and Myanmar. Siam was able to recoup by 1770, and began a new Siam Dynasty which can be traced to the current Monarch. The city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Howard and I took a one day tour first to the King’s Summer Palace and then on to the Ayutthaya Historical Park A riverboat cruise on the Chao Phraya River brought us back to Bangkok.
