Oct 7 - Thimphu

At an elevation of 2320 meters, Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan has a population of nearly 40,000. Philip stays in Thimphu to recover from a cold, the rest go to Wangdi Phodrang Dzong for tzechu (harvest/religious festival) and return to Thimpu again for the night. The streets of Thimphu are lined with willows and poplars. The cicadas chirp loudly. The air is dry and cool. In addition to being both a plastic-free zone and a tobacco-free zone, Thimpu is also a Goa and Kira zone -- which means that local people must wear their traditional dress within the city. The Goa is a knee-length robe which is folded up around the waste to show the long black socks completing men's traditional attire. The Kira is the long robe worn by Bhutanese women.
		Traffic is directed by hand in Thimphu's central intersection
		Indians and Nepali, among people from the countryside fill the streets of Thimphu.

"Better to be late than never" -- sign along Bhutan roadway

2320 meters
N 27°28 E 89°38