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Destination Lingzhi diverted to Laya


The settlements within the ice-capped mountain - the Laya village 

This is the story of one Mr. John Wehrein from Hawaii in United States of America who was recently in Laya attending the Takin Festival 2011. It was the twist in his trip that landed him in the festival where tourist and foreigners alike were meant to be the main visitors. And he has no regrets having manipulated his travel itinerary for good. Neither he planned to be in Laya nor did anyone inform him. It was his sheer luck that he chanced upon such happening en route to Lingzhi.

Mr. John was in Bhutan to do a research on Buddhist greatest Masters. Buddhism being our state religion with many eminent religious personalities, this is what encouraged him to come half the globe to the other side of the world. And this isn’t his first time in the Country and even to Laya and Lingzhi as well.

"Setting all odds aside, he headed to Lingzhi oblivious and least expecting that he’d be in the right place at the right time"

After having fulfilled all the state requirements, he initially planned to head to Lingzhi and interact and interview the monks of the Lingzhi Dratshang. He tried confirming his coming through the telephone. But he couldn’t do it. Whatever, setting all odds aside, he headed to Lingzhi oblivious and least expecting that he’d be in the right place at the right time.

Just when he was approaching the junction that bifurcate the Laya – Lingzhi foothpath, he met his old acquaintance from Laya. Taking himself a brief respite, catching some air after having conquered folds of mountains, he was casually conversing with this man expecting nothing new than usual. But the brief mention of some vague story about the Takin festival being held at Laya cropped up which fascinated him. Like the diversion of the footpath, he also diverted his journey and headed straight to Laya.

"I met Mr. John at Gasa hotspring on our return journey"

I met Mr. John at Gasa hotspring on our return journey. Sharing the Tshachu pond together, we casually conversed through the dipping perspirations like he did with Layap he met at the junction. This time it was me on the receiving end when I could get all the pchillip’s perspective of Takin festival.

He shared, “I enjoyed the festival a lot and was truly worth diverting my destination.” Asked what needs to be done to attract more tourists next time, he unveiled that there is certainly the need to have more and better camping facilities en route. Scratching insect bites on his body, he added,

"He expressed, ‘Chapchi’(goodness he even knows the local name) tiny insects that give you all the nuisances"

“With insects bothering you all the way, hardly any tourists would prefer to endure such menace.” He expressed, ‘Chapchi’(goodness he even knows the local name) tiny insects that give you all the nuisances in the world, something sure needs to be done. He referred to his early journey through the same route in the months of May, August and November, “I didn’t come across anything like this.”

He was among the foreigners and not necessarily the tourists congregated at Takin festival, despites being held at Lunguthang in Laya, which is days away from nearest roadhead. More Mr. John and tourists are expected in the next festival in the series.

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