Going for a Dzong - A visit to Paro Ringpung Dzong

Advantages: Spectacular example of Bhutanese architecture
Disadvantages: Not for those who are unsteady on their feet

...For most visitors to Bhutan, Paro Dzong will be either the first or the last dzong that they visit in the country. This is due to it's proximity to Paro Airport, the country's only air-link with the outside world. For us it was the first dzong and one to remember. As our plane landed and taxied along the runway my eyes swivelled to hunt out the big white block on the hillside which I knew from my pre-trip research would be the dzong. What's a Dzong? The concept of a dzong is an unusual blend of the sacred and the secular and something that's found in Himalayan Buddhist communities but is most characteristically Bhutanese. Traditionally a dzong was a combination of a fortress crossed with a monastery whilst today most serve as a combination of monastery and local government administration centres. I find something engaging about...

koshkha 06.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Paro Ringpung Dzong, Bhutan

PAROS in the SPRINGTIME

Advantages: Grand Central Station
Disadvantages: Crowded in July and August

...Despite being the hub of Greek Island ferries, Paros has a laid back attitude, outside of the high season of July and August. We did some island hopping at the beginning of June and were pleasantly surprised at how much Paros has to offer. Originally we only planned to stay overnight, en route to one of the more famous islands in the Cyclades, but I ended up staying for 5 days. We landed in Paros Town / also known as Paraika and followed the first person who offered us a room to their small hotel, Manolis / Jimmy's apts heading left about 800 metres (or yards) away from where we docked. The manager was named Kiki and she had spent her first 15 years in Australia. She was very helpful and pleasant, despite the demands of her young daughter, Maria. On the plus side, this hotel was 1/2 block from a beach, restaurants, bars...

Reynarda 15.06.2003 (26.11.2003) · Read review
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Review of Paros (Greece)

Weaving and Threshing

Advantages: ~
Disadvantages: ~

...understand it, the backstrap is used in conjunction with the footrest to tension the frame upon which the cloth is woven. The weaver sits on the floor, leaning back into the strap, legs outstretched to push on the foot-log ~ the whole fabric being strung over a triangular frame, which rises to about four or five feet above the ground. The distance between the backstrap and the footrest determines the tension. That I should be unable to follow the purpose of the many rods and threads surprised me not in the slightest. The product speaks for itself - beautiful lengths of silks, with stripes of geometric patterns in bold bright colours. And so with more excitement tucked into the memory banks, we drove back into Paro at about 11 in the morning?and quite possibly ready to climb back into bed. This was our last day, however, and it was not...

hiker 21.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of Paro (Bhutan)

Chillies and hot rice wine at the Rinchen Ling

Advantages: Lovely friendly staff, nice setting
Disadvantages: Not a lot to do

...The Rinchen Ling Lodge was the first of three hotels we used during our trip to Bhutan and was both the most basic and the most friendly of the three. We landed at Paro airport mid-afternoon and were taken to the hotel after stopping off to watch some archery and stroll around the town centre. Location The Lodge is about 4 or 5 km outside Paro town and at first I was a bit disappointed to hear we wouldn't be staying more centrally. There wasn't anything around the hotel and it was a bit isolated but the setting was beautiful, nestled amongst fields in the shadow of tree-covered mountains. The location is between Paro and some of the key attractions including the abandoned Drukgyel Dzong, the temple of Kyichu and the famous Tiger's Nest. Our Room On arrival our bags were taken to our room by a couple of the staff. We...

koshkha 08.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Rinchen Ling Lodge, Paro

How to Neutralise an Evil Tortoise - Bhutanese Style

Advantages: Keep this in mind next time an evil tortoise threatens YOUR village
Disadvantages: Not one for the big tour groups - this place is tiny inside

...I don't think that Dungtse Temple was supposed to be on our itinerary for sightseeing in Paro, Bhutan, so we were lucky to get to see it as a quick 'fill-in' on an already very busy day. Bhutanese tourism isn't known for its flexibility - in fact it's so regimented that there are military campaigns and major government initiatives which require less paperwork and forward planning than a day out in Bhutan. I believe we went because the National Museum was closed due to us inconveniently arriving on the wrong day of the week. And since our guide Rinzin seemed to have magic powers and access to a photocopier for creating magic permits to get into attractions, we stopped off for a quick look as we were passing. I'm always interested in why temples, churches, mosques or any other religious building are built and in where they are situated...

koshkha 30.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Dungtse Temple, Paro

My Left Foot - A Bhutanese Approach to Banishing an Ogress

Advantages: One of the most important small temples in Bhutan
Disadvantages: Make sure your paperwork is in order or you won't get in

...Kyichu Lhakhang - or Kyichu Temple - is one of the most significant temples in the Paro area of Bhutan and can be found about 2 or 3 miles outside the town. Legend says that Bhutan and much of the Himalaya range had been besieged by a giant ogress who was lying across the area to prevent the spread of Buddhism. In the 7th Century the Tibetan king gave orders to his people to build temples at key points on the ogress's body to sap her evil powers and Kyichu was believed to be the location of her left foot. You have to admit, it's a pretty good story and not a bad reason for a bout of temple building. In total 108 temples were built because it's a very lucky number in Tibetan Buddhism, reflecting the number of beads on a Buddhist rosary. These were placed at strategic points around the body of the ogress. Several of the places we...

koshkha 27.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Kyichu Temple, Paro

The ruins that made Bhutan finally seem real

Advantages: Amazing sense of peace and calm.
Disadvantages: In most countries someone would want to rebuild this

...holiday in Switzerland/Singapore/Toronto - it was SO clean". If 'clean' is the first adjective that springs to mind, then something's missing. I want to hear "It was so exciting/vibrant/inspiring/stimulating/shocking" and Bhutan was feeling just a touch like a pensioners' bus tour. I'm also not crazy about being 'led' around a country but with Bhutan there's no choice - you have to go with a guide and a driver and follow a regimented plan of what you see and where you go. On day one we'd already been to Paro Dzong and a couple of temples, wandered around the pristine town, had a very acceptable lunch and yet something was missing. The final attraction of the day was to be Drukgyel Dzong, a ruined fortress-monastery a few miles from the town and it became the turning point for me in our tour of Bhutan. We drove out of the town for about...

koshkha 22.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Drukgyel Dzong, Paro, Bhutan

NO NO for young children

Advantages: friendly , hot ,
Disadvantages: transfer times

...My experiance of paros was a mixed bag, We booked the holiday on line and looked forward to the trip making plans etc etc you have all been there the dream before you go on holiday in most cases outshines the holiday. Myself my wife and four young children flew from gatwick to Athens to be collected at Athens airport by a taxi to be taken to the port of piraus ,the flights were on time and the taxi was waiting great i thought this is going to be a holiday of a lifetime , the trip to the port was swift ten minutes at the most ,which was good as driving through Athens of a day is London x 2, as this was 22.00 in the evening it was good to be in the cool air, on arrival at the port our ferry was pointed out to us and the taxi sped off , i asked the man serving in the one cafe that was open what time the ferry sailed to told to my horror...

showerforms 30.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Paros (Greece)

Anti Paros is better

Advantages: Paradise
Disadvantages: Can only be reached by a small boat which means that they siometimes can't sail in bad weather (and you may miss your ferry home)

...If you make it to Paros then you're just a boat ride from where you really should be! Anti Paros is a smaller island than Paros and far less spoilt. When I first visited Anti Paros about 15 years ago there were no roads and therefore no traffic. It was bliss for 2 weeks to be able to walk everywhere and get away from the rat race. Now there is a ring road but it is still relatively unspoilt. As you disembark at the harbour in Anti paros, there are a few bars/restaurants (Pavlos' is best!) but you will be greeted by people offering rooms. All accommodation on this side of the island is close to the amenities/beaches because you can walk from one side of the island to the other in about 20 mins. The beaches on the far side are wonderful and you can wear or not wear whatever you like! There is a campsite on this side which has good food...

hillbilly1 09.07.2000 · Read review
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Review of Cyclades (Greece)

Paros & Antiparos: Highlights & Travel Tips

Advantages: Fantastic Scenery & Some Unique Sights to See
Disadvantages: Having to return to the UK afterwards!

...Want to see an unusual beach with strange rocks? Want to wander around a real maze or stand high up and admire the view? Then this is the guide for you! Paros Introduction An island slap in the middle of the Cyclades. It wasn’t too crowded or too quiet when we went. And it wasn’t falling over itself to lure in foreign tourists which I also liked! I’ve mentioned two of my favourite highlights below: Paros – Attractions Kolymbithres Beach I was taking photographs like crazy here because I was so fascinated by the shape and texture of the rocks. Each rock has hundreds of mysterious holes carved into it, as if it is an egg cup holder for several eggs! Other rocks are smooth and tower upwards like dollops of ice-cream. Definitely one of the more unearthly beaches I’ve visited. Nice one if you like...

Little_Mermaid 05.03.2005 · Read review
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Review of Cyclades (Greece)