mark prior photography

Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon. What an amazing place, friendly people and spectactular scenery.

Some tall mountain, can't be too famous as we're not yet in Bhutan.
View from Rinpung Dzong looking down on Paro. In the foreground is the covered Nyamai Zam Footbridge across the Paro River.
The Dzong (fortress) has a commanding view over the Paro River. The lower walls are whitewashed and it has two upper levels of windows with the uppermost connected by a wide oraange band. The river looks more like a stream with a rocky bottom but stone walls suggest a greater flow during other parts of the year.
A monk with three novices. One is taking to the smiling monk while the other two ar distracted (possibly by us).
Ambushed by photographers on her way home from school.
A farmer with a bundle secured by ropes on his back.
Starting our journey with a blessing from a monk.
I think we ambushed him coming back to the temple with breakfast but he was still up for a chat.
Lots of prayer flags on footbridges just in case.
Mountain passes are prime locations to find plenty of prayer flags strung between the trees.
The 108 Memorial Chortens, also known as the Druk Wangyal Chortens, stand at Dochula Pass. Two trees tower over the chortens that are placed in an elevated island in the road across the pass.
An old woman aided by a stick walks down the path from Chimi Lhakhang.
Unlike the square flags on the passes these are long thin flags attached to poles. Most are white with black printing but in the centre of this group is a single red flag.
The monk is wearing a traditional Bhutanese gho while the student is wearing maroon robes and jacket.
Young novice monks playing a traditional game known as Khuru, a sport similar to darts, during a break from their studies.
These two were kicking around a football before our guides joined the Khuru game.
An old man is sitting next to a wall outside the Dzong hosting the Punakha Tshechu. In front of him is a smaall hand drum called a damaru. It wasn't clear if he would be performing later or if he was just entertaining the crowds going to the tshechu.
Looking up a valley from Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chörten. Housing and fields on the valley floor with trees higher up.
A view of the river Mo Chhu from Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chorten as it snakes through the valley.
Coming down from Khamsum Yulley Namgyal Chörten we passed this woman with a small child strapped to her back
If you have a pole and a lot of long prayer flags then you can create a gazebo weaving the flags into a roof. This is the view looking up from the inside.
A group of photographers interrupts a class and takes some impromptu school photos while quizzing the students on what they were studying before we interrupted.
A group of photographers interrupts a class and takes some impromptu school photos while quizzing the students on what they were studying before we interrupted.
A group of photographers interrupts a class and takes some impromptu school photos while quizzing the students on what they were studying before we interrupted.
A group of photographers interrupts a class and takes some impromptu school photos while quizzing the students on what they were studying before we interrupted.
A group of photographers interrupts a class and takes some impromptu school photos while quizzing the students on what they were studying before we interrupted.
A group of photographers interrupts a class and takes some impromptu school photos while quizzing the students on what they were studying before we interrupted.
A group of photographers interrupts a class and takes some impromptu school photos while quizzing the students on what they were studying before we interrupted.
No actual Black-necked cranes but the students presented a dance in their place
We went outside to watch a dance put on my the students and then a volleyball game and some more random portraits.
A DIY sack truck made from a slice of tree trunk for a single wheel (with some tread carved into it) and a wooden axle. Two branches for the arms and some wooden offcuts for the braces and toe plate.
The princple of the Ganteng Buddist University
It was undergoing some restoration but it was still an imposing building with a multi-layered roof over a three story building. The lower 2 thirds are whitewashed while the top story is red in keeping with the roof.
The artwork features intricate details, vibrant colors, and typical Buddhist motifs like decorative floral borders and swirling clouds.
Start of a nature trail through the Phobjikha Valley. Mountains in the background, a row of pines and a small hut in the foreground.
A white chorten stands against rolling, dry hills.
A stream cuts through the Phobjikha Valley.
On the side of the valley a stand of prayer flags flutters in the breeze.
A view of the Himalayas seen through two strings of prayer flags at Lawala Pass.
Brilliant green rice plants in a series of terraces.
A collection of flickering butter lamps in a small building near the Dochula Chorten.