- After a last walk around Khoma village, we are on our way. We have a long way to go: we are heading towards Bumthang in central Bhutan. Although not far as the crow flies, the mountainous character of this part of Bhutan means a long drive. After turning right near Mongar, we head up the second highest mountain pass of the country: Thrumshing La, at 3780 metres. The higher we get, the more spectacular the views become. We make a few stops to be able to look deep into the valley that we are driving out of, see waterfalls, and when we look ahead, we see how the road is still winding further up. From Mongar, we will be climbing more than 2000 metres. The last stretch of the Thrumshing La is lined with snow. We make a brief stop at the pass itself, with prayer flags and shrines, and then drive down on the northwest side. We drive into Ura valley, where the landscape is more friendly, with rolling hills, even though we are still at around 3000 metres altitude. It is said that Guru Rinpoche himself traveled through Ura valley in the 8th century, and declared it his secret hidden land.
- While we drive up to Ura village, I am searching my mind for memories. I have been here almost 15 years before, this was the easternmost destination of my roadtrip through Bhutan. I am looking for a connection with my memories, but I cannot find it. Our guide drives straight to a temple higher up in Ura, and we park close to a row of tall white prayer flags. We start exploring the village at a large traditional house with stacks of firewood in front of it. The inhabitants have prepared for winter, and given the altitude, we are sure that it must still be cold at night even though it is April. We walk the earthen streets, in some cases have to climb wooden ladders over fences to reach a next plot of land. Surprisingly, most of the houses have that traditional Bhutanese window paintings, making some of the impressive houses look like small dzongs.
- For some reason, the only villagers we see are women. We find a group talking at a crossroads, with a curious cow standing by as if she wants to join their conversation. We are greeted by a woman from a window. We see another small group of women chat in front of one of the large houses. Where are the men? Working the land? Gone shopping in Bumthang? We will never know. The rustic houses, the traditional houses, the views over the golden lands of the valley, and the feeling of peace make us love this place in a short time. This morning, we wished we could have stayed longer in Khoma, and now we wish we would be staying here for a couple of days. We understand Guru Rinpoche for blessing this valley, tucked deeply inside the impressive mountains of Bhutan, very well. This is a very attractive place to live.
