Punahka

We loved our National Geographic tour of Bhutan with photographer Ira Block.  The trip was timed to coincide with the festival in Punahka, which attracted people who walked from miles around.

One of the photo tips for taking people pictures was to set up a tripod in a place with the desired background and wait for people to walk into your frame and pose.  That shows their consent to be photographed and yields better results that trying to snap candid photos from afar.

The children of Bhutan are adorable.  Many families try to encourage one son to become a monk.

I asked one group of young children if I could take their photo, and they responded cheerfully "Why not."

The Buddhist temples of Bhutan are relatively untouched by modern civilization.  The country has taken a very different approach than nearby Nepal.  Rather than being overrun by backpackers, Bhutan charges hefty visa fees and seeks to attract a smaller number of more affluent travelers who will observe their traditions but leave the traditions undisturbed.