Happy Birthday to Daddy with a special picnic in Phuentsholing!!
The tradition in the Ma Family clan is to picnic with all the kiddies during the Chinese New Year week. For the past many many years (10+ years already), there were no such picnic since many of the kids are off to university to study and are never home during the celebration. However, for 2007 - the year of the golden pig, it was different. Almost all the kiddies are home except our dearest KhaFeng (aka Uncle Penjo), Ahman, and Mui Mui, who are all abroad doing their own thing at this time. Plus this year it coincided with Daddy's birthday! What a wonderful way to celebrate?!
So with so many kiddies, the annual family picnic was alive again, thanks to Granduncle John and Grandaunty Sonam for offering to host. Picnic in Phuentsholing was a complete different experience than the States. In the U.S., when we go picnic, everything is pretty much there, the grill, the picnic benches, and also....toilet facilities! However, here in Bhutan, picnic was definitely a DIY experience!
After the ideal site was selected, right next to the river on the dried up riverbed, wood had to be gathered to make a "bond" fire for cooking! The food is not your usual American marinated meat for grilling. It was traditional Bhutanese / Indian fare including Aloo Dum (Potato curry), Aloo Gobi (potato & cauliflower curry), Paratha, and many very delicious food. Now we know where Erik's "Foodie" personality comes from! Hahahaha
The big difference between picnicing in Bhutan versus the States is the fact that we had a LOT of eagles flying over us while we ate! They didn't attack us or anything but just waiting for their share of the food. The "kiddies" threw whatever food they didn't want up into the air and Erik was able to see (from some safe distance away) how the eagles came swooping down so fast one after another to grab their meal! It was truly amazing, even for Mummy who have not seen eagles so near!!
Erik also had a great time playing in the river, dipping his feet into the icy cold water and seeing the current run. His eyes were so sharp that he bent down and picked up a pebble and proceeded to put it in his mouth! Thank goodness Grandma Katy was quick enough to take it away! Whew! Our usual picnic would last about 3 hours max in the States but over here, it lasted a solid 5+ hours, until the afternoon tea was served (again, this was brewed on fire!). Although Daddy wasn't feeling good and had to lay down for majority of the festivities, it was a wonderful experience for Mummy and Erik!
So with so many kiddies, the annual family picnic was alive again, thanks to Granduncle John and Grandaunty Sonam for offering to host. Picnic in Phuentsholing was a complete different experience than the States. In the U.S., when we go picnic, everything is pretty much there, the grill, the picnic benches, and also....toilet facilities! However, here in Bhutan, picnic was definitely a DIY experience!
After the ideal site was selected, right next to the river on the dried up riverbed, wood had to be gathered to make a "bond" fire for cooking! The food is not your usual American marinated meat for grilling. It was traditional Bhutanese / Indian fare including Aloo Dum (Potato curry), Aloo Gobi (potato & cauliflower curry), Paratha, and many very delicious food. Now we know where Erik's "Foodie" personality comes from! Hahahaha
The big difference between picnicing in Bhutan versus the States is the fact that we had a LOT of eagles flying over us while we ate! They didn't attack us or anything but just waiting for their share of the food. The "kiddies" threw whatever food they didn't want up into the air and Erik was able to see (from some safe distance away) how the eagles came swooping down so fast one after another to grab their meal! It was truly amazing, even for Mummy who have not seen eagles so near!!
Erik also had a great time playing in the river, dipping his feet into the icy cold water and seeing the current run. His eyes were so sharp that he bent down and picked up a pebble and proceeded to put it in his mouth! Thank goodness Grandma Katy was quick enough to take it away! Whew! Our usual picnic would last about 3 hours max in the States but over here, it lasted a solid 5+ hours, until the afternoon tea was served (again, this was brewed on fire!). Although Daddy wasn't feeling good and had to lay down for majority of the festivities, it was a wonderful experience for Mummy and Erik!
posted by Tabitha | 5:02 AM
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