What a gorgeous promise this picture you copied 40 years ago! The same happened to me with a picture of a lemur I saw and fell in love with as a child. Decades later I should not only see lemurs in their natural habitat, but have one sitting on my shoulder in Madagascar - a childhood dream came true! Laurel, I can‘t wait to read on about your exploration of this mystical place! And it recalls my reading of one of my favourite stories ever: David Michie’s The Magician of Lhasa and The Secret Mantra.
Susanna, I just love this. How special to fulfill that dream, and then to have a lemur sitting on your shoulder! It's amazing what those pictures we collected can do; thank you for sharing that story.
The Magician of Lhasa and The Secret Mantra are two of my favorites, also - so inspiring!
Oh my God, that is so cool! I am so impressed that you made it there. And I hope there is another piece coming to tell us about your experience once you arrived at the Tiger's Lair. And I want to know how in the world they managed to build that place on such a sheer rock face. Fantastic!
Hi Carl! Thank you! Yes, I have a follow-up piece in the works that will show up the first Saturday in August. You're right; it is an interesting story regarding the building itself, and that's another aspect I want to write about. Good to see you!
I think it’s so great because there are so many people that haven’t been to certain places and then when we share them, it gives them a little peek into that world. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Clif, it is definitely a long trip and a hard place to get to, and I am honored to have the opportunity to share it with you! Thank you for traveling with me.
Trapped on my couch recovering from a total ankle replacement I’m breathlessly reading your story. I cannot wait for the next installment..such beautiful imagery, thank you once again for bring the world to us❤️
Hi Helen! Yes, I was there for six days, and I'm excited to share more about the trip, thank you! Sending good wishes and hoping for your future journey. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions.
Lovely postcard thank you! Like Susanna below, I had a similar experience. A picture of a big stone Buddha that I cut out of the magazine and glued to the cover of one of my journals back when I was in my 20s. Years later, on a trip to Thailand, I was stunned to find myself standing before that very Buddha at Wat Si Chum in the Sukhothai Historical Park. My experience there was not quite as cuddly as Susanna's... I'll tell you the story someday.
In my youth I trekked & whitewater rafted 3 times in the Himalayan mountains. It was my dream come true. And I still want to visit Bhutan but wariness for high altitude is concerning. I’m just so in awe of your journey to a place I have dreamt about. Absolutely breathtaking. I’m with David! Can I come along too!!!!!!
I am so excited. This is the last journey I took with my beautiful daughter Kimara.
I landed in Nepal and waited for my daughter. To arrive from Saudi Arabia where she was working.
I flow the Kagyu school of Buddhism and Pad Ma Sambava is our Buddha. He gave teachings in Tibet and the went to Bhutan where he introduced the teachings of the Buddha. I was so excited going there and we were there for 10 days exploring this small but mountainous kingdom . I just loved it and wanted to stay there.
Unfortunately, they assessed that I would never make the climb up there, but my daughter went. I was sorry but I had seen so many beautiful temples all around Bhutan.
I couldn’t believe how up market the hotels were and the food was sublime. The Momo’s were my favorite followed by the Chilie Cheese and pink rice.
The people were so friendly, I really didn’t want to come back to my mundane life. I will never forget it.
Did you fly in or did you take Druk Airways? Very scary flying so close to the mountains on either side into Parow.
Your photos are fabulous. Makes me wish I was back there.
Another wonderfully evocative piece, Laurel. You have to take us up there!
It will be my joy to do so! Thank you, David.
What a gorgeous promise this picture you copied 40 years ago! The same happened to me with a picture of a lemur I saw and fell in love with as a child. Decades later I should not only see lemurs in their natural habitat, but have one sitting on my shoulder in Madagascar - a childhood dream came true! Laurel, I can‘t wait to read on about your exploration of this mystical place! And it recalls my reading of one of my favourite stories ever: David Michie’s The Magician of Lhasa and The Secret Mantra.
Susanna, I just love this. How special to fulfill that dream, and then to have a lemur sitting on your shoulder! It's amazing what those pictures we collected can do; thank you for sharing that story.
The Magician of Lhasa and The Secret Mantra are two of my favorites, also - so inspiring!
Oh my God, that is so cool! I am so impressed that you made it there. And I hope there is another piece coming to tell us about your experience once you arrived at the Tiger's Lair. And I want to know how in the world they managed to build that place on such a sheer rock face. Fantastic!
Hi Carl! Thank you! Yes, I have a follow-up piece in the works that will show up the first Saturday in August. You're right; it is an interesting story regarding the building itself, and that's another aspect I want to write about. Good to see you!
Wow! These images are incredible. I enjoyed this essay a lot. Thank you for sharing this world of travel, people and places!
Hi there! Thank you. I'm so glad you enjoyed it; it's wonderful to share these experiences!
I think it’s so great because there are so many people that haven’t been to certain places and then when we share them, it gives them a little peek into that world. Thanks for sharing.
I'll never be able to go there for health reasons, but I look foward to being
there there through your words and pictures.
Hi Clif, it is definitely a long trip and a hard place to get to, and I am honored to have the opportunity to share it with you! Thank you for traveling with me.
Trapped on my couch recovering from a total ankle replacement I’m breathlessly reading your story. I cannot wait for the next installment..such beautiful imagery, thank you once again for bring the world to us❤️
Hi Vickie, sending you my best wishes for a speedy recovery and hoping you're back on your feet soon. That's so hard being trapped.
I'm very excited to share the next installment! Thank you; it's such a joy to have you travel with me.
Tell us more about that amazing experience! Still on my list to go there, let’s hope I can make it one day. Did you visit more places in Bhutan 🇧🇹?
Hi Helen! Yes, I was there for six days, and I'm excited to share more about the trip, thank you! Sending good wishes and hoping for your future journey. Please feel free to message me if you have any questions.
Thanks ever so much, Laurel.🙏
I was transported once again by your beautiful story. Glad to hear your knees and lungs held up so you could experience that magical place!
Hi Doug! Thank you for the kind words. I was very grateful to have made it with energy left to explore!
What an amazing place and for you a special achievement.
Thank you, Andrew, it was such a fascinating experience!
Laura what a beautiful experience you shared with us - look at you living and exploring!! Keep sharing my friend
Cindy
Dear Cindy! Thank you!
I was absolutely captivated reading your Postcard from a cliff! What an incredible place. How lucky are you.
Love reading your work Laurel
Lovely postcard thank you! Like Susanna below, I had a similar experience. A picture of a big stone Buddha that I cut out of the magazine and glued to the cover of one of my journals back when I was in my 20s. Years later, on a trip to Thailand, I was stunned to find myself standing before that very Buddha at Wat Si Chum in the Sukhothai Historical Park. My experience there was not quite as cuddly as Susanna's... I'll tell you the story someday.
In my youth I trekked & whitewater rafted 3 times in the Himalayan mountains. It was my dream come true. And I still want to visit Bhutan but wariness for high altitude is concerning. I’m just so in awe of your journey to a place I have dreamt about. Absolutely breathtaking. I’m with David! Can I come along too!!!!!!
Hi Laurel,
I am so excited. This is the last journey I took with my beautiful daughter Kimara.
I landed in Nepal and waited for my daughter. To arrive from Saudi Arabia where she was working.
I flow the Kagyu school of Buddhism and Pad Ma Sambava is our Buddha. He gave teachings in Tibet and the went to Bhutan where he introduced the teachings of the Buddha. I was so excited going there and we were there for 10 days exploring this small but mountainous kingdom . I just loved it and wanted to stay there.
Unfortunately, they assessed that I would never make the climb up there, but my daughter went. I was sorry but I had seen so many beautiful temples all around Bhutan.
I couldn’t believe how up market the hotels were and the food was sublime. The Momo’s were my favorite followed by the Chilie Cheese and pink rice.
The people were so friendly, I really didn’t want to come back to my mundane life. I will never forget it.
Did you fly in or did you take Druk Airways? Very scary flying so close to the mountains on either side into Parow.
Your photos are fabulous. Makes me wish I was back there.
Thank you for your insight.
Thankyou Laurel - you have an amazing talent! Your words transport us!😊