Haa Valley Bhutan - Hoentay Dumplings, ROCK HARD Cheese, and Local Bhutanese Food! (Day 8)
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On Day 8 of our food and travel trip to Bhutan, we spent the night at Haa Valley Homestay and woke up to a beautiful morning. We spent the day exploring Haa Valley, and eating local Haa Valley Bhutanese food.
For breakfast I had butter tea (suja), and ezay chili dip made from a tree tomato.
Chogo - That’s the rock hard cheese I tried in Haa Valley town. It was unique, I spent about ½ an hour chewing on and barely even scratching the surface. You can suck on this rock hard cheese for a long time.
Hoentay - Hoentay are the local Haa Valley buckwheat dumplings, which are known throughout Bhutan and Bhutanese food you can’t miss when you’re in Haa Valley.
Back at Haa Valley Farm Stay we had a hot stone bath in the evening. It felt amazing to soak in a traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath.
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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Rare BHUTANESE DUMPLINGS in Haa Valley + Haa Village Tour | Bhutan
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After arriving in Haa Valley on my seventh day in Bhutan, I immediately hit the ground running with an amazing Bhutanese lunch! Join me as I have some super tasty Bhutanese dumplings in Haa Valley and go on village tour in Haa, Bhutan!
My afternoon started outside the Pedlen Restaurant in the village of Haa. I was joined by my friend and guide Tsheten from MyBhutan.
I started with some chilies, potatoes, and beef; ema dashti with red and green chilies; radish with red chilies; a dumpling; and potato fritters. The ema dashti was super spicy. It hit me right away! It was both creamy and spicy and was fantastic. I needed some chai afterward to calm down the heat in my mouth! Next was a piece of moist, tender, and slightly spicy beef with soft potatoes.
The radish was really nice in terms of spice. I followed that with some cheesy and creamy tomatoes. The hoentay dumplings were a little bitter and full of soft and delicate turnip greens They were my favorite dumplings of the trip so far, especially with the ezay! Then, I had some earthy ara, a soft and spicy potato fritter, and some papad and dal to finish up.
After lunch, it was time to explore Haa! The population is only around 14,000 people. It’s known for having more shopkeepers than customers. I loved the traditional architecture in the town.
We visited a pair of general shops, the second of which only sold Buddhist items for the home or families. I bought a carved skull keychain, which fends off evil and cost 250 Nu/$3.31 USD.
We braved the frigid wind across a suspension bridge over the Haa Chhu River. On the other side was a small Buddhist temple and tons of white prayer flags, which are for someone who has passed away.
We walked along the Haa Chhu River, past a golf course and the Fortress of Haa, and through a colorful stupa, to get to the White Temple.
The White Temple was made up of several buildings and a massive courtyard. To the right and left are the monks’ residences, and at the very top is a temple with a statue of the god of longevity.
Then, we hiked past a herd of cows down a path toward the Black Temple. It was much smaller than the White Temple. Inside are statues of the future Buddha, the second Buddha, and the Unifier. It is thought that the statue of the future Buddha has saved the locals from epidemics and famines. The grounds were beautiful!
Then, we hiked back down to the road and drove to Risum Resort, where I had a super nice room. After a tour and a quic nap, it was time for dinner! There, Tsheten served me 10 fried hoentay dumplings, 10 steamed ones, ema dashti, chili paste, ara, and chai.
I tried a fried hoentay with the chili paste. It was oily, crunchy, and full of turnip leaves. It tasted like a fried empanada. The chili paste wasn’t that hot, though. The ema dashti was really cheesy and spicy but so good! The cheese was a little different; it was processed.
Then, I grabbed a steamed hoentay with no chilies. It was bigger than the ones I’d had earlier. I added some ema dashti to a large fried hoentay, which was so good. The fried ones were tastier, but I loved the steamed ones, too. They were right up there with the xiaolongbao I loved when I visited Shanghai. When you mix dumplings, vegetables, chilies, and cheese, you can’t go wrong!
The ara was also delicious. It was super clear and flavorful. What an awesome day in Haa Valley!
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My name is David Hoffmann. For the last 12 years, I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food, and history! Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have traveled to over 1,100 destinations in 77 countries, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube channel, travel blog, and social media sites.
I focus a great deal on food and historical sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, from casual street food to gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning about the local history and culture.
P.S. Thank you for watching my videos and subscribing!
Exotic BHUTANESE STREET FOOD + Driving Through the Himalayas to Haa Valley | Bhutan
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My seventh day in Bhutan was the beginning of yet another incredible adventure in the western region of the country. Come along with me as I enjoy some exotic Bhutanese street food on my way through the Himalayas to Haa Valley in western Bhutan!
My day began in the capital city of Thimphu. My friend and guide from MyBhutan, Tsheten, and I set off toward Haa Valley with our driver Nidup. The valley had been closed to Westerners until 2002.
We followed the main highway to a hut-like shop that was like part convenience store, part restaurant. There, they had the outer skin of the yak, tripe, lungs, beef sausage, pork sausage, veal, and more. It was spicy, non-veg organ meat!
I started with some ngaja, or milk tea, while Tsheten and Nidup got the suja, or butter tea. Then, I dove into the most exotic breakfast I’ve ever eaten! I had beef lungs, tripe (beef stomach), two pork blood sausages, and ezay.
The pork blood sausage was super spicy and tasted like morcilla! It was nice, juicy, and dense. Then, I dug into the lungs, which was good! It had a similar consistency to kidneys. It was so soft and full of numbing spices. I loved the spice level. It was so good!
Next was the tripe. It was really tasty but a little tough. Then, I added more ezay to it. It tasted like a medium or overcooked flank steak! There was a fleshy side and a more gelatinous side.
The ezay wasn’t too spicy. It was more like a chili paste. It was made with chili powder, onion, tomato, and oil. The sausage was one of my favorite morcillas ever! Overall, the spice level was maybe a 7 out of 10. Then, I finished with some porridge made from boiled rice, paneer, and chili powder. I could feel the chilies in it!
From there, we left the stand and hit the road again. Outside of Paro, we passed through a small village called Shaba and passed some fields where they grow potatoes, chilies, and other vegetables. There was also rice fields, lots of houses, and some stupas.
We were making our way up the mountain. We passed some domesticated horses on the road. Then, we reached a viewpoint where we could get an amazing view of Paro.
The road was the windiest one I’d ever been on.
Then, we saw a cat leopard and then we began passing slushy patches of snow. I wanted to have a snowball fight! They use lots of salt on the road because of the snow, which mades the road bad. It got super bumpy and muddy with potholes. It was like a Bhutanese massage!
We stopped for a second so we could have a snowball fight! Afterward, with my hands frozen, we hopped back in the car and passed lots of yaks. To our right, we could see the second-highest mountain in Bhutan, which is 7,340 meters above sea level.
Then, we made it to the highest pass in Bhutan, Chele La. It’s 3,988 meters above sea level. The views were incredible! There were prayer flags everywhere and some prayer wheels. I could feel the altitude; it was hard for me to catch my breath. I definitely recommend wearing winter clothes there!
From there, we had less than an hour ride to get down. The road was literally cut into the mountain. I hadn’t felt the altitude like this in a long time.
We stopped at another viewpoint to see Haa Valley in all its glory. There was a military base and a town there. It’s a long valley surrounded by mountains. I could see a monastery with a red roof to the left.
We made it to the bottom of the mountain. There weren’t that many people in the town. We’d finally arrived in Haa Valley. I couldn’t wait to explore it!
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About Me:
My name is David Hoffmann. For the last 12 years, I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food, and history! Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have traveled to over 1,100 destinations in 77 countries, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube channel, travel blog, and social media sites.
I focus a great deal on food and historical sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, from casual street food to gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning about the local history and culture.
P.S. Thank you for watching my videos and subscribing!
50 Hours in Paro, Bhutan! (Full Documentary) Bhutanese Street Food and Haa Valley!
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Welcome to Bhutan! This small Himalayan country located between India and China is known for its unique Buddhist culture.
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It’s a peaceful mountain paradise, and it’s no wonder people call it the Last Shangri-La. But it’s also known by a more powerful nickname: “The Land of the Thunder Dragon.”
I’m about to take you into the city of Paro and to the beautiful Haa Valley. We’re visiting gorgeous monasteries and temples, and trying some of the best food in Bhutan! Ema datshi, hoentay, and even spicy animal organs! It’s so good, but don’t take my word for it! Let’s go to Paro and Haa Valley, Bhutan!
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#bhutan #foodie #streetfood #travel
About Me:
My name is David Hoffmann. Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have traveled to over 1,400 destinations in 98 countries to experience and document unique cultures on my YouTube channel, travel blog, and social media.
I highlight culture and historical sites, but my passion is food! I love to experience and showcase the different flavors each destination has to offer, from casual street food to gourmet restaurant dining.
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Best Momos in Thimphu, Bhutan, and Bhutanese Archery! (Day 10)
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On Day 10 of our Bhutan food and travel trip, we were back in Thimphu for a couple days. For lunch we headed to Momo Corner, a famous restaurant that serves some of the best momos in Thimphu, Bhutan.
Momo Corner - This restaurant is one of the most famous restaurants in all of Thimphu, and His Majesty the King of Bhutan is even known to come by for some momos every now and then. Momos are the Himalayan version of dumplings, available from Tibet to Nepal to India and they are very popular in Bhutan. The momos and the atmosphere at Momo Corner was fantastic.
Bhutanese Archery - Did you know the national sport of Bhutan is archery? After eating momos we had a chance to watch some archery competitions at the archery grounds in Thimphu.
The Bhutanese - For dinner we ate at The Bhutanese for traditional Bhutanese food. Overall, the food was good, but similar to many other meals that we ate on this trip to Bhutan.
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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Bhutanese Tibetan Street Food in Thimphu, Bhutan - TIBETAN UNCLE! (Day 11)
Well, Bhutan doesn’t really have much street food, but Tibetan Uncle is about as close to the street food atmosphere in Thimphu as you can get, and it’s amazing.
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On Day 11 of our food and travel trip to Bhutan, we were in Thimphu. We met up with Matt for breakfast and he took us to a place he named Tibetan Uncle, a friendly uncle who makes an assortment of Bhutanese and Tibetan food. The little restaurant is as local and street food style as you can get in Thimphu, tucked in a tiny little room at the back of a strip mall.
Tibetan Uncle (Peace Restaurant) - Order anything he has for the day, everything is good at Tibetan. The momos and chili sauce were amazing, and the beef phingsha and Tibetan food curry and ting momos were delicious.
Zombala Restaurant - One of the first restaurants in all of Bhutan is Zombala restaurant, located in the heart of Thimphu. They specialize in light meals like momos, fried rice, and chow mein. The momos were again excellent.
Bhutan Kitchen Restaurant - For dinner we went to Bhutan Kitchen restaurant, another traditional Bhutanese food restaurant in Thimphu. For traditional Bhutanese food, I thought this was one of the better sit down restaurants in Thimphu.
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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Bhutanese CHILI SAUCE! Bhutan Travel Guide from Punakha to Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan (Day 14)
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When it comes to Bhutanese food, ezay, which is any kind of Bhutanese chili sauce, is something I learned to love from my first day in Bhutan. Every Bhutanese makes their own version of ezay, using a selection of different ingredients. Not two ezays are the same. At Aum Leki Wangmo Farmhouse, the mother there made some amazing Bhutanese chili sauce and I had a chance to watch her make it. Dry chilies, oil, sichuan pepper, tree tomato, ginger, salt, and cheese were a few of the main ingredients she added to her recipe.
Kuenphen Restaurant - On the drive from Punakha to Phobjikha Valley, we stopped for lunch along the bumpy and beautiful road. We ordered shakam datshi, sikam datshi and chilly chicken. The food was alright, but not as good at the home cooked Bhutanese food at home stays in Bhutan. Total price - 640 BTN ($9.60)
Phobjikha Valley - Phobjikha Valley is one of the most beautiful places to visit when you travel to Bhutan. It’s a secluded valley, high in the mountains. We checked into Pasang Zangmo Farmstay. The aunty and her family here were awesome, and she’s known for her cooking throughout all of Phobjikha Valley. I loved walking around their house, exploring the area and seeing black necked cranes (which migrate from Tibet). Our Bhutanese food dinner was delicious.
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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Nepali Food and Bhutanese Food - DELICIOUS FEAST and Traveling to Haa Valley, Bhutan (Day 7)
Migrationology: Bhutan Episode 10 (Hiking in Haa)
With one last breakfast at the farm home, Mark and Ying check out and join MyBhutan’s founder, Matt, for a hike up a mountain for some spectacular views of Haa Valley, and stop at a popular local restaurant on the way back for a delicious buffet lunch. After lunch, they are driven to Thimphu with a pit stop at Chelela, Bhutan’s highest motor pass.
Back in Thimphu, Mark and Ying enjoy a dinner of steamed dumplings before calling it a night.
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Bhutan Food at Culture at Local Farm Village in Phobjikha Valley, and a YAK BURGER! (Day 15)
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On Day 15 in Bhutan we were in Phobjikha Valley. The home farm stay was an amazing opportunity to learn about Bhutanese food and culture. Bhutanese breakfast, including mandatory butter tea, was fantastic.
Black-necked cranes - Phobjikha Valley is famous for their black necked cranes which migrate from Tibet every winter. We spent a little while browsing the Black-Necked Crane Visitor Center. Entrance - 120 BTN ($1.79)
Gangtey Goenpa Monastery - One of the main monasteries overlooking Phobjikha Valley is Gangtey Goenpa Monastery. It’s a nice place to walk around and get a view overlooking the valley.
Gangtey Goenpa Lodge - One of the only high end hotels in Phobjikha Valley is Gangtey Goenpa Lodge, and to switch up eating Bhutanese food for every meal we came here for lunch. I decided to order the yak burger.
Wangchuk Dema Farmstay - Finally, we checked into another farm home stay called Wangchuk Dema Farmstay. We walked around in the evening and had another delicious home cooked Bhutanese food meal for dinner.
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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Bhutanese Breakfast Food and Incredible Views at Chele La Pass (3,988 meters), Bhutan (Day 9)
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On Day 9 of our food and travel trip to Bhutan, we woke up in Haa Valley, had a delicious Bhutanese breakfast, took a hike, and the highlight for me was driving through Chele La Pass (3,988 meters) at sunset.
Haa Valley Farm Stay (Ugyen & Doley) - Bhutanese breakfast was again fantastic - with a mixture of different dishes including bitter gourd and chili sauce, and of course, butter tea.
After taking a beautiful hike up one of the hills in Haa Valley, we then headed down to Risum Lodge for a Bhutanese lunch, which was overall good.
In the afternoon, we started driving back to Thimphu where we passed through Chele La Pass - 3,988 meters (13,083 feet), what I believe is the highest mountain road pass in Bhutan. The sunset views were impressive, and the yaks at the top were also amazing to see.
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan - Trekking to the SPECTACULAR Monastery on a Cliff! (Final Day in Bhutan)
Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan is one of the most famous attractions, and the beauty is mind-blowing!
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On Day 19 of our food and travel trip to Bhutan, we dedicated the entire day to trekking to Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan (Paro Taktsang in Bhutanese Dzongkha), which sits literally on the edge of a cliff. The hike takes about 3 - 4 hours or so, and since I wanted to beat the main crowds, my wife and I left from the hotel quite early to get a head start. It worked out quite well, because we were some of the only people on the trail that early in the morning. The fresh air was amazing. We wound our way along the trail, and soon we could get amazing views of Tiger’s Nest hidden in the clouds and on the side of the cliff.
The trail, although steep, isn’t really dangerous in any parts, as long as you keep your eye on the trail and don’t try to get too close to the edge. At the top of Tiger’s Nest Monastery they don’t allow any photography, so you have to check in your bag. We walked around the monastery for a little while, ate some snacks, and then headed down.
Despite Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan being one of the most famous attractions and icons of Bhutan, it really is spectacular.
Round-Trip Taxi from Paro to Tiger’s Nest - 1,400 BTN ($20.99)
It’s typically recommended that you visit Tiger’s Nest at the end of your trip to Bhutan so that you acclimatize better to the elevation.
Gangtey Palace Hotel - After returning from Tiger’s Nest, we checked into the classic Gangtey Palace Hotel for our final night in Bhutan!
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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Bhutan Travel Guide - Trip to Punakha Dzong and Farm Stay (Day 13)
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On Day 13 of our Bhutan travel and food trip, we drove from Thimphu to Punakha.
Dochula Pass - On the drive from Thimphu to Punakha, you’ll pass through Dochula Pass, a beautiful mountain pass. Although it was foggy, there were still great views and it had an almost eerie feel to it.
Punakha Dzong - A Dzong is the center of government, administration, and religion in every district of Bhutan, and one of the most famous places to visit in Punakha is the local Dzong. Unfortunately they don’t allow any video inside the dzong, but the views from outside were still spectacular.
Punakha Suspension Bridge - This bridge was a little scary to cross, but the beauty was amazing.
Yak Herder’s Camp - Food and Lodging - For lunch we stopped at Yak Herder’s camp, there weren’t too many food options in this area of Bhutan. The food was alright, we mostly ate Indian food. Total price - 655 BTN ($9.83) for 3
Aum Leki Wangmo Farmhouse - For the night we checked into Aum Leki Wangmo Farmhouse a secluded home stay high up in the mountains. It was dark when we arrived, but it was beautiful. We had a home cooked Bhutanese food meal for dinner.
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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Authentic Bhutanese Foods + SHOCKING Village of FERTILITY Tour | Punakha, Bhutan
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My third day in Bhutan began with breakfast at the Happiness Field Village Homestay in the city of Punakha. After that, I’d visit a unique local village and monastery!
My traditional breakfast included some rice porridge and an amazing, sticky, risotto-like fried rice with ezay, which is a spicy chili salsa. The ezay added a lot of heat to the rice porridge. Overall, the spice level was maybe an 8/10. I finished up with milk tea (chai) with ginger.
Then, I met up with my driver, Nidup, and my guide Tsheten, both from MyBhutan. We arrived in the village of Sipsikha, a town of less than 1,000 where phalluses are painted on every house and restaurant as a symbol of fertility. The phalluses are all different colors and have eyes. Some even have fangs! They also chase away evil spirits. In the handicraft souvenir shops, they even sell phalluses! The tradition of painting phalluses dates back to the 15th century, when a Tibetan saint who came to Bhutan and subdued evil spirits using his phallus. It was so unique…I’d never seen a place like this!
It takes about 2 minutes to walk through the first part of the village. Between the two parts of the village are rice paddy fields. It’s really beautiful! Past the fields is the second part of the village, where you’ll find a water prayer wheel and many more shops on your way to the Chimi Lhakhang Monastery.
The shops sell phalluses of different sizes, some of which are painted, while others are plain. They also have beautiful paintings, scarves, prayer beads, and masks. The traditional ceramic masks were about 1,500 Nu, or about $19.84 USD.
The architecture in the town was beautiful. We continued on to more fields, where we saw them making mud bricks.
Near Chimi Lhakhang Monastery is a black stupa, where the Lam Drukpa Kuenley, an unconventional Buddhist master known as the Divine Madman captured and subdued a pair of demons who wanted to kill him. There’s also a large prayer wheel and 108 smaller ones.
Inside the temple, I took off my hat and shoes and filmed inside the courtyard. Inside, prayers were in session. There are also students and lots of different types of offerings.
Next, we headed to a nunnery, but it was closed, so we headed to Chimi Lhakhang Organic Café, a rustic, wood café that offers amazing views of the paddy fields, village, and mountains.
I had a Druk lager, red rice, ema dashti, vegetable soup, dried beef sausage with chilies, and dried pork with spinach and chilies.
The ema dashti was spicy and delicious and contained mushrooms. The green chilies are really hot, but the red ones aren’t so bad. The red rice really helped calm down the heat. The beef sausage contained some chili seeds and chili oil. It was nice and crunchy. You eat them with the ezay, which also contains onions.
The vegetable soup was light and cloudy and contained spinach but no spice. Then, I went for the dried pork. It was mostly gelatinous pork fat with a bit of meat. You eat it with the spinach and chilies. The gelatin falls apart in your mouth, and the sautéed spinach and chili combination was really nice. The layer of meat was hard to bite through, though.
The ema dashti was my favorite. It’s one of my favorite dishes on the planet now! It has a consistency similar to spinach dip. The chilies in the sausages felt like numbing Szechwan peppers. My least favorite was the meat layer in the pork, but it was still nice. The sausages were so good that I got a second plate!
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#Davidsbeenhere #Punakha #Bhutan #DavidInBhutan
About Me:
My name is David Hoffmann. For the last 12 years, I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food, and history! Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have traveled to over 1,100 destinations in 77 countries, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube channel, travel blog, and social media sites.
I focus a great deal on food and historical sites, as you probably have seen! I love to experience the different flavors that each destination has to offer, from casual street food to gourmet restaurant dining. I’m also passionate about learning about the local history and culture.
P.S. Thank you for watching my videos and subscribing!
We Met the King of Bhutan! - New Cultural Festival in 4K
Incredible Bhutan Festival - the Royal Highlander Festival in the Himalayan village of Laya.
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Gray Langur Tours invited us on their very first Bhutan Tour to experience the second annual Royal Highlander Festival.
Gray Langur offers travel, treks and cultural cultural tours to Bhutan:
Created by the His Majesty, the king of Bhutan to display the culture of the Highlanders of the Himalayan Mountains, the Royal Highland Festival brings together tribes from all over the country.
He actually shows up to the festival and greets guests walking down a procession to say hello to visitors. And we had a short conversation with him. Bit no cameras allowed.
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► Love trekking? See our other trip to the Himalayas when we climbed to Mount Everest Base Camp:
To get to the festival it is a two day trek it is a several hour drive from Thimpu where our buses parked near Gasa to start a two day trek to Laya through. The treks takes you through the beautiful valleys of the Himalayas.
The high Himalayan Mountain range can be seen in the distance. It's a tough and rugged climb, but the festival is worth every minute.
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Shot in 4K Sony System Cameras & Zhiyun Crane Gimbal
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Migrationology: Bhutan Episode 5 (Spicy Bhutanese Food)
Mark Wiens fifth day begins with some coffee and a unique Bhutanese fried rice at the cozy Art Cafe. With a quick visit after breakfast to discover fine traditional fabrics at the Royal Textile Museum, and a short hike to the center of town, the couple is welcomed by the friendly hostess of Musk Restaurant for a lunch comprising of Bhutanese and Sikkimese dishes.
For dinner, the couple tries out the amazing traditional Bhutanese menu of Bhutan Orchid Restaurant where Mark samples his first Bhutanese rice wine.
Want to take a food tour of Bhutan? Click on this link to make your reservation:
Making Hoentays at the Haa Valley Homestay
As special food is central to most celebrations in the world, hoentay are an essential part of Lomba. No ordinary dumplings, the dough is made with buckwheat flour and the filling has no less than 13-15 ingredients, depending on who was explaining hoentay to us. These included some items that no one new the English translation for, as well as turnip greens, Sichuan pepper, mushrooms...
Migrationology: Bhutan Episode 9 (Hearty Food in Mountainous Village)
With a quick stroll around the village before a lovingly served village breakfast, the couple is driven to Haa town for lunch and to explore the town. Walking through the town, Mark tries some dried cheese and some dumplings, including the much-loved local dish, hoentey (buckwheat dumplings), before savoring traditional Bhutanese noodles for lunch.
Back at the farm home, the couple enjoys a traditional hot stone bath after a very filling dinner with the team from MyBhutan and friends.
Want to take a food tour of Bhutan? Click on this link to make your reservation:
Paro, Bhutan - Rinpung Dzong and Bhutanese Indian Food at Sonam Trophel Restaurant (Day 18)
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On Day 18, Ying and I took a taxi from Thimphu to Paro where we’d spend our last few days in Bhutan. Taxi from Thimphu to Paro - 1,500 BTN ($22.46).
We checked into Tashi Namgay Resort to spend a couple nights.
Rinpung Dzong - One of the main things to do in Paro is visit the Rinpung Dzong, one of the main attractions and centers of Bhutan culture in Paro.
Sonam Trophel Restaurant - For lunch we ate at Sonam Trophel restaurant, one of the oldest restuarants in Bhutan, serving mainly Indian food and Bhutanese food. The pork momos were excellent and I also liked the Indian style egg curry. Total price - 690 BTN ($10.33)
For dinner, I ate back at the hotel, and had room service as we would be having a big day ahead of us tomorrow climbing to Tiger’s Nest!
Disclosure:
It was an honor to be invited by MyBhutan to visit Bhutan to explore Bhutanese food and culture. Thank you to MyBhutan Productions for making my trip and this video possible!
Do you want to explore Bhutanese cuisine in Bhutan? Go to to book your exclusive food tour with MyBhutan.
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HAA VALLEY | BHUTAN | Day 11 | AOG ride | TVS |
We left beautiful Punakha Valley and started our ride towards Haa Valley. Route was very scenic and this valley is near the border of Bhutan and China. Weather was too cold and was difficult to ride.
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Rider Gayatri Patel