 810 W 36th Street
Baltimore, Maryland, 21211
410-235-7323
hours: Monday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
www.breathebooks.com
Susan L. Weis, proprietress
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hi Everyone,
|
I am really excited to announce our next trip to a Sacred Site...Bhutan! Travel dates are April 19 - April 30, 2011. This is a Women Only trip -- sorry guys! We'll get you next time.
Four years ago when I traveled to the Himalayan Buddhist Kingdom (a
democratic Kingdom!) of Bhutan, I thou ght it was the trip of a life
time. I never imagined I'd be going back... and leading a group! But
that is exactly what's happening.
Beth Whitman, of Wanderlust and Lipstick in Seattle, has asked me to
lead a group of women on a trip to Bhutan which will incorporate yoga,
meditation and Ayurveda. We'll experience the beautiful and magical sites of Bhutan, festivals, monasteries, flora
and fauna and the most amazing  views from the top of the world.
The intense beauty of Bhutan is like nothing I've ever seen. The people, the river valleys and mountains, the flowers and trees, and the spectacular architecture -- it's a photographers paradise! And an amazing experience to behold such beauty in such a peaceful country.
We'll meet up with people from around the U.S. in
Bangkok, the day before we travel to Bhutan together. The breathe
books group from Baltimore can all travel together. You'll find all the details below, on the breathe website, and on Beth's website.
Call or email me any questions or thoughts. I look forward to going to Bhutan with you!
Tashi Delek (namaste),
Susan
|
|
 |
|
|
Bhutan Women-only Yoga Tour
April 19 - 30, 2011
 This 12-day yoga and cultural adventure to Bhutan has been specially created for women and is appropriate for yoginis of all levels. Experience the breathtaking Himalayas, learn about the Kingdom's policy of Gross National Happiness and take an inner journey through yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic workshops.
The tour combines the best of Bhutan's cultural highlights along with light trekking in the pristine Himalayas. During this adventure you'll have the opportunity to meditate with a monk, visit The National Institute of Traditional Medicine in Thimphu, hike to Tiger's Nest and enjoy the Ura Valley tsechu (festival).
Tour cost: $4,950
Single supplement: $475
(Why a single supplement charge? See this about page for an explanation.)
Price
includes: Roundtrip flights from Bangkok to Paro, transportation in
Bhutan, all meals, hotels, bottled water, visa, airport tax and tourist
development fund charge. Also includes cost of yoga classes, meditation
session, Ayurvedic workshop and entrance to monasteries and festivals.
 Price
does not include: Flights to and hotel in Bangkok, evacuation insurance
(highly recommended), souvenirs, personal purchases (such as books and
snacks), beverages other than water, and tips.
This trip is
limited to 15 people and requires an $800 deposit (to cover airfare from
Bangkok to Paro) on a first come, first served basis.
Please make payable and send check to:
Beth Whitman
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116
Deposits
and full payment may also be made with a credit/debit card through
PayPal - note that there is an additional 3% charge for this. If paying
through PayPal, simply send payment to: beth@wanderlustandlipstick.com. |
|
Full Itinerary
|
April 19, 2011, Day 1 - arrive from Bangkok - Paro
The
flight into Paro on Bhutan's national carrier, Druk Air, is a befitting
introduction to the spectacular beauty of the country. In clear
weather, magnificent views of the world's highest peaks  give way to the
lush green Paro Valley as you land. Your first experience will be that
of breathing in the cool, clean, fresh air. After clearing customs and
visa control you will be met by your in-country guide and driven to your
hotel.
After lunch, you will visit Rinpung Dzong and then spend
time walking along Paro's main street and shopping district. In the late
afternoon, if there is time, you will visit Ta Dzong which was
converted into the National Museum in 1967. See antique thangkas,
textiles, weapons, armor, household objects and other historic
artifacts. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
HIGHLIGHT! This first
evening will include an introductory session on Ayurvedic practices with
Susan, Chopra Center Certified Teacher of Ayurveda, including a dosha
diagnosis, as well as an introduction to yoga.
April 20, 2011, Day 2 - Paro - Thimphu
 After
your first early morning yoga session and breakfast, the group will
depart for Thimphu, Bhutan's capital (population 86,000; 7,520') about
an hour away.
After lunch, the group will visit sites around
Thimphu that may include a nunnery, the National Memorial Chorten, the
National Zoo (more like a preserve, the only animal present is the
national animal, the unique Takin), the handicraft emporium, handmade
paper factory and Trashi Chhoe Dzong monastery. Dinner and overnight at
hotel.
HIGHLIGHT! Thimphu is the largest and only real "city" in
Bhutan. Though it is bustling, it remains the world's only capital city
without a traffic light! It's also an excellent place to learn about the
country's arts and crafts.
April 21, 2011, Day 3 - Thimphu - Punakha
After
breakfast, the group will depart for the drive to Dochu La Pass
(10,000'), climbing steeply through a forest of pine and cedar,
festooned with hanging lichen. You'll then have a chance for a light
downhill hi ke through the forest, meeting up with the road where you'll
board the van and drive into the Punakha Valley. Lunch will be served at
the hotel.
In the afternoon, you'll drive a short distance to the Punakha Dzong.
HIGHLIGHT!
Punakha Dzong is considered the most beautiful of all dzongs in Bhutan.
You'll have  time to explore this complex of buildings that houses
hundreds of monks during the winter. You will visit the spectacular main
temple which houses large Buddhas at the alter and thousands more
around the walls.
Overnight at hotel which is perched high on a ridge overlooking the Punakha Valley and river.
April 22, 2011, Day 4 - Punakha - Trongsa
 You'll
begin the day early with another yoga class which will help prepare you
for the long drive (about 5 hours) to Trongsa. During this drive you'll
make your way through the Black Mountains along the "Central Road"
which was completed only 30 years ago and opened central Bhutan to the
outside world.
The first stop is Wangdue, a small but important
town and the district headquarters of Western Bhutan. If time permits,
you'll visit Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, dramatically located on a ridge
above the confluence of two raging rivers. Continuing on, the road
climbs through semi-tropical vegetation to Pele La Pass (10,900") with
an alpine environment of towering rhododendron and  dwarf bamboo. Yak can
often be found grazing here and, if clear, Mt. Jhomulhari (24,140") is
visible to the west. Descending, you'll pass through a spectacular gorge
and on to Trongsa, where you'll visit the impressive Trongsa Dzong.
Overnight at the hotel and enjoy the spectacular views of the area.
April 23, 2011, Day 5 - Trongsa - Bumthang Valley
After
breakfast, the group will continue driving east to Bumthang Valley,
where you'll have ample time to sightsee with possible visits to: the
Tamshing Gompa (monastery), Kurjey Lhakhang, and Jambay (or Jampa,
Buddha of the Future) gong-bhutanLhakhang, the Jakar Dzong and the Swiss
 Farm (for cheese, honey, beer and local fruit spirits).
HIGHLIGHT!
Buddhism in Bhutan is believed to have started in Bumthang. This area
is ideal for settling in for a few days and enjoying the rich culture
and spiritual surroundings.
April 24, 2011, Day 6 - Bumthang - Hike to Tang Valley
After
another yoga session, the group will depart for the Tang Valley along
the 15 miles of dirt road which gives access to this region. You'll stop
for an hour-long hike up to Ogyen Choling Museum which provides a
fascinating look into traditional life in Bhutan. After the hike back
down to the road, you'll stop for a picnic lunch.
Afterward, you
will visit the Pema Choling Nunnery and learn about the lives of the
women who live there. This is a special opportunity to see how the nuns
live in and operate the nunnery, which is so very different from the
monasteries where the monks live.
HIGHLIGHT! Though the road to
the Tang Valley is rough, the views and hike through this area are
spectacular and a tour through the museum is a unique chance to see how
people continue to live their traditional life in Bhutan.
April 25, 2011, Day 7 - Bumthang - Ura - Bumthang
Following
another yoga session and breakfast, you will take an excursion to the
Ura Valley about 25 miles away. You'll attend the Ura Yakchoe Tsechu and
will have the chance to witness Bhutanese traditional singing and
dancing. This festival is an important way for the locals to hold on to
their culture and lifestyle.
Dinner and overnight at same hotel in Bumthang.
HIGHLIGHT! Families dressed in their finest clothes will come from around the valley to partake in and witness this tsechu.
April 26, 2011, Day 8 - Bumthang - Gangtey
After
breakfast, you'll begin by driving west back toward Paro. The group
will stop at Yotong La Pass and then continue on through Trongsa, to
Pele La Pass, and then turn south to the Phoblika Valley (10,000 feet),
considered the most beautiful valley in the Himalayas. Lunch will be
provided along the way. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
HIGHLIGHT!This valley is the winter home to the endangered black-necked cranes
that migrate from the high Tibetan Plateau. Though they are generally
only here from November through March, on occasion there are stragglers
that can still be seen in April.
April 27, 2011, Day 9 - Gangtey - Wangdue
An
early morning yoga class will be taught as you view the amazing valley
below the hotel. After breakfast, the group will visit Gangtey Gompa,
which dates back to the 17th century and was recently renovated. You'll
then walk back along a path through a beautiful forest and then along
the valley floor back to the hotel where you will have lunch.
You'll then drive about 2 hours to a riverside hotel near Wangdue (4,000 feet). Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
HIGHLIGHT!
The morning's walk through the Phoblika Valley is one of easiest and
loveliest on this tour. The area will take your breath away as watch
horse and cows mingling along the valley floor that's ringed by low
mountains.
April 28, 2011, Day 10 - Wangdue - Thimphu - Paro
From
Wangdue, you will drive to Thimphu for lunch and a last chance for
shopping and sightseeing. You'll then proceed to Paro where you'll have
dinner and overnight at hotel.
April 29, 2011, Day 11 - Paro
 You'll
get an early start on this last full day in Bhutan to hike 2+ hours up
to Taktsang (Tiger's Nest), Bhutan's most photographed and iconic
monastery. You'll spend some time enjoying the views and visiting the
temples here. You'll then hike down, stopping at the tea shop, located
at the halfway point, and where there are lovely views of Tiger's Nest.
You'll continue down and then enjoy a picnic lunch.
You'll then
return to Paro. There will be time for resting or visiting the town for
last-minute shopping. Final overnight and dinner at hotel.
HIGHLIGHT! Quite possibly the highlight of your entire trip will be hiking to and visiting Tiger's Nest!
April 30, 2011, Day 12 - Paro - Bangkok
After
an early breakfast, you'll depart for the airport for a bittersweet
goodbye to the Kingdom of Bhutan and fly back to Bangkok. Though it's
possible to connect with your flight home on the same day, consider
overnighting in Bangkok in case flights out of Paro are delayed (not
uncommon).
|
|
About ...
|
... Susan
Your tour leader, Susan L.
Weis, is the owner of breathe books, a new age bookstore located in
Baltimore, Maryland. Through the shop, Susan has been able to deeply
explore and teach areas of great interest to her, including yoga,
Ayurveda and meditation. This has also given her the opportunity to lead
groups to sacred sites around the world.
Susan began traveling
in her teens and has had the opportunity to live overseas for almost a
decade, and to visit a wide variety of countries including Bhutan, Cuba,
Costa Rica, Cyprus, Egypt, England, France, Greece, Turkey, Iceland,
India, Israel, Jordan and Peru.
Susan has been practicing yoga
since 1995 and has studied Hatha yoga in the Iyengar style. She has also
trained through the Chopra Center for Well Being in the Seven Spiritual
Laws of Yoga. Susan is a Chopra Center certified teacher of Ayurveda,
the 5,000 year-old Indian system of health and nutrition.
At breathe books Susan regularly teaches Ayurveda, which includes yoga and meditation and pranayama.
... Yoga in Bhutan
Throughout
the tour, the group will explore not only Yoga asanas (poses), but also
the Yogic philosophy of life. Through Yoga postures you'll be able to
deepen your connection to your body, and through breath work, your
connection to the earth. There is no better place then the Himalayas to
explore this connection. Since you will be at altitude, the Yoga will be
about exploring the breath in conjunction with movement. This will help
us more thoroughly enjoy the experience of being at over 8,500 feet
above sea level!
Your practice will be comprised of several great
Yogic traditions including Iyengar, Sivananda and Kundalini yoga.
Gentle movements will serve to wake up the body as you move deeper into
poses to strengthen and enliven your body and spirit. The Yoga sessions
are suited for all levels of practitioners from beginner to experienced
Yoginis alike. Meditation will also be incorporated into your practice.
... Bhutan
Few
tourists visit Bhutan due to the country's lack of infrastructure and
the government's wish that the country preserve its wonderful culture.
While hotel accommodations are generally quite comfortable, they are
basic. Meals are usually served buffet-style at the hotel and consist of
lots of cooked vegetables, rice and some meat. Vegetarians will have no
problem finding plenty to eat.
Bhutan is located in the
Himalayas. The altitude should not be an issue for most but occasionally
some people react to it with slight headaches or stomach upsets.
Participants should be reasonably fit and should expect to do light
trekking and hiking throughout the journey.
For those who are prone to motion sickness, carry medication or natural remedies in case the twisty roads get to you. |
Please call 410-235-7323, or email susan@breathebooks.com, for more information on the trip to Bhutan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
