• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Byers Without Borders

My WordPress Blog

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog

Springtime Snow

March 13, 2017 by byerswithoutborders Leave a Comment

We had planned a weekend excursion to Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. But the Himalayas had other plans, and surprised us with a spring snow. With the 10,000 foot Dochu La pass to Punakha closed, we bundled up and headed out for the girls first ever snowball fight. 

This was actually the first snowfall of the year in the Thimphu valley, and a national holiday was declared by the King. Early in the day the streets were packed with merrymakers, all wishing us a “happy snowfall”. Groups of Bhutanese, young and old, faced off on opposite sides of the road and pelted each other with snowballs. At home I would be concerned that Stella might get caught up in the crossfire as we made our way through town. But with typical Bhutanese politeness, every group we passed would ask “would you like to play?” before targeting us. Taxies with snowmen frozen to their roofs roamed by, occasionally launching a snowball from an open window. 

Even the memorial Chorten, normally a site of solemn prayer and meditation, got caught up in the playful antics. 

I’ve never seen such a festive and happy celebration of a snowfall. It’s as if the entire city spontaneously reverted to 8 year old  children, free from school on a snow day. 

Please click the link if you would like to make a donation in serving the people of Bhutan.

Filed Under: Bhutan Tagged With: Bhutan, byers to bhutan, family adventure, family travel, health volunteers overseas, himalayan adventure, living in Bhutan, overseas volunteers, Travel Bhutan, travel overseas

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

DOWNtime

May 1, 2020 By byerswithoutborders Leave a Comment

COVID Response Team

April 25, 2020 By byerswithoutborders 24 Comments

Luang Prabang

December 3, 2019 By byerswithoutborders Leave a Comment

Train Trials

October 25, 2019 By byerswithoutborders Leave a Comment

Airport Schooling

October 15, 2019 By byerswithoutborders 3 Comments

Categories

  • Adventure
  • Africa
  • Bhutan
  • bus life
  • Bus Life
  • COVID-19 Response
  • Events
  • Family
  • For Parents
  • Health Volunteers Overseas
  • Hope
  • kids yoga
  • Kids Yoga & Mindfulness
  • Medical Volunteers Overseas
  • Mom Blog
  • nomad life
  • Rwanda
  • skoolie
  • transportation
  • Travel
  • travel with kids
  • Uncategorized
  • Volunteer

Archives

Footer

Latest Posts

DOWNtime

COVID Response Team

Luang Prabang

Train Trials

Airport Schooling

Follow Our Adventure

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

© 2023 Byers Without Borders · Developed by Renaissance Web Solutions