When I say mountains, valleys were slow, soulful magic.. I mean it in the deepest, mistiest, most heartwarming way. It wasn’t just a trip. It was a soft pause. A breath. A reminder that not every journey needs to be fast or filled with bucket lists. Some are just meant to be felt.. quietly, deeply, one view at a time.

We spent two beautiful weeks in Bhutan. Not in a rush, but we still saw it all. Every valley, every view, every cliff. I didn’t skip a single trail. My shoes were dusty, my soul was full, and my heart.. Happier than ever. From early misty mornings to golden afternoons and rainy evenings, it was the kind of trip that unfolds slowly, but leaves a deep mark.

💛 Family, Fun & A Few Fights

(Because That’s Real Life)

We were a full crew.. my mom and dad, my sister, her daughter, my son, and I. Three generations, one magical country.

Now let’s be honest: me and my sister? We had a few difference of opinions. From food choices to deciding who gets the window seat or which monastery to visit next. You know.. the classic sister stuff. 😄

But even with the little bickering here and there, it somehow felt like old times.. those childhood vacations where everyone fights, laughs, eats, and ends the day with a smile.

In the end, we always found our rhythm.

Because that’s what family does. 💛

🌧️☀️ The Weather Was Poetry

Bhutan has moods.. and we loved every one of them.

Mornings: Misty, cool, and dreamlike. Afternoons: Soft sunshine peeking through clouds. Evenings & Nights: Often draped in gentle rain, perfect for warm tea and soft talks. Some days, the sky opened up just in time for photos. Other days, clouds gave us secret views only meant for the quiet-hearted.

And the wild strawberries and pears? 🍓🍐

We found them on the roadside, handpicked with joy, giggling like kids, biting into fresh fruit with sticky fingers and happy faces. It was nature’s way of feeding our hearts.

Picking wild strawberries and pears on the way.. like nature’s little gifts tucked into our road trip. We shared them in the car with music playing low and the valleys slipping past the windows. Moments like those don’t get planned. They just happen when you travel slowly.

🧓👟 Three Generations, Three Different Paces

My dad, in his 60s, was unstoppable.. climbing stairs and hiking trails like a mountain goat. My son tried keeping up, and it was honestly so fun to watch them bond over their shared excitement.

My mom and sister chose to skip places like Tiger’s Nest or the museums with too many steps. Instead, they enjoyed long mornings at the resort, quiet chats, and the occasional hot tea with mountain views.

My favorite.. Without a doubt Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest). That climb, that view, that stillness… I could live in that memory forever.

✨ Our Bhutan Itinerary (Covered Slowly, But Fully!)

Here’s what we soaked in .. without any rush, but with full presence:

Dochula Pass: 108 chortens wrapped in clouds and Himalayan views. A silent wonder.

Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest): My personal favorite. The cliffside monastery that felt sacred beyond words.

Phobjikha Valley: A glacial valley of peace, cranes, and eternal skies. Remote, scenic, and deeply serene. Bumthang Valley: Ancient temples, whispering winds, and sacred energy. Tashichho Dzong: A majestic fortress of history and calm.

Buddha Dordenma: A towering guardian watching over Thimphu, golden and grand.

Memorial Chorten: Rain-kissed prayer wheels and quiet devotion.

Rinpung Dzong & Kyichu Lhakhang: History carved in wood and stone, rich with stories.

National Museum of Bhutan: Art, relics, and Bhutan’s cultural heartbeat.

We may have moved slowly because eod my mum’s health condition.. but we covered everything we wanted to. Every valley had our footprints, and every monastery left its blessing on our hearts.

🌿 What Bhutan Taught Me:

That travel doesn’t have to be rushed to be rich. That being active doesn’t mean being busy.. it means being alive. That sister fights are temporary, but shared sunsets are forever. That the best way to experience a place is to let it unfold in its own time.

Bhutan wrapped us in clouds, wild fruit, quiet prayers, and soft sunshine.

It reminded me that slow doesn’t mean still.

That you can explore deeply and live gently.. all at once.

And that the best memories? They’re not always in the itinerary…

They’re in the laughter, the pauses, the strawberries, the sighs.

Until next time, You’ll always be a page I re-read.

— With love, Dolly 💛🌸🌿