Today I drove over the Himalaya's and the highest point on Earth I have ever been. We headed East from Thimpu heading for Trongsa which is about 200 Km and about 7 Hr drive. All the roads here in Bhutan are the same. They are narrow mountain roads, and they are the most winding roads I have ever been on. We had to cross two passes the Dochla and Pelela at about 3600Mt this will be the highest point I have ever been. Just after Dochla we had a funny incident where a cow sat on Phuntsho's car. The cow was walking down the road and we went to pass it when it just sat on the bonet. Phuntsho wasnt amused. Phuntsho is my driver, he doesn't say much but when he does his one liners are classic. He is a young boy, early 20s, and every town we stop at he has a girlfriend, Ive tried to warn him but he thinks Im a bitter and twisted old man. We'll see. A bit further down the road we turned left at Wangdu Phodrang and checked out the old town and the Shabdrung Monastry. The town of Wangdu is litterally falling down so they are moving it. It is very old and cos it is being moved it is very run down. Behind the town is the Shabdrung monastery, the 3rd oldest in Bhutan. While it was good to see there wasn't any thing special about it that I remember. We also had morning tea in Wangdu, thankfully not butter tea. I tried butter tea yesterday and it tasted like dirty dish water. Not for me again. We had a long drive still to go to the other end of the valley but it was by no means boreing. Everywhere you look is a post card.The scenery is spectacular. Down into the valley, across the valley everywhere you look. We continued up through the Rhododendron forests towards Pelela pass and I could only imagine what this place would look like in Spring. I might come back to see it? Pelela pass was above the snowline but it was surprisingly warm so we go a few pics. Lunch stop was late cos there is not a lot of options but the food was good as always. Throngsa Dzong cought my imagination. Let me explain about a Dzong. The cheif of an area built his Dzong in a strategic place, usually on a trade route. The caravans would have to pass through them and pay tax or sometimes do trade and return so the cheif was a middle man and made a handsome profit. This particular one is the longest in Bhutan and the cheif here managed to conqure all of west Bhutan and unite them, then did the same to the East and later became the first King of Bhutan. The first and second King's of Bhutan both ruled from here so it makes it the first Parliament house, kinda, in Bhutan, only with Monks. We went and had a look around and while walking from one courtyard to another I found myself dreaming about who had been here before me. This place is hundreds of years old, maybe Ghengis Khan had been through here at some time ......./. or at least his brother Imran. They had an archery competition, the national sport, going on outside so we watched for a while. I stayed the night at Yangkhil Resort. OMG I died and went to heaven. The room was heated. The bathroom was brand new and had HOT water. Couldnt use toilet paper but that was no big deal. SOFT bed, the first I have had since I left home over 2 weeks ago. No dogs barking at night, also first since I left home and the view was to die for. I woulda been happy to stay there for the rest of my trip.