Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Drukpa Kunley


Sometime in the 15th Century, Drukpa Kunley arrived on the scene in Bhutanese history. He's Everyman's mad man. His alcohol and sex crazed escapades are legendary - but only in Bhutan. Drukpa Kunkey is worshiped to this day and you find evidence of his giant phallus everywhere. Even today women from all over the world come and ask for blessings at his temple in hopes of fertility. Somehow, I'm reminded of Dr. Livingston apparently "lost" in Africa or Marlon Brando in "Apocalypse Now". Even in the temple, we see bottles of Ara, the locally made "moonshine" offered to this deity.

Tika manages to extract a bottle of Ara for us from a friend who lives just off a rice paddy. He says it's 60 Ru or $1.50 for a quart. We give him a 100 Ru note and a big "Thanks!"

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