The nomads of the East
To get there you have to conquer a lot of mountain passes. But it's well worth the effort. In the isolated and rarely visited east of Bhutan a new world awaits. Perhaps even more mysterious than the rest of the country. At the highest point of Bhutan's highest mountain passes, prayer flags flap in the wind. Less bright in color than they once were. Yet here, at more than three thousand meters altitude, they are a familiar sight for travelers crossing Bhutan. If you go further east, you will find a difference.
Because Eastern Bhutan sometimes seems like a country in itself. Here the nomadic Merak and Sakteng (Brokpas) with their cattle pass through the highlands. Wherever they go, these tibetan shepherds, originally from Tibet, carry their own cultural traditions with them. Dressed in felt jackets and with characteristic black hat, the Brokpas stand out. In the autumn they gather during their festival for the goddess of the mountains, Jomo Kuengkhar. By retrising her, they hope for prosperity in the mountains, which is their home.
Still, travelers don't have to go far into the Himalayas to meet them. The Brokpas follow the seasons. In winter, they go to the valley. On the large market of Trashigang,a city on the trade route to Tibet, they have been trading their products for centuries. And here you can buy a piece of fresh yak cheese.