Tiger's Nest
Approaching the Tiger’s Nest, Paro Valley, Bhutan. © Risto Kuulasmaa.

Tricycle Pilgrims are troopers—most of us made the arduous hike to the Tiger’s Nest, or the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, as the Bhutanese call it. Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who brought Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet and Bhutan, is said to have meditated there in a cave for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours. Built in 1692, the monastery was rebuilt after a fire in 1998. I should add that we not only made it up but also made it back down. Some sore muscles but nothing serious!