Bhutan Trip Day 7 - 29 June 2015 Last relaxing day in Bumthang and Puta (buckwheat noodles) in the making :)

Yes, it was my last relaxing day in Bumthang. I planned to stay there for 5 days before moving on to other destination. Since Neela had to go to work as usual, we didn't go anywhere, just stayed at home. That was fine though as what I required was just ample time to rest and relax :)

For the past 5 days in Bumthang, Devi and Neela had fed me very well. Breakfast (with morning tea), lunch, afternoon tea, chang pa with beer, then dinner - that's what they provided me every single day. I felt blessed but at the same time a little bit worried about my weight. Lol!!! But even before I reached Bhutan, I'd already gained some weight resulting from my previous Batam trip :P So, it didn't really matter though hehehe.... :D

Breakfast with love :)

The above was what Devi prepared for me as breakfast. Roti roll with egg plus potato curry and home made strawberry jam with a cup of coffee with milk. She made the roti from scratch. Flour, water, and the most important ingredient, love :) I just want to convey my gratitude for all things she had done for me making my stay comfortable, safe, memorable, and fulfilled. Thank you, thank you, and thank you Devi for everything!!! :)

At about 10.30am she told me that she would be just outside the house helping her neighbor cum house owner - Yeshey Dema - up for about an hour time.

Pulling the thread outside the house - Bumthang, Bhutan

She wore the cap and walked out. I was curious on what she planned to do, so I followed her. She  took patang out and cut those weed that grew in between.

Hooked the threads to the other side - Bumthang, Bhutan

Yeshey took her keeb or thread out, lengthen it and hooked it to the other side as you see on the above picture.

Preparing her initial Gho weaving under the sun - Bumthang, Bhutan

Once done, she sat at another side and did her things while Devi walked back and forth holding the stick with black threads on it, tangled it to the other side and then passed the thread to Yeshey for her to tie with the rest of the white threads.

Half way Gho in the making using Thirtha Sing - Bhutanese weave machine

It was an interesting thing to know. Usually when we visited the Yathra shop or the textile museum, they would display the half way weaved kira or gho and seldom they demonstrated the initial part. If it wasn't because of Yeshey's requesting help from Devi, I wouldn't be able to witness how it was usually be done. No wonder piece of Gho and Kira could worth so much sometimes, depending how complicated and how fast it was made.

Enjoying our afternoon tea :)

At noon Devi had finished helping. She was sweating and tired but still she offered me to make the afternoon tea. It was sunny but windy, an ideal time to sip in the delicious hot tea accompanied with sweet fried dessert and plums. We sat outside the main door this time so that we were able to feel the flurry of air. Next to me, she smiled wholeheartedly and filled her heart with satisfaction (for being able to help Yeshey).

Gangrithang Primary School - Bumthang, Bhutan

We had half an hour before lunch time. She suggested me to walk to where Neela worked. It's within walking distance. Since I had no agenda, I agreed to her in an instance. We walked through the back road passing through Gangrithang Primary School. Within few minutes we arrived.

Enjoying our ice creams ^^

There were still time before lunch. Devi and I went to the next door's bakery and had some ice cream while waiting :) Then we went home together to have lunch.

Our chang pa for the night :)

Farewell dinner :)

At night, we had farewell dinner together with Yeshey, Bungay Bhai, Kedar and families at Devi's house. Kedar came with few bottles of Druk 11000 as gifts for me. He also knew that I loved drinking it :) Thank you Kedar Bro!!! :)

At almost 10pm, Yeshey Dema came. She just finished queuing for the holy water at Kurjey Lhakhang. Since it was my last night staying in Bumthang, Devi had requested her to make Puta (buckwheat noodles). She was born originally there in Bumthang, therefore she had mastered in making Bumthang traditional food. Although late, the rests were all willing to wait and helping out in the making.

Below were the steps of making Puta:
1. Open up 1 kg sweet buckwheat flour.

Bumthang Sweet Buckwheat Flour - making Puta (buckwheat noodles)

2. Add water slowly and knead the dough.

Knead the dough - making Puta (buckwheat noodles)

3. Knead it until it can be shaped into a ball and flatten it using rolling pin, make it into long shape.

Flatten and roll the dough into long shape - making Puta (buckwheat noodles)

4. Using the noodle machine, slide the dough in and make it into noodle shape.

Use the noodle machine and slide the dough into it - making Puta (buckwheat noodles)

5. Boil the water and cook the noodle. Strain the water and put it aside.

Devi with her dough and Yeshey Dema boiled the noodles - making Puta (buckwheat noodles)

6. Seasoning time!!! :)

Seasoning Puta (buckwheat noodles)

a. Cut garlic and shallots
b. Heat the oil and put both inside
c. Once it smells fragrant, add few pcs of eggs
d. Mix it around until cooked
e. Put the strained and boiled noodles into the pot
f. Add in salt, chili powder, pepper into the pot
g. Pour the fried garlic, shallots and eggs into the pot
h. Using hand, mix the ingredients until it all mixes well
i. Voila!!! Ready to serve!!! :)

Homemade Puta or Buckwheat Noodles - Bumthang, Bhutan

Due to the hard work and team work of the three ladies, within an hour time the delicious Puta was ready!!! Thank you everyone for making it for me to try. It tasted delicious!!! Zhim bay la!!! Name same kadinche la everyone for everything, also for coming to my farewell dinner. Hope to see you again in the future. Take care la!!! :)