This dirt road led to Karma

One afternoon, after the Paro Tsechu was over for the day, I was dropped off in Paro and left to wander back to my hotel. Hooray! Freedom to wander!

I was walking down a dirt road outside of Paro when I heard a "hello" from above me. I looked up and standing in a stairway landing was a monk. He asked me the typical questions - what are you doing?, where is your guide?, where are you from?, what is your name?. Then he invited me up for tea.

Turns out this 16 year old monk named Karma is the reincarnated 67th Lama. He normally lives and studies in a monastery that is 1 1/2 hours walk up a hill outside of town. He was staying with his family for the Paro Tsechu, but did not go to the festival because he thinks it is inappropriate to go out.

I had a wonderful tea with Karma. His father chaperoned us while I got the details of monk life, learned how he was found to be a reincarnated Lama, and had a great discussion about Harry Potter. Turns out Karma is as big of a fan as I am. He's read all the books multiple times and has read the third book 18 times (it was the first one he got). Cool!

Only I could meet a 16 year old reincarnated Lama on a dirt road and have an hour long conversation about Harry Potter.

I had to leave when the sun set, but this was like going to Honeydukes. That - by the way - was Karma's analogy.

Sorry there are not any pictures of this experience. I completely forgot to document this adventure. But I hope you liked the story. These types of stories are the ones that make a trip special - at least in my mind.