Tshering with his compound bowÂ
I got an email this morning from my friend, Tshering, in Bhutan. Tshering is with All Bhutan Connection and is organizing my April ’09 women’s trip there.
In addition to getting back to me on some costs for tours next year (the Bhutanese government just implemented an increase in their daily tariff by $50/day), he mentioned that he is in an archery tournament this weekend and asked for prayers from the U.S. so that they may do well in their competition.
Tshering showing Bob (from our April ’08 tour) how the bow worksÂ
Tshering was the National Champion in archery in his younger days. As a matter of fact, his picture hangs in the National Gallery.
Having received his email, I was prompted to look through some of the photos I had taken back in April when I led a trip through the country. Tshering took our group of 13 out to a field to shoot some arrows. We all performed pitifully, but Tshering hadn’t lost his touch. I have no doubt his team will do well this weekend.
Jon and I had so much fun out in the field that day that we wanted to dive a little deeper into the sport. A few weeks ago, our friend Pieter took a small group of us out to an archery range up in Snohomish. We were met by a salty old lovable archery pro who showed us the ropes. He allowed us to use some really beautiful wooden bows (not the compound type shown in the pictures with Tshering). When I saw these beautifully hand-crafted bows, I thought what a beautiful gift one would be for Tshering when I return to Bhutan.
Me with traditional wooden bowÂ
I sent him this picture to let him know that our practice session in Bhutan actually prompted us to take a lesson here at home. Upon seeing the photo he said, “We don’t use those old bows anymore. We only use compound bows.” Hmm, there went my gift idea 🙂
Gift or no gift, Tshering’s team is one of 150 who will be competing this weekend. Please send your good wishes towards Bhutan and wish him luck.
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