Part 27 - Rip La pass visit and botanical observations

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SUMMARY:
The diarist spent the morning near the Rip La, viewed the Khoma Chu, and planned to reach Dengchu in three days for a week. They recorded Primula Normaniana as a new Bhutan record and observed Rhod. Lindleyi and Poryocarpum himalaicum in flower, photographed them, and from above the Ripla saw mountains near Sinchi Dzong and toward Tomtom; locals reported no road to Bumthang from Tomtom.

CONTENT:
Spent the morning out near the Rip La. The pass is about a mile
from here, and about 500 feet higher than we are - about 9600'.
From there we could see into the Khoma Chu again, and decided,
rightly or wrongly, to go to Dengchu in three days' time and to have
a week there. Obviously we are still early for flowers and one must
put off time. The valley looks good. Here everything is bared
for grazing. I have tried to arrange so that coolies won't
have too hard a time, but that is not easy to do. The only
thing we found worthy of note near the pass was Primula
Normaniana 18740 which is a new record for Bhutan. It is to
the right of the pass, 400-500x along the ridge to the East, and plenty
of it. Here, near camp, I found Rhod. Lindleyi (18739) in full flower at
the top of a tree. Poryocarpum himalaicum 18744 is now
common and in full flower in dense jungle. I took photos of all,
and considerably amused the locals in the process. From above the
Ripla, I could see the mountains behind Sinchi Dzong and also towards
Tomtom. Locals told me there was no road to Bumthang from
Tomtom, and I'd have to come back this way. We also saw the Pang