Tiger's Nest

Tiger's Nest is based on a real life location in Bhutan.

Tiger's Nest
Tiger's Nest Sand Mandala Flag
Nation	Bhutan
Continent	Asia
Population	5
Date of establishment	July 5, 2019
Languages	English

History

Tigers_Nest was founded on July 5, 2019 by Barbay1.
The purpose of this town is to recreate a version of the cliff-hugging Tigers Nest Monastery, to serve as a base for exploration in the Himalayas.

Tigers_Nest requested and was invited to join the Bhutan nation on July 9, 2019 by Leader Beepsky. There had been some obstacles to joining, which were resolved with the help of mod Lyonc.

After prospecting for some while, a likely location was found that corresponded with Google Maps. The location for the Tiger's Nest cafeteria vantage point was also identified.

• Construction began with scaffolding on July 13, 2019.
• Leader BeepSky visited the site on July 14, 2019.

On Jan 16, 2020, the new nation of Bhutan was recreated, with Tigers_Nest as it's capital.

Buildings and Architecture

The plan is to build the monastery, part of the trail, the cafeteria viewpoint area, and interesting Bhutan structures found along the path.

The design is based on the style of Bhutan monasteries.  Attempts will be made to be consistent with Incarnation's High_Garden architecture.

The main building is the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, as shown in the photo below.

EMC Mental Health Awareness Building

A building has been dedicated to EMC Mental Health Awareness. It has the signature green blocks and the M H (Mental Health) banners, and can be found in the northern part of town, near the residential district. The EMC Mental Health Awareness building of Bhutan is completed on Apr 9 2020, and is dedicated to the topic of Depression.

Tigers Nest Caves

While excavating into the mountain (July 16, 2019), a series of small caves were found with a central corridor, with no connecting corridors. The cave system appears to be direct from EarthMC. That corresponds to the description that the Tiger's Nest Monastery marks the location of some caves where Guru Rinpoche could have meditated. The caves system has access to a few natural springs, and is therefore a hospitable place for meditation, and explains why a monastery could exist there.

Caves on a central corridor

This corridor with small cave openings was found, naturally generated by EarthMC (i.e. without modification).  Only the torches and Bhutan banner was added.  There was a natural spring nearby.

Large cave with ledge and ditch

Also close to that natural spring is a separate, larger cave, naturally generated by EarthMC.  It was separate from the corridor, and has an uneven, rocky access.

[Editor's Note: I've never been to Bhutan, and visitors are not allowed to take pictures inside the monastery.  These caves don't look natural.  If they mirror the actual caves inside Tiger's Nest, it's really cool!  And this means I have found the right located for the Minecraft version of the monastery!]

Construction

Because of the steep cliff, a platform was constructed to prevent bad accidents.(July 15, 2019)

Building is in the framework and design phase. (July 22, 2019)

Frame with platform

View from the Tigers Nest Cafeteria site

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Started constructing the front. (Aug 13, 2019)

The west side is almost complete (Sep 5, 2019)

The main building exterior is complete. (Sep 6, 2019)

The exterior is complete, now to remove the grass platform... (Sep 13, 2019)

File:Present from Franz 2019-07-28 04.05.23

Tigers Nest map gifted by EggzOnToast, leader of North Korea (July 28, 2019)

The Fishing Pagoda was completed on Dec 2, 2019.

Safe Fishing with a view, for two

A monastery bell can now be heard on the path from the Bhutan nation spawn to the monastery. The bell was installed on May 30, 2020.

EMC Mental Health Building focusing on Depression was completed on Apr 9, 2020.

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Nether Portal to the Shop area completed on June 12, 2020

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Bee Garden was added on June 13, 2020

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A second shop for EarlOfSkene was added on June 21, 2020

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Growth of Tigers_Nest

The map of Tigers_Nest in Sept. There is a dirt bridge spanning the chasm between the monastery and the scenic viewpoint.

Map of Tigers_Nest on Sep 14, 2019

Dirt bridge spanning the chasm (July 19, 2019)

Map of Tigers_Nest on Jan 25, 2020. The fishing pavilion has been built, and only the south side of the lake was claimed. Tigers_Nest is shapped like a puppy.

The south side of the lake, with the Fishing Pagoda and the shop building.

Map of Tigers_Nest after additional claims on Feb 3, 2020.. The flat north side was claimed to become embassies, shops, or residences. All the land around the lake is claimed.

Tiger's Nest Exterior at Sunrise

Diplomacy

Tiger's Nest is friendly and neutral.  When the building is complete, it will be open to friendly and peaceful visitors.

Real Location

Tigers Nest is also known as Paro Taktsang,  and Taktsang Palphug Monastery. [1]

Tiger's Nest

Guru Rinpoche is said to have meditated in a cave for over three years in the 8th century. He is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan. Today, Paro Taktsang is the best known of the thirteen taktsang or "tiger lair" caves in which he meditated.
The temple complex was first built in 1692 by Tenzin Rabgye, whom people believed was a reincarnation of Guru Rinpoche.  Nobody was injured in the steep trek to the monastery, and the people in Paro valley saw various animal forms and religious symbols, including a shower of flowers in the sky. [3]

Bird Song

A common bird found in the area is the Rufous-breasted Accentor · (Prunella strophiata). It sounds like this.[6]

Prayer Flags

Prayer flags are often strung out across the landscape. The monks believe that the prayers will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion to all sentient beings. They continually mount new flags to renew their hopes for the world, the act symbolizing a welcoming of life's changes, and an acknowledgement that all beings are part of a greater ongoing cycle. [7]

Prayer flags by Tiger's Nest

Religion

The main religion in Bhutan is buddhist. The leading religion order in Bhutan is from the Drukpa lineage, which means they have kungfu nuns. The Good News Network did an article about them.[11]

Also see the video about KungFu Nuns here

Phallic Paintings in Bhutan

In the 15th and 16th century, Bhutan was visited by a Buddhist saint “Drukpa Kuenley”, after hearing about the good wine and beautiful women in the south of Tibet. The unorthodox method of Saint got him many names, some refer to him as the Divine Madman. There are phallic paintings on some houses in Bhutan because of him. [8]

Snowman Trek

The snowman trek is a 216 mile hike through the eastern Himalayans, usually accompanied by guides and a team of yaks. The scenery is beautiful, and there is a book [9] about an author's experience on the trek.

Mountains from the Snowman Trek

Lingzhi Zhong

Bhutan Wine Company

Although peach wine has a following, the Bhutanese people are not familiar with grape wines. The sloping mountainside make for excellent conditions, so the Bhutan Wine Company was started by Michael Juergens in 2019, and its first harvest will be in the fall of 2020, hopefully under the Thunder Dragon label.^[13]

Notable People

• Barbay1 (mayor)

• islamord Joined Tigers_Nest on Sept 28, 2019. Founded the town of Terminus on Dec 21, 2019. Remains a close ally and in the new Bhutan. Has embassy in Tigers_Nest.
• BowMaster512 Joined Tigers_Nest on Dec 4, 2019. Held Tigers_Nest while Barbay1 served as the Cascadian President in December 2019.
• Rithyan1535 Mayor of Cheri_Monastery
• roddsteel18 Mayor of Chitagong
• Knightof_Cydonia Mayor of Dhaka
• Craftypants007 Mayor of Sylhet

Current Residents _{(as of May 14, 2020)}

• BowMaster512 Joined Tigers_Nest on Dec 4, 2019
• islamord Joined Tigers_Nest on Sep 28, 2019.
  Founded Teminus on Dec 21, 2019. Has embassy in Tigers_Nest.
• xaxa24 Joined Tigers_Nest on Apr 8, 2020
• MEGALODON554 Joined Tigers_Nest around Apr 28, 2020
• taygaybay Joined Tigers_Nest around Apr 28, 2020
• Tehz Joined Tigers_Nest on Jun 3, 2020

Former Residents _{(as of May 14, 2020)}

• DRG_Mirage _{(Aug 2019)}, Weabonie _{(Aug 2019)}, Happy_Hazza _{(Nov 2019)} Mobzilla6229 _{(Nov 19)}, Max_Maximum _{(Dec 19)}, Robokid1354 _{(Dec 19, 2019),} NinjaNuck _{(Dec 2019),} Dracothe7th _{(Dec 2019)}, iqos _{(Dec 2019)}, autismspergers _{(Jan 2020)}, RexRage123 _{(Jan 27, 2020)}, MrDom197 _{(Jan 30, 2020)}, SillyWilly69 _{(Jan 31, 2020)}, Nealie _{(Feb 3, 2020)}, Indiana9542 _{(Feb 4, 2020)}, kermaza _{(Feb 6, 2020)}, RuggedJoel98 _{(Feb 23, 2020),} Memeless_uwu _{(Mar 14, 2020)}, Taiwan_people _{(Feb 21, 2020)}, Sirius9121 _{(Feb 27, 2020)},

Bhutan Mayors _{(as of May 14, 2020)}

• islamord Terminus Formed town on Dec 21, 2019
• Rithyan 1535 Cheri_Monastery Formed town on Mar 17, 2020, joined Bhutan Sep 9, 2019, and Feb 21, 2020
• roddsteel18 Chittagong Formed town on Apr 7, 2020, joined Bhutan Feb 14 2020 and Apr 7, 2020. Former mayor of Sylhet_Market.
• Knightof_Cydonia Dhaka Joined Bhutan on Feb 17 2020 and Apr 18 2020
• Craftypants007 Sylhet Joined Bhutan on May 5, 2020
• tronwex Evangelion Joined Bhutan on June 13, 2020

Former Bhutan Mayors _{(as of Mar 23, 2020)}

• RexRage123 _{(Jan 27, 2020)}

Banners

Nation of Bhutan

Tigers Nest Banner

Great Resources

If you're interested in a recent snapshot of peoples and cultures around the Himalayas, you can read "Himalaya" by Michael Palin^[12] and see photographs of his fascinating 6 month journey. I believe the entire text is available, along with a route map.
https://www.palinstravels.co.uk/static-187

More pictures

The Shop, Fishing, and EMC Mental Health Building in the background, June 6, 2020

New Tigers Nest Nether Portal, completed on June 12, 2020

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References

[1] Paro Taktsang - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paro_Taktsang

[2] Atlas Obscura
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/paro-taktsang-tigers-nest-monastery

[3] Paro Taktsang - Background and Legends - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paro_Taktsang#Background_and_legends

[4] China Buddhism Encyclopedia
http://chinabuddhismencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/Paro_Taktsang

[5] Ascending Bhutan's Sacred Tiger's Nest
https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2014/11/30/ascending-bhutans-sacred-tigers-nest/

[6] Bird sounds at Tigers Nest
https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Prunella-strophiata

[7] Prayer Flag
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_flag

[8] Phallus Paintings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phallus_paintings_in_Bhutan

[9] Snowman Trek
https://www.trekking-in-bhutan.com/snowman-trek/

[10] "Beneath Blossom Rain" by Kevin Grange
https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Blossom-Rain-Discovering-Toughest/dp/0803234333/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=beneath+blossom+rain&qid=1566425142&s=gateway&sr=8-1

[11] Article on kungfu nuns in the Himalayas
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/kung-fu-nuns-great-big-story/

[12] Book about travel through the Himalayan nations by Michael Palin
https://www.palinstravels.co.uk/static-187

[13] Bhutan becoming the world's wine frontier
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-09/the-world-s-newest-wine-frontier-is-the-himalayan-kingdom-of-bhutan