Thunder Dragon: Adventures in Bhutan

It was a rocky little plane that takes us into Bhutan, but it strength as well has been
one of the nations eponymous thunder dragons. Ill never disregard the way the
scenery looked from above: the colorful, tiered houses increasing like paper lanterns
out of the fog and the splendid blue pines crowning each hill side mountain ridge.
One of my guy American students twisted to the pleasant-looking central point aged
woman sitting next to her and said in disbelief, You live here? The woman smiled a
bashful but deeply warm beam that I would come to be familiar with as distinctly
Bhutanese and nodded, pleased by our charm.
I hadnt heard much about Bhutan before I decided to study abroad. it turned out,
neither had most people: only once or twice did I tell someone where I was headed
and hear anything other than Bhutan? Wheres that? Bhutan is a small country,
about the size of Ohio, situated between China and India. Known for its concept of
Gross National Happiness, its also the only country to declare itself 100% organic,
and interestingly enough the only country in the world without a single traffic
light, even in its capital. (In case you were wondering, traffic in Paro is directed by
an enthusiastic and extremely well-dressed traffic cop.)
For the foremost week of our stay, we traveled the state in a giant bus that
careened around the heart stopping curves of Bhutans slender and mountainous
highways with shocking speed, honking when it accepted another means of
transportation or a group of grinning children playing in the potholes. We visited
museums and temples, holy sites and wildlife preserves. We sightseeing and meet
Bhutans national wild animal, the taken, a modest creature that appears to have
resulted from the union of a moose and Schnauzer.
We went to stupas where little old women sat revolving prayer wheels and chanting,
indifferent for hours. We visited a dress shop, somewhere each of us was prepared
with conventional Bhutanese garb: for the women it was kiras, a kind of embellished
jacket paired with an unbearably tight wrap skirt. (I never did quite learn the trick of
tie these, which didnt confirm to be a problem, as there were forever chuckling
Bhutanese women around to drag you into a corner, half-undress you, and re-tie
your skirt correctly.)
The mainstream of our program was spent at the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for
Conservation and Environment, which was once the first kings summer palace.
Bhutan is a lawful monarchy, a fresh development after centuries of absolute
monarchy.
The story of how this came about is almost unbelievable: the king declared that the
people should have more power in the decision of their nation, and called for an end
to the complete monarchy; the citizens of Bhutan, though, were troubled by this
change, being fervently loyal to the royal institution. Because of this high regard,

the royal family continues to exist essentially as a figurehead even as the

government moves in the direction of a more democratic approach. Its hard to
overestimate the passion with which the Bhutanese people feel affection for their
king; it makes the U.K.s fascination with William and Kate look half-hearted at best.
In Bhutan, happiness is a priority.
Children in customary clothes share a laugh.
One of our most charming meadow trips was to the temple of Drukpa Kunley, the
fertility saint privileged throughout the country with likeness of his holy symbol: a
phallus. Walk from side to side any shy, conservative Bhutanese village and youll
see this sign painted on numerous homes and storefronts, often adorned with facial
appearance or wings. Bhutan, like so many places, is a country of contradictions.
Innumerable moments during my stay in Bhutan caused me to discontinue in my
tracks and marvel at the loveliness of the land and its citizens, whether it was the
sight of frayed prayer flags fluttering like ghosts through the vegetation or the
plump, beaming smile of a Bhutanese toddler is wobbling in a duster sized kira. Like
the rest of the planet, Bhutan is hurtling in the course of an unknown future but
for its people and for me, I hope that Bhutans promise to the preservation of its
culture and its resources persists.
If You Travel to Bhutan
Tigers Nest Temple
Dont miss the Tigers Nest Temple sightseeing. This memorable breathtaking site
nestled on the hill mountainside in an delicate forest. Legend has it that the sacred
man Guru Rinpoche once flew there on the back of a tigress. if not you have similar
powers, its a vigorous hike but well worth the effort and Also Thimphu Paro Tour.
The Tiger's Nest can be reached by hiking.
The Tigers Nest is well worth the hike desirable to get there.
Click To Book Bhutan Honeymoon Packages.
Visiting Chimi Lhakhang
The temple of the Divine Madman Drukpa Kunley, this is an idiosyncratic and
mesmerizing celebration of both fertility and illumination. While the ubiquitous
phallus cipher is not for the prudish, you wont see no matter which more graphic
than you would in an anatomy textbook.
For Bhutan Tour Packages Visit Travel Agents in India Swan Tours