What to see in a happy country like Bhutan
Bhutan is the ideal drowsy country beautifully caught at the chain of the Himalayas, between India and China. A
powerful country, a place where peace reigns and where a large
population cultivates the values of religious and cultural tradition
of high mountains, covered with forests, green valleys, small houses
built with traditional methods whose technique goes back in time. A trip
to Bhutan is the discovery of a world that travels to another
speed. There are more pedestrians than cars, it is not uncommon animals
to cross your path especially monkeys and there is a lucky chance to see
a snow leopard.
In Bhuthan there exist no dates, and time is measured in days and
seasons, in each house there is an altar for prayer, in all the tops of
the mountains there are multi-colored flags, votive prayers, which refer
to Buddhism as a religion, and governs the way of living of its
inhabitants, followed by a branch of bhudhanesi buddhuismo called
“Drupka Kagyu” that a legend was born from a monaco escaped from Tibet,
Guru Rinpoche. The mountains around Thimphu is home to nomadic tribes,
horse moving and yak breed, derived cheese from milk, their only source
of livelihood. They are very polite and often happen to be invited for a
break in their tents.
Thimphu is the only city in the world without traffic lights, indeed
one was there but they had to remove it because it was confusing. On
Friday morning there is a market. A country that has only recently
opened to tourism in a development-oriented and respect for man,
environment, religion and culture of the country, projected into the
future, newly arrived in recent years, hospitals, postal system
and schools. It ‘a paradise, I do not know how much this small country
will survive but I hope to remain so for ever because apart from its
natural beauty, it is a country where wealth is not measured by
possessions or gold that a person may have, but rather by the degree of
happiness with it….. In fact, in this country, the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) that is operated in all countries on an international
basis is replaced by Gross National Happiness (GNH). And several years
ago, the Bhutanese King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, began to apply this
idea already in operation, and which have created a national commission
to quantify the Gross Happiness of the Country. Let’s be happy for them
and with them!!!
Bhutan Taktsang Tigers Nest
Bhutan is just an hour’s flight from
Kathmandu and Paro. The first day you might want to pass it between
visits to acclimatize from the Monastery of Taskhang Lhakhang (where
they filmed The Little Buddha by Bernardo Bertolucci) and for those who
are brave enough they can try their skill with the bow or darts that are
the two national sports. A paradise for walkers, on the first day it is
better to walk only a few hours for you shouldn’t forget that you are
at a ‘height of 3,500 m. , Take the main road through green forests and
crystal clear streams, the night you sleep in a tent, sleeping so to
say, beneath a sky with no artificial lights other than those of the
stars.
Bhutan Drugyel Dzong
It’s in the morning that you can enjoy the
most beautiful aspect of Bhutan a landscape almost surreal, of
mountains with steep slopes spotted with dark green of pines and the
pink of the rhododendron, all that from a meadow where you can camp in
the valley between the town of Paro and Thimphu . An eerie silence, as
if to teach you to feel again, the sound of a stream will lead you to a
small mill village, which is grinding the wheat. The village houses are
small wooden carved with decorated windows, the balconies are full of
flowers, the farmers are busy in daily chores such as milking the cows,
mounting the butter by hand, weaving yarn, barley, and distilling the
preparation of a pasta with buckwheat flour.
Bhutan from Sandakphu
Walking along the road to Thimphu, you can
hear the sound of melodic singing of prayers convents come dzongs the
fortress-which are also administrative centers in the area. They are a
religious and historical memory for the country, of which the paintings,
authentic masterpieces are decorated with the dense presence of monks,
especially young people. You will be welcomed by the boys on their last
year, those who must decide between life in the convent or the life out
of the convent. It is customary in all families to send their children
to the monastery, hoping to become at least a monaco and despite the
recent modernization, the life of the people in Bhutan has not changed
but followes the same rhythm for centuries.
Bhutan
Art of Bhutan