Since then, the Bhutanese government has remained acutely cautious of the environmental damage that tourist footfall can have. To maintain a largely unspoiled landscape, the Bhutanese government has restricted the level of touristic activity that is undertaken. This sees a daily minimum tariff charged to tourists all who need to be travelling on a pre-planned, pre-paid guided tour. These fees go towards providing free healthcare and free education to citizens, as well as towards alleviating poverty, and preserving the environment.
The busiest intersection in Thimpu, sans traffic lights. In Bhutan, real life thrives. Its Buddhist values and unmaterialistic lifestyle leaves its people feeling more connected to one another and the Earth. Life moves at a slower pace in Bhutan. Bhutan has a very low crime rate. Incidents of petty crime however, are occasional, and crime rates have risen slightly since the influx of foreign workers and its growing contact with foreign cultures.
However, all in all, the Bhutanese culture experience very little violent crime rates and thefts. Over the past few decades, Bhutan as improved gender inequalities within its society and is now one of the most gender equal countries in Asia. I have rented cave houses in Santorini, slept in frozen cars in Switzerland and lived in meditation centres where buddhism, atheism, and the hare krishna consciousness is all practiced under the same roof.
I study Journalism in Melbourne. We visited Bhutan last March. Gracious people…happy and generous. Unfortunately, the internet has come to Bhutan and it is not the unspoiled Kingdom that 60 Minutes portrayed 15 years ago. Do get there as soon as you can. Tourism is an important source of revenue; we saw tour buses from India and other places from that part of the world. Still, it is as close to unspoiled as any other place we have visited. It is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Does not matter if it is liveable, if they do not let anyone live there!
I think you forgot to mention that! Why is Bhutan the place for you to be right now? Living in a Bhutanese farming village has become my reality but before I came here I could not have imagined it. Life here is not always easy. There are very few of the modern amenities to which we have become accustomed in the developed world and, while I find a definite charm in simple living, sometimes I wish I could throw my clothes into a washing machine while I pop over to the supermarket for fresh bread.
I find myself at a loss for words when people at home in Canada ask, "What is it like to live in Bhutan? Despite the challenges, I have found a true "home" here and in many ways I can't imagine being anywhere else.
I have a quiet rapport with my neighbours, most of whom are subsistence farmers and very few of whom speak a word of English. By living with these people and observing their daily interactions, I have learned many things which extend well beyond how to hand-wash my clothes and prepare local food. I am learning patience and acceptance of circumstances beyond my control.
I am learning how to adapt to what life has in store and that it's okay for things not to work out the way you intended them to. And I have learned that there is always time for a cup of tea with a friend, unlike at home where we have to compare schedules and perhaps there is a free hour to meet for tea next Tuesday. In March of , I had an accident and sustained some serious injuries. I was evacuated to Bangkok for surgery and, once I was strong enough, transported home to Canada for further recovery.
There were moments of severe physical pain and emotional trauma but perhaps the most difficult moment was as my plane was leaving Bhutan. I knew I was badly hurt and that I needed to go but I had no idea when or if I would be coming back. I didn't have the opportunity to say farewell to many of the people who are important to me.
As we took off, and I could see the village houses scattered on the hillsides shrink and disappear, I sobbed uncontrollably. This method also keeps your hands pretty dry.
Know where your meat comes from. They get around this quandary by outsourcing butchering to India. A lot of the meat you eat was probably driven into Bhutan from the India-Bhutan border. This is especially useful during auspicious months, when the government implements a meat ban, closing all shops for religious reasons. Homes have massive paintings of erect penises flanking the exterior; government offices sport large phallic dildos in the corridor; cab drivers have travel-size wooden ones on the dashboard, etc.
If you want help conceiving, join Bhutanese couples at the Chimi Lhakhang in the Punakha valley. After praying and making a donation, you might be instructed to walk around the temple holding a red penis replica.
Beware gangs of dogs. Packs of dogs bark all night, especially anywhere near Paro and Thimphu town centers. Bring earplugs. They bite, and a trip to the general hospital for a series of rabies shots is not an adventure I recommend.
Chill out in a hot stone bath. Bhutanese of all ages use this traditional bath for joint pain and to boost circulation. Once hot, the stones are submerged in the bathtub, releasing deep heat and minerals into the water. Often it is topped off with locally grown artemesia mugworts. In Paro, hit up the Rinpung Valley View. A government ban on tattoo parlors and tattoo art has forced the few professional tattoo artists underground.
Now artists work in private homes and rely on word-of-mouth and social media to keep their businesses afloat. Pick up a bow and arrow. Every village has an archery field and there are makeshift grounds are all over the country.
Dha is a male-dominated activity, if not an exclusively male sport, but both female and male tourists are encouraged to try it out. Leave the pot to the pigs. Learn some dzongkha. Bhutanese love to hear foreigners grapple with their long, syllabic prose. Learn a few words, such as kuzuzungola hello , layshom ye? Are you well? It will take you far—especially when bargaining for a discount at the markets. Dzongkha is worth the effort to learn, la.
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