bhutan travel – Page 4

From Bangkok to Shangri-la: About Bhutan

From Bangkok to Shangri-la by Roger Beaumont*

27th Dec., 2009: I have wanted to visit Bhutan since I was 10 years old after being enchanted by a feature in a National Geographic magazine. So when destiny called on the phone to my studio in Bangkok last May, asking if I would be interested in helping The Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS) and the United Nations Development Programme with an upcoming Democracy Conference in Paro, I shouted so loud in delight the house cat kamikazed through a glass screen and landed startled in shards of glass on top of a car in the soi below. I haven’t seen it since.

But between that phone call, the missing cat, and seeing Mt Everest and the mighty Jomolhari out of the Druk Air window three months later, it was all a true lesson in Buddhist patience.

At one point, I was asked to send a scan of my passport. I was in England at the time, away from my own computer and gadgets, so a friend of my mother’s offered to help. He is 86, and had just bought a scanner. He had been practising.

“I think we’ve got it,” he said, placing his third glass of wine on the desk. He then pressed send. Three days later, we received an email from the CBS, saying: “Thank you very much for the delightful picture of a tin of Heinz Baked Beans.”

When I arrived in Bhutan, the CBS was unable to find a place for me immediately, so I made base camp in the Thimphu Hotel for the first few days. It was cheap, loud and cheerful; a mix of Tibetan plumbing (no water, an alarming clanging of pipes, then a sudden, scalding torrent), slow service, and big smiles. I bought a small side-lamp; the connection started smoking. Then the toilet flushed on its own volition. I didn’t dare turn the TV on.

ROOM WITH A VIEW: The view from a temple Continue reading

Guided visit reveals a lost-in-time Bhutan

By Chris Guillebeau, Special to The Oregoni…

December 11, 2009, 1:57PM

Most visits to Bhutan either begin or end with a half-day trek up to the Taktshang Monastery, also known as the Tigers Nest. Photo by Phuntsho Norbu

You know India, and you’ve heard of Tibet — but you may not be familiar with a smaller country in South Asia that attracts far fewer visitors. To go back in time, you’ll need to get off the typical Asian backpacker route and head to the remote kingdom of Bhutan.

Over five days in late August, I trekked mountains, paid respects at Buddhist temples and saw a country many people back home had never heard of. It’s not the easiest place to get to, and it’s not known as a budget destination, but I found it to be worth the hike and the expense. Continue reading Guided visit reveals a lost-in-time Bhutan

Asian Businessmen & family contributes to His Majesty’s Earthquake Relief (Kidu) fund

16 November, 2009 – Eight sponsors of the Buddha Dordenma (world’s tallest Buddha Statue) being constructed at the Kuensel phodrang, Thimphu, presented a cheque of Nu 10.09 million (USD 219,200) yesterday to the Prime Minister, Lyonchen Jigme Y Thinley yesterday.
[Note: Keeping in line with our philosophy and as part of our giving back policy, Bridge To Bhutan made a humble contribution to His Majesty’s Earthquake Relief Fund on 20th October 2009] Continue reading Asian Businessmen & family contributes to His Majesty’s Earthquake Relief (Kidu) fund

The story of Black-Necked Crane Festival

The black-necked Cranes (Grus nigricollis) is a vulnerable species of Cranes. There are only 5,000-6,000 of them in the world. Each fall, 2-300 black-necked cranes fly few thousand miles from Tibet to two specific locations in Bhutan. They return to Tibet in Spring when it starts to get warmer in Bhutan. The bird is part of the Bhutanese folklore, music, and dance. The villagers celebrate their arrival and they are saddened when the birds depart. The people get nervous when the birds don’t arrive on time since it could mean bad harvest or ill-luck. The bird is respected and both the people and the government protects the bird’s habitat. Bhutan is also home to one of the most endangered bird species in the world, the White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis). The unique event to mark the arrival of the black-necked cranes, held annually is an attraction to both locals and tourists alike.

Annual Black-necked Crane Festival celebration: November 12

bnc The much awaited event of the Year – the Annual Black-necked Crane Festival is here again. The early morning chill is not a deterrent to the members of Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC) as they rise up early in preparation for the festival. PEMC, the local community group was formed nine years ago by the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) under its integrated conservation and development program (ICDP) initiative. The committee was formed to promote conservation and guide the prudent management of natural resources in Phobjikha. Over the years, the committee has increasingly taken up responsibilities that they are now the organizers of the festival.

The Annual black-necked Crane Festival is celebrated on 12th November every year and coincides with the birth anniversary of our Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. [Over the years], the crane festival saw a huge crowd such that finding a place to sit was difficult. It also saw a large number of international visitors/ tourists who were delighted to attend such a rare occasion.

The students from two community primary schools in the valley presented cultural items including the most fascinating item, black-necked crane dance. There were also many cultural dance and mask dance items presented by local village folks. One of the unique cultural items was the ‘Pazap’ presented by the folks of Bjena geowg. Continue reading The story of Black-Necked Crane Festival

Measuring Gross National Happiness (GNH): 4 pillars, 9 Domains & 72 Indicators

For a long time, Bhutan didn’t want to measure happiness. Simply ask one question- Are you happy in Bhutan? and you have the answer… Since the world is increasingly obsessed with numbers, the Center for Bhutan Studies in Bhutan along with the international academia & development practitioners, came up with a formula after several international conferences on GNH. The first conference was held in 2004 in Thimphu, Bhutan and in 2010, it will be held in Brazil.

Happiness formula: Jealousy, sexual misconduct, or apathy toward reciting prayers – Bhutan is now ready with a set of mathematical formulae to measure these personal feelings and collect it all to calculate the country’s happiness.

Happiness formula uses 72 indicators, from reciting prayers to buying second-hand clothes.

For all those GNH skeptics who said happiness can never be measured, the Centre for Bhutan Studies is ready with the tools. Continue reading Measuring Gross National Happiness (GNH): 4 pillars, 9 Domains & 72 Indicators

What is the story? Divine Madman, Takin (national animal) & Phallus symbols!

The Divine Madman–

By Samuel Jay Keyser: The “Takin” is Bhutan’s national animal. The mythology around its origin involves the “Divine Madman,” Lama Drukpa Kuenley. In the 15th century when he visited Bhutan, the people wanted to see him perform a miracle. He called for a cow and a goat for lunch. When he was finished, he placed the goat’s head on the cow’s body and commanded the amalgam to rise up and graze.

From an evolutionary point of view this makes the takin the newest creature on the face of the earth. Apparently, taxonomists are unable to relate the takin to any other creature and have given it its own classification, budorus taxicolor.

I think the Bhutanese have made the takin its national animal instead of, say, the yak or the barking deer, for the same reason that the New Zealanders made the kiwi its national bird. Both species are absolutely unique. These nations are saying, we are sui generis. Continue reading What is the story? Divine Madman, Takin (national animal) & Phallus symbols!

Global bicycler in Bhutan

Miles of Smiles Around the World – Alvaro Neil fulfils a dream

After covering more than 59,275 km on his bicycle around the world, Alvaro Neil is all smiles and looks strong. Yesterday, the 41-year-old Spaniard adventurer was in Thimphu on the road toward fulfilling a dream he calls “Miles of Smiles Around the World.”

“The people here are very friendly and helpful,” said Alvaro, who stayed in Thimphu for three days. The globetrotter quit his job as a lawyer and began his adventurous journey from his hometown Oviedo, Spain, to South Africa through the west coast in November 2004. He has already covered 51 countries, including Egypt, Africa, China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Continue reading Global bicycler in Bhutan

Bhutan ranked High at the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2009

Bhutan soars high at the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2009 in two categories: Top Country/Destination and Top Worldwide Airport.
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Bhutan ranked in Top 10 tourist destinations in the world
Bhutan has been ranked the fourth top tourist destination in the world by Wanderlust, an internationally recognized travel magazine based in the United Kingdom.
The Tourism Council of Bhutan has received a certificate from Wanderlust.

Bhutan also won the silver award from Wanderlust Travel Magazine in 2005 for making into the top ten tourist destinations in the world. Continue reading Bhutan ranked High at the Wanderlust Travel Awards 2009

Two new trekking routes

UPSCALE TRAIL – Lodge-based trekking routes will minimise litter at least

The tourism council of Bhutan (TCB) has identified two additional trekking routes in Wangduephodrang and Bumthang. The Dhur tshachu in Bumthang and Gangtey in Wangduephodrang, TCB said, would give tourists both natural and cultural visiting experience.

The trekking route to Dhur tshachu, starting from Dhur village, about 30 km from Chamkhar town, would take three days to the hotspring on foot. The whole area falls under the Wangchuck centennial park. The Gangtey trail starts from Gangtey and covers four villages (Phobjikha, Gogona, Khotakha and Rubisa).

The Dhur tshachu trail in Bumthang will benefit Dhur village, while the Gangtey trail in Wangduephodrang will benefit five villages (Gangtey, Phobjikha, Gogona, Khotakha and Rubisa). Continue reading Two new trekking routes

Michael J Fox-The “Incurable optimist” in Bhutan

IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS – Coming to terms with a concept in their own ways

Canadian-American actor, Michael J Fox, is currently in the country shooting a documentary entitled, ‘Michael J Fox: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist’. The documentary follows Fox as he travels the world in search of happiness and the reasons that make people happy.

“I’d read about Bhutan. I was really intrigued by the concept of gross national happiness, and I wanted to see if it really was what it was reported to be,” the star of such worldwide hits as the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy told Kuensel. Continue reading Michael J Fox-The “Incurable optimist” in Bhutan