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.
After 10 months of recovery and therapy, I was able to return to my life in Bhutan. No one would have blamed me if I didn't go back and some people were shocked that I wanted to go back at all. There is a small but growing number of other options: In Thimphu, Cloud 9 is a burger and shake joint that serves quarter-pounders, creamy milk shakes and gluten-free vegetarian options.
In Paro, eat momos at Sonam Trophel. In most of the country, rice is eaten the same way as in other parts of South Asia: collect a morsel of food with the first two fingers and use your thumb to push food into your mouth. Clean your hands before the meal by rolling a bit of rice into a ball, then rubbing it into your palms and fingers.
Then, make more balls out of the rice and dip it into your curry. 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. Guidelines on how to apply for Official visa clearance Official Guest of the Ministry Forwarding letter from the head of the Department addressed to Dy.
Chief of Protocol Notesheet from the concern Ministry Filled up Visa application form need to be filled up by the guests only Passport photocopy of the visitor Official Guest of the Non-Governmental Organization Forwarding letter from the Head of Organization. Approval letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Filled up visa applications. Chief of Protocol Approval Letter from the Chairman. Filled up visa application forms need to be filled up by the guests only Passport photocopy of the guest.
Chief of Protocol Approval Letter from the President Filled up visa application form need to be filled by the guests only Passport photocopy of the visiting guests. It would be a mistake to believe—in a country dotted with temples, monasteries, water-powered prayer wheels, and religious carvings in rock walls—that Buddhism stands apart from Bhutanese culture.
In reality, the two are inextricably linked. Religious festivals mark a happy deviation from daily life. Families and individuals regularly go to temples to give donations and receive blessings.
You can often find elderly men and women circumambulating the temples to spin the prayer wheels or sitting in the middle of the town square contemplatively rubbing mala beads between their fingers while they whisper Om mani padme hum , the mantra that extends compassion to all sentient beings.
In a country unified by and founded upon Buddhism, these religious values have become cultural values that permeate even the political system, as seen in the example of Gross National Happiness. However, expats should be aware that the Bhutanese are very proud of their religious heritage because it is so fundamental to their own culture and history , and you will hear many stories about Guru Rinpoche, Drukpa Kunley, and other notable saints from tour guides and friends.
The Bhutanese believe that Buddhism is compatible with other worldviews and that no religion discredits the other. They recognize that people from different cultures have different perspectives and stories to tell which are just as important as their own. So enter Bhutan with an open mind, a sense of adventure, and a willingness to learn about their values.
For students who are interested in studying abroad, check out the Wheaton in Bhutan program. Wheaton was the first to offer a study abroad program for American students to study, travel, and work in Bhutan. The program has recently been opened up to non-Wheaton students so any undergraduate student is welcome to apply. Find out more information see the Wheaton study abroad program in Bhutan. There is are key resources and information found on health and vaccines for travelers to Bhutan.
For a list of foreign embassies in Bhutan. The nearest American embassies are in New Delhi and Bangkok. Kuensel, the popular Bhutanese newspaper, is available online in English.
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