Weaving Through The Himalayas To Get To Bhutan
Bhutan has been on my bucket list for a while now and after the covid closure of two and a half years, we are finally allowed back in!
A few facts about Bhutan:
- It’s the only carbon negative country in the world.
- it’s criminal to kill animals and birds.
- There are no traffic lights 😱. There’s only one flyover in the whole country
- They don’t use GDP as an economic indicator. It’s Gross National Happiness (sustainable development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, good governance and a healthy environment). Education and healthcare is free for all the citizens and everyone has equal opportunity and access.
- No plastic, no smoking (vaping ok).
- Everyone becomes a year older on New Year’s Day.
- The phallus is a symbol of fertility, good luck and used to ward off evil spirits. You see drawings everywhere!
- They only introduced tv in 1999.
- Polygamy is allowed.
- National dress is mandatory.
- There’s a visitor daily tax of $200 plus a single/double supplement of $40.
- Only a handful of pilots are allowed to land in Paro International airport. It takes skill to weave through the high peaks of the Himalayas and land in the valley.
I loved the flight! Supposedly one of the most dangerous airports in the world (not as scary as landing in the Hillary, Norgay airport on Everest). It’s exciting being sandwiched between high peaks and the pilot had to bank quickly past a high mountain to land in the valley. Our pilot was excellent, probably since the King’s sister was with us in row 1. There was a lot of fussing over her, of course, but we pretended to not know who she was 😀.
This is our guide and our driver from Bhutan Swallowtail Travels, Pema and Chimi
Our adventure begins here in Thimphu, Bhutan’s capital, at 2337 metres or 7658 feet.
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