Whilst hearing from several sources that Bhutan is very difficult to enter for foreigners, I was very lucky and could manage to get into the country :)
What an interesting experience this has been. Bhutan is counting as one of the most happiest country in the world. Maybe because they are so excluded from the rest of the world!? People are very close with the nature, plus it is only carbon negative country in the world. Apparently also because it is apparently very difficult to get a visa, costs cause from 200-500 usd.
Bhutan’s main export products:
Orange, Rice, cardomon, potato, dolormite, Gypsum, mining
Import: 70percent on anything else
What the locals live on:
Tourism (if people get in, so bit contradictory), hydropower
Tigers Nest
Most beautiful moment and place I have been since long: Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's nest), the abode of gods and monks situated at an altitude of 3100m on the Upper Paro Valley, Bhutan.
As per the legend, Guru Padmasambhana (Guru Rinpoche), the tantrum mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, came in the form of Dorje Droloe riding a flying tigress to subdue the demon that was obstructing the spread of Buddhism in the Himalayas. Some people have a tough time with the altitude and the steep hike. Luckily I was completely fine.
Thimphu Dzong, the capital fort is a Buddhist monastery north of Thimphu. Back in the the days it was the seat of Druk Desi who was Bhutans government head. It has been combined with kingship since 1907 as Office and as summer capital. In Britain it’s know as Tassisudon.
We hiked to the Tashigang Goenpa Monastery (3,566 m) uphill to the 18th century Lungchutse Lhakhang. The route is stunning, the forest looks like in a miracle forest. It passes through primary forests of rhododendrons, magnolias, birches, firs, hemlocks and bamboos, and occasionally meadows that are being used as yak pastures. The view from Lungchutse Lhakhang over the entire Bhutan Himalaya and its snow covered peaks is amazing.
Dochula Pass (3,150 m) with 108 stupas known as 'Druk Wangyal Chortens. They have been build as a memory for the Bhutanese soldiers who died in the battle in 2003 against the Indian Assamese.
We went to see the gigantic Buddha Dordenma Statue located at the top of a hill in Kuensel Phodrang Nature Park. The statute is around 50 meters high and is made of Bronze, glided with gold and coated usd 50 Mio. Inside there are 125,000 small gold Buddha statutes all around at the walls. Unfo pics are nowhere allowed inside. The statue fulfills an ancient prophecy dating back to the 8th century A.D that was discovered by Terton Pema Lingpa - Religious Treasure Discoverer and is said to emanate an aura of peace and happiness to the entire world.
We got into Bhutan from Dubai via Kathmandu, Nepal and from there we flew into Paro, one of the worlds most dangerous airports and then headed to Thimphu, Bhutans capital with arnd 115,000 citizen. The city is more like a rustic village and they dont have any traffic light. One single police man is handling it all from a small house in the middle of the street circle.
You can buy phallus symbols and statues all over and they even painted on the house walls to ward off evils. It is basically a religious symbol.
We also have seen several traditional dances including the mask dance. Please check out my Instagram profile as well for story highlights with the dance performances.
We also visited the National Memorial Chorten, a Buddhist Temple. Walking around clockwise will bring luck, minimum 3 times. You also see a lot of red large prayer wheels which people whirl and walk around with them.
They were burning a lot of incense in from the temple. The inside was beautiful, but again unfo not pictures allowed. But you see lot of colorful paint and statutes of men with women in front who are stepping onto bodies who did not follow the 5 precepts.
The precepts are commitments to abstain from killing living beings, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and intoxication. Within the Buddhist doctrine, they are meant to develop mind and character to make progress on the path to enlightenment. Within Buddhism there are five or six possible forms that rebirth can take. These are from the highest to the lowest: gods, demi-gods, human, animal, hungry ghost and hell creature. The more people follow the precepts the higher they will be reborn. One circle of rebirth takes 5000 years.
Tachog Lhakhang - a small monastery and a traditional suspension bridge over the Paro River. The famous 'iron chain' bridge is said to have been originally built in the 15th century by the legendary Tibetan Mr.Thangtong Gyalpo.
We also experienced the local people and life of a Bhutanese village and took a hot stone bath for one hour with herbs inside. Very unique experience!
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