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A few pics from my recent trip to Bhutan, the formerly "closed" Himalayan kingdom lying between India and China. I thought it a fabulous little country with gorgeous scenery and architecture and lovely people. The government doesn't measure wealth, instead it governs to maximise wellbeing under the slogan "Gross National Happiness", a concept the fourth king came up with at a UN meeting in the 1970s when asked about his country's GDP. He was just 17 at the time! It's a fascinating place and I'm determined to go back some time. I make no claims for the photographic quality of any of these, it was a "full-on" trip (as advertised) and we were in a permanent rush! All E-M1i, most with the 12-50 EZ zoom.
Everything and everywhere in Bhutan is richly decorated, and I was amused to see that new buildings are built with ready-decorated components. Presuambly they can get them at the local equivalent ob B&Q. It's a mostly Buddhist country and it sometimes seems if every other building is a temple or monastery; photography is not allowed inside them which is a shame for the decoration is beautiful. A dzhong is a fortified monastery. The contrast with India as you cross the border is marked, everything is cleaner, there's more space and much less pollution, and people generally seem happier.
It's not an especially easy country to visit, you can only go there as part of an officially recognised tour package which costs US$250 per day, but for that you get accommodation, travel, food and the services of a guide. Beer etc is extra, but at approximately 45p a pint for an 8% local brew (called "Hit"!) not extravagant
. The local currency is the Ngultrum, pegged in value to the Indian rupee, and notes come in as little as 5Ng, worth abut 5.5p at the moment! I didn't see any coins.
I'm gradually finding my way around the new forum's albums feature so more pics will be addedto this topic in due course
Everything and everywhere in Bhutan is richly decorated, and I was amused to see that new buildings are built with ready-decorated components. Presuambly they can get them at the local equivalent ob B&Q. It's a mostly Buddhist country and it sometimes seems if every other building is a temple or monastery; photography is not allowed inside them which is a shame for the decoration is beautiful. A dzhong is a fortified monastery. The contrast with India as you cross the border is marked, everything is cleaner, there's more space and much less pollution, and people generally seem happier.
It's not an especially easy country to visit, you can only go there as part of an officially recognised tour package which costs US$250 per day, but for that you get accommodation, travel, food and the services of a guide. Beer etc is extra, but at approximately 45p a pint for an 8% local brew (called "Hit"!) not extravagant
. The local currency is the Ngultrum, pegged in value to the Indian rupee, and notes come in as little as 5Ng, worth abut 5.5p at the moment! I didn't see any coins.I'm gradually finding my way around the new forum's albums feature so more pics will be addedto this topic in due course
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