Bhutan (tour, friendliness, karaoke alert)

November 21, 2010

At breakfast the next morning the hotel staff were grinning from ear to ear and treated me even more royally than usual – what a night. Sure, I got some contact details, but in almost every case they were just phone numbers. Internet and e-mail are practically unheard of among ordinary locals. At about 2 € an hour, going online here is far too expensive for the average income. In this respect, too, Bhutan is very well shielded from the not always positive influences of the big wide world outside. After a lengthy round of goodbyes, we finally drove back toward the airport town of Paro.

On the way we stopped in the village of Wangdue Phodrang and had a look at the local Dzong.

The architecture and interior of this fortress monastery were similar to the other Dzongs I’d already visited.

There was also a well-preserved Wheel of Life (Bhavachakra) to see here, depicting the eternal cycle of life that Buddha Siddhartha Gautama is said to have seen shortly before his enlightenment.

After admiring the gorgeous view of the idyllic countryside, it was time to move on.

Impressions from the journey back across Bhutan: everyday/simple life.

The friendliness and warm smiles of the locals as soon as a tourist came into view.

The pristine nature and crystal-clear rivers.

The unique landscape with its monastery fortresses and traditional buildings. Yes, Bhutan really is a wonderful country, and it has found a special place in my heart, above all because of its warm-hearted, unspoiled people.

After a stop along the way, we finally reached Paro in the evening and checked into our hotel. Normally your last evening in Bhutan is a cozy affair at the hotel with a beer or a glass of wine – but not for us:

After a quick freshen-up and styling session, we cruised through Paro in our SUV just like in our teenage days, windows rolled down and music blaring like a bunch of chavs, “checking out the scene”. With a zippy driver and our guide as DJ, I couldn’t stop laughing. Some people outside waved at us and applauded. My goodness, what fun – and I’d bet my bottom dollar we were the first “cruisers” Bhutan had ever seen… Our destination was the hottest location in the little kingdom – the local karaoke club – which also made it my first visit to a karaoke bar ever.

I’d already waved goodbye to my Western expectations – still, the way the drinks were served made me smile.

The karaoke club itself was more reminiscent of a large party basement, too.

At first people gave me curious, surprised looks, but that wore off very quickly.

Later the stage was absolutely rocking, with people dancing and singing their hearts out to local music – …

…definitely unforgettable fun! :)

We had a great night, and I’m truly grateful to my guide and driver for such deep insights behind the scenes of so sheltered a country. For all the cleanliness, culture, politeness, dress codes and tourist shows – the locals in Bhutan also know how to let their hair down with “wine, joy and song”. ;)

Further links:

1. Paro – Town with the only airport in Bhutan
2. Wangdue Phodrang – Important town/center (< 7,000 inhabitants) in western Bhutan
3. Dzong – Term for a Buddhist fortress monastery in Bhutan and Tibet
4. Wheel of life – The eternal cycle of life / of rebirth
5. Buddha Siddhartha Gautama – Founder of Buddhism
6. Cruising – “driving around looking as cool as possible” – Wiki couldn’t have put it better…
7. Chavs – Modern slang: people with uncouth manners
8. SUV – Off-road luxury car
9. Location – Cool word for “place”
10. Karaoke – Amateur singing to popular songs