13 May 2020

Kingdom of Orchids

posted in: Bhutan Blog, Travel Specials | 0

By Dr. Heiko Hentrich All photos ©Heiko Hentrich Why Bhutan… I am a tropical botanist, who has travelled to many Latin-American countries to do field studies in remote places. As a side benefit of my job, I meet people from different cultures, and I have come to appreciate the opportunity to learn about other ways of life, customs, food, and languages. On my journeys, I usually stay with locals and prefer these private accommodations to hotels, because you learn so … Read More
1 Apr 2019

10 Must See Places in Bhutan

posted in: Travel Specials | 0

By Ulrike Cokl (originally written for Gesar Travel) It is truly difficult for me to think of only 10 must-see places and attractions in Bhutan where I have spent so much time over the past 18 years. However, I will try and choose from my long list of things, places and activities that I love, keeping in mind that it is for people who have not been to the Himalayan Kingdom before. 1 Taktsang Gonpa There is no way around … Read More
20 Apr 2018

“The guest of one night is like a god”

posted in: Bhutan Blog, Travel Specials | 0

By Ulrike Cokl One evening some Bhutanese friends and I were chatting about the charm, warmth and generosity that one experiences when visiting a village home in Bhutan. Most tourists who visit the little kingdom are on a tight schedule, moving from guesthouse to guesthouse, eating the same bland food every day. They are disconnected from local experiences of commensality and conviviality so characteristic for rural life. I decided to think about ways that would allow tourists to experience Bhutanese … Read More
3 Nov 2016

The Egg-Headed Beast to Rescue

posted in: Bhutan Blog, Stories from Bhutan | 1

By Needrup Zangpo As the greatly perplexed demon stood before the man muttering to himself ‘this is a fish-bodied, egg-headed pig-like beast’, the man sprang up and thrust his hard penis into its mouth saying, ‘If you don’t know what it is, this is what it is.’ The demon gave a sharp squeal like a pig struck unaware by an arrow and stumbled away with the front teeth smashed in. A group of travellers had just emptied a pot of … Read More
6 Sep 2016

Immortal: The Story of a Bhutanese Bull

posted in: Bhutan Blog, Stories from Bhutan | 0

By Dendup Chophel This is the story of a beloved bull that lived long before the monstrous Japan made power tillers displaced others of his kind from their position of pride as a Bhutanese farming household’s chief preoccupation. His name was Bjan Ka Zeb (bjan dkar dzerb), named after the white furs that lined his dewlap and brisket. He was bought by my grandmother from a herd of bulls that was put up for sale by cattle traders from the … Read More
12 Aug 2016

Traditional Hospitality and Travelling in Bhutan

posted in: Bhutan Blog, Travel Specials | 0

“The guest of one night is like a god” Bhutanese proverb By Ulrike Cokl In the Kingdom of Bhutan hospitality permeates every sphere of social life, whether private or public; it infuses (religious) festivals, rituals, rites of passage from birth to death and all kinds of political and social gatherings. From the sharing of food and drinks, singing and dancing, to the exchange of gifts, goods and services, such all-encompassing traditions of hospitality are fundamental to enriching and fostering relationships, thuenlam, at every … Read More

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