Memories of Bhutan -the people, the king-

To talk about the people in Bhutan, I must start with the King.
First of all, they love the king. They think the king brings all the happiness, peace, and the better life and worship him in a good way. And as a result, this country is maintained quite well by the king and the belief by the people.

The successive kings of Bhutan.
The current king on the right edge, is King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. All the kings are "Jigme" and "Wangchuck", so when people explained to me about the current king, they said Namgyel.
My vague image of Bhutan which is probably the same as the one for most of us in Japan, was "the country with happiness". This idea is kinda right and kinda wrong. The king (Singye, the father of the current king) did say "we must measure our life not by the economic growth(Gross Domestic Product), but the happiness(Gross Narional Happiness)". I don't mean to criticize against this speech, but that doesn't mean they are happy. It was a suggestion which other countries should learn from. Anyhow, I respect his foward-thinking and revolutionary speech and it seems Bhutanese people, especially the goverment servants, are very proud of it and my friend game me the very think book about the king's speech (right I should read it someday).

Singye resigned very early as a normal reign period. They told me a lot of people cried over it. Namgyel is very very popular but his father, Singye was popular and he still is.
For the record, Bhutanese men are allowed to have several wives (as long as he can love them equally according to them!). And Singye have 4 official empresses.

And Bhutanese royal family are quite close and have good relationship with Thai royalty. I could tell the faithfulness for king is very similar between Bhutan and Thailand after visiting those countries.

Starting from the right, the former king of Bhutan Singye, the current king Namgyel, and the king  of Thailand, Rama VIII. @ some Thai restaurant in Thimpu, the capital.

Memories of Bhutan -dress code-

As Bhutan became popular in Japan especially this year (other than the king and princes visited Japan, can anyone tell me what made Bhutan so popular here? just out of curiosity), I'm so glad that I was able to visit there which is apparently rare to do. I even had a chance to wear Bhutanese traditional clothes for women, called Kira. When I walked around the town with normal casual clothes taking pictures with my IPod, people kind of stared at me but once I wore Kira, I totally looked like a Bhutanese girl and no one ever notice that I'm from Japan. They all first talked to me in Dzongkha, but after I kept silent and nodding, they ask my friend if I'm okay or sick. My friend and I had some fun tricking people and see their expressions. haha

Men wear robe tied with a belt, called Gho. Pretty much 95% of Bhutanese men I saw wore Gho but I heard it's not necessary but it is for public officers like my friends. I like how they are colorful and have different taste. But for shoes, I guess people stopped wearing the traditional one and now they wear black leather shoes with knee-high socks, I find it cute...reminded me of Scottish clothes.

There is an additional rule for dress code when you enter a dzong (used as city hall), or a temple. Men has to wear white sash from left shoulder to opposite hip, and women wear narrow cloth on the left shoulder, called Rachu.

Since all of my friends are guys, they didn't have Rachu, which is necessary for me to enter any dzong or temples. I understood that how serious they take about this dress code so first I told I would wait in front of the building, but they ask some lady around the temple to let me use hers for me. By borrowing Rachu many times by many girls, I got to visit many dzong and temples. People in Bhutan are shy but really nice. I could feel pro-Japanese mind everywhere in Bhutan.

What I learned:
- That I perfectly blend in with Bhutanese community in appearance!

What made me happy:
- Despite of this limited foreigners entrance, people here are very nice and warm. Just a little bit shy. :)

2012

It was the most non-special new year's eve I've ever had in my life, so as new year's day.

Yet I feel like I should start something new so writing blog could be the one I can do, which apparently I was influenced by the character from the TV show I've been watching...Carrie Bradshaw!

First thing I should do would be writing about my travel last year which I've been procrastinating a lot. It feels so sad just to know it's already "last year", but if I don't start now time will just pass more, which means I'm gonna forget more...(how sad) plus this work life will just accelerate the distance between the good times and now. So glad that I was able to travel last year after realizing I don't even have the nerve to ask for a day off!

Let's see how often I can update this blog this year...

Wish 2012 will be peaceful for all of us, and for the earth.