NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm very curious about this country. I understand that the government only allows 1.500 tourists per year. They will have parliamentary democracy only in 2008, and the first TVs appeared on 1999. Also, the dynasty is very interesting, the King (who recently abdicated) is married to four sisters, so their children are half-siblings and cousins at the same time, very weird. Has anybody been in Bhutan? Do you know anything about their Royal Family? Please comment everything you like................about Bhutan, of course ;)

Rebel IndoChinese province. ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan

Although you've probably already checked there

It actually sounds very interesting

"in a recent survey organized by the University of Leicester in the UK, Bhutan was ranked as the planet's 8th happiest place"

"remote paradise"? You on drugs?

"remote paradise"? You on drugs?

I think what you mean to say is: "Can I have some?"

I don't know about a "paradise", but it is on my list of "places i'd like to visit one day".

I understand that the government only allows 1.500 tourists per year.

Only one and a half tourists per year!.
Also they have to pay at least $200 a night IIRC.

Only one and a half tourists per year!.
Also they have to pay at least $200 a night IIRC.

Most civilised countries would denote one and a half as 1,500 :P

It’s very Buddhist, and thus, very nice.

Most civilised countries would denote one and a half as 1,500 :P

A lot of European countries use the decimal point. I think it's a latin thing. (edit - meaning latin descended languages such as French)

I saw a documentary about it on TV once. It was very interesting.

Well a quick image search on "Bhutan" using Google, followed by a click on a View Picture in its original context link provides this nugget:

http://www.farhorizon.com/Southeast_Asia/Bhutan.htm

Stunning Countryside
Marvelous Architecture
Temples/Castles on mountainsides straight out of fantasy books (or maybe fantasy books borrowed Bhutan)

When I win the lottery I'll happily spend some of my hard won cash there. Don't care if they're exploiting me or not, it looks fantastic.

Please comment everything you like................about Bhutan, of course ;)
Once upon a time, Bhutan was taken over by Tibetan-Buddhist Mongolians. They stopped their migratory ways, and settled in one of the most isolated places on the world. History stopped for a long time. Then the British came in, and declared they own Bhutan, and the Bhutanese were like "whatever," and then the British were like, "we're gone," and then they left. Then the rest of the world started to rediscover Bhutan, and their traditional cultural heritage began to decline. The end.
Most civilised countries would denote one and a half as 1,500 :P
So? We have many toys that make big boom. We win.
It’s very Buddhist, and thus, very nice.
The parts shown on your television, sure.

The King abdicated this week to let his pro-democracy son take over.

I believe people there are also required to wear traditional dress by law.

Not cool.

Saw this in the wikipedia article:
Bhutan's national sport is archery, and competitions are held regularly in most villages. It differs from Olympic standards not only in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere. There are two targets placed over 100 metres apart and teams shoot from one end of the field to the other. Each member of the team shoots two arrows per round. Traditional Bhutanese archery is a social event and competitions are organised between villages, towns, and amateur teams. There are usually plenty of food and drink complete with singing and dancing cheerleaders comprising wives and supporters of the participating teams. Attempts to distract an opponent include standing around the target and making fun of the shooter's ability.
:eek:

That sounds a bit... irresponsible.

Saw this in the wikipedia article:

:eek:

That sounds a bit... irresponsible.
*Dances a merry jig*

"I burning your dog, you can't shoot for tof..."

SPLAT!

Nah, it's gone down the pipes since it got TV. Heroin addiction is quite a problem, and prostitution and violence are on the rise.

Still - I'd imagine it's lovely outside of the cities.

I'm worried about this bit

....It differs from Olympic standards not only in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere....

Are they saying the competitors have to work in a vacuum?

Are they saying the competitors have to work in a vacuum?
No, they just move the atmosphere down a few hundred metres in some kind of crazy ritual to increase the pressure.

No, they just move the atmosphere down a few hundred metres in some kind of crazy ritual to increase the pressure.

Or they just pass a lot of gas.

"remote paradise"? You on drugs?

I think he means they don't have a McDonalds.

short life expectancy

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.78 years
male: 55.02 years
female: 54.53 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
4.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)

and generally better places have lower fertility rates

and GDP per capita is $1,400... meh.

I believe people there are also required to wear traditional dress by law.

Not cool.

unless you don't mind or happen to like the traditional dress.

A nasty regime run by a hereditary autocrat who forces his people to comply to his own twisted view of 'the good old days'.

unless you don't mind or happen to like the traditional dress.

North Korea is a nice place to live if you are a loyal Juche-following non-intellectual quiet worker. How good your country treats you should never depend on how far you agree with the regime.

Bhutan oppresses its minorities. who the hell would dictate clothing like that?

Only one and a half tourists per year!.
Also they have to pay at least $200 a night IIRC.

how can you have half a tourist anyway? orr do they alternate between letting in one tourist and letting in 2 tourists?

They're the only country in the world where cigarettes are illegal.

North Korea is a nice place to live if you are a loyal Juche-following non-intellectual quiet worker. How good your country treats you should never depend on how far you agree with the regime.

I dont see where you are coming from. Wanna tell me how Bhutan treats their citizens like crap?

Bhutan? Paradise?
Paradise is here http://www.brazilestates.com/images/ilhagrande/lagoa%20verde%20ilha%20grande.jpg

unless you don't mind or happen to like the traditional dress.

no, it's still not cool. dictating clothing is definately not cool.

no, it's still not cool. dictating clothing is definately not cool.

then dont move there

The people I know (an English guy moved there to marry a Bhutanese girl he met) who live there like wearing the traditional clothing.

they LOVE Bhutan

So how else are their citizens mistreated?

then dont move there

The people I know (and English guy moved there to marry a Bhutanese girl he met) who live there like wearing the traditional clothing.

they LOVE Bhutan

So how else are their citizens mistreated?

i said nothing about citizens being mistreated.

That's pretty (http://www.farhorizon.com/Southeast_Asia/images_ladakh_bhutan/new/14Taktsang-monastery_lg.jpg) amazing.

It’s very Buddhist, and thus, very nice.
Why do you say something like that?

So how else are their citizens mistreated?
By being forced to wear particular clothes. Which isn't exactly a terrible atrocity, but tis very strange.

i said nothing about citizens being mistreated.

well you seem to be disagreeing with me where I said that: having to wear traditional dress isnt bad for people who dont mind or actually like to wear it.

well you seem to be disagreeing with me where I said that: having to wear traditional dress isnt bad for people who dont mind or actually like to wear it.

but the post you quoted said it was "not cool", not that it was mistreating citizens.

I dont see where you are coming from. Wanna tell me how Bhutan treats their citizens like crap?

They are forced to wear clothing specialised to their social status. The Parliament is a third unelected. Non-Bhutanese foods and customs are banned. Until recently Bhutanese have not been able to buy televisions or other modern conveniences. In short, almost everything you probably do in a day is banned in Bhutan, and can see you fined or publicly flogged.

So yeah, a real mountain paradise :rolleyes:

well you seem to be disagreeing with me where I said that: having to wear traditional dress isnt bad for people who dont mind or actually like to wear it.

The Holocaust wasn't bad for non-Jews. Infringing the liberties of ANY citizen is bad for ALL citizens.

Until recently Bhutanese have not been able to buy televisions

You say that as if it is a bad thing.
Agreed on the others though.

Has anybody been in Bhutan?

Been to a border town, when I toured the North East India and Nepal, but did not cross into Bhutan.

Please comment everything you like................about Bhutan, of course ;)

Plan to go there someday.....definitely. Wangchuk, the king, is a nice person.