NationStates Jolt Archive


Kingdom of Bhutan, a remote paradise

Brasland
23-12-2006, 03:34
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 ;)
Sel Appa
23-12-2006, 03:38
Rebel IndoChinese province. ;)
Kraetd
23-12-2006, 03:55
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"
JiangGuo
23-12-2006, 03:56
"remote paradise"? You on drugs?
Unlucky_and_unbiddable
23-12-2006, 04:32
"remote paradise"? You on drugs?

I think what you mean to say is: "Can I have some?"
Kanabia
23-12-2006, 11:11
I don't know about a "paradise", but it is on my list of "places i'd like to visit one day".
No paradise
23-12-2006, 11:14
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.
The Alma Mater
23-12-2006, 11:16
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
Neo Undelia
23-12-2006, 11:20
It’s very Buddhist, and thus, very nice.
Kanabia
23-12-2006, 11:20
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)
Maraque
23-12-2006, 11:21
I saw a documentary about it on TV once. It was very interesting.
Mogtaria
23-12-2006, 11:23
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.
Almighty America
23-12-2006, 11:46
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.
New Burmesia
23-12-2006, 12:24
The King abdicated this week to let his pro-democracy son take over.
Neu Leonstein
23-12-2006, 12:28
I believe people there are also required to wear traditional dress by law.

Not cool.
Hamilay
23-12-2006, 12:33
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.
New Burmesia
23-12-2006, 12:35
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!
Yootopia
23-12-2006, 12:37
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.
Mogtaria
23-12-2006, 12:39
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?
Yootopia
23-12-2006, 12:44
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.
Radical Centrists
23-12-2006, 18:17
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.
Cold Winter Blues Men
23-12-2006, 18:22
"remote paradise"? You on drugs?

I think he means they don't have a McDonalds.
Unlucky_and_unbiddable
23-12-2006, 18:30
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.
Sumamba Buwhan
23-12-2006, 20:16
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.
Greyenivol Colony
23-12-2006, 22:51
A nasty regime run by a hereditary autocrat who forces his people to comply to his own twisted view of 'the good old days'.
Greyenivol Colony
23-12-2006, 22:56
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.
Nationalist Sozy
24-12-2006, 01:16
Bhutan oppresses its minorities. who the hell would dictate clothing like that?
Swilatia
24-12-2006, 02:10
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?
The Pacifist Womble
24-12-2006, 02:23
They're the only country in the world where cigarettes are illegal.
Sumamba Buwhan
24-12-2006, 20:08
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?
Efenn
24-12-2006, 20:27
Bhutan? Paradise?
Paradise is here http://www.brazilestates.com/images/ilhagrande/lagoa%20verde%20ilha%20grande.jpg
Swilatia
24-12-2006, 20:32
unless you don't mind or happen to like the traditional dress.

no, it's still not cool. dictating clothing is definately not cool.
Sumamba Buwhan
24-12-2006, 20:37
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?
Swilatia
24-12-2006, 20:40
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.
The Pacifist Womble
24-12-2006, 20:45
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.
Sumamba Buwhan
24-12-2006, 20:45
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.
Swilatia
24-12-2006, 20:47
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.
Greyenivol Colony
24-12-2006, 22:33
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:
Greyenivol Colony
24-12-2006, 22:37
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.
The Alma Mater
24-12-2006, 22:39
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.
Aryavartha
25-12-2006, 01:04
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.