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ANY
of us who must live in this hectic,
heartless, modern world sometimes dream of a la nd
that is different. Then come with us to a country
that has things money cannot buy.
Crystal clear streams tum–
ble down from majestic moun–
tains, and the a ir is charged
with the scent of exotic trees,
herbs and flowers. The inhabi–
tants are content, for their
land is without crime, without
dire poverty, wit hout t h e
th rea t of fami ne and without
that it has opened its door, warily,
to tbe outside world.
We think
Plain Truth
readers
would like to share our experience,
since even a brief vísit to Bhutan
gives the thoughtful traveler a
glimpse of the world as ít was yes–
terday. And a hint of what ít may
be like tomorrow!
war. They a re at peace with
A Place That ls Different
the world and one another.
Everyone
has
work. Men can
be men. Women are happy to be
women. Children are respectful.
Delinquency is unknown .
Maybe such a land exists only in
our dreams. Maybe ít is Bhutan.
Wíth other members of the
Plain Truth
editorial staff, 1 was
able recently to spend a week in
this fascinating little Himalayan
kingdom.
lt
was an unusual oppor–
tunity, as only about 2,000 people
are invited to visit Bhutan each
year. For centuries Bhutan was lit–
erally a forbidding mountain king–
dom.
It
is only in the last few years
We approached Bhutan by air. Until
1983 t he only way in was by jeep
along a winding road from the pla ins
of northern India. To fly is quicker,
but no less spectacu lar. The little
Dornier 228 aircraft took 1
!12
hours
to fly from Calcutta, across the
impoverished plains of Bangladesh
and into the majestic foothills of the
Himalayas. Bhutan literally comes
up to meet you, for this is one of the
most mountainous countríes on
earth. Eíghty percent of the
land is more than 6,000 feet
high.
As the plane made íts final
approach to Bhutan's only aír-
Druk Gyel Dzong once guarded the Paro VaUey from nortbern marauders.
But today the threat to Bhutan's quiet way of life comes from another
~
direction. lnset right: Fruits of her labor- the Bbutanese still depend on
small-scale agriculture for their livelibood. Inset far right: A happy crowd
celebrates at a festival at Punakha Dzong.