So, I'm just back from Bhutan, known to be one of the happiest countries in the world. I've wanted to see Bhutan ever since I read Eric Weiner's 'Geography of Bliss', a travelogue tracing his travel to ten different countries, figuring out if and why they are happy. He said that Bhutan was happy because the people had accepted their mortality. They didn't fear death. They viewed it as a part of life.
Bhutan, while a gorgeous country, is all the more gorgeous because of it's people. The Bhutanese are gentle and contented. They aren't longing for the latest brands or wanting to make a lot of money. They're just simple and happy.
To reach Bhutan, you have to fly in through the Himalayas and you have a glimpse of the Mount Everest and the Kanchenjunga, the highest and second highest peaks in the world. Its a little unnerving to fly so close to the majestic Himalayas and Eric Weiner's quote holds true, "Paradise, is not paradise, if you can take a taxi there".
Bhutan is untouched, unscathed by the rest of the world. It's like an oasis in a desert. Wherever you go, you're surrounded by mountains, some lush and green and others,sparse and bare; both equally gorgeous and majestic. Living that close to nature gives one a different perspective on life. That's why I think the Bhutanese have got their priorities straight. They're healthy, they're happy and they're content.
I'm not quite satisfied with this post because it doesn't even begin to convey the magic of Bhutan. How can one put into words the smiles of the people? How does one begin to fathom their patience? Their easygoing nature? At a stupa, I was approached by an old man, who in slightly broken Hindi said namaste and said that it warmed his heart to see us in Bhutan and he too wished to come see India. I was almost ready to cry at this man's kind, heartfelt words. How much happier all of us would be if we just took a little time to say something nice to somebody. Everyone is so caught up in their own lives that they lose sight of what's important-being human. All it takes is a few kind words to put a smile on someone's face. The world is a selfish place. Bhutan has somehow managed to keep the selfishness at bay. It was wonderful to visit a country so generous with it's smiles and it's love.