I wasn't prepared for the absolute wonderment of Bhutan...

Having grown up in South East Asia I have always had a total love and respect for other countries but Bhutan was something completely new to me and truly magical.

It began with a flight over the Himalayas that left me breathless and throughout my stay there were many, many highlights but perhaps three stick in my mind. In no particular order they were the people, a cycle ride and Tiger's Nest.



The Bhutanese people are kind, warm and intelligent. Dressed in the most part in national dress they look timeless and elegant. Their friendliness and laughter is infectious - so much so that it is clear to see that Gross National Happiness is not just a government edict.









The cycle ride gave us superb views and great opportunities to meet the people - the novice monks were particularly curious about us and our bicycles. I say cycling but it was in effect a morning's freewheel down the Haa Valley. A luxurious picnic awaited me at the bottom and thankfully, after lunch, the bikes were loaded onto a van so I did not have to worry about the three-hour uphill struggle!









Tiger's Nest or Taktshang Monastery, is the most famous of Bhutan's monasteries and legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew to a cave on this cliff riding a tigress and hence the name. The monastery clings to the cliff 900 metres above the Paro valley, and for those like me not blessed with natural fitness it was quite an effort. However it was well worth the effort - it is possibly one of the most rewarding things I've done - and made me appreciate the luxury of Uma Paro Hotel all the more!




It's not so often these days that you leave a country with such a heavy heart and a genuine tear in your eyes, but Bhutan really stirs the soul and leaves you counting the days until you can go back.

For more information on Bhutan please click through here