The first time I learned of Bhutan was from a postcard that featured the nation’s most famous landmark: the Tiger’s Nest. Formally known as the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, the Tiger’s Nest is also one of the most sacred sites in this Buddhist kingdom. Hiking to the Tiger’s Nest is one of the must-haves for almost every visitor… Read More How to Visit the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan
The cherry on top when it comes to visiting Bhutan is you get to customize your itinerary. If you want to see every monastery open to the public, then so be it. If you want to see none, that’s your choice as well. But once you’ve put down the money to travel to the isolated… Read More 8 Must-Have Experiences in Bhutan
I was a few rows behind in the crowd, but because I’m tall enough, I smiled real big and caught her attention. She looked me in the eye and smiled. Pleased to meet you, I said, not knowing how to properly address her. She extended her hand and I accepted. Pleased to meet you, too,… Read More The Dochula Druk Wangyel Festival: A Technicolor Himalayan Dream
Now that you know all about how to visit Bhutan, here are 10 surprising things you probably didn’t know about this Himalayan kingdom. Load up on these Bhutan facts before you go! (Warning: there are some NSFW photos below.) 1. The name Bhutan is a transcription The Bhutanese call their own country “Druk yul,” meaning… Read More 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Bhutan
When I shared that I was going to the Land of the Thunder Dragon, a friend asked, what’s the process for a Bhutan visa? Well, you pay a shit load of money, I replied. And that’s the first thing you need to know about visiting Bhutan. (Unless you’re an Indian, Bangladeshi, or Maldivian national, in… Read More How to Visit Bhutan: What You Need to Know
I first learned about Bhutan in 2013 and was immediately entranced by this isolated Himalayan kingdom that somehow had escaped my knowledge for more than two decades. The costs associated with visiting Land of the Thunder Dragon, however, put it in a TBD category in my mental filing cabinet. (I’ll cover this and how to… Read More Bhutan in 10 Photos: Exploring the Land of the Thunder Dragon
When I left on my funemployment trip through Asia, the only plans I had was to start in Manchuria and work my way south as the weather got colder and to meet my boyfriend in southern Thailand for Thanksgiving. So I packed mostly warm weather clothes and a few layers for autumn in China, all rolled… Read More What I Packed for 5 Months in Asia, from the Himalayas to Southeast Asia