Bhutan has compulsory military training for one year, known as Gyalsung. All the young boys and girls you see in this orange dress are actually undergoing training.
The number of vehicles on the roads are very less. Almost all roads are alongside a river which has clean flowing water.
I never saw any vehicle exceeding the speed limit of 55. There are no traffic lights throughout the country and the zebra crossing is well respected by all drivers. There is a cop at every cross road.
Children returning after school. Girls are more when it comes to the boy to girl ratio.
A phone number is provided at the bus stop. Probably to ring and ask about the next bus?
Even if the roads are narrow, there is also a narrow footpath provided so that the pedestrians can walk safely.
If you visit the Post Office you can get custom made stamps which you can affix on letters/postcards and send to any part of the world.
Bhutan is the only carbon negative country in the world.
The constitution of Bhutan mandates the country to preserve at least 60% of forest cover at all times. (the actuals as of now is 71%)
A Guinness world record was achieved when they planted 108,000 trees in an hour to commemorate the birth of His Royal Highness Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck by 100 volunteers in Thimphu.
Houses are well planned and with sloping roofs.
Almost all the houses are made of wood (wood obtained from controlled cutting of trees)
Farming is the common occupation (mostly rice and potatoes)
While having lunch, from the window I could see the farmers processing their rice grain.
Could also see some tourists showing a keen interest in the process.
They conserve their produce to last longer like this guy was slitting the chillies to be dried which can be used during winter.
Dochula pass is an interesting place. They say that on a clear day one can see the snow covered peaks of the Himalayas. Unfortunately when we went it was foggy and misty. (and cold)
At the pass I saw an artisan standing on a scaffold and painting a perfect circle without a template
This Raven was posing for me as if to say "I am the National bird"
Scaling the Tigers Nest is not an easy task, but two from our group did it.
When in Bhutan one must not miss the black necked Cranes Karma and Pema.
Have made a video on them. Plane landing in Paro is a highlight which one must not miss. Wrote a seperate blog on it. Our guide said that during the Covid lockdown period when they were jobless, the King supported them by giving 10000 BTN per month.
Saw this message on a cross road in Phuentsholing and it says it all:
"Where we live must be clean, safe, organised and beautiful, for national integrity, national pride, and for our bright future. This too is nation building."
I am sure all those who visit Bhutan must be going back home with one question "Why can't our country be like this?"
It is not everytime you get to see a plane landing at close quarters and that too at an airport which is considered to be the most difficult to land.
As Captain Chimi Dorji says, "Paro airport is difficult but not dangerous." (Captain Chimi Dorji has been working for Druk Air aka Royal Bhutan Airlines for 25 years)
Most airports offer about 10 nautical miles (about 18 kms) of distance for pilots to gauge the most aligned approach onto the landing strip, this airport accords only one or two nautical miles, which literally means there is no room for error.
Only 50 pilots are certified to land at Paro due to the demanding conditions.
I was also fortunate enough to videograph the landing. It was a lucky day for me as I could capture three aircrafts landing and one helicopter taking off.
The third aircraft I videographed was a small plane with propellers
While waiting for the aircraft, I saw these Raven (national bird of Bhutan) circling above. Murder in the air?
As I did not carry my tripod, I could not use my big camera, so had to make do with my mobile camera. Made a video on it and that is one item ticked off my bucket list.
Read somewhere that there is a Budha in the cockpit.
I observed that the birds around the paddy fields have their own set routine of feeding and perching. Maybe that is why this heron decided "come rain, come sunshine, I will not budge from my perching point"
One of the birds had its nest on this Ithi tree (Ficus Microcarpa) and I found the roots of this tree almost covered the tree trunk.
Was staying near a paddy field for a week where the greenery and the natural sound in that area was very soothing.
I was trying to capture the spider web and a bird made a guest appearance. The place where we stayed was Vempilly Ayurveda Medical Hospital.
The overall impression I got was that the staff (at all levels) were passionate about their work and there was a personal touch to everything that they did. Also noticed that most of them multitasked, like the guy who did the daily massage for me, also doubled up to deliver the morning 6 am kattan kapi. (coffee without milk) They grow most of the vegetables in the premises, so when it reaches your table, you can be sure that it is organic.
The food is vegetarian but there is variety in what you eat.
The sowing and reaping of the two acre paddy field is mechanised and very cost effective according to Dr Mathews.
Milk production is also in house and they have a dedicated guy, Mr Murukan from Tenkasi, who looks after the stable.
I could not capture the other treatment in action but in this video you can see the herbal medicine being applied on a person who had plantar fasciitis.
I liked this simple idea of using incense to keep away insects and leave a wonderful aroma.
After a long time I saw a "touch me not" in action.
These huge trees must have witnessed these nets being lowered and raised a zillion times. This is one of the views you get to see when you travel by the Kochi water Metro.
Kochi became India's first city to have a water metro project.
The battery operated electric boats were manufactured by Cochin shipyard limited.
Saw these pictures at Fort Cochin terminal where we boarded the Water Metro. Notice the languages? Apart from Indian languages I could identify Russian, Hebrew, French, Mandarin, Japanese, Urdu, and probably many more as I am not a language expert.
Instead of standing in line, you sit in line. I was impressed by the bench they provided. And there is an additional rectangular sitting area for more seats. I feel the architecture of those seats has got something to do with Fort Cochin.
Before you take a seat, you observe the life jacket box which is easily accessible and they are not locked. (I just checked one of the boxes)
We crossed one of the older boats and I was wondering about the noise and vibration one has to endure on them as compared to the battery operated water metro.
It was cost effective too, just Rs 40 as compared to it being ten times more when travelling by a cab for the same distance.
You will get more information while watching the video All in all, it was a good experience and can be added as a "must do things" on your next visit to Kochi. Like the poster says, think blue, go green.
