Bhutan
Tags : property, business, travel, technology, nightlife, events, food, food
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tomnoddy_uk
Fire-eater
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2904
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 Posted:
July 12, 2006 - 03:33 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Bhutan |
Has anyone been? Was it worth the excesssive $100 whatnot / day tourist visa?
What can you do there? Do you have to be sheporoned about everywhere?
Many thanks, |
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giraffine
Raver
Joined: Mar 13, 2003
Posts: 387
Location: Office, Home, School, on way
Status: Offline
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July 12, 2006 - 04:15 PM |
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The country and the people to be great. Trekking is unbelievable.
There are travel restrictions and can be expensive if travelling as a tourist.
Regular tourist visa cost something like $200 US per day, but includes everything - hotels, guides, treks, transport.
Another class of visa cost $70 US per day, but you pay all costs in Bhutan. Bhutan is slightly more expensive than India.
The 3rd class of visa is if you have family living in Bhutan. Then it basically is free.
Again, the mountains are one of the main attractions in Bhutan, just unbelievable. Living at 2,000 metres and quickly climb to 4,000 metres with the views all around is magnificant.
As interesting are the culture and people of Bhutan. With every climbing experience comes a cultural one. Every trek has one or more monasteries along it where you are normally invited in for a tour, a talk and a cup of tea. The same goes for the yak herders you meet along the way.
A good alternative is Sikkim, if you are not into collecting visas. Should you be determined to Bhutan with the right budget, go for Sikkim + Darjeeling + Bhutan. All these there are compct enough to do in a week. |
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各驛停車 Sojourner 散歩達人 Flaneur |
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Henry_Chinaski
Board Lord
Joined: Aug 16, 2003
Posts: 5025
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July 12, 2006 - 04:29 PM |
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That's just one of the reasons why Giraffine is the greatest person in this website. |
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tomnoddy_uk
Fire-eater
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2904
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July 12, 2006 - 04:30 PM |
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Were you always escorted? or did you have much freedom?
What were the roads like.
Sikim would be of interest if the new border crosisng becomes open to tourists as well as the limited trade currently permitted. |
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"Eight minutes past the hour here in Belgium - and presumably eight minutes past the hour everywhere in the world." Murray Walker |
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giraffine
Raver
Joined: Mar 13, 2003
Posts: 387
Location: Office, Home, School, on way
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July 12, 2006 - 05:53 PM |
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There's a sole airport and one main road in Brutan, only five months of prime travel weather, therefore most tourists take guided tours, trekking into virgin forests, tip toeing into temples and passing through villages and cities where men and women still go about in traditional dress.
Either you are into a spiritual journey, a hiking adventure, or just a chance to experience a place before the rest of the world gets there, Bhutan should be in your radar -- if budget allowed. Bhutan is for people who want to travel to a destination before anybody else gets there.
Ever since Bhutan opened the gate to tourist in 1973 (or 77? not quiet surte , sorry), travelers are required to get visas and book with an authorized tour operator, independent travel in Bhutan is not permitted. Low-budget backpackers need not apply, they are encouraged to stay between Kathmantu and Pokara.
As a Buddhist country at peace with itself and its neighbors, there's no political conflict or extreme poverty. Beggars or crime has never been topics between tourists. English is taught in schools, and it's possible to come into friendly contact with the Bhutanese people as is in India or Sri Lanka.
Satellite TV has landed in Bhutan and cellphones are in use, luxury suites and villas in high season will cost around USD900 to 1000 per night. After a whole day trekking to the monastries it's really rewording to have a deep muscle massage.
Bhutan is very exotic in many ways. Traditaional clothes are mandated in schools and public offices. Last year Bhutan turned to be the first to ban the sale of tobacco and smoking in public places, so if you are a heavy smoker, drop now. |
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各驛停車 Sojourner 散歩達人 Flaneur |
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tomnoddy_uk
Fire-eater
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2904
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July 12, 2006 - 06:21 PM |
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Many thanks Giraffine. So theres no chance of riding a bike in Bhutan? If you can't travel independently, whats the $70 visa all about. I presume India will have a section representing Bhutan at their embassy in Beijing? |
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"Eight minutes past the hour here in Belgium - and presumably eight minutes past the hour everywhere in the world." Murray Walker |
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wolfy
Fire-eater
Joined: Sep 13, 2004
Posts: 2510
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July 12, 2006 - 07:35 PM |
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Good info giraffine, although I suspect you have blatantly copied that straight from a guide book.
| giraffine wrote: |
As a Buddhist country at peace with itself and its neighbors, there's no political conflict or extreme poverty. |
I beg to differ here. Bhutan is one of the poorest countries in the world. There are currently tens of thousands of refugees living in camps in Nepal waiting to be repatriated. |
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Kiwi
Post Boaster
Joined: May 07, 2003
Posts: 4763
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July 12, 2006 - 10:07 PM |
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If she copied it from a guide book then the guide book's grammar was a bit funny. I'd guess she didn't copy it. I remember one time everyone made a fuss about her copying some list of sites to see in China. But that was ages ago, and anyway who cares?
I've always fancied visiting Bhutan, ever since I first noticed it on the map between India and t¡bet(?). The visa costs seem a little steep, but could still be worth it I guess.
I remember hearing something about how in some of the hill tribes the girls have to demonstrate their sexual experience to get a good husband. They do this by sleeping with travelers passing the village and collecting a silver bracelet from each traveler. The more bracelets they collect the more desirable the guys think they are as a wife. I've got no idea if this is true of course. If true then the Bhutan government has been very remiss not to capitalize on it as the core message in a 'visit Bhutan year' promotional drive.
I just bought a fresh coconut which I'm going to cut open, fill with rum, and drink out on the balcony with a book. Do I not live the privileged life? |
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LifeMage
FooSlinger
Joined: Sep 30, 2005
Posts: 3937
Location: In the world...... but not of it.
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July 12, 2006 - 10:47 PM |
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Why Is Everyone Going to Bhutan?
By JANE MARGOLIES
http://www.second-wind.com/trekking_bhutan.html
" HOLD THE GUILT at peace with itself and its neighbors, Bhutan isn't marred by political conflict or extreme poverty. Travelers don't have to contend with beggars or worry about crime, and it's possible to come into friendly contact with the Bhutanese people (English is taught in schools)."
" CULTIVATE THE EXOTIC Although satellite TV has landed in Bhutan and cellphones are in use, the government has mandated that women wear the traditional kira, a Bhutanese kimono, and men the gho, a smocklike wrapper that comes to the knees, in schools and public offices. (The country was also the first to ban the sale of tobacco and smoking in public places, just last month.)"
Nothing wrong with passing on useful info,
but one should really credit the original author(s). |
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Goosie
Board Grand Dame
Joined: July 16, 2003
Posts: 4771
Location: Singapore
Status: Offline
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July 12, 2006 - 11:08 PM |
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The Pict and I went there on our honeymoon. We were traveling with a group, so the trip was pretty well pre-planned. Not what everyone would want, but worked fine for us. We had local guides, which are mandatory, but they were very good and did not feel restricting. Aside from the obvious beauty of the scenery, the monestaries are fascinating. If you are interested in history, culture, and Buddhism, it's a great place to visit. Overall a wonderful experience and a photographer's dream!
We did see a fair amount of poverty there. We attended a religious festival that drew pilgrims in from the countryside and those folks looked absolutely destitute. Unless you attend a major public event such as that one, you probably won't notice the poverty all that much as the major monestaries and dzongs are inhabited by monks and/or government people who look reasonably well off. |
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tomnoddy_uk
Fire-eater
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2904
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July 13, 2006 - 10:36 AM |
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when did you go goosie? |
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"Eight minutes past the hour here in Belgium - and presumably eight minutes past the hour everywhere in the world." Murray Walker |
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Goosie
Board Grand Dame
Joined: July 16, 2003
Posts: 4771
Location: Singapore
Status: Offline
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July 13, 2006 - 08:27 PM |
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Five years ago. |
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Nemesis of Political Correctness |
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