The bravest thing I've ever done - Part 2
Visiting the last Buddhist Kingdom in 2002 in the Himalayas was life-changing.
If you enjoy receiving my posts, please click the heart or comment because that helps my readership grow!
One of my readers asked me if this trip to Bhutan inspired my spiritual practice. She wanted to learn more about this Buddhist country. I added photos so you can see this beautiful country and its people. At the time, this was the bravest thing I’d ever done. Fly halfway around the world and visit the last Buddhist Kingdom in the Himalayas!
I was excited and scared the whole time. After this trip, I decided that fear would not stop me from exploring the world. My strength, resilience, and courage have grown as I’ve stretched myself.
Our plane climbed above the clouds. Luckily, the visibility was good, and we saw a glimpse of Mt Everest poking through the clouds. Our guides told us the pilot could only land in Bhutan from sunrise to sunset if visibility were good.
The airport is situated on the banks of the Paro River at an elevation of 2,235 meters (8000 feet) and is considered one of the most challenging airports in the world.
Our plane dropped out of the clouds to glide above the rooftops of temples and lush green fields before making a smooth landing in Paro.
After gathering at customs and loading our bags in the van, our guide saw two gray langur monkeys as we drove to our hotel. He told us this was a sign our trip was auspicious.
We attended ceremonies and visited temples with Buddhist monks as we drove along the lateral road, the East-West Highway, Bhutan's primary east-west corridor.
One of the most intriguing experiences in Bhutan was the seven-mile hike up to a village at 11,000 feet that had never seen a group of Westerners. Our duffle bags and aluminum chairs were loaded onto mules, guided by three young women walking behind us. Walking was a massive effort because of the altitude. With each labored breath I took as we went up, I felt like I was walking on the moon.
Once we arrived, our guides pitched our tents for the night. The women and children of the village had woven a fence and set up aluminum chairs with a canopy for our visit. It looked as if it were set up for a royal visit.
A few nights before our visit, the wind blew the metal roof off the school. The village priest prayed our trip would bring favor to the village. We donated enough money to replace the roof.
We sat in aluminum chairs while the village women sang and danced for us. After they finished entertaining us, we were invited to sing and dance for them. It was a shock because we weren’t aware of this custom.
All we could think of were songs from camps in our youth.
We sang “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and “Oh Suzannah” and other camp songs.
When someone in our group started singing the Hokey Pokey, it brought laughter from the villagers as they watched us dance. Then they joined us to sing and dance many rounds of the Hokey Pokey. After that experience, we became known as the “Hokey Pokey” group.
The Hokey Pokey bridged cultures. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
We all connected beautifully through singing and dancing together.
Here are a few other fun facts about Bhutan:
There are no traffic lights in the capital city of Bhutan.
Bhutan implemented a nationwide ban on plastic bags in 1999, becoming one of the first countries in the world to do so.
Bhutan was the last country to introduce TV in 1998.
Bhutanese people enjoy a unique beverage called "suja," a butter tea made with yak butter, salt, and tea leaves. It is a staple drink in Bhutan and is often served during social gatherings and festivals.
Bhutan has never been conquered.
Bhutanese cuisine is characterized by using red rice, spicy chilies, and cheese.
Refusing food the first time is custom.
Polygamy is allowed in Bhutan. The fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, married four sisters in one ceremony before he abdicated the throne in 2006.
Archery is the national sport.
In Bhutanese culture, phalluses represent fertility, power, and good fortune and are often depicted in various art forms, including paintings, carvings, and sculptures. You'll see phalluses painted on the walls of houses, around doorways, hanging off rooftops, on signs, and in window displays. *This shocked us at first, but we got used to it.
The Kingdom of Bhutan is the first country in the world to achieve 100% street dog sterilization and vaccination after a 14-year project that Humane Society International announced in 2023!1
Bhutan is the first country in the world to have specific constitutional obligations on its people to protect the environment. Among its requirements: At least 60 percent of the nation must always remain under forest cover.
One-third of Bhutan’s population is under 14; its median age is 22.3 years.
The 2022 Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index.
The Royal Government of Bhutan’s Centre for Bhutan & GNH Studies revised and released an updated GNH Index in May 2023.
The results of the 2022 GNH Index, which were based on over 11,052 Bhutanese from every Dzongkhag, show a significant improvement in the overall well-being and happiness of the Bhutanese people.
The GNH Index value increased from 0.743 in 2010 to 0.781 in 2022.
This upward trend demonstrates Bhutan's commitment to creating an environment that fosters well-being and happiness, even during economic downturns like the COVID-19 pandemic.2
What fascinated me the most was that women owned property and helped each other build their houses in the villages.
This matriarchal culture values women's involvement — there is no discrimination — and the country aims to improve the happiness of its people. There is a reality out there that values women and our voices.
I came home knowing I wanted to bring more spirituality into my life. For two weeks, I had gotten quiet inside. I’d connected with a spiritual side of myself that seemed to awaken.
This began my journey of becoming a spiritual seeker.
Trauma helped me awaken my consciousness to higher levels. It’s all about consciousness and the energy that goes with that level of consciousness. I’ll share more about this in subsequent articles.
Now, over to you. Do you have a spiritual practice?
Lately, I’ve stepped up to the power of prayer. When I see homeless camps or someone struggling, and it’s beyond my help, I pray for them.
Each day, I say a prayer before I start my day:
God (Universe, Creator), please show me where to go today, what to say, and to whom. Please open my channel so I can hear your words.
If you liked this article, please click on the heart and leave a comment.
xo Sherold
Human Society International announces Bhutan has declared itself the first country in the world to have sterilized and vaccinated its entire stray dog population.