Aaron's Worldwide Adventures
Ah, Bhutan. Its mere name evokes visions of a far-off “Shangri-La.” A Himalayan kingdom steeped in customs, where traditional dress is the norm and mystical rituals are alive and well. A land where monasteries are perched on cliffs and the King might just come up and shake your hand. Ever since my family and I […]
Bhutan is a special place. There’s no doubt about that. You see it in the houses, the people, the trucks. Wait, the trucks?? Yes! The trucks! Imports from India, these trucks are so magical that they talk to you! Don’t believe me? Have a look! That’s right! “Blow Horn.” What could be simpler? Just follow […]
Behold the grandeur of Punakha Dzong! Inside this massive former fortress lies a seat of local power in Bhutan. But those government officials don’t have the whole place to themselves! No, no. Like all Dzong’s in the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon, this is not only a civic center but a monastery as well. In […]
“Love” is in the air. Or so you may think the first time you hear the phrase, “Phallus alert!” If you’re planning on visiting Bhutan, undoubtedly one of the last true “Shangri-La’s” left on Earth, you should expect to hear this phrase on a regular basis. Don’t worry…you won’t see people walking around naked. But […]
2010 was quite the travel year for me! 8 countries, 10 U.S. states, 37 bus journeys, 16 flights and 2 train rides. Somewhere in those figures are a whole lot of weird experiences. Here are some of my favorites: The Temple of the Divine Madman A walk through Bhutan’s “Village of Phalluses” gives way to […]
Buddhist temples, much like all religious structures, have a certain code of etiquette attached to them, the most important of which deal with ones feet. Often times, it can be difficult for western visitors to know these rules, so someone in the dzong (former fortress now serving as a temple and civic center) in Punakha, […]
“Pack Light.” It’s a statement that’s constantly banged into our brains! But do we listen? Not always! I know what you’re probably thinking… “But I do pack light!” And it’s true, packing light is completely open to intrpretation and needs. But I’d be willing to bet that even with your version of “packing light,” you […]
Behold, the “Use Me” bin, ubiquitous in the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan! These rather ingenious trash cans are scattered around the Bhutanese Kingdom, kindly requesting that you simply use them. And for a nation that has built itself on environmental sustainability, it only makes sense that they should gently poke the public to properly […]