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Re: [OM] First installment from Bhutan

Subject: Re: [OM] First installment from Bhutan
From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2017 22:00:23 -0800
On 12/3/2017 5:22 PM, John Hudson wrote:
Reads like a slightly spiffed up North Korea for its travel restrictions, 
inability to roam without a minder, etc.

Me, me - ME!!!

Which westerner in their right mind would want to stay in the place as is 
evident from the visa restrictions?

That web site was biased for young people who want to be able to wander in and around at will, with no plans, sleep wherever, and so on. We simply felt no restrictions or limitations in our ability to see the country, interact with the people and have a wonderful time. Our "minders" had cars, took us wherever we wanted to go and were highly informed and happy to fill us with info if we wanted it. Sure, they stopped and checked in when we crossed internal district borders, although mostly without us even noticing, as they are at scenic passes where we would likely stop anyway. But with their mountains and roads, one wouldn't casually decide to take the hours of driving needed to do that casually.

I'm eager to go back.

Interestingly, the first question, after Carol and I had introduced ourselves and spoken a little to a high school class was about the enmity between N. Korea and the US. That such a question could be asked with the teacher's happy approval might indicate the lack of the kind of strictures in N. Korea. That I was well informed enough to give a useful and relatively accurate answer was luck.

Their gentle Buddhism is a far, far cry from the communism of N. Korea. They have had for a long time a problem with feral dogs. They lie around all over sleeping during the day and "sing" at night. A friend who visited some years ago said they were a real danger in the capital as they ran through in packs at night.

I asked about that. Our guide said it was still a problem, but much reduced and continuing to get better. Buddhism that disapproves of violence to anything is a state religion; they couldn't kill the dogs. So they have been neutering many of them, and the population is going down.

Bhutanese aren't shot when they try to leave the country.

As a tiny, poor, low density country sandwiched between China and India, and a Buddhist country next to Hindu India and Communo-capitalist China, Bhutan faces some serious challenges. They have really good reasons to keep track of foreigners, and manage to do so without getting in the way. The contrast to our entry into India was great. Customs and immigration into Bhutan was a breeze with welcoming people. The prior Indian border official could be bribed with cash and a bottle to just stamp the pile of passports without seeing the people. We encountered a new one who wasted almost an hour sitting each of us down in a hot, stifling little office, asking the same questions of each of us, very pleasantly, and taking his time. Long enough, as it turned out, to get us stuck in rush hour traffic in Guwahati.

Never heard of Guwahati? It's a minor city - and quite a bit more populous than 
all of Bhutan.

 I Miss It Moose

--
What if the Hokey Pokey *IS* what it's all about?
--
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