Insider’s Guide to Travel

[#1]

Yesterday, I was catching up with one of my all time favorite travel industry associates, Michael. From moment one, we clicked. We like to attribute much of our belly busting, laughter filled conversations to our quirky Aquarian personalities that we can freely unleash on one another because we get it and each other. Business concluded, we moved onto the fact that he's turning 40 and I'm knocking on the door of 50. Big believers in self induced birthday presents, he shared his plans of an Infinity or Camaro filled birthday and asked what gift I was giving my self. It's Bhutan for me.

This tiny Buddist kingdom has always fascinated me, but for the sake of brevity I'll share the top 3 reasons why this magical Eden is at the top of my travel wish list.

The first is a book called "Beyond the Sky and the Earth" by Jamie Zeppa. At the unseasoned age of 23, Jamie signs a contract for a two year teaching stint in Bhutan. Following a brief orientation, Jamie is unceremoniously dropped at a remote Bhutanese village to teach Grade Two. It was her 7 and 8 year old students that brought her through the culture shock and took care of her until she learned to cope and do for herself. The attitude and self sufficiency of these small children represented that of the Bhutanese and captured my heart.  Trust me, it's a great read.

Up second, is Gross National Happiness. Just read the Coronation Address of His Majesty King Khesar, the 5th Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan.  The essence of the philosophy is without the peace, security and happiness of its people, Bhutan has nothing.

Lastly, is a little piece of magic that happens when the black-necked cranes migrate from the Tibetan plateau to Bhutan for the winter. According to local belief, the birds are sacred, considered reincarnate beings that come back to our world to help other souls to enlightenment.

 Each year, the cranes arrive on exactly the same day and fly three times around the Gantey Gompa monastery that stands on a hill above their marsh-always in a clockwise direction; their arrival celebrated by the monks. The significance of this is that it is the ritual performed by every Buddhist pilgrim on arrival at a sacred place.  There is a scientific explanation; the cranes' migration is fixed by the lunar calendar. The monastery, being the highest feature in the landscape, is the point they navigate by. But somehow, I preferred the Bhutanese explanation.

Happy Bhutan Birthday to me...

[#2]

Sounds heavenly!