Tongsa Dzong

The Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan is just about the poorest nation on earth, sandwiched

between India and China (Tibet) and regarded as a buffer state by both. Tiny though it

is, it consists of three major tribal groups and their respective languages and is given

over to an almost 100% subsistence economy. The King's declaration that the nation's

happiness is more important than anything else seems enlightened (and it's true that the

people do seem to be happier than you'd expect them to be when they have nothing

that we would regard as contributing to a normal way of life), but it's a hard life of

constant toil unless you opt for the monastery at an early age. These monasteries,

'Dzongs', are scattered throughout the country, and each seems to sport of roof of gold

(so that's where the money goes, then). This one is in the small town, hamlet really, of

Tongsa, surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas and more paddy fields and

bamboo plantations than you can shake a stick at. You'll see the odd yak, but herds of

cattle or sheep are unheard of, the roads are poor (and twist around the foothills for

ever), and there is clear evidence of health issues - goitres, for instance - that wouldn't

been seen in the west. But I think they have TV now, so that's alright then.

The Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan is just about the poorest nation on earth, sandwiched between

India and China (Tibet) and regarded as a buffer state by both. Tiny though it is, it consists of

three major tribal groups and their respective languages and is given over to an almost 100%

subsistence economy. The King's declaration that the nation's happiness is more important than

anything else seems enlightened (and it's true that the people do seem to be happier than you'd

expect them to be when they have nothing that we would regard as contributing to a normal way

of life), but it's a hard life of constant toil unless you opt for the monastery at an early age.

These monasteries, 'Dzongs', are scattered throughout the country, and each seems to sport of

roof of gold (so that's where the money goes, then). This one is in the small town, hamlet really,

of Tongsa, surrounded by the foothills of the Himalayas and more paddy fields and bamboo

plantations than you can shake a stick at. You'll see the odd yak, but herds of cattle or sheep are

unheard of, the roads are poor (and twist around the foothills for ever), and there is clear

evidence of health issues - goitres, for instance - that wouldn't been seen in the west. But I think

they have TV now, so that's alright then.