Bhutan is located in the lap of the Himalayas. The highest mountain range in the world. Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal have the lions share of this awesome mountain range. The scenery is grand and even breathtaking at places. If you want to experience the landscape, Bhutan is one of several places to go to.
Otherwise, bypass Bhutan.
Considering that tourism is the second largest contributor to Bhutan’s GDP, the Bhutanese are both ill-prepared to be hosts to large influx of tourists and unwilling to play good hosts!
The country prides itself on measuring it’s wealth in Gross Happiness Product instead of the traditional GDP. This is a cover up for people who don’t smile easily, or prefer to be left alone. While being reasonably physically active, they’re woefully mentally lazy.
I can quote several examples, but will share just one rather shocking one.
At Paro, our Tour Guide phoned in the group’s lunch order over an hour ahead of reaching the ‘City Hotel’ so that we don’t have to wait for the proverbial Bhutanese ‘waiting’ time of 1-2 hours.
We reached the hotel only to find that the man at the counter was completely confused as to how they’ll serve the group (of about 12 people). So we wrote down our order on slips of paper and sat down.
A few individuals came in 30-45 mins after us and ordered their food (similar items as us) and got their food in 20-40 mins while we still waited – even to get a few canned soft drinks ordered!
When a member of the group went up to the man in charge to enquire, she was told “Stop disturbing me! It’ll only delay things more!” Food arrived in trickles about 2 hours after our arrival, wrong dishes placed before people who had ordered some different things! This despite table numbers and order slips with table numbers identified.
Some of the group went without food and left the restaurant.
This was not the only or isolated event of it’s kind. The disease of mental laziness shows up in every sphere of Bhutan – impacting the locals as well!
There are plenty of mountainous tourist spots within India as good if not better than Bhutan. It does not make sense to travel to Bhutan for landscape either. Bypass Bhutan!
Also see my blog: Bhutan C/O India.