Bhutan should be on your bucket list
Which ten countries should you visit at least once in your life? Topping the list is Bhutan, according to the travel gurus at Lonely Planet. We found out why you should go there. And, above all, what you should eat there.
Bhutan, the small Asian mountain kingdom between China and India, remained well preserved for a long time because it could only be reached on foot via Tibet. Its inhabitants live by GNH, gross national happiness, rather than gross national product. Being happy is the highest goal; they live and work according to this Buddhist principle. In itself, that’s already a very good reason to pack your bags quickly, if you ask me.
Spicy peppers
But of course you also want to know what makes your life even happier: delicious food. The traditional dish of Bhutan is called ’ema datshi’. Loosely translated: peppers and cheese. The peppers, fresh green peppers or dried red peppers, are sliced lengthwise and cooked with datshi, local Bhutanese cheese, and lots of butter. And just as every Italian mamma has her own pasta recipe, every cook has their own version of ema datshi. From light to rich and sticky; no two ema datshi dishes are the same. Those peppers in cheese sauce, often served with rice, also serve a purpose: the chilies are meant to warm you up, as Bhutan is a cold country.
Dry Day
You wash down such a spicy and creamy snack with ‘Ara’, a strong drink containing 20% alcohol, distilled from rice or grain. Well, except on Tuesdays, when it’s Dry Day in Bhutan. Although apparently you don’t really notice that in practice.
Momo’s
Besides other cheese dishes, such as ‘kewa datshi’ (Bhutanese cheese with potato) and ‘shamu datshi’ (Bhutanese cheese with mushroom), momo’s, beautifully folded dumplings filled with cheese or meat, are hugely popular in Bhutan. ‘Shakam ema datshi’ is a dish made with dried Bhutanese beef, stewed with butter and, yes, cheese.
Mountain monastery
After all those meals in cheese sauce, it’s time for a walk. Specifically, to the famous mountain monastery of Taktshang. It has seven temples and hangs 700 metres above the Paro Valley. You can only get there on foot or by donkey. Taktshang means ‘tiger’s nest’, and it was given this name because legend says that Padmasambhava flew to this place on the back of a tiger.
Smoking ban
Incidentally, smoking is prohibited in Bhutan (!) and plastic bags are not allowed, in order to protect nature. You won’t find traffic lights there either. In the capital, Thimphu, everything is managed by traffic officers who use gestures to keep things running smoothly.
Pack your bags
If you want to go to Bhutan, May, September and October are the most suitable months because of the temperature. Keep in mind that temperatures can vary across the country: it cools down quickly when the sun disappears behind the mountains. It’s better not to go from June to August, as you’ll have to contend with the monsoon.
With thanks to: Amayzine
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