#bhutan for life

[expatesque]

18.09.2024 / Tiger's Nest.

[viagginterstellari]

Tshoglhams, the traditional bhutan boots - Bhumtang, 2018

[noah-099]

Bhutanese adventurers, get ready for excitement! 🇧🇹 Immerse in the magic of Kabak Bay, where East meets West. Explore the breathtaking wonders of this Turkish gem, Kabak Bay. Prepared for an unforgettable journey? Secure your Turkey visa for Bhutan effortlessly through our blog and let's embark on this extraordinary escapade! 🌍🏞️

[bluegoobay]

Bhutan | May 2011

[jackiehadel1]

THIMPHU, BHUTAN STREET ART: MAYBE MILAREPA…

I don’t know for sure who this is, but it could be Milarepa, one of the most venerated yogis and poets in Tibetan Buddhism, or some other extremely significant lama within the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition.From studying, I am learning that the seated, meditative posture on a cloud or a cushion symbolizes wisdom and detachment from worldly concerns.The background in this mural of rocks and…

[langurecotravels]

Bhutan: Unveiling the Kingdom of Serenity and Wonder

life sanctuaries Bhutan tour packages

Bhutan, the enigmatic "Land of the Thunder Dragon," beckons travelers from across the globe – the USA, UK, Australia, France, and beyond. This hidden Himalayan kingdom transcends breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture to offer an unforgettable experience unlike any other. Here, amidst snow-capped peaks, vibrant prayer flags flutter in the crisp mountain air, ancient monasteries stand sentinel over verdant valleys, and a deep respect for nature permeates every aspect of life. Langur Eco Travels, a pioneer in eco-conscious Bhutan adventures, invites you to embark on a journey that will awaken your senses and leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.

A Tapestry of Landscapes: Untamed Beauty at Every Turn

Bhutan's diverse geography offers a kaleidoscope of landscapes, each with its own unique charm:

Soaring Himalayas: Trek through the majestic Himalayas, the crown jewel of Bhutan. Hike past glacial lakes reflecting snow-capped peaks, and challenge yourself on high-altitude trails, all while surrounded by breathtaking panoramas.

Lush Valleys: Immerse yourself in the tranquility of verdant valleys adorned with rice paddies and quaint villages. Explore serene monasteries nestled amidst emerald forests and experience the warm hospitality of the Bhutanese people.

Rhododendron Forests: Hike through vibrant rhododendron forests bursting with color during spring. Breathe in the fresh mountain air while witnessing a landscape painted with nature's vibrant palette.

Sparkling Rivers: Raft down the Mo Chu River, the "lifeblood" of Bhutan, and witness the stunning scenery from a different perspective. Encounter diverse birdlife along the riverbanks and experience the thrill of navigating through gentle rapids.

Beyond Breathtaking Views: A Cultural Tapestry Awaits

Bhutan's rich culture offers a mesmerizing journey into a timeless land:

Dzongs: Architectural Marvels: Explore majestic Dzongs, fortresses that embody Bhutan's architectural heritage. Witness the intricate carvings and learn about their historical significance, from religious centers to administrative centers.

Tsechus: Vibrant Festivals: Immerse yourself in the electrifying energy of a Tsechu festival. Witness masked dances, vibrant costumes, and traditional music, a vibrant display of Bhutanese cultural traditions.

Spiritual Encounters: Visit serene monasteries perched atop mountains or nestled in valleys. Experience the tranquility of Buddhist rituals and gain a deeper understanding of Bhutan's spiritual heart.

Artisan Crafts: Discover the artistry of Bhutanese handicrafts. Witness the intricate weaving techniques used to create colorful textiles and admire the delicate metalwork and woodwork produced by skilled artisans.

Bhutan with Langur Eco Travels: A Commitment to Sustainability

Langur Eco Travels champions responsible tourism practices that ensure a positive impact on Bhutan:

Small Group Tours: We believe in intimate experiences. Our small group tours minimize your environmental footprint and allow for a more personalized experience with your guide and fellow travelers.

Supporting Local Communities: A portion of our tour proceeds directly benefits local communities, promoting cultural preservation and economic development.

Eco-Friendly Practices: We prioritize eco-friendly accommodations, responsible waste management, and minimizing our carbon footprint throughout your journey.

Sustainable Activities: We offer activities that promote a deep appreciation for nature, such as nature walks and cultural encounters, fostering a sense of environmental responsibility.

Crafting Your Dream Bhutan Experience

Langur Eco Travels understands that no two travelers are alike. We offer customizable tours to cater to your specific interests and preferences:

Activity Level: Choose a tour that matches your desired level of activity, ranging from gentle hikes to challenging treks. We also offer cultural tours and leisurely excursions for those seeking a more relaxed pace.

Travel Style: Select a tour based on your preferred level of comfort. Choose from comfortable eco-lodges nestled in serene locations or luxurious hotels in major towns.

Special Interests: Do you have a passion for photography, birdwatching, or cultural immersion? We can tailor itineraries to cater to your specific interests, ensuring a truly enriching experience.

Unveiling the Magic of Bhutan

Langur Eco Travels invites you to experience the following:

Tiger's Nest (Paro Taktsang): Hike to the iconic Tiger's Nest, a monastery perched precariously on a cliffside. Witness breathtaking panoramic views and experience the spiritual significance of this sacred site.

Dochula Pass: Witness a sea of colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind at Dochula Pass. Enjoy majestic views of the Eastern Himalayas and immerse yourself in the spiritual atmosphere.

Punakha Dzong: Explore the majestic Punakha Dzong, the winter residence of the Je Khenpo (spiritual leader). Admire the architectural grandeur and learn about the historical significance of this imposing fortress.

Bumthang Valley: Discover the "Switzerland of Bhutan" in the picturesque Bumthang Valley. Explore

See more

birding tour, Eco travels, cultural tour , best travel agency, Bhutan tour

Bhutan birding tour , Eco travels, Bhutan tour packages , long tour packages, wild

life sanctuaries Bhutan tour packages

[shespillsherself]

Because we're too young to be wasting our lives in pain. ✨

[dailybhutan]

Sip the Flavors of Bhutan: 6 Must-Try Beverages | Dailybhutan.com

Explore the rich flavors of Bhutan with our guide to 6 popular beverages! From traditional butter tea to exotic ara, sip your way through Bhutanese culture. Learn about these unique drinks and Plan your beverage adventure today!

[expatesque]

11.09.2024 / Made it to Bhutan, got the most beautiful view on the way - Everest.

[xtruss]

The U-Bend of Life! Why, Beyond Middle Age, People Get Happier As They Get Older

— December 16th 2010 | Wednesday 16th August 2023 | Christmas Specials | Age and happiness

ASK people how they feel about getting older, and they will probably reply in the same vein as Maurice Chevalier: “Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative.” Stiffening joints, weakening muscles, fading eyesight and the clouding of memory, coupled with the modern world's careless contempt for the old, seem a fearful prospect—better than death, perhaps, but not much. Yet mankind is wrong to dread ageing. Life is not a long slow decline from sunlit uplands towards the valley of death. It is, rather, a U-bend.

When people start out on adult life, they are, on average, pretty cheerful. Things go downhill from youth to middle age until they reach a nadir commonly known as the mid-life crisis. So far, so familiar. The surprising part happens after that. Although as people move towards old age they lose things they treasure—vitality, mental sharpness and looks—they also gain what people spend their lives pursuing: happiness.

This curious finding has emerged from a new branch of economics that seeks a more satisfactory measure than money of human well-being. Conventional economics uses money as a proxy for utility—the dismal way in which the discipline talks about happiness. But some economists, unconvinced that there is a direct relationship between money and well-being, have decided to go to the nub of the matter and measure happiness itself.

These ideas have penetrated the policy arena, starting in Bhutan, where the concept of Gross National Happiness shapes the planning process. All new policies have to have a GNH assessment, similar to the environmental-impact assessment common in other countries. In 2008 France's president, Nicolas Sarkozy, asked two Nobel-prize-winning economists, Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz, to come up with a broader measure of national contentedness than GDP. Then last month, in a touchy-feely gesture not typical of Britain, David Cameron announced that the British government would start collecting figures on well-being.

There are already a lot of data on the subject collected by, for instance, America's General Social Survey, Eurobarometer and Gallup. Surveys ask two main sorts of question. One concerns people's assessment of their lives, and the other how they feel at any particular time. The first goes along the lines of: thinking about your life as a whole, how do you feel? The second is something like: yesterday, did you feel happy/contented/angry/anxious? The first sort of question is said to measure global well-being, and the second hedonic or emotional well-being. They do not always elicit the same response: having children, for instance, tends to make people feel better about their life as a whole, but also increases the chance that they felt angry or anxious yesterday.

Statisticians trawl through the vast quantities of data these surveys produce rather as miners panning for gold. They are trying to find the answer to the perennial question: what makes people happy?

Four main factors, it seems: gender, personality, external circumstances and age. Women, by and large, are slightly happier than men. But they are also more susceptible to depression: a fifth to a quarter of women experience depression at some point in their lives, compared with around a tenth of men. Which suggests either that women are more likely to experience more extreme emotions, or that a few women are more miserable than men, while most are more cheerful.

Two personality traits shine through the complexity of economists' regression analyses: neuroticism and extroversion. Neurotic people—those who are prone to guilt, anger and anxiety—tend to be unhappy. This is more than a tautological observation about people's mood when asked about their feelings by pollsters or economists. Studies following people over many years have shown that neuroticism is a stable personality trait and a good predictor of levels of happiness. Neurotic people are not just prone to negative feelings: they also tend to have low emotional intelligence, which makes them bad at forming or managing relationships, and that in turn makes them unhappy.

Whereas neuroticism tends to make for gloomy types, extroversion does the opposite. Those who like working in teams and who relish parties tend to be happier than those who shut their office doors in the daytime and hole up at home in the evenings. This personality trait may help explain some cross-cultural differences: a study comparing similar groups of British, Chinese and Japanese people found that the British were, on average, both more extrovert and happier than the Chinese and Japanese.

Then there is the role of circumstance. All sorts of things in people's lives, such as relationships, education, income and health, shape the way they feel. Being married gives people a considerable uplift, but not as big as the gloom that springs from being unemployed. In America, being black used to be associated with lower levels of happiness—though the most recent figures suggest that being black or Hispanic is nowadays associated with greater happiness. People with children in the house are less happy than those without. More educated people are happier, but that effect disappears once income is controlled for. Education, in other words, seems to make people happy because it makes them richer. And richer people are happier than poor ones—though just how much is a source of argument.

The View From Winter

Lastly, there is age. Ask a bunch of 30-year-olds and another of 70-year-olds (as Peter Ubel, of the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, did with two colleagues, Heather Lacey and Dylan Smith, in 2006) which group they think is likely to be happier, and both lots point to the 30-year-olds. Ask them to rate their own well-being, and the 70-year-olds are the happier bunch. The academics quoted lyrics written by Pete Townshend of The Who when he was 20: “Things they do look awful cold / Hope I die before I get old”. They pointed out that Mr Townshend, having passed his 60th birthday, was writing a blog that glowed with good humour.

Mr Townshend may have thought of himself as a youthful radical, but this view is ancient and conventional. The “seven ages of man”—the dominant image of the life-course in the 16th and 17th centuries—was almost invariably conceived as a rise in stature and contentedness to middle age, followed by a sharp decline towards the grave. Inverting the rise and fall is a recent idea. “A few of us noticed the U-bend in the early 1990s,” says Andrew Oswald, professor of economics at Warwick Business School. “We ran a conference about it, but nobody came.”

Since then, interest in the U-bend has been growing. Its effect on happiness is significant—about half as much, from the nadir of middle age to the elderly peak, as that of unemployment. It appears all over the world. David Blanchflower, professor of economics at Dartmouth College, and Mr Oswald looked at the figures for 72 countries. The nadir varies among countries—Ukrainians, at the top of the range, are at their most miserable at 62, and Swiss, at the bottom, at 35—but in the great majority of countries people are at their unhappiest in their 40s and early 50s. The global average is 46.

The U-bend shows up in studies not just of global well-being but also of hedonic or emotional well-being. One paper, published this year by Arthur Stone, Joseph Schwartz and Joan Broderick of Stony Brook University, and Angus Deaton of Princeton, breaks well-being down into positive and negative feelings and looks at how the experience of those emotions varies through life. Enjoyment and happiness dip in middle age, then pick up; stress rises during the early 20s, then falls sharply; worry peaks in middle age, and falls sharply thereafter; anger declines throughout life; sadness rises slightly in middle age, and falls thereafter.

Turn the question upside down, and the pattern still appears. When the British Labour Force Survey asks people whether they are depressed, the U-bend becomes an arc, peaking at 46.

Happier, No Matter What

There is always a possibility that variations are the result not of changes during the life-course, but of differences between cohorts. A 70-year-old European may feel different to a 30-year-old not because he is older, but because he grew up during the second world war and was thus formed by different experiences. But the accumulation of data undermines the idea of a cohort effect. Americans and Zimbabweans have not been formed by similar experiences, yet the U-bend appears in both their countries. And if a cohort effect were responsible, the U-bend would not show up consistently in 40 years' worth of data.

Another possible explanation is that unhappy people die early. It is hard to establish whether that is true or not; but, given that death in middle age is fairly rare, it would explain only a little of the phenomenon. Perhaps the U-bend is merely an expression of the effect of external circumstances. After all, common factors affect people at different stages of the life-cycle. People in their 40s, for instance, often have teenage children. Could the misery of the middle-aged be the consequence of sharing space with angry adolescents? And older people tend to be richer. Could their relative contentment be the result of their piles of cash?

The answer, it turns out, is no: control for cash, employment status and children, and the U-bend is still there. So the growing happiness that follows middle-aged misery must be the result not of external circumstances but of internal changes.

People, studies show, behave differently at different ages. Older people have fewer rows and come up with better solutions to conflict. They are better at controlling their emotions, better at accepting misfortune and less prone to anger. In one study, for instance, subjects were asked to listen to recordings of people supposedly saying disparaging things about them. Older and younger people were similarly saddened, but older people less angry and less inclined to pass judgment, taking the view, as one put it, that “you can't please all the people all the time.”

There are various theories as to why this might be so. Laura Carstensen, professor of psychology at Stanford University, talks of “the uniquely human ability to recognise our own mortality and monitor our own time horizons”. Because the old know they are closer to death, she argues, they grow better at living for the present. They come to focus on things that matter now—such as feelings—and less on long-term goals. “When young people look at older people, they think how terrifying it must be to be nearing the end of your life. But older people know what matters most.” For instance, she says, “young people will go to cocktail parties because they might meet somebody who will be useful to them in the future, even though nobody I know actually likes going to cocktail parties.”

Death of Ambition, Birth of Acceptance

There are other possible explanations. Maybe the sight of contemporaries keeling over infuses survivors with a determination to make the most of their remaining years. Maybe people come to accept their strengths and weaknesses, give up hoping to become chief executive or have a picture shown in the Royal Academy, and learn to be satisfied as assistant branch manager, with their watercolour on display at the church fete. “Being an old maid”, says one of the characters in a story by Edna Ferber, an (unmarried) American novelist, was “like death by drowning—a really delightful sensation when you ceased struggling.” Perhaps acceptance of ageing itself is a source of relief. “How pleasant is the day”, observed William James, an American philosopher, “when we give up striving to be young—or slender.”

Whatever the causes of the U-bend, it has consequences beyond the emotional. Happiness doesn't just make people happy—it also makes them healthier. John Weinman, professor of psychiatry at King's College London, monitored the stress levels of a group of volunteers and then inflicted small wounds on them. The wounds of the least stressed healed twice as fast as those of the most stressed. At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Sheldon Cohen infected people with cold and flu viruses. He found that happier types were less likely to catch the virus, and showed fewer symptoms of illness when they did. So although old people tend to be less healthy than younger ones, their cheerfulness may help counteract their crumbliness.

Happier people are more productive, too. Mr Oswald and two colleagues, Eugenio Proto and Daniel Sgroi, cheered up a bunch of volunteers by showing them a funny film, then set them mental tests and compared their performance to groups that had seen a neutral film, or no film at all. The ones who had seen the funny film performed 12% better. This leads to two conclusions. First, if you are going to volunteer for a study, choose the economists' experiment rather than the psychologists' or psychiatrists'. Second, the cheerfulness of the old should help counteract their loss of productivity through declining cognitive skills—a point worth remembering as the world works out how to deal with an ageing workforce.

The ageing of the rich world is normally seen as a burden on the economy and a problem to be solved. The U-bend argues for a more positive view of the matter. The greyer the world gets, the brighter it becomes—a prospect which should be especially encouraging to Economist readers (average age 47).

— This article appeared in the Christmas Specials section of the print edition under the headline "The U-Bend of Life"

[viagginterstellari]

At the monastery - Gangtey, 2018

[write4canldles]

MY ONE AND ONLY FOREIGN TRIP

Travel has always been my favourite thing, regardless of the mode of transportation. I’ve always enjoyed bus rides, but the views I get to see on a train ride make it even more enjoyable. And a car ride gives me the feeling that I’m about to embark on an adventure. Those who know me are probably wondering what I’m on about… Yeah, I couldn’t travel as much as I wanted to because of my health, but…

[digitalshrutijain]

BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN BHUTAN

A drive through to the valley covered with mountain ranges around you with beautiful scenery is something every itinerary should have. And to experience this there is not a better place than our neighboring country Bhutan. The place is filled with flora and fauna of rare exotic species. The rivers originating from the foothills of The Himalayas and meandering down the country gives a rippling experience all along the journey. Known as the land of thunderbolts you can enjoy calm and serendipity here as well as enjoy adventurous hiking trips, going on mountain bike rides, and many more adventures. Bhutan is a small country sharing borders with India along with the states of West Bengal and Sikkim. People tend to visit Bhutan during summers as a small trip to escape from the hard tiring life schedule.

For more click on the link given below-

https://news.jugaadin.com/best-places-to-visit-in-bhutan/

[jackiehadel1]

THIMPHU, BHUTAN: IT’S SO QUIET

I’m sitting on the bus. It’s so quiet. The sky is transitioning from dusk to a deep dark blue. It’s these quiet moments that send me into a thoughtful abyss. I muse to myself “I’m alone, I’m the only American…on a bus in a strange land,” the last Shangri-la, so far away from anything or anyone that makes me feel known, that feels familiar. 19oct24

[langurecotravels]

https://www.bhutanbirdingtours.com/18-days-best-birding-and-wildlife-trip-in-the-himalayan-kingdom-of-bhutan/

We present 18 days long Bhutan tour packages especially for our nature lovers . Explore the land of gigantic wildlife sanctuaries and national parks with us! Book your tour today .

[internetdruid]

oh my god what is the Creature in your pinned post pls I’ve never seen it before what a beautiful beast

My all-time favorite animal!

It's a Takin (Budorcas taxicolor), a large Caprine native to Bhutan, India, China and Tibet.

despite sharing a similar appearance with and being within the subfamily caprinae with the Muskox (Ovibos moschatus), Takins are more closely related to sheep.

There is an interesting myth behind the creation of the Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor) that contributed to its high religious significance and therefore led to its adoption as Bhutan’s national animal.

Legend has it that in the 15th century when Lam Drukpa Kunley also referred to as “The Divine Madman” arrived in Bhutan from Tibet he delivered religious teachings to the people whereupon they requested him to conjure up a miracle. He agreed on the condition that he would be fed lunch – a whole cow and a whole goat.

Doing as he commanded, the people offered him his massive lunch. The Tibetan saint devoured the flesh of both the animals and left out the bones. Then he fixed the head of the goat onto the body of the cow and with a snap of his fingers uttered a mantra. The animal instantly sprung to life and began grazing on the meadows. He then named it the “Dong Gyem Tsey” (Takin).