GROSS NATIONAL HAPPINESS IN THE LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON

We flew into Bhutan on Druk Air meaning Dragon Air in Buthanese.  Green vallleys and high mountains reached up to greet us and as we landed in Paro.  Workers in gho's, the local male dress, scurried about, gasing planes and pushing luggage carts.  We definately were in a place very unlike home. Everyone was smiling and happy. Was this the Gross National Happiness that the King declared law several years ago?

 At customs, we were met by a lady who took us out of line like proper VIP's to a lounge to have a cup of tea while she processed our immigration into Bhutan.   I could get used to this.  I was happy! 

 Total time in the lounge was about 10 minutes after which we were whisked off to the waiting car where our luggage was already in place .  

Signs here are all in English both welcoming us to the Bhutan, Land of the Thunder Dragon as well as wishing us a great journey.  We are on our way to Thiumpu, the capitol of Bhutan one hour away.  Highway 1 ( the main an only road in good shape) winds thorugh little villiages and  farmalnd.  If I didn't know better, I would think I was in Switzerland given that everything is so neat and tidy.   Every few miles there are green receptacles urging one to put in trash ( in English no less...so guess we are the litterers...not the Bhutanese).  Houses here are neat too, and painted with colorful drawings across entry ways, windows and sometimes on the side of the stucco itself.

We are in Bhutan - Land of the Thunder Dragon where Gross National Happiness is the rule!