Bhutan and the Art of Being Grateful

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s, televisions or even phones. They really lived off the produce they grew, and embodied the term “you reap what you sow”. Their lives were very peaceful, and the lack of city traffic created a really calm ambience among the mountainsides. It was the nice peaceful quiet hum of Mother Nature, with the occasional cow fart of course. :) Our meals were very simple — taro porridge, buckwheat pancakes, and the occasional egg or two.<figure id="a1e8"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*dqR7kuTX3T5znM4T2Q_S3g.jpeg"><figcaption>Taro porridge — image courtesy of Author</figcaption></figure>Travelling around Bhutan required us to hire a van, and we were always supervised by our assigned tour guide. He showed us the various temples in the area, and we were lucky enough to witness the monks doing their famous “debating argument”. They would debate about issues with each other, and it was quite a spectacle to watch.My family and I also tackled the famous Tiger’s Nest, which is a Buddhist monastery constructed in 1692, and located 2950m above sea level (For all those seeking to climb it anytime in the future, here’s a tip: take it slow, and bring hiking sticks. The terrain is really rough and just dirt and stones, plus being at a higher altitude makes it harder to breathe.)<figure id="596e"><

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img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*YRn0AUVU0IK60iQJEeHpMQ.jpeg"><figcaption>Tiger’s Nest — image courtesy of Author</figcaption></figure>Experiencing Bhutan was a real joy and privilege. I got the chance to see and appreciate the rural lifestyle the villagers lived, and to understand that oftentimes, less is more. Being away from the hustle and bustle of city life, truly being digitally disconnected — the wifi is nonexistent — allowed me to really be present in the moment and ground myself. To really see and be grateful for all that I have — be it the laughter with my family, the winds lashing at my cheeks, or even being able to eat a simple hot bowl of taro for dinner. Bhutan has taught me the importance of being grateful for the simple things in life, for it is these little moments added up together that make life worth living. Escaping in Bhutan’s beautiful rural landscape has given me a much-needed break from school and work, providing me with the chance to re-learn how to live slowly again, and to be attentive to each moment that passes by.I can truly understand why Bhutan is “The Land of Happiness”, for I was truly so happy being there. I felt so free, both in spirit and mind, and I carry this memory and lessons with me now.Thank you, Bhutan.</article></body>

Bhutan and how it taught me to be more grateful in life

The mountainsides of Bhutan — image courtesy of Author

Back in 2016, my family and I had the luck to travel to Bhutan, the famous “Land of Happiness”. Back then, all I knew about Bhutan was that it was pretty near the border of Nepal and India (excuse my horrible geography skills), and that it was high up in the mountains. Little did I know that Bhutan would teach me an important life lesson — the art of being grateful for the little things in life.

Living the Bhutanese way

Bhutan was in all ways a very rural area — mostly farmland and dirt roads, with little urbanisation. You could see endless fields of grass or mountain ranges, with cattle just randomly grazing around the area.

Bhutan’s landscape — image courtesy of Author

The villagers were mostly farmers, tilling and living off the land. They didn’t have any electronics at all — that meant no computers, televisions or even phones. They really lived off the produce they grew, and embodied the term “you reap what you sow”. Their lives were very peaceful, and the lack of city traffic created a really calm ambience among the mountainsides. It was the nice peaceful quiet hum of Mother Nature, with the occasional cow fart of course. :) Our meals were very simple — taro porridge, buckwheat pancakes, and the occasional egg or two.

Taro porridge — image courtesy of Author

Travelling around Bhutan required us to hire a van, and we were always supervised by our assigned tour guide. He showed us the various temples in the area, and we were lucky enough to witness the monks doing their famous “debating argument”. They would debate about issues with each other, and it was quite a spectacle to watch.

My family and I also tackled the famous Tiger’s Nest, which is a Buddhist monastery constructed in 1692, and located 2950m above sea level (For all those seeking to climb it anytime in the future, here’s a tip: take it slow, and bring hiking sticks. The terrain is really rough and just dirt and stones, plus being at a higher altitude makes it harder to breathe.)

Tiger’s Nest — image courtesy of Author

Experiencing Bhutan was a real joy and privilege. I got the chance to see and appreciate the rural lifestyle the villagers lived, and to understand that oftentimes, less is more. Being away from the hustle and bustle of city life, truly being digitally disconnected — the wifi is nonexistent — allowed me to really be present in the moment and ground myself. To really see and be grateful for all that I have — be it the laughter with my family, the winds lashing at my cheeks, or even being able to eat a simple hot bowl of taro for dinner. Bhutan has taught me the importance of being grateful for the simple things in life, for it is these little moments added up together that make life worth living. Escaping in Bhutan’s beautiful rural landscape has given me a much-needed break from school and work, providing me with the chance to re-learn how to live slowly again, and to be attentive to each moment that passes by.

I can truly understand why Bhutan is “The Land of Happiness”, for I was truly so happy being there. I felt so free, both in spirit and mind, and I carry this memory and lessons with me now.

Thank you, Bhutan.