Bhutan: Not Just a Trip, A Transformation
A year ago, I didn’t even know Bhutan was a small country tucked away in the Himalayas beneath Tibet and above India. So when I was presented with the opportunity to photograph this beautiful country I had never even heard of, of course, I said yes.
A young monk running late for his lecture
From that moment on, Google became a handy tool and I did a ton of research. Turns out, Bhutan measures Gross Domestic Happiness instead of Gross Domestic Product, it is primarily a Buddhist country, and there are a lot of restrictions around getting approved to visit. Visitors aren’t allowed to rent their own vehicle, you must have a tour guide, it has one of the most expensive visas in the world, and they don’t allow any form of advertising — no billboards or fast food chains begging for your attention. They also have a King whom absolutely everybody loves.
The landscape with no advertising anywhere
Before going, I was fascinated and almost thought it would be impossible for this place to truly exist. But from the moment we landed and stepped foot on the ground, you could feel it. The silence. The crisp mountain air with a distant hint of fire smoke. The simplicity of the landscape, paired with the incredible attention to detail in the temples, monasteries, and dzongs. Our tour guides greeted us with flowers and gifts, welcoming us into their country with arms wide open.
Monks entering their temple where only they are allowed
To paint a clearer picture, I invite you to imagine an average American city — skylines, McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, gas stations, billboards, roads, traffic, malls, stores, people, and all sorts of things happening at once. Okay, now imagine all of that gone. Nothing but a mountainous landscape, cows casually roaming dirt roads, monks wrapped in deep red garments, and temples amongst the landscape full of vibrant color. There’s no consumerism. There’s no cellular signal (yes, there is wifi). There’s no competition for your attention span. A society intentionally built around what we all crave and want: deep presence.
There are many moments I could write about, but no one wants to read seven pages of anything — we don’t have the attention span, remember? What I will share is that our tour guides, the exploration, road trips, the smell of the fresh air, Morgan’s connection to the land, and the energy of Bhutan made this an experience of a lifetime.
One of my favorite moments was connecting with a monk who spoke English and translated for us and others at a festival. Through him, we learned more about the people and their individual stories. One that stood out the most was an elder woman wearing bright colors, completely done up, telling us how she used to be one of the dancers when she was seventeen years old, and sharing her perspective on technology and the world. (Yes, these are the types of conversations I have with strangers on the regular.) I also still keep in touch with Kinley, the monk I met, as he shares pieces of his life back home along with some of his Buddhist teachings with me and Morgan.
This is Kinley, my friend & monk in Bhutan who I still keep in touch with.
This woman was a dancer at the festival when she was 17 & shared her opinions on technology & the evolution of Bhutan
I can’t fully express how magical, spiritual, and out-of-this-world going to Bhutan was.
It was unlike any other country I’ve ever visited. If you feel even the slightest pull, and you’re someone seeking travel and exploration rather than a relaxing vacation, this is the retreat for you. At first, I was hesitant to go on a yoga retreat, but Present Practice has allowed me to feel comfortable, safe & excited to travel places of the world I have been wanting to go to but too scared to take the leap on my own & am looking forward to exploring the world with them for years to come.
This experience changed my perception of life and the world.
And even seven months later, I’m still uncovering lessons and teachings from that time. There is truly nothing like the land of the Thunder Dragon — and I have all the photos to prove it.
Book a call now to speak with a member of our team and receive $100 off your Retreat or $200 off your Training.
Monks playing around with a Dungcheng trumpet