Bhutan, the Bugatti among countries

Gross National Happiness ?

20.04.2011

The Uma Paro Hotel is doubtless the best deal in Bhutan, but the country did not live up to my expectations. I make the comparison to the Bugatti car brand which employs a similar marketing strategy: "scarcity creates demand" and "select your customers through snob prices". The visa costs US$ 400 for a couple per day! The Uma Paro costs at least US$ 400 per day, the Amanhotel at least US$ 1.200 per day. The arrival or departure has to be by Druk Air who control a price monopoly. Add another US$ 750 minimum for flights to Paro from Delhi, Kathmandu, Bagdogra, Kolkata or Bangkok. The country's concept of "Gross National Happiness" must be making someone very happy and I doubt it is the country's citizens.

My wonderful waiter told me he was also playing in Bhutan's National soccer team. They recently lost 0:17 against ... Kuwait !

In my humble opinion, Bhugattistan is not really worth the ride (just as the Veyron probably isn't for the money). But then, every real traveler needs to visit Bhutan once, and so did I. My personal Gross National Happiness Product remained unaffected ...

Druk Air currently own two aircraft, one Airbus and one ATR

Great views on the Himalayas. Bhutan hosts the world's highest unclimbed mountain: Gangkhar Puensum, 7570 m.

Paro airport, my "most dangerous landing" together with Vagar, Faröer Islands

Welcome to the Land of Thunder Dragon

As usual, the people appear friendlier than their gods

The country has a special appeal for female travellers

Archery is the national sport, here at the range of the Uma Paro Hotel

Inner courtyard at the Uma Paro Hotel

Gross National Happiness (one of King's family cars) in front of the hotel

Paro city center

The main road from Paro to Thimphu gets closed whenever a plane starts or lands

My flight route from Kolkata via Paro to Kathmandu
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I preferred Nepal over Bhutan, even though my airport taxi in Kathmandu was exactly as old as me ... ;-)