Bhutan

BHUTAN is a Buddhist kingdom on the eastern edge of the Himalayas, bordered on the north by Tibet and on the east and west by India, and separated from Nepal by the Indian state of Sikkim. It is a land of monasteries, fortresses (Dzongs), and dramatic topography, from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. It has used the phrase Gross National Happiness ever since 1972, declaring that Bhutan measures prosperity gauging its citizens’ happiness level, not the GDP.

There is something very peaceful and uplifting about spending time in Bhutan, even though many of the roads can jar your equilibrium! I found that such things didn’t bother me and I immersed myself in the beauty of the surroundings…the ancient temples and forts…and enjoyed the gentleness of the people. Modernity is coming to Bhutan, but there doesn’t seem to be the usual rush. And the government seems very attuned to the wishes of the people. I want to return and do some more hiking, and really immerse myself in the culture.

Stay tuned for photos – new website under construction!

This is the blog for Meg Noble Peterson, whose latest book is Madam, Have You Ever Really Been Happy? An Intimate Journey Through Africa and Asia, the story of her first eight-month solo backpacking trip around the world. A synopsis and excerpts from the book can be found on this website.

I began this blog, detailing my recent adventures throughout the world, in the summer of 2005 with my trip to Sweden and Norway. Scroll down to the end to begin this journey. And be sure to browse the Archives and Categories for more in-depth information with photos and stories.

In the blog I include backpacking trips to northern and southern India, Nepal, Myanmar, Ladakh, Kashmir, Sikkim, Bhutan, and Tanzania, as well as backpacking and hiking in the Pacific Northwest and the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Here is a quick recap of trips taken before starting the blog:

In March, 2005, I traveled to Prague in the Czech Republic.

In May, 2004, I spent a month with my eldest daughter in Tibet. Together we circumambulated sacred Mt. Kailash over the Dolma La (pass) at 18,000 ft. and Lake Manasarovar at 14,000 ft. We camped in the countryside, mixed with nomads, and visited the sacred places and temples of this beleaguered country.

In May, 2003, I explored the many facets of Peru and climbed on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

In May, 1999 I did the Wainwright Walk across England from St. Bees Head on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea. And in November and early December of the same year I trekked, once again, in Nepal, doing the Annapurna circuit, and going over the Thorong La (pass) at 17,500 ft.

To see the places I traveled on my previous trips, visit the map on this website.

In 1998, my eldest son, Christopher, treated the entire family to a trip to the Galapagos Islands, three years before he died. This will remain one of the high points of all my travel adventures.

© 2024 Meg Noble Peterson