Bhutan Tour 2012


This shows a map of Bhutan and a Route Permit, which was issued by the Royal Government of Bhutan.


The landscape of Bhutan ranges from subtropical plains in the south to the sub-alpine Himalayan heights
in the north, with some peaks exceeding 7,000 m. The state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism, and the population
of about 700,000 is predominantly Buddhist. The capital is Thimphu, which is the largest.


Mount Kangchenjunga is the Earth's third highest mountain, with a peak at 8,586 metres above sea level.
This picture was taken from Druk aircraft, near Paro, Bhutan, in September 2012.

Drukair from Bangkok, Thailand to Paro, Bhutan: This non-stop direct flight departed Bangkok at 4:50am for Paro.

(L) A Drukair stewardess with a smiling face (R) Drukair aircraft at the Paro International Airport

(L) An airport staff at the entrance gate at Paro (M) A passport check barrier of Paro International Airport
(R) A sign plate says that smoking is injurious to health.

The Paro Airpot terminal building and Drk airline aircraft

: A spectacular landing on the Paro Airport, Bhutan ( Video length: 14 minutes)
NOTICE: Please note that all YouTube video clips uploaded by myself after December 2012 are under the name of DrJayMic.


(L) A large board of Bhutanese King and Queen posted at the Paro Airport (R) The entrance gate of Paro Airport


Smoking restriction of the world airports



Bhutan money, Ngultrum, BTN, issued by Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan
500: Punakha Dzong at center, Endless Knot, one of the eight auspicious symbols at the upper center
100:Tashichho Dzong at center, dragons in top left and right corners, Endless Knot, one of the eight auspicious symbols at the upper center
50:Tongsa Dzong at center, two mythical birds (Bja Tshering) at both sides

10:Paro Dzong at the center
5:Taktsang Monastery
1:Simtokha Dzong palace

Bhutan has diplomatic relations with 21 countries, and with the European Union, with missions in India,
Bangladesh, Thailand, and Kuwait. Only India and Bangladesh have residential embassies in Bhutan,
while Thailand has a consulate office in Bhutan.In 2007, Bhutan and India signed a new treaty that
clarified that Bhutan was master of its own foreign relations, superseding the treaty signed in 1949.
The superseded treaty is still sometimes misinterpreted to mean that India controls Bhutan's foreign
affairs, but the government of Bhutan handles all of its own foreign affairs, including the sensitive
to-India border demarcation issue with China.

Bhutan's economy is based on agriculture, forestry, tourism and the sale of hydroelectric power
to India. Agriculture provides the main livelihood for more than 80 percent of the population.
Bhutan and India signed a 'free trade' accord in 2008, which additionally allowed Bhutanese
imports and exports from third markets to transit India without tariffs.


A view of Thimphu, the Capital of Bhutan

A vegetable market in Thimphu: A chili is a favorite food for Bhutanese.

A vegetable market in Thimphu

A week-end market in Thimphu

The left photograph shows a blood pressure check of Bhutanese residents at a hospital booth.

A multi-stories residence in Thimphu, Bhutan

(L) A multi-stories residence in Thimphu (R) Clock Tower Square, the city center of Thimphu

An only movie theater and the Bhutan National Bank, Thimphu, Bhutan

The main street of Thimphu

In Bhutan, there is no traffic light. A policeman controls automobiles instructing by hand, at the intersection of the center of Thimphu.

A policeman controls automobiles instructing by hand


Many Bhutanese are walking on the main street of Thimphu. You have to watch your steps, because of a sudden defect of a sidewalk.

(L) Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, Bhutan
(R) A guide map of the hospital

A sign board saying that the Hospital is a tobacco, alcohol and doma free.
Doma is a traditional addictive food of Bhutan.

Old Bhutanese house and a new apartment house, which is under construction in Thimphu.
There were many apartment houses under construction in the suburb area of Thimphu.

(L) A residential area of Thimphu (R) Thimphu Chuu River

A residence is standing a riverside of the Chuu. A highway runs in parallel to the Chuu River.

(L) The important road junction, at which traffic goes to Haa, 80 Kms, and to Thimphu, 31 Kms.
(R) A slum house was observed between the Thimphu-Haa highway and Chuu River.

(L) The trifurcation of river to Paro, Haa and Thimphu (M) A paved key-highway connects Thimphu, Paro and Phuntsholing.
(R) The important road junction to Phuntsholing, a border town in southern Bhutan with India

The main street of Paro: A street light in the right photo, which are rather a few in Bhutan's city street.
A few bicycles were observed in the town while staying in Bhutan.

(L) A restaurant in Paro: No-smoking sign is seen at the left upper corner of this photo. (R) Exterior of the restaurant

A gas station in Paro: Unlead gas costs a driver 65.38 Rupees ( about 1.27 dollars, 100 yen ) per liter.
The average gas price in the United States is 0.95-1.10 dollars, in Japan about 1.77 dollars per liter, in October 2012.

Drive from Paro to Thimphu, Bhutan


(L) Chuu River and playing flags
(R) Bhutanese residents walk and walk. Some students walk on a mountainous alley for 20 to 30 minutes to go to school.

Rice and bean fields, Paro: A Japanese Keiji Nishioka (1933-1992) has made great contributions to the rice cultivation
in Paro and other places of Bhutan.

(L) A cow in walking on the road of Paro
(M) School bus for a junior student: Not all students can use a school bus, here.
(R) Many students walk on the road, sometimes, more than 30 minutes.

(L)(R) Colorful traditional clothes for sale, at Paro (M) National dress of Bhutan is called gho for men.

These photographs were taken at a private house in Paro.
Bhutanese altar is located on the second floor ( the third floor from the North American standard ).
This room is served as a guest room. The first floor is for sleeping of the family.
The basement is designated for a cow and other animals.

A hand-made meal was served for a visiting tourist.

An English guide with an extensive knowledge (left), and a skilful driver (right)


Google Map of Bhutan

Bhutan
The country to prohibit a tobacco sale Bhutan tour 2012 Bhutan temple 01 Bhutan temple 02
Bhutan Thimphu's hotels Bhutan Paro's hotels Bhutan smoking law

日本語


ブータン・パロ
2012年9月写真撮影,　2012年10月執筆
「禁煙席ネット」　主宰　日本タバコフリー学会顧問　医学博士　宮本順伯
本文および写真の著作権は宮本順伯に帰属
★「禁煙席ネット」へのリンクは自由
The photographs were taken in September, and the article was written in October 2012,
by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.