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)
(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The superseded treaty is still sometimes misinterpreted to mean that India controls Bhutan's foreign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.
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.
(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-speaking guide with an extensive knowledge (left), and a skilful driver (right)
Google Map of Bhutan
A spectacular landing on the Paro International Airport, Bhutan
ブータン王国
ブータン王国、通称ブータンはインドと中国にはさまれている、世界で唯一チベット仏教を国教とする国家である。
民族はチベット系8割、ネパール系2割。公用語はゾンカ語と英語。首都はティンプー。 急速な近代化のなかで、
欧米化の速度をコントロールしつつ、全体主義的な伝統を維持しようとする政治に世界的な注目が集まっている。
前国王が提唱した国民総生産にかわる国民総幸福量 (GNH) という概念、さまざまな環境政策、伝統文化保持の
ための国民に対する民族衣装着用の強制などがある。
国民総幸福量(Gross National Happiness, GNH）とは、1972年に、ブータン国王が提唱した「国民全体の幸福度」
を示す“尺度”である。国民総生産 (Gross National Product, GNP) で示されるような、金銭的・物質的豊かさを
目指すのではなく、精神的な豊かさ、つまり幸福を目指すべきだとする考えから生まれたものである。現在、
ブータン政府は国民総幸福量の増加を政策の柱としている。政府が具体的な対策を実施し、その成果を
客観的に判断するための基準にするのが主な用途で、 1990年代からの急速な国際化に伴って、ブータンに
於ける、これまでの価値観を改めてシステム化する必要があったという。2007年に初めて行われたブータン
政府による国勢調査では、 「あなたは今幸せですか」という問いに対し9割が「幸福」と回答したという。
Reference: Wikipedia
2011・ブータン国王夫妻日本訪問・国王夫妻結婚式典
Bhutan：The first country in the world to establish a complete ban on smoking.
ブータン、タバコ販売を禁止するものの、ホテル客室での法的喫煙規制はない
ブータンは2004年12月に世界初の「禁煙国家」となった。タバコ規制は厳しく、外国人ツーリストの持ち込んだ
免税店の袋は、パロ国際空港で高い確率で検査され、また手持ちのかばんの中身もチェックされる。しかし、
観光客に禁煙を強制するものではなく、 たばこ200本まで、他のたばこ製品は150グラムまでであれば100%の
関税と100%の付加価値税 (合計200% )を払えば持ち込み可能である。すでに開封してあるタバコには関税は
かからないようである。国内すべての公共の場所は全面禁煙で、規制除外されているホテルの喫煙客室のみが
合法的に吸える場所である。
注意すべきは、禁煙客室を確保していないホテルでは、旅行者にとっては三次喫煙被害を受けるリスクが
大きい。三次喫煙とは、喫煙者が密閉した部屋の中でタバコを吸った後に蓄積された有害残留タバコ成分に
よって、次にその部屋を使用した人たちが受動喫煙被害を受けることを指す。特に古いホテルでは客室内の
壁や衣類に発がん性のタバコ残留物質が数層にわって付着、堆積しており、アレルギー反応を含め、
身体的リスクは少なくない。
ブータンでは レストランを禁煙とするなど、受動喫煙（2次喫煙）の知識はあっても、喫煙者が部屋や衣類に残す
残留有害物質 （3次喫煙）に関する知識はない。旅行代理店を通じた予約では、参加者は加算金を支払った
のちに、上級ホテルにグレードアップすることが出来るが、現在では禁煙客室に関する情報もなく、喫煙の害を
避けるための健康上の選択権が全くない。
今回、調査したティンプーとパロの主要ホテル客室の禁煙設定に関する詳細な資料は過去に公表されたこと
がない。国際的に見ても、初めて公開されたホテルの禁煙客室、喫煙客室に関する情報である。2012年9月
現在の詳細な記述内容は、他の2ページに掲載されている。
2012年9月 執筆 医学博士 宮本順伯
アジアの仏教国、ブータン
Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan and the National Memorial Choeten, Thimphu
Prayer wheels, prayer wheels are used to accumulate wisdom and merit and to purify negative act of life in the past.
(L) No-smoking sign in a restaurant/bar
(M) A note PC, which is an important goods for a travel guide, is usually keeping in the large inside pocket space.
(R) There is no traffic signal in the country of Bhutan.
A Thimph street, a hotel and residence
Sources: Nippon Television Network December 4, and NHK broadcast, December 9, 2011
Bhutan
The country to prohibit a tobacco sale
ブータン・パロ
2012年9月写真撮影, 2012年10月執筆
執筆 医学博士 宮本順伯
★This Web site is link-free.
This information was provided by the Smokefree Hotel and Travel.
The photographs were taken in September, and the article was written in October 2012,
by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.
