Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
2
Proposal Contents
From the Kingdom of Happiness
The Bhutan Travel Cookbook Book Concept . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Sample Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1. Tshechu Festival: Masked Dancers Invoke Ancient Gods . . 6
2. Blessings from the Horse’s Head Monastery . . . . . . 24
Target Market for the Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Marketing the Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Comparative Titles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Lama D and Sri Jana
3
Book Concept From the Kingdom of Happiness, A Bhutan Travel Cookbook
Join me for an adventure into the soul of Bhutan, a window into the original Shangri-La, a series
of true stories about how I found balance and spirituality. My adventures include falling in love
with a Lama, being forced out of my home in the US, and moving to Bhutan to find the ancient
Eastern mind largely unaltered by time. This is a multi-sensory travel guide with stunning
images and descriptions that share intimate first-hand experience of Bhutan's cultural traditions,
breathtaking landscapes, and authentic food flavors.
A different sort of travel guide, the book follows the footprints of saints whose raw, sublime
energy still lingers in the mountain caves, where Monks and Lamas enact battles of prehistoric
gods between good and evil. Where Bhutanese red rice and mountain spices lend nourishing
flavor to every meal. This book won’t compete with the usual tiny-print travel guides. Instead
it’s an easy-to-read resource of beauty and cultural insight to treasure.
Weaving stories with photos and recipes, I’d like to share how unique synchronicities led to
falling in love with a Lama via Facebook Messenger, to finally meeting up with him, and
serendipitously discovering it is possible to find love on the opposite side of the world.
I discover the Eastern mind
As I relaxed and slid deeper in my new Bhutanese life, I sensed a refreshing difference between
our Western way of thinking and the Eastern mind. Describe it superficially as Western linear
logic, isolated parts, and impatience vs. Eastern cyclical introspection and holistic wisdom.
However our present-day cultural reality is wondrously more complex.
My goal in this book: East - West fusion
I wish to bridge the unspoken chasm between East and West by moving beyond words. I'd like to
do it with stories, photographs and food, a multi-media window into the Eastern mind, allowing
readers to step into a new version of themselves, refreshed with a different perspective.
A travel book with recipes.
I’d like people to see it as a must-have guide to meditate on Bhutan, A tasting with all the senses,
a non-verbal journey through food, photos, stories, and ritual, the book captures all the senses in
a transmission that bypasses the thinking mind, using stories, photos, and flavors.
Bhutan, guardian of Tibetan Buddhism
As the legacy of ancient Tibet fades, the world looks to the once-isolated kingdom of Bhutan,
where roots of Vajrayana Buddhism are still strong. A window into another time, this tiny
kingdom between India and China, has 70% forested landscape, the most oxygen-rich, air on the
planet, and is the only carbon-negative country in the world. Bhutan’s Fourth King surprised the
world in 1972, announcing his new government philosophy, Gross National Happiness, as an
alternative to Gross National Product. His forward-thinking policy of high-quality low-volume
tourism, protects Bhutan’s pristine landscapes, fostering sustainable economic growth.
4
The world is curious about Bhutan. The Kingdom has become a haven for celebrities seeking
calm, an original destination for culture enthusiasts, an immaculate place for trekkers and those
seeking untouched landscapes on their bucket list. How did this tiny Buddhist country captivate
and challenge the world? Perhaps the West has something to learn from Bhutan.
When I married Lama Dungtsho and moved to Bhutan, I discovered new roots of personal
strength and safety. My journey has been a gradual discovery of self-acceptance and peace. This
book is an exploration to find the source of our personal strength. How can humanity build a
sense of unity in the face of economic power, ignorance, and selfishness that we all face?
My marriage to Lama Dungtsho is alive and happy. Yes, but thanks only to my husband’s placid
Buddhist equanimity and patience. Who knows? Maybe we were linked long ago. It’s no joke
when people say all 800,000 inhabitants of Bhutan are relatives. Maybe that’s why we both had
to show our family trees to the High Court to get a Foreign Marriage Certificate! Well, we’re
definitely not close relatives. My skin is too white, and I laugh too much.
This book has no comparable titles. I find a few Bhutan travel books, even fewer cookbooks.
No one has put it together with photos, flavors, and stories, for an authentic view from the inside.
Perhaps the biggest roadblock to cultural understanding is that we Westerners observe but cannot
see. We hold fast to our cell phones and zoom lenses, appreciating colorful costumes and
endearing traditions from a safe distance, without having to risk totally jumping in. We come for
a brief visit, pay our money and walk away unscathed. This book will bridge that chasm, by
inviting people to step into intimate scenes of real honesty and integrity.
I bring to the table decades of experience in food and cookbook writing. Bhutan’s dishes may
seem tediously plain on the surface, yet the flavors are vibrant and nourishing with simplicity
and honesty. I’d like to breathe life into Bhutanese cuisine for Westerners.
I'm a natural foods fanatic. I can do this. After writing two successful cookbooks, my website
JanesHealthyKitchen.com recently won the prestigious CV Magazine award for the “Most
Innovative Healthy Food and Lifestyle Blog in North America”. Accompanied by eye-popping
photographs, I’m living proof that it is possible to introduce easy, exotic recipes that will be new
flavors for Westerners. My Bhutanese family is excited about helping me test recipes.
Although I have photography in my blood and my father was an accomplished photographer-
traveler with the rare ability to communicate the beauty of deep cultural roots from distant times,
I will hire and direct a professional photographer to travel Bhutan with us for this book.
“Asian Cuisine” has recently been declared one of the top food trends. The book’s target market
includes people of all ages curious about Asian recipes, travel, healthy foods, clean lifestyles,
and all those who embrace foods free of processed, industrial ingredients.
This book will be a unique resource for visitors to Bhutan, especially those who come with our
company, White Tiger Bhutan Tours. Please help me bring this nourishing book to the world.
5
Contents From the Kingdom of Happiness, The Bhutan Travel Cookbook
1. Introduction: Stepping into the Original Shangri-La
2. An Inner Odyssey Comes to Life
o Forced Out of Home in USA, we take a Risk
o Arrival in Paro, Riverside Picnic, Matrimonial Suite
o But You Can’t Get a Foreign Marriage Certificate in Bhutan
o Speaking Dzongkha in the High Court
o Radical Simplicity - New Married Life in the Kingdom of Happiness
3. Tshechu: Colorful Masked Dancers Invoke Ancient Gods
o Paro Tchechu, Thimphu Tshechu, Jambay Lhakhang Drup, Punakha Drubchen
4. Blessings from the Horse’s Head Monastery
5. Family Puja on the Farm, a Buddhist Annual Blessing
6. Foods of Bhutan Then and Now - A Bhutanese Kitchen
o Falling in Love with Red Rice
o More Chili Peppers, please
o Making Butter and Cheese on the Family Farm
o Bhutan Drives out the British and Adopts their Food
7. Buddhist Names that Predict Your Life Path
8. Padmasambhava Prophecies
9. The Wheel of Life: Reincarnation and the Six Realms
10. Mysteries and Miracles: Folk Legends that Just Might be True
o Divine Madman, Druk Dragons, Origin of the Takin, Yeti Abominal Snowmen
11. Camping and Stone Bath in the River
o Vertical Stairway and the 3-Headed Statue
12. Culture Shock: The 21st Century Arrives in Bhutan
o Creating an English School in the Mountains
13. Discovering Equanimity of the Asian Mind
o Patient, Kind, Secretive, Enchanting
14. Powerful Temples and Dzongs to Visit
o Meditation Caves of Padmasambhava
o Taktsang Monastery: Tiger’s Nest is Real
o Punakha Dzong, Masterpiece of Architecture, Repository of Sacred Relics
15. Visiting Bhutan - Don’t Miss These Places:
o Hiking and Altitude Guidelines
o Practical Issues: Tourist Visa, Money, What to Pack, What to Leave
o Landscapes, Regions, Cultures, Pristine Forests, Clear Rivers
16. The Beloved Royal Family: Five Kings and a Sixth in the Making
o Jigme Namgye recites the Kangyur 100 times and a Lineage is Born
o Why Does the King Wear a Raven Crown?
17. A Buddhist Sense of Balance and Sustainability
o Zhabdrung Rinpoche: 17th century Visionary of Modern Policy
o Protection of Nature: Animals, Birds, Plants, Insects
o Carbon Negative and Organic: Conservation in Government
18. Index of 50 Recipes
6
Sample Chapters,
From the Kingdom of Happiness
1. Tshechu Festivals: Masked Dancers Invoke Ancient Gods
There are secrets in the land. And deep memories in flesh and blood. Not sure
where to begin my story. Before I can tell you about the festival dancers, we have
to go back to the 8th century to meet the famous Guru Rinpoche. Even his name
conjures a link between Indian “Guru” and Tibetan “Rinpoche” traditions. Yes, he
was both. Padmasambhava traveled far and wide, meditating in countless caves
throughout Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.
The man was a game-changer, a brilliant renegade wizard who came to Tibet and
oversaw the translation of thousands of sacred texts from Sanskrit to Tibetan. He
performed miracles and eloped with not one but two princesses. He cleared evil in
the land and infused the landscapes of Tibet and Bhutan with powerful blessings
that still exist today. Maybe that’s why every dzong in Bhutan has a huge statue of
him with burning eyes, long hair, a diamond-vajra scepter of compassionate love in
his right hand and a skull-bowl of wisdom in his left. In short, don’t mess with this
guy. Here’s a 15-foot foot statue of him in the Punakha Temple.
7
Padmasambhava is said to have been born about 700 years after Christ in NW
India. He traveled and studied with many great Indian masters and somehow
learned wizardry to purify negative obstacles, making the way for new Tibetan
Buddhism. Nowadays most of Bhutan's Buddhists follow his Drukpa Red Hat sect
of the Kargyupa, or “Secret Oral” lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Yep.
Padmasambhava was a magician that Bhutan sorely needed. He came almost 1,000
years after Siddhartha, the popular Gautama Buddha, who lived in 500 BCE. But
even before that, a long lineage of Buddhas, or “awakened ones”, lived and taught
in the Himalayas. We could look even further back to the roots of Bön Buddhism
in Tibet, where the “first known Buddha”, Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche, is said to
have lived 18,000 years ago. But it seems the floods may have washed everything
clean, and alas, we will never know. Human memory fades, as do all things
impermanent. Perhaps the real memories lie in the rocks, bones, and the blood.
Buddhists never considered their practice to be a “religion”, but rather a personal
journey of purification into the Truth, a study of Nature and universal Time. I
suspect that when the term ‘Buddhism’ was coined by Western scholars in the
1830’s, it was after seeing huge statues, and assuming that the Buddha was
worshipped as a God, instead of being just man who found a path to be free.
8
Another major player in reviving deep cultural memories is the charismatic Fourth
King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who has played a crucial visionary role
in expanding the Tshechu festivals. He believes that the foundation of unity and
sovereignty is a strong cultural identity and shared link with cultural roots. He took
the throne in 1974 upon his father’s death when he was only 19 years old.
His great grandfather was Bhutan’s first king, Ugyen Wangchuck, a magnetic
leader who came to power during a turbulent period of bitter internal feuding and
British wars. But Ugyen Wangchuck didn’t fall for the imperialistic spell. He was
smart. A few strategic battles ended in a peaceful arms-length treaty, and in 1907
the British walked out. They supported his throne and left Bhutan to be one of the
only independent nations in Asia, and not beholden to the crown.
Building Bhutan’s national awareness of their Buddhist cultural roots has been one
of the many contributions of the Fourth King. But there’s more. He established two
democratic houses of Parliament in a Constitutional Monarchy. He instituted
national health services, safe drinking water and better nutrition, increasing life
9
span, and founded the Royal Institute of Health Sciences. He introduced an
unconventional tourism policy of “high-value, low-volume”, unique in the world,
to invite and guide visitors through Bhutan’s cultural sites, protecting the economy
and environment. He built a network of electricity to connect homes, constructed
roads in impossible mountain terrain, and began a Bhutan-owned air service. He
signed an ambitious hydropower project to sell waterpower to India, stabilizing
Bhutan’s financial independence. Then after ruling 34 years, in 2006 he abdicated
to his eldest son. I think probably he gets more work done behind the scenes.
Gross National Happiness Surprises the World
Perhaps the Fourth King’s most significant contribution was to introduce the
unique philosophy of GNH, Gross National Happiness. A philosophy designed to
balance spiritual and economic values, the term became instantly popular in 1972
when the Fourth King declared at the United Nations: “Gross National Happiness
is more important than Gross Domestic Product.” He then developed a method to
measure happiness by a questionnaire to a sampling of the population every year,
with a statistical score that compares one year to the next.
Happiness has been a core goal of Bhutan for four centuries. In fact, the concept
has its roots in the Buddhist Legal Code of 1629 (Yes, 150 years before the 1776
US Declaration of Independence set forth unalienable rights to “Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of Happiness”). In 1629 Bhutan’s founding father declared:
“If the government cannot create happiness for its people,
then there is no purpose for government to exist.”
Zhabdrung Rinpoche, founding father of Bhutan
GNH, the Quintessential Buddhist Economic Policy, Consists of Four Pillars:
1. Sustainable and equitable socio-economic development.
2. Conservation of natural environment.
3. Preservation and promotion of culture including National identity, Religion,
Language, Literature, Dress, Art, Architecture, and Etiquette.
4. Good Governance.
Building a National Identity of Respect
How can one inspire strength and unity in an ancient, pay-it-forward Buddhist
culture? It takes good leadership to feed the deepest roots of well-being in people.
A visionary wise ruler, the king has infused Bhutan’s identity with self-respect.
Fostering ancient legendary dances strengthens non-verbal connections to the
subconscious to build inner self-awareness, a pride of belonging that protects
10
people. Otherwise lacking this level of visionary leadership, people are too
vulnerable and easily succumb to the vast international invasion of technology,
junk food, money, English, and Hollywood fantasy. I wonder: What does Bhutan
understand that we don’t? What can the rest of the world learn from Bhutan?
Enlightened Tourism
Tourism too much, too fast can rob a country of its traditions and dignity. On the
other hand, gentle tourism can infuse respect while helping economically. The
Fourth King’s “high-value, low-volume” tourist policy provides a middle-ground
solution. He structured a tourism industry that fosters high-integrity tour operators
that bring visitors to Bhutan for an all-inclusive minimum price of $250 per day in
high season, a fee that’s comparable to any standard vacation in Maui or Milan.
But even the best tourism policy can’t always build cultural understanding. Why is
that? The biggest roadblock is that we Westerners observe but cannot see. We hold
fast to our cell phones and zoom lenses, appreciating the colorful costumes and
endearing traditions from a safe distance, without having to risk totally jumping in.
Full immersion might mean giving up our personal space, enduring the same
discomforts, accepting what comes, looking at a history of white domination,
reaching into underlying assumptions and values of another culture. Nope, we
think we can come for a brief visit, pay our money and walk away unscathed.
11
But in my case, I was enthralled. I wanted more of the mysterious traditions,
colors, and legends. This immersion in powerful invisible non-verbal threads
from the past shook me to the core and nourished a deep inner longing.
Origin of the Tshechu Dance Festivals (pronounced TSHEH-chu)
Legend has it that when the great saint Padmasambhava performed feats of magic
and wizardry to protect Bhutan and its people from evil, his rites, mantras and
dances involved taking on other identities. Thus he was able to perform miracles,
in order to subjugate and transform opponents of Buddhism into loyal followers.
Padmasambhava is credited with having organized the very first Tshechu in the 8th
century, consisting of a series of eight ritual dances. Over time, these dances have
expanded and now come to illustrate different legends in the victory of good over
evil, a powerful expression of Bhutan’s unique cultural and religious identity.
Every monastery in Bhutan holds one Tshechu each year, where hundreds of
Lamas and Monks enact ancient stories in animated sacred dances and songs.
Tshechu means “10th day”, so each province holds their festival on the 10th day of
their chosen month in honor of the birth of Padmasambhava. The Tshechu has
become so important in each city, that everyone dresses up in their finest Kira or
12
Gho to see, to be seen, to sing, dance, and receive blessings. It is believed that
every Bhutanese person must attend at least one Tshechu every year to cleanse the
spirit and live in harmony with the unseen world.
Buddhism teaches that events don’t just “happen” out of nowhere. Although we
may imagine ourselves to be independent, all events have roots in the past. This is
the magic of life, where heroes and perpetrators are all connected, weaving like
threads into patterns that determine our fate. Thus the Tshechu legends are real
shared history. By strengthening the roots to memories, tribe, and family, the
Tshechu is a gift to remember ancient roots, national identity and self-respect.
People’s deep faith and devotion make the Tshechu festivals special occasions.
Yes, the carnival excitement is palpable, but this is quite different from a ball game
in the US where a crowd goes wild about a ball going into a goal. A Tshechu is an
enactment of ancient shared memories that’s unique in the world.
Tshechus are the fusion of religious festival and social bonding shared by people
of many remote villages. Bhutanese believe coming to a Tshechu blessing will
purify them and help them live in harmony, health, and wellbeing.
Long before the Tshechu date and behind the scenes, Monks and Lamas are
preparing in deep meditation, chanting, and dance practice. The Tshechu is a rich
form of oral history, a tradition where the Bhutanese pass on values, mythology
and spiritual beliefs through the dance dramas.
Festivals are also a big family and social occasions. My new sisters and I all put on
our best Kira’s with jewelry of coral, turquoise, and Dzi beads. We packed lunch in
a traditional bamboo basket and stayed at the monastery all day. Seating is first-
come, first serve. When we arrived at 10 am, parking was crowded, the monastery
courtyard was packed with thousands of people, and more continued to arrive all
day. Those who got the best seats must have been in line at the crack of dawn.
That’s what I’ll do next year.
The most popular Tshechus in Bhutan are:
• Paro Tshechu –March
• Thimphu Tshechu - October
• Jambay Lhakhang Tshechu - November
• Punakha Drubchen and Tshechu- February
• Ura Yakchoe - April
13
14
Many of the Tshechu dances enact events from the life of Padmasambhava, to
invoke protection, to illustrate the subjugation of demons and obstacles, and
celebrate the victory of good over evil. Like a live theater, dancers act out stories
such as the Dance of the Four Stags, The Three Kings, the Dances of the Lord of
Death, and more. Modern jesters called “Atsaras” wander around creating
mischief, performing short skits to disseminate health and social awareness
messages. A Tshechu is a happy and necessary break from farm work, a time to
celebrate, receive blessings and pray for happiness.
“Monks and Lamas believe that through their dances enacting ancient legends,
they send blessings throughout the world to purify karmic debts and empower
all beings to reach their highest destiny.”
My personal favorite is the Tungam Chham, Dance of the Terrifying Deities. This
sacred scene acts out a ritual slaying of evil demi-gods, enemies of Buddhist path.
The so called “Terrifying Deities” wear the most lavish costumes - silk brocade
skirts, tall boots, and frightening masks showing off long fangs and skulls. The
scene portrays a ritual sacrifice where dancers represent evil “Asuras”, the demi-
gods, who are encircled and captured in a box. The chief dancer stabs and kills
them with a sacred dagger called a Phurba, thus saving the world from their evil
deeds and at the same time delivering them into salvation. The hideous masked
face of Dorji Dragpo “Fierce Thunderbolt”, is said to be the image that Guru
Rinpoche assumed to subdue enemies of the path. His selfless victory eradicated
the evil demons, leading to happiness and goodnss in the world.
15
I was blown away by the display of finery worn by everyone at the Thimphu
Tshechu. The women especially were decked out in brightly colored handwoven
fabrics and jewelry that would cost thousands of dollars in a New York showroom.
The Kira for women consists of a wrapped hand-woven skirt tied with a Kera or
belt. A colorful silk blouse called Tego is worn with a silk jacket called a Wongu,
with sleeves rolled together into a cuff. Women often wear large amounts of
jewelry with the Kira, set. For formal occasions like Tshechu, women wear a
narrow handwoven fringed sash over the left shoulder called a Rachu. The whole
ensemble is stunning and Bhutanese women look elegant in their national dress.
The men’s Gho is a knee length cloak that’s tied at the waist with a cloth belt
called a Kera. A Gho has white cuffs that can be folded or pinned in place. Ghos
come in a wide variety of handwoven patterns, often with plaid or striped designs.
A handwoven Gho for a wedding or special occasion can be very expensive,
costing in the thousands of dollars.
For formal occasions, men wear a silk shawl called a Kabney, draped over the left
shoulder and the right hip. It is compulsory for men to wear a Kabney when
16
visiting monasteries, government offices and for formal occasions. The color of the
Kabney indicates different professions or levels of government.
In 1989, the fourth King enacted a law to require all Bhutanese men and women to
wear the national dress for professional and government jobs, and formal events.
A Tradition of Intricate Handwoven Fabrics
Bhutanese textiles are recognized worldwide for their amazing color combinations,
sophisticated patterns, and intricate weaving techniques. The weavers, mostly
women, are not only brilliant creators of beauty but also the inventresses of artistic
skills that have been developed and taught for centuries. Bhutanese people take
great pride in their national dress. The tradition has evolved through many
generations and people work hard to respect it.
17
18
A weaver may work 10 to 12 hours per day for over a year to produce a single
textile piece. The technical skills of Bhutanese weaving are taught in a six-year
course at Royal Thimphu College and The Royal Textile Academy.
I stopped to watch a wandering clown at the Thimphu Tshechu. “Beautiful white
madame!” He yelled, motioning to me. “May you be blessed with a passionate
husband and a dozen children.” Everyone laughed.
These wacky monk “Atsaras” wander through the crowd like jesters, playing
naughty pranks on people between dance events. Lusty chaps. See the wooden
phallus around his neck? As the camera clicked someone chuckled “Nice couple.”
Eccentric yet saintly, their only job is to challenge, poke fun, to find and uproot
evil in the minds of mortals.
19
Cabbage Momos with Spicy Ezey Sauce
After a Tshechu or special occasion, momos are the #1 most loved dish. Originally
from Tibet, they were called “mog mog” མོག་མགོ meaning “steamed bread”. The
popularity of momos has spread from Tibet through Bhutan, Nepal, India, and all
of Asia. This recipe uses cabbage however you can invent your own favorite
flavor. Other delicious fillings are chicken, meat, chili peppers, cheese, spinach,
peas, potatoes, etc. Makes 24 momos.
Ingredients:
• 24 Momo dough wrappers (See page XX for wrapper recipe)
• 2 cups cabbage, finely chopped
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 ball datshi cheese, crumbled (1/2 cup)
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
• Salt to taste
20
Instructions:
1. Place cabbage, onion, and cheese into a bowl. Add butter, salt to taste, and
mix well.
2. Place a tablespoon of the filling in the center of each wrapper.
3. Fold over and pinch-pleat the wrapper edges to seal in the filling.
4. Lightly coat a steamer with oil or cabbage leaves so the momos do not stick.
5. Arrange momos in the steamer so they do not touch.
6. Cover and steam over boiling water10-15 minutes or until done.
7. Serve with Ezey Sauce.
Ezey - Spicy Sauce for Momos
Yep, this red-hot sauce is the real thing, and it tastes delicious with momos. You
can also add optional ginger, onion, or dried chili peppers.
Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons dried red chili
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Dash of black “Thingey” pepper
• Pinch of salt
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients well with a mortar and pestle or a spoon. Serve with momos.
21
Suddenly the distinct, pungent aroma of chicken and ginger infuses my nose and I
follow it to find the source. I descend a steep stairway carefully holding on to the
bannister like a grandmother. I walk past the laundry around to the back of the
house. There I find my brother Phub Dorji (his name means Diamond Thunderbolt)
grinning beside a huge outdoor kitchen. A covered shed open on one side, three
cement fireplaces support the weight of huge cooking pots.
Oh my god, I’m thinking - we’re feeding an army! An enormous red-hot wood fire
is heating water for Suja butter tea. I see two more huge pots. He lifts a lid and
invites me to sniff. Wow! I gasp as a nose-full of hot steam fills my lungs! The
penetrating smell of ginger, chili, and chicken sparks my hunger. Dinner!
Phub Dorji is a master chef. Along with my talented brother-in-law Yeshe Dorji
(Wisdom Thunderbolt), today these guys cooked three meals for family and guests.
Together they carried huge pots of hot food up steep stairways into the large room
where we share our meals. Spiced to perfection and served right out of the pot over
a mound of red rice, we all sit around on the floor eating with our hands.
22
Jasha Maru, Spicy Chicken Stew with Ginger
This is an easy chicken dish with pungent ginger and chili in a rich gravy.
Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil such as mustard oil or rice bran oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 knob fresh ginger root, grated or chopped
• 2 green onions, finely chopped
• 1-pound chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 fresh chilis red or green, chopped
• 3 tomatoes, chopped
• 3/4 cup water
Instructions:
1. Heat oil in a large pan. Add garlic, onion, ginger, and green onion.
2. Sauté until lightly browned. Add salt to taste. Add water as needed.
3. Lower heat, cover and cook until chicken is done, about 20 minutes.
23
Of course, before eating or even drinking tea, we chant a prayer to the three jewels.
This prayer is given in appreciation for, and to offer yourself to the three Jewels of
Buddhism: the Buddha, the Dharma path, and the Sangha, or Practitioners.
First say OM AH HUM three times to consecrate the food or beverage.
24
2. Blessings From the Horse’s Head Monastery
My sister Ghalem has arranged an invitation for a private tour of the Tango
monastery near Thimphu. Her close family friend and school buddy is a Lama
teaching there. This is also the dzong that my husband Lama Dungtsho graduated
from, so I jumped at the chance to see it.
Tango means Horse’s Head in Dzongkha. The monastery was named for a famous
outcropping on a cliff that looks just like the head of a horse, really. It's a quiet day
and fortunately there are no tour buses. The monastery sits at the very top of a
steep mountain. The path winds slowly upward and takes about an hour. We start
to walk up a winding zig-zag path, through a sumptuous forest of deep green plants
of all varieties. My lungs feel refreshed, happily soaking up the oxygen-rich
atmosphere and dense foliage typical of Bhutan landscapes.
I highly recommend this hike if for no other reason than to clear the brain of static.
Three of us walk up the mountain together, Ghalem and our friend Tenzin the
painter. They are both dressed in formal Kira and Gho, however since I’m exempt
from this rule as a white-skinned Westerner, no one forewarned me of the
significance of this day. If I’d known, I would have worn my Kira.
25
After 20 minutes on the steep path, I start to get tired, so we stop at a few of the
rustic resting places on the path. My friends patiently wait for me to catch my
breath, although they aren’t tired at all. They flatter me saying I am very strong for
an American. It’s embarrassing to hear. What are we? Physically weak and full of
mental chatter? Yes, sadly this is true. My humiliation is only slightly over-
shadowed by admiration for their physical strength, patience and acceptance. As
we walk up, I feel my brain and body slowly infuse with clarity and well-being.
Looking up, I see an ingenious system of pulleys through the branches. This
obviously saves much time and effort carrying food and provisions up to the top.
26
The Tango Monastery is one of Bhutan’s most significant religious sites. It
overlooks the capital, and is a place where saints meditated in a network of caves
known for miracles and favorable synchronicities. In the 17th century, a dzong was
the administrative and religious center of large geographic area, to protect the
culture, sacred relics, and records. Bhutan’s sovereignty has been challenged over
the centuries, always unsuccessfully, both by local adversaries and Tibetan enemy
invasions. A monastic fortress was designed to repel any attack. This building
would have been extremely difficult to penetrate in its position on the rocks, with
high walls impossible to scale, let alone ultra-steep stairways inside.
We enter a courtyard and wait for our Lama friend. Inside is a gallery of photos
showing a succession of famous leaders of the lineage through the centuries. To
the left is a hallway of relics. I was curious what they might hold.
The horse’s head cave has been a power meditation site since the 8th century, and
the Tango Monastery was constructed here in the 12th century. Five hundred years
later it was re-built by the famous Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye. Remember that name, as
he became an important ruler of Bhutan. It is said that 8th century Guru Rinpoche
Padmasambhava prophesies that a man named Tenzin would rebuild the horse’s
head monastery and rule Bhutan for many years in peace. And so it came to pass,
under his rule the country was said to enjoy many years of peace, happiness, and
tranquility comparable to heaven. I didn’t connect the dots until later that day,
when we met a Tulku, his fourth reincarnation in person.
Our friend Lama Dorji Gyeltzin met us at the entry, and we began a five-minute
walk to his tiny house. Lama Dorji is the nephew of the famous Geshe Gendün
Rinchen Rinpoche, who ruled over all monastic affairs as the 69th “Je Khempo” of
Bhutan. The Je Khempo is the highest religious position in Bhutan, considered a
national treasure as holder of the sacred lineage. Only later did I connect the
threads that my sister had introduced me to the young Lama’s mother and showed
me the tiny meditation sanctuary near Thimphu where the master lived until his
death in 1997. It is said that Geshe Gendün Rinchen Rinpoche died sitting straight
up in meditation posture, and that his body remained flexible, showing no signs of
decay. His remains are said to still show no signs of decay, now enthroned in a
gold and silver ornate stupa in the Zhabdrung Chapel of Tashichö Dzong,
Thimphu. His title Geshe means a high post graduate, something like a PhD in
Buddhist philosophy, above which further learning is only beyond words and
concepts.
27
Our friend Tenzin is a
gifted painter who has
depicted many sacred
scenes on the walls of
Bhutan's monasteries.
Here he shows off his
Wheel of Life.
Called a Kalachakra, it
shows the realms of
existence where you
could be reborn in your
next life, depending on
your actions in this life.
You definitely want to
be reborn in one of the
top realms, and the
bottom three are to be
avoided at all costs. The
top realms are the
Human Realm and the
Realm of the Gods.
The bottom left is the
Animal Realm. The Hell
Realm is at the very
bottom, where the King
of Karma called Yama Dharmaraja holds a stick in his right hand and a mirror in
his left, reflecting the actions back to its perpetrators. On the right is the Preta
Realm of the hungry ghosts. I was instructed later by the children that hungry
ghosts suffer from extreme hunger and thirst. Hungry ghosts have huge stomachs,
but pinhole mouth's and necks so thin they cannot swallow so they are constantly
hungry. This realm is for the greedy, jealous, and those unwilling to share their
good fortune with others. Yep, stay away from this realm.
Back to the horse’s head. Yes, the energy buzz is real. I am in a daze. A practicing
Buddhist for decades, I feel a difference here, a deep simplicity, a happiness in
these people that is not from thoughts. I begin to sense threads from the past. The
experiences and events that occur in the present always have roots or threads from
the past. Nothing occurs in by chance, disconnected from a network of past causes
28
and effects. I was feeling a kind of convergence of many distant events into the
present moment. These threads are always there, but now I felt them strongly. I
wonder: What is this feeling? It's a little bit like a déjà vu experience but very
vague.
Lama Dorji’s tiny hut is located on perhaps the most coveted location in all of
Bhutan with a stunning view. A mere five-minute’s walk from the monastery, this
modest shack overlooks the entire Thimphu valley. Perched on the edge of a rocky
hill, his residence consists of a tiny bedroom-sitting room, a meditation room you
could barely lie down in, a tiny bathroom with the usual hole in the ground, and a
spotless kitchen counter in the hall. His kitten was happy to see us, and incessant
meowing indicated he was anxiously awaiting his daily bowl of rice.
We sat on the sitting room floor and drank Suja, or butter tea with Zow, or crispy
rice. Our lunch menu was rice and traditional Noo Sha Paa, Dried beef with
Cabbage, Peppers, and Cheese, prepared and packed by Ghalem.
29
Noo Sha Paa, Dried beef with Cabbage, Peppers, and Cheese
This is the dish my sister Ghalem brought for lunch at the Tango Monastery. Dried
beef is a staple food all year round in Bhutan. One of the most popular traditional
Bhutanese dishes, this is a satisfying meal, delicious with homemade cheese.
Ingredients:
• 100 g. Shakam (dried beef), or 200 g fresh beef cut into strips
• 3 Tablespoons mustard oil
• 400 ml water
• Salt to taste
• 350 g. cabbage, sliced
• 30 g. Fresh green chilis
• 1/2 cup (1/2 ball) fresh cheese or farmer’s cheese
Instructions:
1. Cut the dried beef in long strips around 8-10 cm long and rinse.
2. Transfer into a pot, add oil, water, and salt. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
3. Slice the cabbage and toss with the meat. Cooking for 10 minutes.
4. Halve the chilis lengthwise. Lower the flame, add to the pot.
5. Crumble the cheese into the pot. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Lower flame to simmer. Stir in 1-2 Tbsp of water if the cabbage is sticking
to the pot. Serve.
30
I discovered that our friend Lama Dorji had completed his Buddhist studies at the
doctoral level, and just recently finished his silent retreat of three years, three
months, and three days, a requirement for Lamas who will be teaching. The silent
retreat is known as “Losum Chog Sum”, meaning “three years and three faces”,
and takes place under the guidance of the most accomplished Buddhist masters in
Bhutan.
Several hundred monks live and study at the Tango Monastery. The boys usually
join the order between five and nine years of age. They learn to read “chhokey” a
higher-level sacred language of Bhutan related to Tibetan and Dzongkha. The
monks also study English. Daily life in the dzong is simple and rigorous. Monks
begin their schedule with a wake-up call at 4 AM. They perform morning prayers
in the sanctuary with prostrations and chanting. Chanting is followed by breakfast
of rice, soup, and tea. After lunch they often work on hand-writing because
penmanship in chhokey is very important.
Some of the monks learn to play ritual musical instruments, and others learn how
to make Torma, sacred offerings of colorfully painted rice flour. Dinner is at 5 PM,
after which they perform evening prayers. From 7 to 10 PM they do evening
studies and go to bed at 10 PM. Communal bathing and handwashing stations
indicate cleanliness is highly regarded. There is no heat in the residence rooms,
even in the dead of Bhutan winters, and the monks have very few personal
possessions. This busy, peaceful lifestyle is enriched with higher knowledge,
ancient sacred literature, history, and music. Monks are strictly forbidden to
challenge their teacher, to steal, or to leave the premises without permission.
Smoking, alcohol, and sexual activities are also prohibited.
After lunch we took a stroll past a row of fenced-in prayer wheels toward the
sanctuary, which was partly under renovation. We remove our shoes at the
entrance. I step over the threshold as if stepping into a vast hall of infinite size
where there is no floor and no ceiling. I feel my conceptual, thinking mind relaxing
and melting away. We are not allowed to take photographs in the sanctuary, but I
can tell you the statue of the Buddha is roughly three times my height. The first
order of business is prostrations. We each do three prostrations facing the chair of
the head monk. We then turn and do three prostrations toward the huge statue in
front. Everything is very quiet and peaceful. I feel the familiar threads of historic
events again and I am in a bit of a daze.
31
Lama Dorji led us down a hallway toward the archives. I was thrilled! A private
viewing of the relics! I had no idea what to expect. This is a series of rooms with
thousands of ancient relics that belong in a museum, but it feels more like an old
storage room. Breathlessly, we walked past hundreds of dusty artifacts, statues,
sacred ritual instruments, photographs, and weapons of a bygone age. This was like
touring an attic filled with priceless and ancient relics, a thousand years old,
including rocks containing clear footprints of saints that had meditated in the
horse’s head caves. Sadly, no photographs were permitted.
32
There was a buzz of intense discussion in Dzongkha as we discovered a famous
Tulku was in residence at the monastery today. My sister requested an audience
with him, and a few minutes later received notice that we would be able to meet
him and receive his blessing. Gyelse Jigme Tenzin Wangpo Rinpoche is an
important young Trulku who is recognized as the seventh reincarnation of the
highly respected fourth Desi, Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye who rebuilt the temple and
ruled Bhutan in the 17th century. Yes, remember that name. This young man was
33
identified as a Tulku at the age of five and has been schooled since then by the
high Lamas. He completed his highest-level philosophical Buddhist studies at the
age of 22 and received the title of Gyelse. He finished his three-year retreat at the
age of 25. In order to make an offering, we quickly pooled the contents of our
wallets and pockets into a wad of various sized Ngultrum bills. The colorful bills
range from .07 to $14 in value, and it happened so fast, the wad amount shall
remain forever a mystery to me. There are no coins in Bhutan.
We were ushered into an ornately appointed room in which the Tulku sat on a high
throne. I actually felt comfortable and at ease with this young man. He wore thick
glasses and spoke very little. I observed kindness, perfection, and wisdom in him,
surprising for his age. I noticed he was very balanced and in a high state of mental
and physical vibration. He gave us each a small envelope which contained a red
string called a “protection and blessing cord” which we were to tie around our
necks later. The envelope also contained a tiny little dark ball of herbs, called
rinchen rilbu or "precious medicinal pills." These are made by skilled Tibetan
Lama-doctors, using a variety of hand-collected Himalayan herbs and minerals,
infused with the power of prayers, rituals, and mantras. I popped it in my mouth
and noticed a little uplifting pleasant rush. That was the physical blessing. The
even more subtle blessing was also powerful and seems to be playing out over
subsequent months to set us on a path to a happy life in Bhutan.
I wonder, what does it mean to be awake? These high-level Lamas are very patient,
and they do not waste energy, words, or effort. Perhaps being awake might mean
one does not react to what we observe through the senses, knowing that it is
possibly impermanent, and even an illusion. I do feel a sense of equanimity in this
place. There is no pushing or pulling, no invasion, offering of spiritual advice, no
expectation. I feel patience and blessings from these people.
The rocks at Horse’s Head are full of secrets. Ongoing power battles in the 17th
century, it is said that the Father of Bhutan, the famous Zhabdrung Rinpoche
meditated and lived in these crevices. He meditated to clear the energies of the land
and to bless the sovereignty of the country. This was especially critical because his
Tibetan enemies followed him with physical attacks and magical threats. His cave
was attacked by enemies using tantric powers, destroying part of the cliff, which
resulted in blocking his cave by a huge boulder (size of a yak), which fell and
luckily missed hitting his head and killing him. Fortunately he was in deep
meditation, and his survival is considered a miracle.
34
On our way back down the mountain, it was easier walking the path in reverse. I
am aware more clearly of a deep blessing and calm in this lush forest. It comes into
my intuitive awareness that I've been here before. It was a similar day, a lunch
invitation from the presiding Rinpoche. Eight lifetimes ago it seems I was a well-
to-do Bhutanese lady in my 50’s. It was a day of blessings then too. In a sense
today I was just repeating a previous journey. Although still vague and mysterious,
the threads of power are alive, and fortunately I was able to relax my static
monkey-mind, to be quiet enough to feel the energy in my awareness even a little. I
wonder - What it is like to live so simply? The pressures of worldly life are less
demanding. What would it be like to find that quiet inside every day? I wonder -
What do these Monks, Lamas, and Rinpoches experience? How is theirs different
from mine?
Suddenly it is time for tea and Tenzin stops the car with a jolt. A big thermos
comes out and Ghalem’s beautiful China cups appear. Giggling, we walk out into
an open field for a sip of hot Suja butter tea. I feel dazed but happy, slightly
confused in an elated sense of wonder. Turns out it would take me months or even
years if ever, to connect the many threads that converged today.
35
Suja, Bhutanese Butter Tea Suja, is enjoyed many times a day. It’s as much a
nourishing soup as it is a tea. Every Bhutanese gathering includes a big pot of Suja.
Families and friends sit around hours drinking Suja with Zaw, or crispy rice.
Traditionally made by boiling twig tea, Suja is then whipped with yak or cow
butter until smooth and creamy.
Ingredients
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons loose tea, Twig, Black, or Pu-erh
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter (cow or yak)
Instructions
1. In a pot on the stove, boil half the water.
2. Add the tea and boil until it is dark.
3. Add butter, salt and the remaining water and bring to a boil again.
4. Stir with an immersion blender until frothy. Pour into a cup and enjoy.
There’s always a pot of hot Suja ready to pour for guests. The tea leaves for Suja
are woody like twig tea, dry, and brownish green, with a pleasing earthy smell.
36
Suja tea tastes best with freshly churned butter. First skim the cream off the milk
and pour it into this churn. My husband Lama D shows how to churn and sing at
the same time. He says: “It’s like a dance. You have to put your whole body into
it." Suja means “churned tea”. In olden times, making Suja was quite a task and
every household used a wooden churn to make butter for tea. Now, people use
commercial butter from India and whip it with an immersion blender.
37
Zow, Crispy Rice
In Bhutan Suja butter tea is always served with crispy Zaw. Way more fun than
Kellogg’s “Rice Crispies”, a handful of Zaw adds crunchy flavor to your tea.
Ingredients:
• 2 cups uncooked rice, red or white
• Water to cover
• 3 tablespoons butter
• Salt to taste
Instructions
1. Soak uncooked rice in water for 8 hours or overnight. Drain well.
2. Mix the rice with butter and salt.
3. Cook over low heat stirring frequently until crispy. Serve.
38
My new mother Zekom has 13 healthy cows. The best feed in the world is kitchen
vegetable cuttings, red rice hulls, and mountain foliage. Every morning she milks
them. They spend winters in Punakha where it’s warm. In the summer she walks
them on a 3-day trek to a mountain pasture near Thimphu, where it is cooler.
39
My new sister Ghalem picks chili peppers from her garden to make Ema Datshi.
Fresh cheese and butter from Zekom’s cows make it irresistibly delicious.
Chili peppers are a mainstay of the Bhutanese diet. Peppers were once a New
World food that came to Asia via Portuguese ships in the 16th century. But don’t
tell that to a Bhutanese. I wonder, what did they eat before chili peppers?
40
Butter and cheese in Bhutan are some of the purest in the world. To make butter
the old way, cream is separated from the milk and churned by hand in a wooden
churner. My mother-in-law’s homemade butter tastes like velvet. She wraps it in
palm leaves and delivers it to the family with cheese and red rice. She makes
cheese by heating the milk until it separates, and then forming cheese balls with the
solids. The cheese comes out soft with a slightly sharp flavor, like farmer’s cheese.
My cousin Damchey shows me how to do laundry. To wash a Gho, a large cloak
for her husband, she fills a big tub of water from the main hose and adds a bit of
detergent. Then she steps into it and walks to churn it for about ten minutes. Once
it is soft, she scrubs it on a rock with hand-held laundry soap to remove the tough
spots. Then she rinses it in fresh water in the tub with her feet. She turns it inside
out and hangs it on the line in the sun. Soon it is spotless and ready to wear. I
discovered that hand washing in this way is much more effective than machine
washing, which mixes everything randomly and never gets at the tough spots.
Today is the day for house cleaning and getting ready. Uncle Rinzi carries
Grandmother down the steep stairs for her bath, which happens in a big round tub
in the yard, and everybody helps. A few others are busy coloring their hair with jet
black hair color. The house is cleaned and swept with short brooms that work
amazingly well if you don’t mind stooping. Soon all is clean and quiet.
41
Ema Datshi, Chili and Cheese
The delicious national dish of Bhutan is this easy 10-minute meal made with chili
peppers “ema” and cheese “datshi”.
Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons fresh cow or yak butter
• 1/2 onion bulb, sliced
• 1/2 cup water
• 10-15 pieces of red or green chilis, sliced
• 1 ball of fresh Bhutanese or farmer’s cheese (1/2 cup)
• Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Melt butter in a thick pot. Sauté onion till translucent.
2. Add water, chilies, salt, and cheese, and cook until cheese melts.
3. When the cheese melts, stir everything to combine.
4. Check for salt. Serve with red rice.
42
43
To make a hot stone bath, you’ll need a heavy wooden tub with a compartment for
hot rocks at one end. Heat the rocks in a roaring fire until they glow red hot. Fill
the tub with water, then place hot rocks in the side panel of the tub. The hot rocks
quickly heat the water. It feels divine! Take a deep breath now, you’re in heaven!
Bhutan's traditional stone bath (Dotsho) is by far the best way to rejuvenate tired
muscles. My nieces Kyizom (Gathering of Stars) and Sangay Chukey enjoy a hot
stone bath called “Dotsho”. The penetrating heat of the water, along with minerals
from the stones and local Artemisia herbs combine to soothe muscle pain, joints,
digestion, and even arthritis. After a hot stone bath, deep sleep comes easily.
44
Target Market:
From the Kingdom of Happiness
The market for this book is anyone who enjoys travel, nature, culture, and healthy food. This
includes National Geographic armchair travelers who love stories and great photos. The market
is especially anyone interested in visiting Bhutan, and all cooks who enjoy Asian flavors.
“Asian Cuisine” has recently been declared one of the top food trends for 2019. So the target
market includes people of all ages curious about Asian foods, anyone interested in healthy foods,
lifestyles, and all those who embrace clean foods free of processed, industrial ingredients.
Google Search Trends shows a stable and rapidly growing market for terms “Asian Cuisine”
and “Healthy Food”. Log into google, click this link: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?
Tourism is on the rise in Bhutan.
In 2017, 250,000 foreign visitors spent $80 million US dollars in Bhutan. Over 50% of them
were highly educated with a master’s degree, and 35% a bachelor’s degree. This graph from the
2017 Bhutan Tourism Monitor show rapidly increasing tourism in Bhutan each year.
45
The following graph shows international visitors to Bhutan by country. The largest percentage is
American, at 16.6 percent, indicating this is a good target market. The market for this book
includes visitors from other English-speaking countries such as UK, Australia, and Canada,
which are well represented among Bhutan travelers.
46
How I Will Market:
From the Kingdom of Happiness
I plan to market this book to the same organizations I offer my Buddha Speaks series. I will sell
it to followers of my healing tours and workshops online, in Bhutan, and Bali. I will feature it on
our websites, blogs and Facebook groups. We will offer it to our web subscribers and tourists
with our travel company, White Tiger Bhutan Tours. We will offer it at my husband, Lama
Dungtsho’s Power Dharma workshops online, in Bhutan and Bali. We will promote it through
an international network of friends and followers through the following links:
Our Websites:
Healing Website: FiveSeasonsMedicine.com
Coming soon, Tour Company: www.WhiteTigerBhutan.com
Coming soon: www.BuddhaSpeaks.com
Coming soon: Lama Dungtsho Buddhist Teachings: www.PowerDharma.com
Bhutan mobile: +975-1796-7830
Our Facebook pages:
facebook.com/jane.Barthelemy
facebook.com/srijana1080
facebook.com/whitetigerbhutan/
facebook.com/JanesHealthyKitchen/
facebook.com/PaleoDesserts/
facebook.com/Lama.dungtsho
facebook.com/Lama.
I will publish articles and buy advertisements in top travel magazines.
• InFlight Magazines
• National Geographic and National Geographic Traveler
• Travel + Leisure
• Conde Nast Traveler
• Afar Magazine
• International Living
• Robb Report
• Food and Travel
• Global Travel
• Travel 50 and Beyond
• Go World Travel Magazine
• Drift Travel Magazine
• Escapism Travel Magazine
• Lonely Planet Traveller
• Vacations & Travel Magazine
47
Comparative Titles
From the Kingdom of Happiness
These are my favorite Bhutan travel books, memoirs, and cleansing cookbooks. The competition
is limited. No one has combined Bhutan travel, culture, photography, and recipes. Or not yet…
1. Married to Bhutan: How One Woman Got Lost, Said I Do, and Found Bliss, by
Linda Leaming, Hay House, 2011. Tucked away in the eastern end of the Himalayas,
Bhutan is rich in natural beauty, a place where people are genuinely content and the
government embraces "Gross National Happiness" instead of Gross National Product.
2. Medical Medium Cleanse to Heal: Healing Plans for Sufferers of Anxiety, Depression,
Acne, Eczema, Lyme, Gut Problems, Brain Fog, Weight Issues, Migraines, Bloating, etc.
by Anthony Williams. Hay House, 2020. Recipes and life-saving cleansing protocol for
specific health needs--including an anti-bug cleanse, morning routine, heavy metal detox.
3. A Field Guide to Happiness: What I Learned in Bhutan about Living, Loving, and
Waking Up, by Linda Leaming, Hay House, 2014. Linda Leaming, a harried American
who traveled to Bhutan to teach English and unlearn her and impatient way of life.
4. Vanishing Faces of Bhutan: The Study of a Timeless Culture, by Linda Leaming
(Author), Joseph N. Barker (Photographer), Maine Authors Publishing, 2016.
The Study of a Timeless Culture provides a rare glimpse into the everyday lives of people
living in remote Himalayan villages as they go about their daily rituals: shopping,
praying, dancing, selling their produce, eating, meeting friends, celebrating, playing
archery, and working the land. between 2004 and 2007.
5. Treasures of The Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan, Hardcover, 2nd Edition, by
Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, Queen Mother of Bhutan, Penguin/Viking; 2hd Edition
2012. A captivating blend of personal memoir, history, folklore and travelogue, this book
remains the most insightful and comprehensive portrait of the Himalayan kingdom.
6. Bhutan: Through the Lens of the King, by Pavan K Varma and Malvika Singh, with
His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck - photography, Roli Books, 2012
7. Bhutan: The Land of Serenity, Paperback, by Matthieu Ricard, Thames & Hudson,
2012. “Color-drenched images capture the rainbow palette of Bhutanese weavings,
ceremonial garb, painted pottery, and wind-whipped prayer flags.”
8. Radio Shangri-La: What I Discovered on my Accidental Journey to the Happiest
Kingdom on Earth, by Lisa Napoli, Broadway Books, 2011. Lisa Napoli was in the grip
of a crisis, dissatisfied with her life and her work as a radio journalist. When a chance
encounter with a handsome stranger gave her the opportunity to move to Bhutan.
48
9. Foods of the Kingdom of Bhutan, the only Bhutan cookbook I found, by two
Americans, father and son: Ernest and Erik Nagamatsu, published by Kuensel
Corporation, 2010, Printed in Bhutan. All proceeds benefit the Tarayana Foundation and
Bhutan Foundation. Forward by her Majesty the Queen Mother Azhi Dorji Wangmo
Wangchuck, who launched the book in 2010. Available only in Bhutan. This book
provides a rare glimpse into the cuisine and culture of Bhutan, a culinary journey of 24
recipes showcasing traditional Bhutanese foods. Winner of the 2010 Gourmand World
Cookbook Award for "Best Asian Cuisine Book in the World."
10. Six Years in Bhutan, by John Stedman, Socciones Editoria Digitale, 2016
An unusual perspective on life in this remote and little-known country of BHUTAN,
based on six years spent living and working in the unique Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom.
The author gives intriguing insights into the unspoiled scenic country, culture and
lifestyle of the people, shared in a candid way but with obvious affection for those
Bhutanese he gets to know and respect. He recounts with humour and feeling his
frustrations, sense of isolation and the physical demands of living in Bhutan at a time
when communication with the outside world were difficult.
11. Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan, by Jamie Zeppa, Riverhead
Books Reissue, 2000. Jamie Zeppa was 24 when she left a stagnant life in Canada and
signed a contract to teach for two years in the Buddhist hermit kingdom of Bhutan. Much
more than just a travel memoir, Beyond the Sky and the Earth is the story of her time in a
Himalayan village. Whether you're travelling to Bhutan, looking for the best travel
writing around, or wishing to be transported to a culture, mindset, and spiritual ethos
wonderfully different from your own, Beyond the Sky and the Earth is a joyous and lush
memoir that will transform the way you think of faith, Western life, and love.
12. Set Free: A Life-Changing Journey from Banking to Buddhism in Bhutan, by Emma
Slade, Summersdale, 2017. From fast-paced City life to the stillness of Bhutan's
Himalayan mountains, Set Free is the inspiring true story of Emma's astonishing life
lived to extremes and all that that entails: work, travel, spirituality, Buddhism,
relationships, and the underlying question of what makes a meaningful life. Realizing her
view on life had profoundly changed she embarked upon a journey, discovering the
healing power of yoga and, in Bhutan, opening her eyes to a kinder, more peaceful way
of living. Emma Slade is an ordained Buddhist nun, yoga and meditation teacher, and
author based in Whitstable, Kent, but spends several months per year in Bhutan.
13. Bhutan: Himalayan Mountain Kingdom, by Francoise Pommaret, Odyssey Books &
Maps; Seventh edition, 2018. "The bible of Bhutan guide books."―Travel & Leisure
An up-to-date, in-depth introduction to Bhutanese history, culture and ecology, with a
comprehensive itinerary ranging from the major cities to the most remote monasteries.
Special sections on selected topics, literary excerpts, and gorgeous photographs make this
an essential guide to this remote, pristine mountain kingdom. Shoe-horned into the Grand
Himalayas, Bhutan is a fiercely independent kingdom that celebrated its centenary in
2008. Few outsiders know Bhutan as intimately as Françoise Pommaret.