Bhutan, The Happiest Country in the World

What a beautiful country! The rivers are actually blue and not polluted.

Bhutan claims to be the happiest country in the world. They measure Gross National Happiness. They have free healthcare and education. There are no homeless people or beggars as those in need are taken care of. Produce grown in the country is organic and there is a push to build greenhouses so that produce does not need to be imported, which may not be organic. They are the first carbon negative country in the world, with all energy being renewable and enough produced to export energy to India.

The first Covid death was in January 2021 and there were only a total of 20-40 deaths for the entire pandemic. As soon as news of a possible pandemic was known, everyone wore masks. People who lost their jobs were taken care of. Young volunteers took food to elderly. Even the stray dogs were fed and also sterilized, as the could be caught when they came for food. The entire country was vaccinated with volunteers hiking to remote villages when necessary.

Tourism is encouraged but limited and all tourists must go on a tour. Our tour consisted of Bill, me, the guide and driver. Bhutan does not want the effects of too may tourists and those not respectful of the country. They do not allow mountain climbing after seeing how Everest has been defiled by climbers with dead bodies and trash. The Bhutanese consider mountains as sacred and not something to be conquered.

Traditional arts, dress and architecture are encouraged.