We are visiting Bhutan, a peaceful and majestic kingdom tucked high away in the Eastern Himalayas. There are around 800,000 people living here, and the capital is Thimphu, which is famous for being one of the only capital cities in the world without a single traffic light! The official language is Dzongkha, and the people are known for prioritizing “Gross National Happiness” over money.

Bhutan covers about 38,394 square kilometers, or 14,824 square miles. To imagine its size, it is about half the size of Scotland, or roughly the same size as the state of Maryland in the U.S. Because it is located in the mountains, almost the entire country is made up of steep slopes and deep, green valleys.

The national sport of Bhutan is Archery, and during competitions, the archers wear traditional robes and sing and dance to distract their opponents. Their national animal is the Takin, a very strange-looking creature that looks like a mix between a cow and a goat and eats bamboo in the high mountain forests.

The flag is divided diagonally into yellow and orange sections with a large black and white dragon called the Druk positioned along the dividing line to represent the “Land of the Thunder Dragon.”

The food is very spicy! The national dish is Ema Datshi, which is made of hot chili peppers and local cheese. In Bhutan, chilies are not just used for seasoning; they are eaten as the main vegetable! They also enjoy Red Rice, which is the only type of rice that can grow at such high altitudes.

Bhutan is the only country in the world that is carbon negative, which means its vast forests absorb more pollution than the entire country produces! It is also home to the Tiger’s Nest Monastery, a beautiful temple built right onto the side of a sheer cliff over 3,000 feet above the valley floor. High in the mountains sits Gangkhar Puensum, which is the highest unclimbed mountain in the world; the people of Bhutan consider the peaks to be sacred homes for spirits, so climbing them is not allowed. Another interesting thing is that instead of drawing eyes on their houses, many people paint giant, colorful phalluses on the walls of their homes to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck!

From the misty mountain peaks to the colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind, Bhutan is a land of magic and peace. Kadrin chhe! That means “Thank you!”