Mountain passes and prayer flags of Bhutan

Bhutan – it’s not a place that ranks high on people’s travel lists, perhaps because the country does not really push hard for tourism and instead attempts to protect its culture and heritage by limiting foreign influence. And yet, I found myself there this past January after years upon years of dreaming up a trip.

The human mind has a way of building dreams up, and Bhutan was (and is) my dream. So, inevitably, I had built it up in my head and went with sky high expectations of what the country would offer. Top of the list? Peace, happiness, and beautiful views of the Himalayas with the unadulterated traces of Buddhism that are nowhere to be found. And trust me when I say, this small but magnificent country did not disappoint. Instead, it further solidified my desire to spend a part of my life there, unlearning the commercialism and learning their peaceful way of life.

I’d like to take you through my journey one day at a time, tell you about all the places I visited, sights I saw, lessons I learnt, and emotions I felt. But before I do that, I want to share with you a sliver of the peace I felt there – adorned as a poem that just wrote itself as the ink flowed through my pen. I want to share with you the essence of human spirit, a glimpse if you will, of the hidden soul of this world.

Chelela Pass

Unaware of the winter chill and the snow on the ground
Unaffected by the loneliness or the crowd
Prayer flags at Chelela Pass stand strong
Often embracing you as you walk on

You’d think ~4000 meters is too high
But these flags exist because someone tried
To ensure that their prayers for the world are shared
With all sentient beings, whether happy or in despair

The selfless act of planting the flag
Often masked as a tourist act
Speaks of the soul of this world
As a prayer with each flag unfurls