I trust that you are well
A quick email to say a huge thanks to you (Authentic Bhutan Tours), Sonam and Choki for hosting me for the duration of my time in Bhutan.
I had the most incredible experience in your country.
Whilst I know that there is so much of Bhutan I still need to see I honestly feel that I now have a much better understanding of the country, its people and it all of its traditions.
Hotels were all wonderful and appropriate; there was always an abundance of delicious food and great service.
Sonam and Choki were professional, fun, great company, very organized, helpful and incredibly well informed.
I always felt safe, Choki is a brilliant driver.
I really appreciated them helping me find food and bowls in Bumthang so that we could feed a mom and her starving puppies that I had noticed at the hotel.
They have promised to keep an eye on them for me every time they visit the hotel.
My trip and the memories that I now have is priceless hence making it brilliant value for money.
One of the worlds best-kept secrets I hope that Bhutan is able to hold onto its magic. It is rare.
Many thanks again and it was wonderful to finally meet with you.
Warmest regards
Ms. Gelispse
关于不丹的一些感动
第一次见到Happyman是在将要离开不丹的前一天下午，我们从虎穴寺回来，Pema说Happyman想和我们见一面，我说好，那么就约在了帕罗街上的一家咖啡屋，也是我第一次坐在不丹街头咖啡店里，里面几乎都是外国人，我和朋友丁丁、向导Pema 、司机Wangchuks就坐在咖啡屋里等Happyman。
Happyman是不丹Authentic Bhutan Tour旅行社的老板，因为不丹所有的旅行都要通过旅行社，我原本想在不丹国家旅游局网站上随意寻找一家办理，却无意中搜索时发现有个中文网站有非常详细的不丹介绍，为了印证这家网站和旅行社的真实性，我去不丹国家旅游局网站找到了对应的Authentic Bhutan Tour。随后便在Jin的帮忙下制定好了不丹出行的一切。
不丹旅行成为我这么多年来，最舒适最不用操心最感动的一次旅行。过去几年，我多次走过了中国西藏、云南和四川藏区，深深爱上高原和藏族文化，因为信仰因为神秘因为向往，我寻找着与藏地相关的一切，很久前在心中就惦记着的不丹终于成行了。
在不丹的每一天，没有太多的时间概念，没有匆忙的催促，没有极好的网络玩摆手机，因为这个国家的特别，让我舍不得错过一点一滴。我们看到国王保护传统和重视教育投入，英文成为与不丹宗卡语相同地位的语言；我们看到王室成员的亲民与朴实，并受到了民众极高的尊敬和爱戴；我们穿着Kira（旗拉）行走在首都廷布，引来一路赞美的目光和声音；我们停下脚步，与不丹的孩子、学生和大人交流，了解着这个国家的人民与生活；我们在廷丹的国家体育场，看不丹男子射箭并有幸向当地朋友学习初浅射法；我们和民众僧侣在国家纪念塔转经，听他们吟诵佛经，相信信仰的力量；我们感受着不丹人民的平和给带来我们内心的平静与慈爱；我们与动物的相处就像藏传佛教中的「合睦四瑞」图，与从来不向人吠的不丹狗狗一路成为朋友；我们融入到夏宗法王的纪念日里，看唐卡展并与前来朝拜的不丹民众在寺庙里供奉和祈愿；我们在不丹国家邮局，购买收藏具有藏族特色的邮票，并将自己的头象做成邮票寄给亲爱的朋友们；我们拜访射箭时认识的不丹唐卡画冠军和他的艺术工作室，被其精湛技艺折服，被其专注而着迷；我们坐在切米拉康的诵经房里，听大小喇嘛诵读经文吹法号击大鼓，声音粗犷雄浑震撼心灵，调皮的小喇嘛让我想起蒋扬钦哲仁波切三世导演电影「高山上世界怀」中的主角小男孩；我们好奇着颠圣竹巴衮列喇嘛怎会如何疯癫突破条条框框学习佛法并让男性生殖器成为驱走邪恶的不丹象征；我们在迷人的普纳卡宗堡流连忘返，紫色的丁香花开满了整个寺院高墙；我们惊叹着一个如此落后的国家却能处处体现着干净整洁卫生；我们前往朝拜全球闻名的虎穴寺，站在寺庙的悬崖边上，内心莫名的感动泪眼朦胧；我们热爱不丹的手工艺品，精挑细选了佛象和编织品；我们坐在帕罗的Gangtey酒店前的庭院，看雪山观宗堡赏田园风光，时光岁月静好；我们感叹着这个国家的极其不发达，心中“规划”着如何才能使这个国家发展更好的同时不让传统流失；我们与导游司机讨论着如何在不丹开一家中国餐厅，最后还是火锅赢了所有菜系；我们与导游司机成为好朋友，在机场难舍难分，登机时回望这个山谷中的国家，潸然泪下。
我就像不丹旅行大使，在不丹的每一天，固定在朋友圈按主题“推送”不丹见闻，希望有更多的朋友了解这个隐藏在喜马拉雅山脉下的藏传佛教国家。
Happyman很快就到了，他的笑容很有感染力和亲和力；坐下寒暄一番后，他跟我解释为什么他叫happyman，他说他从小就很爱笑，老师说不如你的英文名就叫Happyboy吧，于是长大后他就将boy改为了man，我说为什么不是old boy，讲完又是一场长笑。我们谈教育、谈不丹国家的变化，谈与中国的政治关系，谈一切有的没的话题。末了Happyman送了我们礼物，丁丁一路念叨着，这是她收到过最珍贵的礼物。
我从来就是一个有偏见的人，也从来不写游记。Happyman说能否请我写一篇关于不丹的短文，我爽快答应了，除了感谢Happyman为了我提供了如此完美的行程，也希望你们能从我简单的文字中寻找到对不丹的向往。
Lindy Liu
2015年6月7日
We joined the Authentic Bhutan Tours for an 11-day trip to Bhutan in August. Although not the best season to visit Bhutan, we experienced the best of Bhutan during our visit. We were very pleased both with our tour guide, Ten Dorji, and his chosen driver. They were both very professional, knowledgeable, eager to share our spontaneous adventure wanderlust and enthusiasm for the odd unexpected ad hoc adventure off the beaten track.
It was amazing how Ten Dorji was able and willing to answer our constant questioning and curiosity with regard to his country’s geography, history, its people and customs. Ever willing to share as many as 20 daily hours with us (we were a tour party of two, eating, drinking, dancing, laughing and learning together), oftentimes in addition to the high quality and value of the tour itinerary. Ten Dorji’s flexible thinking and professional ideals were set to make our Bhutanese experience an exceptional and truly ‘authentic’ one. We have learned a lot and found our trip to be indeed a very humbling learning experience for us both :).
We will definitely recommend Ten Dorji’s tours to fellow travelers who share interest to travel to connect with different peoples and experience their cultures.
Dr. Diane Hui (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
Dr. Tony Dickinson (People Impact International Inc., Hong Kong)
Our trip to the Kingdom of Happiness began April 30th, 2007-May 4th, 2007. We were so excited to be able to visit and departed from Katmandu, Nepal.
On arrival in Paro, Bhutan, we cleared immigration and customs and walked outside to the pleasant sight of our names. There is where we had the good fortune of meeting Ten Dorji and his driver. We were whisked away in a very comfortable Toyota SUV and began our adventure.
Bhutan’s incredible beauty is surpassed only be the spirit of its people. English speaking, very friendly, good food, Buddhist culture, clean accommodations and all the conveniences that Western travelers expect. If the world could visit Bhutan, just maybe, we would have a chance at world peace.
We would recommend Ten Dorji for many reasons. He was always right on time. He speaks fluent English. He is a native of Bhutan and knows the history and culture. He chooses great places to visit for your once in a lifetime tour.
We were so very excited to visit Bhutan, but it wasn’t without its apprehension. Here is why, we are used to using credit cards for our trips. Bhutan doesn’t accept any credit cards, so the trip must be prepaid in cash by wiring it to the tour company’s bank account in Bhutan. This is scary. But you must trust that the country has controls set up to secure your funds. All guides are registered and very above board. We were afraid of our western culture, which could include losing all of our monies. It didn’t happen and we would gladly wire the monies to Ten Dorji again. He has a wonderful family that we met; he is very trustworthy and delivers what he promises, on time.
Please feel free to contact us for any specific questions that we might be able to help you with. We wish that we had more time to explore. Hopefully some day we can return. It is that wonderful.
David and Denise Zonker
Denver, CO, USA