Hanging with the Queen

As I have been such a poor blogger in days gone by, I have decided to rehash some of my experiences to give this blog some more depth.

Below is a snapshot of thoughts and experiences relating to my time with the Queen which occured in my third week of arrival in Bhutan.

Hangin’ with the Queen

For those of you who don’t know Bhutan is the last remaining Buddist kingdom in the world. It ruled by a king who has four wives – and wait for it – they are all sisters! He is quite a remarkable leader to be honest and despite the apparently unusual practice of polygamy – he has put his wives to good work!

To some extent ‘The Queens’ are all advocates for one cause or another. If you can imagine the good work that Lady Diana did with promoting HIV and AIDS in the 1980’s, multiply that by four and include issues including youth, the environment, culture, the aged, the disadvantaged, and health, you can see the potential positive impact that high profile support can provide to the country.

It was this high level support for Bhutan’s HIV/AIDS campaign and for women’s issues, that gave me the opportunity to join with the youngest Queen entourage in my third week of being in Bhutan. Honestly, if I thought the ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ was to come to Bhutan as a volunteer for three months, then this opportunity in my third week was something else!

I joined the Queen – Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck - and her entourage as part of a one week tour to Bumthang. Bumthang is one of the most beautiful and spiritually sacred regions within the country. She was touring to have public meetings with the villagers and promote health messages, take feedback from her subjects and also to celebrate International Women’s Day.

I was the only foreigner and was basically an honourary ‘sister’ or handmaiden. There were some other women there as part of her advocacy work for women within Bhutan so I was with them and had an honorary role with them and joined the queen for most meals and meetings. It really was something else. I was honoured to be there, and to witness the Bhutanese love for their Queen, her genuine concern for them and how the culture worked from an inside perspective. I don’t think many chilops get to have this chance.

It was an honour and certainly shaped my opinion of the royal family, the Bhutanese people and the warmheartedness they show for one another. Upon reflection I would often think other world leaders should come here and take a look at a different way of leading.

I am sure this spirit of Bhutan, along with their policy of Gross National Happiness before Gross National Profit, can show the world an alternative way of a functioning society.

Tashi Delek