Bhutan: A Place for
Travellers and Magicians
|
Few
people could answer even the most basic trivia questions on the
isolated mountain kingdom of Bhutan. And for centuries, that's exactly
the way the deeply religious Bhutanese have liked it.
|
By Rod Eime
 |
The
mountainous and majestic kingdom of Bhutan
|
Only in the last decade or so has the
Kingdom of Bhutan opened even slightly to the outside world.
Tourists arrive in an orderly, metered
trickle with numbers deliberately regulated to preserve the cultural
and religious integrity of the tiny country.
Even though modernisation is taking place
gradually and carefully, the focus is on communication infrastructure,
health and social projects. Nowhere is there a garish western fast-food
outlet or gaudy franchise to be seen.
However, Bhutan has begun delicately
exporting its cultural heritage and complicated belief system via the
medium of film.
Acclaimed filmmaker and revered Bhutanese
lama, Khyentse Norbu (pictured below), has tantalised international
audiences with his two recent productions, The Cup (1999)
and Travellers and Magicians (2003).
Acutely aware of the power and stigma of
modern "Hollywood" style filmmaking, Norbu believes he can use a more
subtle and romantic approach to convey the respectful and pious message
of his country without employing crass evangelism.
"People automatically associate film with
money, sex, and violence because there are so many such films coming
out of Hollywood and Bollywood," says Norbu, "but if only they had
access to films by the likes of Ozu, Satyajit Ray, Antonioni, people
would understand that film-making doesn't have to be like that. In fact
it is a tool. Film is a medium and Buddhism is a science. You can be a
scientist and at the same time, you can be a film-maker."
 |
Bhutanese
filmmaker
Khyentse Norbu
|
By all accounts, Norbus's sensitive
portrayal of Dondup, a young government official stationed in a remote
outpost from which he is eager to escape, has touched viewers with its
sheer vitality and powerful storytelling. His cautionary tale of morality and
misplaced desires is completely in keeping with the teachings of
Buddhism and the national psyche of Bhutan. Following on the overwhelming success of his
previous two journeys, Adventure Associates Founder, Mr Dennis
Collaton, is planning a third group tour to the fabled land of
Shangri-La in April 2005.
"Even after a lifetime of travel to every
continent on Earth," says Dennis, "nothing prepared me for the
spectacle of Bhutan."
Bhutan is truly one of the last remaining
outposts available to the world-weary traveller. Parochial without
being backward and introspective without the paranoia or hostility, the
Bhutanese are free of the many stresses and anxieties that plague us in
the so-called 'modern' world.
Interested in travelling to Bhutan?
Visit TravelBhutan.com
|
