This night I woke up with stomach pain…too much good food yesterday...
I could not go back to sleep…
A few days ago a friend sent me a link to a website of a journey of a Swiss choir
on a singing tour in Bhutan. I had not had the time to watch it, so instead of turning around in my bed I decided to look at it.
http://www.rts.ch/emissions/passe-moi-les-jumelles/4274211-un-choeur-au-bhoutan.html
The moment I saw the first images of the Swiss group arriving in Paro airport/Bhutan…I could smell the fresh air, I remembered the mountains, the smiling faces…
I felt homesick!
Every
day I miss Tho and my children so much and I am looking forward so much to see them soon again!
This is my last week in Hue. Next monday I'll go back to Bhutan,
My program is so packed until I leave, I will have no
time to be too home sick for Tho, my children, grandchildren….and Bhutan,
Vietnam and Bhutan truly are so different! And yet the same!
Different in geography, demography, history, development,
And both are wonderful countries in which my heart has found a home:)
Vietnam/Bhutan are ONE:
Here in Hue, Vietnam we are at sea level altitude (I think even under sea level).
In Timphu, Bhutan we are at
2500m altitude and the highest peaks are over 7000m
In Vietnam agriculture is so rich: rice, vegetables, fruit, fish
In Bhutan only 2% of the land is agricultural land
Vietnam has 2500km of coastline
along the ocean
Bhutan mountains mountains mountains, no ocean
Vietnam is very densly populated 80.000 000 inhabitants.
Bhutan has about 700 000 inhabitants
Vietnam was
colonised by the French.
Bhutan never was colonised
Vietnam suffered from long complicated wars, with the French, Japanese, Americans and before Chinese.
Bhutan did not have a war for very long
time
Vietnam was an empire and is now a socialist republic.
Bhutan is a democracy with a very Beloved King (A King like in England)
Vietnam has had many influences over centuries: Chinese,
French, Russian, Communist, Japan, Americans etc, when you visit Hoi An the old town there are houses Portuguese style, Japanese style, Chinese style etc
Bhutan has been very isolated and cut off from foreign influence
Vietnam develops fast…with no (clear) guideline (?)…? Sorry for this remark, but I do not understand how Vietnam envisions development. But actually Vietnam develops according to GDP guidelines and this gives a chaotic impression...?
Bhutan develops very slowly, step by step with GNH as a guideline
Vietnam's GDP is rising
Bhutan's GNH is rising:)
Bhutan is very conscious of environment
Vietnam…?
In Bhutan buddhism is "State religion" and very present in every day life
In Vietnam, buddhism, catholicism and other religions are private matters
Bhutan has a no car day
Unthinkable
in Vietnam:)
Bhutanese cuisine is simple:)
Vietnamese cuine is very elaborate:)
But the rivers in Vietnam come from Bhutan (or Tibet)...the air, the earth, the sun is just ONE:)
I
know if I walk steadily up the rivers I'll always be on the same mother earth,breathe the same air, feel the same sun and rain:)
And the joys, the pains, the laughter, the tears, the friendship, the hopes, the people are just the same everywhere:)
At last Bhutan/Vietnam for me are ONE
Ps Our Nephew An Lac is making a PHD study of the different approaches to development between Vietnam/Bhutan...surely very interesting to read!