Saturday, November 7, 2009

Gay Travel Tips for Bhutan

By Howie Holben

Tucked between Tibet and India in a remote region of the Himalayan Mountains, lies a tiny Buddhist kingdom called Bhutan. Visitors to this spiritually and culturally-rich country will find a simpler way of life that is largely unaltered by Western culture and modern attitudes. Every aspect of life in Bhutanese villages and towns is steeped in the age-old traditions, beliefs, customs and practices of Buddhism, which is the basis of this countrys conservative, traditional way of life.

To this end, the number of tour groups and tourists allowed to visit Bhutan each year is limited. While Bhutanese culture is very conservative and traditional, the warm, friendly Bhutanese people welcome gay travel tours, just as they would any other guest to their country. Due to the limited tourism allowed, anyone who has the opportunity to travel to this mystical mountain kingdom should take full advantage of experiencing all that the country of Bhutan has to offer.

Bhutan has no LGBT scene to speak of; therefore, a gay vacation planned to this magnificent mountain kingdom would certainly not be planned with the intent of experiencing a distinct LGBT community or visiting LGBT establishments. Of course, this is not to say that same-gender behaviors and relationships do not occur. These activities are actually common and accepted and there is a significant amount of bisexual sexual behavior practiced among Bhutanese men.

There is a noted level of bisexual behavior among men, most of who are either married to women or monastic monks, and this is not considered taboo. There is technically a very old law on the books in Bhutan that states that homosexual activity is punishable by imprisonment with the possibility of a life sentence; however, most residents are not even aware of this law and there are no records of it ever being enforced.

Choosing gay vacations to Bhutan opens visitors up to a chance to fully experience a culture that has been isolated from the outside world until just three decades ago. From hiking in the majestic Himalayas to visiting mountainside Buddhist monasteries and exploring the valleys below, Bhutan is an ideal atmosphere for a spiritual renewal or awakening.

To truly experience Bhutan, visit this majestic land as part of organized gay travel tours, which will ensure that you have the opportunity to fully discover this beautiful, spiritual country, while respecting the local culture and traditions.

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