1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:06,519 Speaker 1: You're listening to Part Time Genius, the production of Kaleidoscope 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: and iHeartRadio. 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 2: Guess what, Mango? What's that? Will? All right? I know 4 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 2: we've got this long list of all the places we 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 2: want to go, but one of the places I've always 6 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 2: wanted to go but I've heard can get pretty pricey 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: actually is Bhutan. Now, I know this is on your 8 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 2: list as well, and we've always wanted to do an 9 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 2: episode here. But anyone who knows anything about Bhutan knows 10 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 2: that the Himalayan kingdom is known for being gorgeous and pristine, 11 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: but it also has a reputation for being pretty expensive. 12 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 2: And that's because, with only a handful of exceptions, foreign 13 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 2: tours who visit the country are required to pay a 14 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 2: fixed amount for every single day that they spend there. 15 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 2: It's typically the equivalent of about two hundred and fifty 16 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: dollars a day, or what they call the sustainable development fee. 17 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: But once you get past the initial sticker shock, it 18 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: actually works out to be a pretty good deal. You know. 19 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: I obviously study abroad into Pollitoba, and like I knew 20 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: it was a expensive and especially as a student, it 21 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: felt like just exorbitant, But I had no idea. It 22 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: could actually be a good deal. Yeah. 23 00:01:05,959 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, the price not only covers meals and accommodations, it 24 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,880 Speaker 2: also provides you with a state appointed tour guide as 25 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 2: well as a car and a driver to help get around. 26 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 2: So that price down when you think about its. 27 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 1: Feel incredible, especially like, you know, considering it's a pretty 28 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: small country, getting a car to drive around is pretty amazing. 29 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. The whole of Bhutan is less than half the 30 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 2: size of the state of Indiana, And as you know, 31 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 2: I always like to measure things in Indiana's you know, 32 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 2: whether I'm eating a meal and it's like one one 33 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 2: millionth of an Indiana or whatever it may be. Anyway, 34 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,960 Speaker 2: but you're right, the fee structure helps prevent the country 35 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 2: from being overrun by tourists. So, for instance, there's this 36 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: whole subculture of budget travelers who backpack all over Asia 37 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: on the cheap, and there's this unofficial route that they 38 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 2: tend to follow called the Banana Pancake Trail. Have you 39 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 2: heard of this? 40 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 1: I have had banana pancakes in that reason, but but 41 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 1: I didn't realize there was a trail. 42 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 2: It's yeah, a little bit well, I mean it's sort 43 00:01:57,680 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 2: of along those lines. There's a lot of street vendors 44 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 2: and guesthouses that cater this crowd and serve banana pancakes 45 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: for breakfast, which seems like a fantastic idea. And the 46 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: Pancake Trail runs through Nepal and into China, but rather tellingly, 47 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: it avoids Bhutan, and that's because the high fixed price 48 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,239 Speaker 2: for visitors tends to price out the bargain backpackers there. 49 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 1: I loved idea this like Hansolin Gretel, like like banana 50 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 1: trail that's just waiting for you. Uh. But I assume 51 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: all of this is by design, right, They're trying to 52 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: keep people out. 53 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 2: It definitely is. And for the longest time, Bhutan was 54 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 2: completely closed off to foreign visitors because the government worried 55 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 2: that foreign influence would erode the unique culture and sort 56 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: of rekavoc on the environment there. And while the country 57 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: did eventually open its borders in the nineteen seventies, it 58 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 2: remained extremely selective about the kinds of tourists that it welcomes. 59 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 2: The Bhutanese government calls this policy quote high value, low 60 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 2: impact tourism, and it's a big reason why Bhutan's air, water, 61 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 2: and landscapes remain untouched, even with hundreds of thousands of 62 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 2: tourists passing through every single year. Day's episode, we thought 63 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 2: we'd sneak into this pristine country and tore you through 64 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: some of Bhutan's most fun facts. So put on your 65 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 2: hiking shoes, it's time to dive in. Hey, their podcast listeners, 66 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: welcome to Part Time Genius. I'm Will Pearson and as 67 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 2: always I'm joined by my good friend Mangesh hot Ticket 68 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 2: and on the other side of the soundproof glass wearing 69 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: a hat with a scrawny looking dragon, I think on wheels, 70 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 2: that's our friend and producer Dylan Fagan. Now, at first 71 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: I thought Dylan had lost the plot a bit wearing 72 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 2: such a random hat, But then I realized that's not 73 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 2: just any odd looking dragon. That's the same one that's 74 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 2: on the front and center of the Butan Knese flag. 75 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 2: Now did you catch that Mango? 76 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: I could actually tell by those four round jewels clutched 77 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: in the dragon's feet. They kind of look like he's 78 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: on wheels and he can't keep his balance. But I 79 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 1: do love it. It is pretty distinctive and adorable. 80 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 2: He's got such good taste at Dylan, So Bhutan's national 81 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 2: symbol is a thunder dragon or druk, and it's a 82 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 2: big deal. In Bhutanese mythology. The druk is associated with 83 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 2: these fierce storms that often roll in from the Himalayas, 84 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 2: and according to legend, the sound of the thunder is 85 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 2: actually the dragon roaring. 86 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: It's also the country's namesake, right, Like, I feel like 87 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: I've read that Bhutan literally means thunder dragon. 88 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 2: You know, that's actually what I thought too, But the 89 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 2: truth is that nobody really knows what Bhutan means. The 90 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 2: best guess is that it's an adaptation of a Sanskrit 91 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: phrase meaning the end or edge of Tibet. But it's 92 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 2: kind of beside the point because the Bhutanese themselves don't 93 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,719 Speaker 2: use that name anyway. They call their country Druk Yule. 94 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:53,840 Speaker 2: Now that's a name that translates to land of the 95 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 2: thunder Dragon, which is much cooler than the edge of Tibet, 96 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: don't you think? 97 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, totally. It's definitely cooler for your country known by 98 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 1: this awesome mythical creature than like being some other country's 99 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: boundary line. 100 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: I think I think that's safe to say. Alrightego, So 101 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 2: we're headed to Baton, where do you want to start today? 102 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: Well, one of the most interesting things to me about 103 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,839 Speaker 1: Bhutan is that everyone is encouraged to think about death 104 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: there at least three times a day, including anyone who's 105 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 1: there on vacation. 106 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: Really, I mean that feels a little more of it, 107 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 2: especially if you're on vacation. But Bhutan's considered one of 108 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 2: the happiest places on Earth, right I remember us covering 109 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:32,919 Speaker 2: them in an episode. It's been quite some time, but 110 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:33,719 Speaker 2: do you remember. 111 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 1: That, right? Yeah, we did the Happiest Place on Earth 112 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 1: episode forever ago, and people can go back and listen 113 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 1: to it. But Bhutan's definitely made a lot of news 114 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: over the last few decades for developing something called the 115 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:48,520 Speaker 1: GNH or Gross National Happiness Index, And the way it 116 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: works is that a government commission goes out every five 117 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:53,599 Speaker 1: years or so and knocks on the doors to conduct 118 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: a big survey, and they actually ask one hundred and 119 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 1: fifty different questions that are designed to gauge whether a 120 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: person is happy or not, and then the government studies 121 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: the results and factors them into various aspects of public policy. 122 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 1: It's pretty cool and unique. Actually, less than eight hundred 123 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: thousand people live in Bhutan, But according to the most 124 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: recent report from twenty twenty two, a staggering ninety three 125 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: point six percent of them define themselves as either narrowly, 126 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: extensively or deeply happy. 127 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 2: Isn't that amazing? Wow? That is amazing. And yet these 128 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 2: are the people encouraging me to think about dying while 129 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 2: I'm on vacation. 130 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. So, one thing the gnah's report doesn't tell you 131 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 1: is that part of the secret to this national happiness 132 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,479 Speaker 1: is purposely thinking about death each and every day, so 133 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:41,760 Speaker 1: once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and actually 134 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: once at night. And that's because the Bhutanese attitude towards 135 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: death is pretty different. Like in the West, we try 136 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: to avoid thinking about it as much as possible, because 137 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 1: you know, we're scared of it. But in Bhutan, they 138 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: recognize that shying away from the reality to death can 139 00:06:56,760 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: often be more painful than facing it head on. And 140 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,080 Speaker 1: because of this cultural mindset that they have, you can 141 00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: actually spot reminders of death just about everywhere you go, 142 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: so some of them are hard to miss, like these 143 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: gorgeous artistic depictions of you know, wrathful deities, or things 144 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,360 Speaker 1: like piles of skulls that turn up in Buddhist iconography. 145 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: But they are also subtle reminders, including lovely memorials called sasas. 146 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: And they look like these small cylindrical cones, and they're 147 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: painted white or red or gold, and they're actually molded 148 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:31,280 Speaker 1: from clay mixed with the ashes of a loved one. 149 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: And you see rows of them all over the country, 150 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: lined up on prayer walls, or like nestled in public 151 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: parks and squares, and even on cliff sides way up 152 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: in the mountains. 153 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: And that's all super interesting, But I'm curious, how does 154 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 2: any of this actually make people happier? 155 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: So maybe if we tie into Western science, it might 156 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 1: make a little more sense. There was a study at 157 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: the University of Kentucky, and this was back in two 158 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: thousand and seven, but the psychologists there split a few 159 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: dozen students into two groups. Now, one group was instructed 160 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: to think about a painful visit to the dentist, and 161 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:03,119 Speaker 1: the other was asked to contemplate their own death. 162 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 2: So it's kind of a horrible time for everybody involved, 163 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 2: it seems. 164 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know. But here's the thing. So the death 165 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:14,160 Speaker 1: thinkers later reported feeling happier and more fulfilled compared to 166 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:17,720 Speaker 1: the dental group. And here's what's fascinating. When asked to 167 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: complete a series of stem words, the death group was 168 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: far more likely to construct these positive words. So you 169 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: get a prompt like a jo and then a blank, 170 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: and they'd write things like joy, while the other group 171 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: would form words like job. And this led researchers to 172 00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: conclude that quote, death is a psychologically threatening fact, but 173 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: when people contemplate it, the automatic coping system begins to 174 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: search for happy thoughts. 175 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 2: Oh that's super interesting. So maybe the botanies are actually 176 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 2: onto something here. 177 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, the idea really goes back to the 178 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: foundation of all these Buddhist teachings, which is that everything 179 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: changes and nothing is permanent. So the thinking is that 180 00:08:56,640 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: the more we make peace with our own impermanence, the 181 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: more like we are to appreciate everything in the present. 182 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 2: Just to be clear here, your first travel tip for 183 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 2: visiting Bhutan is to think about death three times a day. 184 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 2: Do I have that right? 185 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:12,959 Speaker 1: At least three times a day. You can do more 186 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: than that if you know more. Okay, just know you 187 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 1: should probably pace yourself. Will what are you gonna talk 188 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: about next? 189 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,319 Speaker 2: All right, we've talked about death now, Mango let's talk 190 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 2: about stamps. So we're off to just a crazy start here. Now. 191 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 2: One of the things that's really fascinating is that Bhutan 192 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 2: has some of the most beautiful stamps in the world. 193 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:35,440 Speaker 2: It has this interesting story behind it, actually, which I 194 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 2: learned from a magazine called Works that Work. Anyway, the 195 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 2: story goes, button really didn't have a postal service before 196 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 2: the nineteen sixties, but in nineteen sixty two it launches 197 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 2: this tiny little post office and a town on the 198 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 2: border with India. Now the country also opens up its 199 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 2: first paved road and kickstarts other types of infrastructure changes 200 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 2: there and really starts to open itself up to the 201 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 2: world a little bit more. Right, So at this time 202 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 2: it's it started to be less of a hermit kingdom. Yeah, 203 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,400 Speaker 2: that's exactly right. And it was around this time it 204 00:10:04,440 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 2: applies to the World Bank to fund these modernization programs 205 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 2: and to build more things like hospitals, to also build 206 00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 2: an airport, and the country gets rejected. There. Now, one 207 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:16,200 Speaker 2: of the people who's advising on the loan is this 208 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 2: American entrepreneur and friend of the royal family named Bert Todd, 209 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 2: and he comes up with this alternate scheme like why 210 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,520 Speaker 2: don't we start selling stamps to make a few million 211 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,439 Speaker 2: dollars and then start putting that into the economy. 212 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,600 Speaker 1: But that feels hard, right, Like Bhutan doesn't have a 213 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,720 Speaker 1: postal system, people aren't sending mail within the country, so 214 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 1: like why stamps. 215 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 2: Well, he wants to make a collector's market around the world. 216 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 2: And to be fair, the Bhutanese themselves are skeptical that 217 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: this will work, but they have another reason for okaying 218 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 2: the project. As this tiny nation that sits between India 219 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 2: and China, two countries that kind of have a history 220 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 2: of annexing neighbor states, Bhutan has a little anxiety about 221 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:57,839 Speaker 2: maintaining its independence and stamps are kind of a way 222 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 2: to raise their international profile. So his works that work 223 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,959 Speaker 2: puts it quote, even if stamps failed to generate substantial funding, 224 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,839 Speaker 2: they could help to build awareness of the country, raising 225 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,880 Speaker 2: at least political capital. And so Todd sets up this 226 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 2: Bhutan Stamp Agency and he does this from the Bahamas 227 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:16,960 Speaker 2: because he wanted to really focus on selling the stamps internationally. 228 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 2: And the stamps that come out are incredible. Now, some 229 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 2: serious stamp collectors look down on these Bhutanese stamps for 230 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 2: being a little too gimmicky, but Bhutan ends up creating 231 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 2: the first metal stamp, the first three D stamp, the 232 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 2: first scented stamp, ended up making a stamp called the 233 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 2: Talking Stamp that you could play on a record play. 234 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 2: I mean, they got really creative here and had Bhutanese 235 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 2: voices and folk songs along with these, and so decades 236 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 2: later a stamp that works on a CD Rahm came out. 237 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 2: But anyway, today the stamps are commissioned by the Bhutanese themselves, 238 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 2: and they are really gorgeous and also they're still very 239 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,520 Speaker 2: unusual there of course, beautiful stamps of animals and the 240 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 2: first textured sort of brushstroke painted stamp. But also you'll 241 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 2: never guess what the best selling stamp right now is. 242 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: Like a stamp of Lebron James or like a like 243 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: a Korean boy band. 244 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 2: You nailed it, Mango, It's Lebron And now it's actually 245 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 2: a series of stamps with fallises on it. Now apparently 246 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,560 Speaker 2: fallises are a common motif and Boutanese art and as 247 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 2: a way of warding off evil spirits, and they're considered 248 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 2: funny and naughty around the world. So the series from 249 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 2: twenty thirteen sells a ton abroad. I'm just gonna show 250 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 2: you a few pictures here, but you can imagine, like 251 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 2: you can know the people all around the world just 252 00:12:30,040 --> 00:12:32,079 Speaker 2: being like, that's funny that that's what they put on 253 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 2: their stamps. I'm gonna buy some, right. 254 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 1: You are not joking. These are amazing. 255 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 2: No, this is for real. And actually, one detail that's 256 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 2: really cute from the article is that there's basically one 257 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 2: person who's responsible for all the art and design of 258 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 2: the stamps, and his favorite thing to do is go 259 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 2: to the post office and watch tourists gawk at the 260 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 2: stamps and watch which ones they're most drawn to, and 261 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,920 Speaker 2: then he comes up with a few new ideas, which 262 00:12:55,960 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 2: is I don't know, I just think it's kind of 263 00:12:57,320 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 2: sweet and wonderful. 264 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,599 Speaker 1: Oh I love the So for my next fact, I 265 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,320 Speaker 1: want to talk about mountaineering and Bhutan and did you 266 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: know it's actually against the law to climb a mountain there? 267 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 2: I did not. 268 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: Apparently the peaks are considered sacred ground because they're home 269 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: to gods and spirits, so they don't want a bunch 270 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 1: of mountaineers trapesing through and wrecking the. 271 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 2: Place, which makes sense, you know, when you consider the 272 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,920 Speaker 2: amount of trash that's left on mountain trails these days, 273 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,960 Speaker 2: and I know places like Mount Kilmanjaro Mount Everest have 274 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 2: had serious issues with litter, especially in recent years with 275 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 2: so many people visiting there, and it's just really sad 276 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:30,880 Speaker 2: to see this happening. 277 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, people sometimes refer to Everest as the world's highest 278 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: garbage dump because of all the canisters and tents and 279 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: food containers that people abandoned on the way, which is horrible, 280 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 1: and of course Bhutan is trying to avoid this. So 281 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,000 Speaker 1: people used to be able to climb mountains in Bhutan. 282 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: In fact, despite the objections of local religious groups, you 283 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: could previously climb any mountain that you wanted. But in 284 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety four the government finally bowed to pressure within 285 00:13:56,040 --> 00:13:58,960 Speaker 1: the country and banned the climbing of all mountains higher 286 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,839 Speaker 1: than nineteen thousand, eight hundred feet, and then in two 287 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 1: thousand and three it settled the matter for good by 288 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: by banning mountaineering altogether. So while plenty of climbers have 289 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: actually conquered Bhutan's peaks in the past, it's unlikely that 290 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: anyone will do it again, at least legally. But that said, 291 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 1: there is one mountain left in the country that's believed 292 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: to have never been successfully scaled by humans. It's called 293 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 1: gun Car Puensum and at twenty four thousand, eight hundred 294 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: and thirty six feet, it is the highest mountain in 295 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: Bhutan and the fortieth highest mountain worldwide. But most impressively, 296 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: it's also thought to be the world's highest unclimbed mountain, 297 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: and because of Bhutan's ban, it probably always will be. 298 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 2: I actually wouldn't have guessed that there even would be 299 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 2: a mountain that hadn't been climbed at some point in 300 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 2: the world. So I really love that. 301 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:48,120 Speaker 1: I was. 302 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 2: I kind of hope that's where all the abominable snowmen. 303 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 2: And yet you have their annual conferences. I'm guessing that's 304 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 2: where they gather. 305 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, definitely a gathering place for them. 306 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 2: All right. Well, Bhutan might straddle the line between old 307 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 2: and new in most ways, but when it comes to fashion, 308 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 2: the country is firmly planted in the past. And that's 309 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 2: because there's actually a mandatory national dress code that's meant 310 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 2: to help preserve its cultural heritage. Basically, if you work 311 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 2: in the public sector, it's compulsory to wear traditional Bhutanese 312 00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,840 Speaker 2: clothing every single day, and for everyone else, the outfits 313 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 2: are only required on certain occasions, like visiting a government office, 314 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 2: attending a formal event, or participating in a religious ceremony. 315 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I actually saw that this applies to the 316 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:32,880 Speaker 1: tourist industry as well. So when you meet that guide 317 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: that you were talking about in the capitol, they definitely 318 00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: won't be wearing blue jeans, that's. 319 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 2: Right, But I can tell you what they will be 320 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 2: wearing instead. So for Bhutanese men, the traditional attire is 321 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 2: called the go, which is kind of a woven kneelengk 322 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 2: robe that's wrapped around your body and secured by this 323 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:51,080 Speaker 2: thick tight belt. It's a little tough to picture, but 324 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 2: when you cinch the material like that, it forms this 325 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 2: pouch right over the stomach. So it forms the sideways 326 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 2: Napoleon style pocket where guys can keep their wallllets or 327 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 2: small children or whatever else they've got with them. 328 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: So it's kind of like a kangaroo robe for the men. 329 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: But what about ladies. 330 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 2: Well, so women wear something called the kira, which is 331 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 2: basically an ankle link dress paired with a long sleeved 332 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 2: blouse and a short silk jacket. It looks elegant, and 333 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 2: it's said to be super comfy and best of all, 334 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 2: it also has a deep pouch in the front that 335 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 2: can serve as a pocket. 336 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: They love their pockets, equal opportunity pockets. I love it. Okay, So, 337 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: since I decided to talk about what the first don't 338 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: do while visiting Bhutan, don't climb a mountain, I also 339 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: wanted to follow it up with another which is, don't 340 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 1: ask somebody when their birthday is. 341 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 2: Don't ask somebody. So is it considered offensive there or what? 342 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: No, It's kind of like a waste of time because 343 00:16:42,960 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: most these people don't celebrate their birthdays. 344 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 2: Oh wow, so you're telling me that in the Kingdom 345 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 2: of Happiness, where everyone thinks about dying all the time, 346 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 2: there is no such thing as a happy birthday. 347 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: I mean, every day is not happy, I guess. But 348 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: they do have birthdays, it's just not something that is 349 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: typically celebrated. So supposely most residents over forty can't tell 350 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: you their true date of birth because it was never 351 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: considered especially important in this culture. But for a long time, 352 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,280 Speaker 1: the majority of parents simply didn't keep track of it. 353 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: So even the parents didn't know. 354 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:15,640 Speaker 2: Wow, I mean, but there has to be some way 355 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 2: to keep track of how old everybody is, right, what 356 00:17:17,760 --> 00:17:20,720 Speaker 2: does it say on their birth certificates or ID cards 357 00:17:20,800 --> 00:17:21,439 Speaker 2: or whatever they have? 358 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, so the birth year is noted on these birth 359 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 1: certificates and citizenship cards, but for the month and day, 360 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,399 Speaker 1: most people are just assigned the default date of January first. 361 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 2: Wow. So on New Year's Day, everyone in Bhutan is 362 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:36,639 Speaker 2: considered a year older. 363 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, pretty much, But it probably won't be that way 364 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 1: for much longer, because you know, in recent years, younger 365 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: generations have started keeping better track of their birth dates 366 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: and holding celebrations just like we do around the rest 367 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 1: of the world. 368 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 2: But this is all a pretty big cultural shift, so 369 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 2: I'm curious, how is that going over with the older 370 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 2: set there? 371 00:17:54,080 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean this like modernization and world coming into 372 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 1: Bhutan has been a little worrisome with this values there, 373 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 1: but the initial concern has actually softened over time and 374 00:18:04,160 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: today this wonderful blend of Western birthday culture and traditional 375 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:12,880 Speaker 1: Bhutanese customs. So after cutting the cake and opening your presence, 376 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:14,919 Speaker 1: you might head down to the local temple and make 377 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: an offering for your birthday so you can still celebrate 378 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: your own life without losing sight of the bigger spiritual picture. 379 00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:23,439 Speaker 2: I think that's one of the most interesting things as 380 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 2: we study the country more because you can see that 381 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 2: kind of balancing act going on all over the country. 382 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,280 Speaker 2: They're trying to keep pace with the modern world to 383 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: some degree, but also really committed to preserving that traditional 384 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 2: way of life. 385 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, like you mentioned with the clothes and other things. 386 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,239 Speaker 1: But that's also what makes it so special. You know, 387 00:18:40,560 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: you mentioned earlier that there were no paved roads until 388 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: the postal system came in. There are also no cars 389 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: until the nineteen sixties, and even today, more than sixty 390 00:18:49,400 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: years later, there's actually only one major intersection in the 391 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 1: capital city and it doesn't even have a traffic light. 392 00:18:56,359 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 1: There's just a single policeman who stands there all day 393 00:18:59,040 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: directing traffic. 394 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,080 Speaker 2: So a world capital with no traffic lights. 395 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's pretty incredible. 396 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 2: So I actually found a few other surprising cases where 397 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,240 Speaker 2: Bhutan was either way ahead or way behind the rest 398 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 2: of the world. So, for instance, Bhutan was the first 399 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 2: country to pass a nationwide ban on plastic shopping bags. 400 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 2: It did this back in nineteen ninety nine, But that 401 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 2: same year it also became the last country in the 402 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 2: world to legalize television and the Internet. Now. Similarly, in 403 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,400 Speaker 2: two thousand and three, Bhutan became one of the last 404 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 2: nations on Earth to introduce cell phone service, which again, 405 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 2: you know, feels a little in the past. But in 406 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,080 Speaker 2: twenty fifteen it became the first country in the world 407 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:39,800 Speaker 2: to achieve a carbon negative status, which is crazy impressive, 408 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 2: and that means that Bhuton actually absorbs more CO two 409 00:19:43,119 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 2: than it produces. 410 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,920 Speaker 1: That is insane. So how is that even possible? 411 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 2: Well, it's largely thanks to the country's extensive forest cover. 412 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 2: Bhutan's two thousand and eight constitution mandates that at least 413 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 2: sixty percent of the land must remain forested at all times, 414 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 2: and not only has the kingdom stuff to that goal 415 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,360 Speaker 2: of the last two decades, it's actually exceeded it by 416 00:20:03,359 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 2: planting more carbon eating trees and as a result, roughly 417 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:10,080 Speaker 2: seventy percent of Bhutan is now forested. So while the 418 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 2: air is pretty thin in the country's high altitude, it's 419 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 2: also among the cleanest in the world. 420 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: That is amazing. So just to recap Bhutan does have 421 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: TV and the internet if you need it, you should 422 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: probably bring a reusable shopping bag when you visit. Check 423 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 1: and a jar to collect that fresh mountain air, because 424 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: it'll make a great, budget friendly souvenir. 425 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 2: All important things to remember. All right. We've got two 426 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 2: more travel tips to share, but before we get to those, 427 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 2: let's take a quick break. You're listening to part Time 428 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 2: Genus and we're serving up nine heartwarming facts about the 429 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 2: Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. All right, mango, what do you 430 00:20:58,640 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 2: want to do for your last factor? 431 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,440 Speaker 1: All right? Well, As an avowed chili head, I love 432 00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,880 Speaker 1: this because it turns out spicy chilies are a crucial 433 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: part of Bhutanese cuisine. And that's really no surprise given 434 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: that the country has wedged between India and China. 435 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:12,800 Speaker 2: Right. 436 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: But while those other cultures tend to use chili's as 437 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:18,959 Speaker 1: a seasoning or as a condiment, the chefs and Bhutan 438 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 1: treat spicy peppers like a full fledged vegetable. In fact, 439 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: that the star of the country's official national dish, which 440 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 1: is a flavorful stew called Ama dachi. It's made with 441 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: equal parts chili peppers and soft yak cheese, and it's 442 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: served at every main meal of the day. 443 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,080 Speaker 2: Every main meal. Nothing wakes up like a big bowl 444 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 2: of chili pepper stew I guess, and does everyone start 445 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 2: their day off like this? 446 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, even the kids, but they're kind of weaned onto it. 447 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 1: Like Budanese parents train them from a young age to 448 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,960 Speaker 1: tolerate high levels of spice, and then they start by 449 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: mixing in tiny portions of the chilies into their food, 450 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: and gradually the dosage gets high enough that the kids 451 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: can take on this heat. 452 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, and spicy food. But why are chili peppers such 453 00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 2: a big deal there. 454 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: Well, most of the culinary experts think it's because eating 455 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 1: spicy foods can produce a warming effect, which is especially 456 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 1: nice during Bhutan's freezing cold winters. But it's also just 457 00:22:13,320 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: the sense of tradition. Peppers first made their way to 458 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: Bhutan from South America during the sixteenth century, so they've 459 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:22,879 Speaker 1: been a part of this diet for generations, and the 460 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 1: chilies are so ingrained in the culture that they even 461 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: have a place in the country's prayer rituals. So if 462 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,919 Speaker 1: a family member falls ill, you might burn some of 463 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 1: these peppers as a way to fend off evil spirits 464 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: until they get well again. In fact, it's like kind 465 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 1: of a side But when I was studying abroad, my 466 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,399 Speaker 1: friend Dave and I tried to brew this homemade barley wine. 467 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:46,399 Speaker 1: It was called chang which one of our Tibetan instructors 468 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: gave us the recipefore, and one of the things you 469 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,679 Speaker 1: do for the month that you're waiting for it to 470 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: ferment is you're supposed to dress the barrel in clothes. 471 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: So we had these like tubs of chong that were 472 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:59,920 Speaker 1: like wearing our thermals and had sunglasses and spring jack 473 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:03,199 Speaker 1: gets on them. And then you have to take chili's 474 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,000 Speaker 1: to the top to make sure that the evil spirits 475 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:08,680 Speaker 1: stay away and leaves your fermenting alone. And it really 476 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: is funny that, like in different cultures, all these pungent 477 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,639 Speaker 1: flavors are supposed to keep everything out, like you know, 478 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: garlic and vampires or chili peppers and these spirits that 479 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,000 Speaker 1: are meddling in the East. 480 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:21,680 Speaker 2: Actually, I'm really curious to try this dish now. 481 00:23:22,280 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know me too, But there's a caveat on 482 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 1: the chili dishes, because I want to mention if you're 483 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,280 Speaker 1: visiting Bhutan and you're offered a pepper dish or really 484 00:23:30,320 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 1: any kind of food, you're supposed to politely refuse to accept. 485 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:36,479 Speaker 2: It first and why is that. Is it because it's 486 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 2: so spicy or what? 487 00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 1: No, it's just custom to refuse food the first time 488 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: it's offered to you. You're supposed to say mashoe mashu, 489 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: and you're supposed to cover your mouth while you're doing it. 490 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,120 Speaker 1: And this shows that you're grateful, but that you don't 491 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: want to be an inconvenience to the host. 492 00:23:51,520 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 2: I sort of feel like you're pranking me, mango, and 493 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:54,880 Speaker 2: I'm going to go there and say. 494 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 1: That's come back a lot. 495 00:23:57,240 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, they're going to be like, this guy is so rude. 496 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:01,679 Speaker 2: But now we actually, I do believe you on that. 497 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 2: And so what if they insist that you eat it? 498 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, so the rule only applies to the first offer, 499 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,919 Speaker 1: and so they will likely offer again. And at this 500 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: point you're free to chow down, but bear in mind 501 00:24:12,720 --> 00:24:15,399 Speaker 1: whatever you're about to eat is probably packing some heat. 502 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 2: Wow, all right. From my last tip of the day, 503 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:20,920 Speaker 2: I wanted to recommend something to do while visiting Bhutan. 504 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:23,080 Speaker 2: At first, I was going to suggest that the people 505 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 2: try out archery, which is the country's national sport, or 506 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:28,920 Speaker 2: maybe go yettie hunting, since everyone knows he lives out 507 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,600 Speaker 2: there in the Himalayan mountains. But in the end, I 508 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 2: decided to go with something that feels a little more 509 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 2: historically significant, which is to explore the recently reopened trans 510 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 2: Bhutan Trail. So if you've never heard of this, it's 511 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 2: this ancient two hundred and fifty mile hiking trail. It 512 00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 2: was originally part of the Silk Road. This was thousands 513 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 2: of years ago, of course, and it runs east to 514 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 2: west across the entire country. And before the government started 515 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:54,800 Speaker 2: building a highway in the nineteen fifties, the trail was 516 00:24:54,840 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 2: the only way to get from one end of Bhutan 517 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 2: to the other. Unfortunately, once the highway was pleated and 518 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,879 Speaker 2: buses and cars became more prevalent, people stopped walking the 519 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 2: trail and it eventually fell into disrepair. So over the years, 520 00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,919 Speaker 2: many of the trail's bridges and stairways sadly collapsed and 521 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 2: a lot of its footpaths became unusable. 522 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: And so what exactly gets lost when this trail falls 523 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 1: into disrepair, Like, did that impact the local communities or 524 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,040 Speaker 1: economy or was there something along the trail that you 525 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: couldn't be accessed from the highway. 526 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,520 Speaker 2: Actually, both of those things, you know, without bridges and footpaths, 527 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 2: some locals were totally cut off from their relatives on 528 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:33,919 Speaker 2: the other side of the valleys or from the lands 529 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,680 Speaker 2: that they'd been farming. And on the cultural side of things, 530 00:25:36,680 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 2: the trail had once connected hundreds of historic sites, including 531 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:43,880 Speaker 2: sacred temples and this amazing series of fortresses or songs 532 00:25:43,920 --> 00:25:46,040 Speaker 2: as they call them, which had been used to fend 533 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 2: off foreign invaders roughly five hundred years ago. And while 534 00:25:49,560 --> 00:25:52,639 Speaker 2: the highway does run along large portions of the original trail, 535 00:25:52,840 --> 00:25:55,119 Speaker 2: it was difficult to actually reach those sites due to 536 00:25:55,119 --> 00:25:58,119 Speaker 2: the crumbling footpaths and stairways that we talked about. 537 00:25:59,640 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 1: It. It does seem like a waste to have all 538 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:04,479 Speaker 1: these historic landmarks visible but out of reach like that. 539 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:06,520 Speaker 1: But you said the trail's been reopened. 540 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,920 Speaker 2: Now, that's exactly right. So the project kicked off in 541 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:13,440 Speaker 2: twenty eighteen and it involved rebuilding or restoring eighteen major 542 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:16,399 Speaker 2: bridges and more than ten thousand stairs. So, as you 543 00:26:16,400 --> 00:26:18,719 Speaker 2: can imagine, it was a huge endeavor to clear and 544 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:21,919 Speaker 2: clean all two hundred and fifty miles of this mountainous trail, 545 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 2: But the Bhutanese people got the job done, and in 546 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:28,520 Speaker 2: twenty twenty two, the trans Bhutan trail officially reopened for 547 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 2: the first time in over sixty years, and this time 548 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 2: the plan is to make the trail a central part 549 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:36,560 Speaker 2: of life in Bhutan, just like it used to be, 550 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,719 Speaker 2: so hopefully it won't fall into ruin ever again. So 551 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 2: to do that, Bhutanese leadership is making the trail part 552 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 2: of the national curriculum, so young students will hike portions 553 00:26:46,080 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 2: of the trail to identify local plants and wildlife, and 554 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:51,800 Speaker 2: every citizen under the age of eighteen will spend a 555 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:55,160 Speaker 2: full year working on and walking the trail as part 556 00:26:55,160 --> 00:26:58,159 Speaker 2: of a national service program. And the coolest part, at 557 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 2: least to me, is that anyone who who completes the 558 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 2: entire link of the trail, they earn a snazzy new metal. 559 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:06,760 Speaker 2: Everybody knows that's the incentive to get things done. 560 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 1: But can you imagine how wonderful that would be the 561 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 1: like have as part of our curriculum, like you have 562 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: to go spend time on the Affalascian Trail or national 563 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:17,159 Speaker 1: parks or whatever. It really would be a beautiful thing 564 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:21,320 Speaker 1: for this country to embrace. But I'm curious. Is the 565 00:27:21,359 --> 00:27:24,080 Speaker 1: trail open to tourists as well? Or is this really 566 00:27:24,160 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 1: just something intended for locals. 567 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,199 Speaker 2: No, No, it definitely is. I mean, foreign visitors are 568 00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:30,640 Speaker 2: totally welcome to hike or bike the trail as long 569 00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:33,320 Speaker 2: as they're accompanied by their local guide. But keep in 570 00:27:33,400 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 2: mind it would take approximately twenty seven days to walk 571 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 2: the entire thing, So at that daily rate we mentioned earlier, 572 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 2: you're looking at just under seven thousand dollars if you 573 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 2: want to hike it straight through. So kind of an 574 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 2: expensive metal to earn. 575 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,280 Speaker 1: Well, Will, I am fresh out of medals, but I'm 576 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: going to give you the trophy today for telling us 577 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:55,920 Speaker 1: about the post office fact, because you know, now I 578 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:57,959 Speaker 1: want to hunt down a bunch of these Budanese stamps 579 00:27:58,000 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: and add them to my vinyl collection. 580 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:03,880 Speaker 2: I love it. That's pretty ridiculous, but I do love 581 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:05,960 Speaker 2: it all right, Mango. This week, I've been looking for 582 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 2: analytics on the show, and I've found something incredible. Now, 583 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:11,720 Speaker 2: we've got plenty of listeners in the US and Canada, 584 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 2: even quite a few in England and Australia, but people 585 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:17,400 Speaker 2: have actually been listening to this show from all over 586 00:28:17,480 --> 00:28:19,440 Speaker 2: the world, and it's so fun to see. Oh. 587 00:28:19,720 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: I actually love seeing the reviews from like Canada and 588 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 1: Australia and places like that. But it makes me so 589 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:27,000 Speaker 1: happy that it's being listened wider. So where are you 590 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: seeing people come from? 591 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 2: Well, just this morning I saw that people had tuned 592 00:28:30,520 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 2: in from Cape Verde, one person in Swatini, and people 593 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:38,760 Speaker 2: from Curacao and Papua New Guinea. It's amazing to see this, 594 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:42,040 Speaker 2: but sadly no one from Bhutan. But if you are 595 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:45,800 Speaker 2: King of Bhutan or Minister of Tourism over there and 596 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 2: you do happen to listen, just know your Royal highness. 597 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 2: We'd love to get a little trade here going, so 598 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:53,960 Speaker 2: just hit us up on our Instagram at part Time Genius. 599 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 2: We're happy to send over some atomic fireballs, the spiciest 600 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 2: science tasting candy, and the official treat of Part Time Genius, 601 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 2: and in return, maybe you can ship over some chili's. 602 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 2: I like that trade all right, but in the meantime, 603 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,000 Speaker 2: that's going to do it. For today's episode of Part 604 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,480 Speaker 2: Time Genius from Mary Gabe, Dylan Mango and myself, thank 605 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:13,680 Speaker 2: you so much as always for listening. 606 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: Part Time Genius is a production of Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio. 607 00:29:29,720 --> 00:29:33,720 Speaker 1: This show is hosted by Will Pearson and me Mongas Chatikler, 608 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: and research by our good pal Mary Philip Sandy. Today's 609 00:29:38,080 --> 00:29:41,480 Speaker 1: episode was engineered and produced by the wonderful Dylan Fagan 610 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: with support from Tyler Klang. The show is executive produced 611 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:48,720 Speaker 1: for iHeart by Katrina Norvell and Ali Perry, with social 612 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:53,080 Speaker 1: media support from Sasha Gay, trustee Dara Potts and Viney Shorey. 613 00:29:53,800 --> 00:29:58,280 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 614 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.