the land of the thunder dragon

The Rinpung Dzong in Paro, Bhutan

Bhutan is beautiful, no doubt, and I do wish I could have stayed longer (it was a work trip), but I do think that the mystique that surrounds the country is due in part to its strict tourism laws - no tourist may enter without a visa and every tourist is escorted at all times by a local guide and driver, for which you need to pay US$200 a day, inclusive of hotel and meals.