Bhutan -- The happiest poor countries

According to the latest Business Weekly magazine in Taiwan (the 1000th issue), I found an amazing country; it even attracts me to immigrant. And I would like to share it to you now.

Some facts about this “the last Shangri-la”
Area: 47,000 Km2 (1.3 times to Taiwan)
Population: 670,000
Location: on the roof of the world—the Himalaya, between China and India
Cigarettes and plastic bags are forbidden
Free of education and medical treatment
Covered by 72% virgin forest, number one in Asia
No beggars or homeless on the streets

In last July, the university of Leicester in England produced the first-ever “world map of happiness”. This small country is 8th out of 178 countries for happiness, the happiness is found to be most closely associated with health, followed by wealth and then education. And it’s GDP is only 1,400 US dollar, less than most of countries in the world, but it’s happier than lots of rich countries, such as US ($41,800, 17th), Norway ($42,300, 17th), Singapore ($28,100, 49th ), Hong Kong ($32,900, 63rd ), Taiwan ($27,600, 63rd ), China ($6,800, 82nd ), Japan ($31,500, 88th ), South Korea ($20,400, 100th ).

In the 1974, (think what we were doing then?) the 19-year-old King decided to pursuit GNH (Gross National Happiness) in stead of GDP, during his study life in Oxford university in England, he found pollution, high unemployed and crime in the western countries, people has money, but loss happiness, then he realized that only the happiness is what people wants. But, they were poor, how could it be?

This smart country has no military force and doesn’t buy weapon, they vote India in the UN to switch India’s protection, so they can use money in free education and medical treatment, and the tenant peasant has own lands. They also protect the natural environment, 72% of Bhutan is virgin forest and pristine rivers. Foreign tourists attribute 20% of national income, which is the second main income resources, however, in order to protect the environment and traditional culture, Bhutan takes high price police to reduce the foreign tourists, ($200 per person per day,) and set quota to limit the tourists, this small kingdom is poor, but not irritable.

In the average, (really average, they don’t have very rich people, they don’t have starvation.) their living is not rich, no LV (Louis Vuitton), no Rolls- Royce, even the king’s house is only one-story height, they live in the traditional wooden house and wear traditional clothes, most of women remain short hair, rare meat on the table, mostly is spicy pepper fried cheese. Does Bhutanese like this poor life? 99% overseas students come back Bhutan after graduated! This clarifies all.

PS. Next issue, the magazine is going to talk about the number one happy country, Denmark ($34.600), oh my God! Which one am I going to immigrant?