BHUTAN, Smiling faces from the roof of the world

Nestling in the heart of the Great Himalayas between India and China, is a deeply spiritual land deriving from its religious and cultural heritage. The people live life by the simplest and purest way adhering to the importance of human values and a broader purpose of life. Progress is not purely defined by economic achievements, but is based on the level of cultural and environmental preservation and development. It is the place where Gross National Happiness,-as their King says, is more important than Gross National Product. It offers us an alternative perspective to measure our well being viewing material wealth as a means, not an end and therefore invites us to re-evaluate our present way of life and achieve inner peace. I hope these photographs will convey even a tiny fraction of this smiling, unknown world that deserves to be discovered. I dedicate these photos to HM Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuk, who is actively involved with compassion to promote social causes and welfare of the women and children, and to Ambassador Sonam Tobden Rabgye, in whose face I see all Bhutanese virtues.