2020 GeoEx Catalog

The moment we landed in Bhutan, our guide whisked us to a just-announced Buddhist ceremony consecrating a five-story-tall thongdrel appliqué work. While monks chanted, we eased into the sea of joyful villagers and encountered big smiles and shy hellos. Kids waved and mugged for our cameras. My heart leapt at our luck and swelled at the warm welcome. In the ensuing days, a woman spontaneously invited us for butter tea; migrating black-necked cranes made an early appearance, seemingly just for us; and we found ourselves hiking a trail with schoolchildren returning home and shared a spirit-lifting hour walking and chatting with them. As the serendipities unfolded, I felt lighter and lighter, as if buoyed on a cloud of Bhutanese beauty and kindness.

—Amanda McKee, from “Serendipities In Bhutan”  For the full story, go to GeoEx.com/Blog