Bhutan, Happiness at All Costs | Deadliest Journeys

Bhutan is a unique kingdom in the world. One of its peculiarities is to have established gross national happiness in its constitution. A scale to measure the level of happiness of its inhabitants. To contribute to this, the country lives in retreat from globalization and the population is very supervised, television only appeared in the 2000s and it is the first country in the world to have banned the sale of cigarettes. But are its 750,000 inhabitants really happy? Nestled at the foot of the Himalayas, Bhutan is crisscrossed most of the time by trails clinging to the top of vertiginous mountains. During the monsoon, travelers juggle with mud and landslides, traffic is often blocked for several days. To remedy this, the government called on the Dankas, workers from India who live in more than precarious conditions, without any protection they widen with explosives and asphalt the roads at an altitude of more than 3000 meters. And there is work, until 1961 there were almost no paved roads, today Bhutan is trying to create a road network to open up the country.

[@JustCinematic]

I m born in Bhutan and I have travelled across this roads my entire life. Never felt scared traveling via this roads until I watched this video.

[@sunuwar5909]

🤣🤣

[@shoongi5376]

😂😂😂😂

[@himanshunathani999]

right. can so understand :)

[@kelumsamarasekara5199]

How old are you brother 😍

[@jimmieoakland3843]

It looked like the engineer and that woman on the bus were chewing something. What was it?

[@lancecahill5486]

Yogida, the 23-year old civil engineer, has a great attitude! She deals with the 400 sticks of dynamite with a debonair style that puts a smile on my face. She has grit. I wish her the best.

[@UnclePeter666]

Winging it to learn to blast. Gotta admit, it takes a lot of cajones to do that.

[@shimonlamatamang7687]

Had to be an Indian 🇮🇳 speaking Nepali too

[@mesmerizingindulgent8924]

Why are you writing it all in the comments one can watch it on his own 😂😂😂

[@lancecahill5486]

@@mesmerizingindulgent8924 I didn't write my comment for you. Don't read it and complain.

[@mesmerizingindulgent8924]

@@lancecahill5486 im not complaining its just so funny , i have found several people like you who seem to write the content of the video in the comments dont know why 😂😂😂😂😂

[@salloom1949]

When we visited Thailand in 2018, we decided to purchase a package to visit the Kingdom of Bhutan. Everything was arranged for us by Bhutan Airlines. It is a very beautiful country if you like originality and simplicity. The people are extremely friendly. We stayed there for 4 nights and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. We would love to repeat our experience again.

[@Agent-ie3uv]

except that businessman who refuse to get soiled because he's wearing white jordans and expensive watch. he even did not give money to those ladies who LIFT his car out of the mud 🤡🤡

[@dyalsaraswati3915]

FOR GOD SAKE DRIVER SHOULD NOT SEE BACK AND TALK WHILE DRIVING 😮10000 PEOPLE DIED FROM HUNGER AND 10000 IN ACCIDENTS EVERY DAY IN INDIA WHY HINDU GOD SAVE THEM FIRST 😊😊😊😅😅

[@tara_p_rose11]

@@Agent-ie3uvummm those definitely weren’t Jordan’s… however I get what you mean about that businessman!

[@technicalcyclist]

One n only documentary where The whole intention is to portray the hardness n sufferings of living simple....But the truth is that Bhutan is the best country unimaginable, with beautiful n hard working simple people.... Unfortunately some people from western n europian world with colonial mentality envy them n say it's pathetic to be there.... Wish that Bhutanese brothers ignore these provocative attitude of outside world n b what they had been for time unknown.... Long live beautiful Bhutan...U r an inspiration n learning to all who in the name of development destroyed their own country n the countries they colonized n still not tired n after u.... 🙏

[@surjeetsharma33]

Totally agree.

[@Red-Robin4]

I completely agree

[@shashwat694]

The English subtitles from 34:09 to 35:11 are quite incorrect and grossly misleading. 1. There is no problem of rats there, like the subtitles say at 34:29 , you mistook "dripping rainwater" for "rats" as the two words sound similar in Hindi. 2. At 34:42 they're not calling the water undrinkable. They're saying that since the water here is much different from back home, their skin is not adjusting well to it. They've all developed cracks on their skins, especially their faces. They're also saying that their complexion has become darker due to the change of water and weather 3. There's no mention of "slave labour" at all, as written in the subtitles at 34:49 . 4. At 34:35 they're saying that they're fond of eating chicken, but they can't find any chicken there. They didn't say that they have to survive on potatoes and eggplant only. The narrator seems to have a negative bias in their commentary

[@tara_p_rose11]

Well if the water affects their skin in that way then I’m sure it’s not drinkable either!

[@lancecahill5486]

I read about this Buddhist saying from another documentary on KZbin: "We're born to die. We meet people to leave them. We own things to lose them". Maybe that's how the people of Bhutan, understanding that everything is ephemeral, deal with their daily problems.

[@ArmyyMiarmyyy]

True! everything is temporary and impermanent! If we are meant to die the exact time you will die no matter where you are.

[@Rootle2]

I think that works on a personal level

[@andrewlee5434]

Believe me Bhutanese are very self sufficient people n they have very strong senses of community service. Believe me they are more happy n joyful then so called Western world.

[@teejay5295]

Oh really? Those road workers from India may have a different opinion to your comment.

[@andrewlee5434]

@@teejay5295 I’m not talking about India workers.

[@teejay5295]

@@andrewlee5434 Not saying that you are. I'm referencing what was depicted in this video and the substandard working conditions these Indian workers were working under regarding the resurfacing of that road, ie; Work, Health and Safety, etc. A community service is the responsibility of the employer to ensure all workers work under safe working conditions, whether be it in Bhutan or the so called Western world as mentioned by you.

[@manchesterunited8390]

Stop cappin bruh😂🤣

[@urmilachavan8290]

We visited just a month ago, we loved the country, the people, their hospitality, Roads were good,

[@herambabhowmik683]

Beautiful Bhutan🇧🇹. Nice video. Love from India🇮🇳.

[@hummingbear88]

I've spent 3 weeks in Bhutan, on two separate trips. Wonderful experience. From all the road footage in this documentary, you would never know that it has a modern paved road travesing the whole country and connecting all the larger towns. Road maintenance is quite diligent: I saw many landsllides, but all were in the process of being repaired. And when it isn't monsoon season, I'm sure even the dirt roads to the more remote villages are well kept up. The whole world could learn by emulating this brilliantly successful society.

[@ankurthakur9834]

Bhutan people are soo humble and nice .

[@agrippa-theskeptic9346]

Are you aware of the genocide of the Hindus (Nepali origin) in Bhutan, only because they were Hindus!

[@desiirishman]

Jigme Singhye Wangchuk was my senior in school. Excellent football player!! Still.remember a goal he scored from one end of the field, right into the opposite goal with a high volley! He was a good person as well. Never bullied us juniors or threw his weight around!!

[@motherslove686]

I could see the people are happy irrespective of the negatives you highlighted... the nature blessing the people!

[@ShowKrishna]

Every Bhutanese in the video seem to be happy no matter their situation, yet, the narrator portrays they cannot be happy bringing his style of reasoning for unhappiness!😃

[@patrickpettyjr.3134]

I strongly believe a lot of their "happiness" was for the camera, really. Using common sense, I can see their living conditions are just awful. They're not happy, I believe they're just getting by somehow.

[@mgtowlevel5293]

I know an Electrician in GA USA from Bhutan. He is the greatest human being ever!🐯

[@awangmujin3988]

USA army must learn from Bhutanese women😮😂😅

[@Sonam_tobden]

I being bhutnese I really loved and enjoyed to witness your documentary..thanks a lot

[@Dreamcatcher55582]

Bhutan is 2 and half hours from my home, Beautiful place and amazing people.

[@ssimba2785]

Shyamal I ''m hoping to go to Bhutan in June this year by car from Delhi ,hope the weather is good then.

[@blacksheep6642]

It is 5min away from me. :) Jaigaon

[@tara_p_rose11]

Jaigaon is much further than that from Bhutan. It’ll take at least 8 hours to get there! Unless you’re flying of course!

[@tara_p_rose11]

@@ssimba2785did you get to go on your trip? And if so, how was it?

[@77Yasic]

Какие смертоносные путешествия могут быть в сказочной, прекрасной стране ?! Где всё измеряется счастьем, а не материей ?? Прекрасное горное Королевство Бутан 🇧🇹.

[@stone9126]

Nice Documantary 👏 Love n Respect from 🇮🇳❤️🙏

[@markusv5461]

this is the best country in the world. i love it

[@n.jigmelhendup5495]

This documentary was shot when the east west highway was being double laned. Now it is complete and a joy to drive.

[@lordlee6473]

They shot this just in time before the new road was built so they could show the western audience how backward Asia was. They would never show you the prosperous sides of Asia, because no one in the west would be watching it

[@sounaksanyal1225]

Chup bhokkhyatt

[@TheDecember6]

U hit the bulls eye

[@helgeschneider2471]

@@lordlee6473 kinda agree but i think that a formate which is on the look for "dangerous travel routes" maybe is more about the thrill of the story and not about making asia look remote and "backward"

[@lordlee6473]

@@helgeschneider2471 they may not do it consciously, but subconsciously these western film makers have a superiority complex and they show it or express it via their lenses. Like I said, if the film maker made a show about how great Asia’s highways are, very few people in the west would be watching it.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Beautiful people and country. Simple way of life, and it works very well for them.

[@dm5129]

Great documentary, I really enjoyed seeing the people and what kinds of lives they lead. It is always fascinating to explore other cultures.

[@tara_p_rose11]

I love how they’ve written on their truck “Bob Marley”… great choice in music! (16:40)

[@crestonediamond]

you only have to go to Nepal to so how truly wonderful the Bhutanese have it. The King, present and past, steered the country well.

[@jadavchowdhury7633]

I have seen the priest since my childhood days back from 1997. I am happy to see him again after a long time. It's 2024. Almost every Bhutanese citizen who have travelled the S/Jongkhar - Trashigang Highway knows him.

[@backtotrips]

This channel is one of the best in telling stories about this part of the world. connoisseurs and documentaries

[@arthurbarbosa6260]

fantastic tks Alexandre and your team .

[@Gansanspic]

Beautiful country and people, perhaps I will visit soon. I loved the attitude of the civil engineer! I wish her all the best.

[@seekthetruthuk]

beautiful country and beautiful way of life, I want to visit so bad!

[@lancecahill5486]

The writer of this documentary has a playful sense of humor using the deadpan comedic delivery that makes me laugh out loud! Thank you! ☺☺

[@nabajitbasumatary6578]

Now I understand the random blast noise coming from the bhutan mountains 😀

[@seekthetruthuk]

I love these documentaries, keeps me positive seeing amazing people and great journalism and production. thank you to who ever creates these and shares them for us for free! QEC

[@sylviajungjohann7106]

Comparto este video en Argentina, que viven quejándose de todo.

[@Ibusoloriderindia]

Mee too ☺️

[@Rose07013]

Great 👍 video thanks

[@n.jigmelhendup5495]

To put it into context the Indian labours earn double their counterparts in India, they do work hard , earn and save and take it back home.

[@lekzeen72]

Each time a person speaks, the subtitles label it as "speaking Dzongkha" when, in fact, they're speaking not only Dzongkha but Hindi as the Bhutansese government hires Indian labours for the construction of the roads. By the way, the "shaman" was also speaking Nepalese.

[@tshewangjamtsho7246]

Now the roads are best.. It's before.... Clip... Thanks for all workers from India and Bhutanese too.... Good documentary..... Yeah

[@tutailife]

Thank you for this great video . I learnt a lot. From Vietnam with love.

[@user-xe1rt6nv9j]

ขอบคุณมากๆ​ ครับ​ สวยงามๆ​ ผมคนไทยเป็นชาวพุทธเหมือนภูฏาน

[@chingkhiuhguangriameinaga5616]

Nice video , Thanks for the posted

[@vietlinhnguyen4269]

Tôi mưng cho ban.thank video rât hay va y ngia...

[@vijerathnebanda8116]

Happiness is so fine so strong still not easy to see

[@user-xj3sz5bl8d]

นมัสเต.สวัดดีชาวภูพาน.ทักทาย.สวัดดี..

[@PauloHenrique-vh5nd]

Ainda sonho em conhecer o Butão

[@NiallMS1]

"Money isn't everything in Bhutan"! Thank goodness for that!!

[@NgugiKamau-rr3zp]

Best video 🌹

[@architectureofuniverse]

thank you 😇

[@Chimpunk729]

I live in java island with "perfect" road condition. We have express highway accross the island. Concrete asphalt on regular road, while about 20-30% always full of holes during the moonson season but it stil crossable. But just hear this news, my brothers in Papua with other 150 vehicles have been stuck for about 3 months in the middle of the road because of the road that heavily damage.

[@kapilbohra4573]

For those watching, the translation for what laborers said is wrong. They say: 1. We are accustomed to eating chicken and stuff but we don't get that here. 2. Water here has changed, change in water cause their skin to dry up. He has become darker.

[@vipanpuri5073]

I love butan mountain

[@lobsangdekey465]

Because of these road laborers we are enjoying traveling different cities or countries. God bless these people. I request government to provide much needed assistance should be given to these laborers. They get pay very little in such hard work they do. Roads are so bad in condition and they really need to get fixed soon for safety. God bless all🙏

[@amitsagarnayak]

With all the issues described, still most Bhutanese people are smiling and seem to be relatively happier than the 1st world countries with all the luxury and modern lifestyle, being depression, suicide rates are quite higher.

[@rojelgurung3411]

I love my mother land Bhutan 🇧🇹. I miss a lot. Sending love from USA 🇺🇸

[@marioxerxescastelancastro8019]

Go back there.

[@manchesterunited8390]

​@@marioxerxescastelancastro8019 Hahhaha They won't, He prefer USA for then Bhutan, It's all fake love🤣😂

[@w.lyunen991]

Love it on Internet, but never go back again.🤣 @@marioxerxescastelancastro8019

[@timidpeter]

'Cable car' certainly vibrates less than vehicles or at least more locally (which can be fixed/absorbed where such stations are drilled) Do trees loose grip of their roots or concentrate more energy in branches at top when they breathe emissions e.g. by vehicles?

[@AdemUstadem]

Smart monk made temple on the road.Good business.

[@PauloHenrique-vh5nd]

País lindo o Butão

[@ramdevimanandhar1183]

From nepal interesting video

[@ArmyyMiarmyyy]

Happiness is not about road it’s all about your mind set. Self sufficient, contentment.

[@gauriman1879]

Love from Kathmandu

[@befeleme]

"You'll own nothing and you will be happy" - as long as you have enough of betel leaves and Buddha statues. Take note, Klaus Schwab.

[@kundanyalangi2922]

Nice doc

[@12villages]

The actual translation at 34:40 is Guy from indian plains talking: _"We are not used to the cold here. It makes the fair skinned brown and end up with painful cracks on the skin of their face while the brown skinned get tanned coal black. Lot of the work is manual labour and some get their toes crushed while carrying heavy loads"._ Basically saying the cold weather has similar effects on them had they'd been in the hot deserts of rajasthan.

[@febredorrato]

A felicidade é a infelicidade são passageiras.

[@daveshaver3032]

I'm there right now traveling from west to far east...it's very scary. I've been in mountains from Afghanistan to Guatemala to Burma to northwest north America...these are some extreme roads.

[@iaderpatino1337]

Greetings from Canada 🇨🇦

[@timidpeter]

Furthermore I believe more heat/people/buzz in higher regions would be of advantage. Ice breaks/erodes and causes slides rather than liquid water that enables roots to suck surrounding minerals. Of course one would have to plant many trees on top of a mountain and in the middle area.

[@tashiwangchuk4050]

We are happy with the way we live in our own context.

[@bikinggal1]

wow I love how they are trying to keep away from so much of the pitfalls of the rest of the world

Wonderful premier.🤩

[@smukerji7065]

Bodham sharanam gacchami... 🙏

[@kevingray5646]

Karma construction….nice one

[@ramkanjeenterprises5416]

I'm astonished by your videos because they're heart pacing if yu consider the revines yu drive thru as yu prepare the story. Nevertheless good job buddy.

[@deepakpaudel5260]

By the way,the Civil Engineer is Nepalese dude,check it out!!! Bt about the show,I liked it much,thank u for the informative video abou Bhutan,thank u

[@raquelmolina9746]

Sería más interesante si subtitularan el idioma de las conversaciones. Me encanta viajar pero sin los medios económicos, viendo estos videos es como si estuviera allí. Gracias.

[@newbiekhyber]

This is "lving of the edge".

[@user-uk2un3zl3x]

잘봅니다

[@DuniaHanyaSementara]

More video plz

[@its-all-happening2172]

23:06 Given the heights of these ravines it's basically airmail....Boom! I see what ya did there..:-))

[@n.jigmelhendup5495]

The distance between chumey to Thimphu is about 100 km as the crow flies and about 230 km by road. 13:14

[@bungarosmastura409]

thank you the best and great documentary i ever seen...how struggle people life and working in Bhutan but they seems look happy and accept it...the roads are scary...

[@b-glitchclips]

HELLO! Any Bhutanese watching this ‼️

[@sangaythinley928]

Yes

[@Ritik1328]

Hard to be happy in problematic situations but bhutanis are master of it,,,,they understand life welll may be

[@AnabelsFinquita]

Hahaha I see why they’re always happy, chewing the green leave is a custom lol😂

[@asinha4528]

Biodegradable, unlike Chewing gum 😁

[@Gansanspic]

By the way it is not an intoxicant. People chew it in our part of India too. Just a mild pick me up. To add more zing some will put tobacco in it, that is all. Wrong to equate it with cocaine.

[@AnabelsFinquita]

@@Gansanspic well we all know is not cocaine, which come by the way from coca leaf ( plant born as well) but still some kind of herbal drug to stimulate your brain and body during stress. 😉

[@user-rl4yy7fi7u]

برنامه خوب بودبخاطرزیرنویس فارسی مچکریم 👍👍🙏🙏🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷

[@ExileTheKnightsOfMaltaNow]

Perhaps the real question is how does Rome's solar g o engineering fit into this story? And maybe they have their eye on one of the last magical holdouts of happiness? In their usual jealousy of Innocence?

[@jimmieoakland3843]

Lighting the fuse and then running like hell? Sounds kind of old school. I like it.

[@Buddiman-Tamang]

I was happy to hear Nepali language spoken in Bhutan as well. Love from Nepal

[@Ara-bw3tu]

Yes they are so simple and humble and hard working.. So. its true .. Happiness is there.. As well should not forget, it' seems infrastructure development already started and live, which explicit no more worries about their road network int he future. Yes, Happiness is there.....

[@jarosaw3114]

Yes beautiful country,.

[@garudastan]

Fun video. I do dislike the narration that challenges the cultural emphasis on happiness whenever an issue is present.

[@asmrbiki]

I can visit Bhutan it's only 30 km away from here

[@amolgaikwad1890]

Sir you make great documentary..... Great

[@ninadsheth8422]

Yogida is brilliant. i am glad you called out the slavery there is no other word for the hard working desperate people. gross national happiness has lots of minuses while i admire Bhutan for there love for the environment the modern world like a parasitical ghost is creeping in. a quality journey by Best documentaries once again

[@JuliusCaesar888]

Those roads are just out of order scary. Ya fuck that I'm not going there good luck with that.

[@edgardocarrasquillo9]

Duro, dificil y necesario para sobrevivir. Gracias.

[@andrevilela4046]

Gosto muito desse tipo de vídeo mais gostaria que fosse dublado em português ou legendado em português ok o vídeo ficou ótimo parabéns manda um salve pra mim alv Uberaba MG Brasil ok

[@vitormunhozmachadogarciadeoliv]

Este tem opção de legenda em português

[@MyNameIsUnavailable]

12:35 "Drive Slow, FAMILY AT HOME. Money Can't Buy Life."

[@091016yu]

❤

[@IwanSetiawan-ol5jg]

🙏 Namo Amitabha Buddha May all being be happy Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

[@Kenkalsi]

I have watched the documentry on some other channel.