Dreams of the Peaceful Dragon: A Journey Through Bhutan

Bhutan is the remote forbidden kingdom in the Himalayas, isolated from the outside world for three centuries. Ten years ago, the west of the country opened to limited group tourism, but the east still remains closed, Katie Hickman is one of only a handful of foreigners ever to penetrate these eastern lands. Her trip to Bhutan with photographer Tom Owen Edmunds took a year to set up. They journeyed from the capital Thimphu in the west of the easternmost borderland and the remote mountain-top retreats of the barbarous Bragpa people. Mostly they travelled on horseback, the only feasible means of transport over forbidding terrain ranging from high mountain posses to the leech-infested jungles of the semi-tropical valleys. They lived as Bhutanese, taking refuge with village chieftains, in yak sheds in 'Dzongs' (the vest fortress monasteries from which the country is still governed), in the shadowy temple where bhuddism is still mixed with magic. They met the rulers of the Dzongs, lamas, hermits, a reincarnation of the Budha and a sorceress. Many had never seen foreigners before-one girl mistook them for fairies. Katie Hickman's wonderfully entertaining book brings vividly to life the mystery and remoteness of the country, the unexpected and humorous aspects of travel, but, above all, it is about people. Bhutan is the remote forbidden kingdom in the Himalayas, isolated from the outside world for three centuries. Ten years ago, the west of the country opened to limited group tourism, but the east still remains closed, Katie Hickman is one of only a handful of foreigners ever to penetrate these eastern lands. Her trip to Bhutan with photographer Tom Owen Edmunds took a year to set up. They journeyed from the capital Thimphu in the west of the easternmost borderland and the remote mountain-top retreats of the barbarous Bragpa people. Mostly they travelled on horseback, the only feasible means of transport over forbidding terrain ranging from high mountain posses to the leech-infested jungles of the semi-tropical valleys. They lived as Bhutanese, taking refuge with village chieftains, in yak sheds in 'Dzongs' (the vest fortress monasteries from which the country is still governed), in the shadowy temple where bhuddism is still mixed with magic. They met the rulers of the Dzongs, lamas, hermits, a reincarnation of the Budha and a sorceress. Many had never seen foreigners before-one girl mistook them for fairies. Katie Hickman's wonderfully entertaining book brings vividly to life the mystery and remoteness of the country, the unexpected and humorous aspects of travel, but, above all, it is about people. Dreams of the Peaceful Dragon contains 23 photographs in full color by Tom Owen Edmunds. About the Author Katie Hickman was born in Dreams of the Peaceful Dragon contains 23 photographs in full color by Tom Owen Edmunds. About the Author Katie Hickman was born in