Visitors From Bhutan

In February the Museum received three distinguished guests from Bhutan in a visit that was arranged by NBF Board Member, Dr. Deborah Rose. The visitors were: Tshering Penjor, from Kabisa, Bhutan and a Member of the National Assembly of Bhutan; Dr. Sonam Wang, Chief the Nature Conservation Division of the Department of Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture in Bhutan and currently the Edward Mason Fellow in the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University; and Thinley Dorji a distinguished carpenter from Tsa Chhu Phu (hot water remote) a healing hot spring in Bhutan

The guests were in the Washington area to meet with government officials and concluded their visit with a stop at the Museum. As Deborah Rose said: “After a long day working with elected representatives and fighting Washington traffic, the peace and grace of the Museum was especially appreciated.”

All of our friends from Bhutan were fascinated by the trees and interested in learning how they might make connections between the Museum and Bhutan. Dr. Wang commented that he

“. . . grew up plowing fields, drinking from the mighty gushing rivers and playing in the pristine forests with wild animals as my cartoons. But being at the Museum made me think of the Little Prince or Alice in Wonderland!   What a fine art, that not only creates a world in itself but a world of history, culture and nature. These collections are breathtaking and their stories heart-melting. My heart overflowed with peace, compassion and love at the Arboretum.”

This visit was a wonderful beginning step in the process of forging a relationship between the Museum and the people of Bhutan.