Adventure | 07/23/2010 12:00 am

Amankora, Bhutan: Luxury … With a Touch of Enlightenment

wOw’s Gypsy, Mary Wells, brings us her favorite places in the world to see, sleep, eat, drink and canoodle … and has found just the spot in the Himalayas.

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"Bhutan, the land of the Thunder Dragon (that’s a good thing!), is in the mystical and medicinal Himalayas, a place that has escaped Facebook and "Mad Men." Aman has placed its poetically minimalist but luxe lodges about so that you can really feel a sense of enlightenment. Buddhism has been predominate here since the seventh century but you don’t come here to become Buddhist; you come for the absolute last word in luxury in an educational area that knocks your socks off." —Mary Wells

Click here for Gypsy’s No. 1 wOw: Explora in Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park.
Click here for Gypsy’s No. 2 wOw: Utah’s Amangiri.
Click here for Gypsy’s No. 3 wOw: Cambodia’s Amansara.
Read more about: Adventure, Mary Wells

11 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

LindaMyers
Beautiful!
By LindaMyers on 07/23/2010 1:14 pm
LilaKuh

Beautiful… exotic… and they keep it that way by strict control over tourism.  Visas are much cheaper and easier to get than they used to be, but there’s still only one airline and one ground entry point, and the vast majority of visitors must book their travel on organized tours.

But… despite all that… if you want to see a practically unspoiled part of South Asia, this is it!

By LilaKuh on 07/23/2010 6:46 pm
LindaMyers
My wish is too someday stand on the Himilayas and while on that side of the pond see Nepal and Vietnam. Maybe a strange combo, but they feel right. :-)
By LindaMyers on 07/23/2010 8:14 pm
BelindaJoy

Come on Mary, you and I both know picture number 10 is a painting….:-)

Simply breathtaking. For reasons I won’t go into I am extremely stressed. Prayer is not working. Meditation isn’t working. Even arguing on wowowow isn’t working (I usually find that amusing).  I dabbled with Buddhism in my 20’s and will admit, it was a time when my mind was most at peace.

If I had the money, time and ability, I too would see this magical place in person. Like I always say Mary, I want your life. 

By BelindaJoy on 07/23/2010 6:48 pm
LilaKuh
Hang in there, Belinda!  Tried chocolate?
By LilaKuh on 07/23/2010 10:09 pm
BelindaJoy

Thanks for the support Lila. Too bad I can’t be in Belgium right now tasting the real McCoy.

Sadly, not even chocolate could relieve this stress.

By BelindaJoy on 07/24/2010 11:07 am
martapont
Well, I am not Mary Wells (malgre moi!!!) but I couldn’t agree more with this particular article.  I’ve been fortunate enough to make two unforgettable visits to Bhutan.  The first one, as a tourist.  The second, as a guest of a local Travel Agent who provided me with a 2 week stay/a private car/driver & guide + accommodations.   It was the gift of a lifetime because it allowed me to roam the most incredible places in the mountains, meeting the locals, sharing their lives.  Somebody said one of Mary’s pics was like a painting, but it is real.  The most pristine natural beauty you can dream of & a welcoming population.  Who can ask for more??? Ladies, try to visit, this is one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations.
By martapont on 07/27/2010 8:23 pm
pizazz
Hi,Mrs.Lawrence.”Mary Wells Lawrence”is my favorite Chapter in “Google$chmoogle!!!,my new book on Amazon/Kindle.If someone will send me an email address for you I’ll send it to you pronto muchacho.Oh.”A land that’s escaped Faceook and Mad Men”is the best travel line since The Next Place,Charlies great line for R*niff.Love,Larry Brown,East Hampton
By pizazz on 08/16/2010 2:58 pm