YOU MUST APOLOGISE

THE BHUTANESE ARE A very polite people. Incredibly polite, and extremely courteous, especially when it comes to dealing with foreign tourists. It’s considered rude to point a finger in public for example, so they will indicate a direction or a person with an extended upturned palm with the thumb tucked neatly in, rather than with an impolite digit. They will only pass or receive food or money with the right hand, never the left. Anybody they don’t know personally is always addressed as Sir or Madam.

I had a largeish group with me in Bhutan including Peter and Kay Forwood, globetrotting two-wheeled legends, on their equally legendary Harley-Davidson. This Aussie couple had taken off in 1995 to go and explore a bit of the world on their 1300cc Electra Glide. And they just kinda forgot to go home. About eight years later,