Bhutan is a landlocked kingdom renowned for its "Gross National Happiness" development philosophy, along with a rich Vajrayana Buddhist culture and heritage, and an overall carbon-negative status.

Sandwiched between India and China, it is filled with dramatic mountainous terrains and has a "high-value, low-impact" tourism policy. Foreign tourists visiting Bhutan must pay a daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD $100 per adult, per night. This "tourist tax" funds sustainable development projects and is separate from visa, accommodation, or guide fees. The capital is called Thimphu, and is at an elevation 2,300m above sea level. It is located in western Bhutan in a valley formed by the Wang Chhu river.

Dotted throughout the countryside are Dzongs, which are fortress monasteries that were built to protect and house texts, artefacts and relics from great Buddhist masters - such as Guru Rinpoche and Longchenpa (who both lived in Bhutan), and even the Buddha himself (who was Indian).

Bhutan is also a premier birdwatching destination in the Himalayas, with over 770 species of wild birds recorded within its borders, ranging from the subtropical southern foothills to the high alpine regions in the north. Its diverse habitats include warm broadleaved forests, temperate conifer forests, rhododendron scrub, and alpine grasslands, all of which support a wide variety of resident and migratory species.

This webcast is from a conifer forest located about a 10 minute walk away from Thimphu's central broad walk.