Much has been written about Bhutan’s official policy of Gross National Happiness. It’s meant to ensure good governance, sustainable development, and the preservation of Bhutan’s ancient culture. But a government policy … how fun is that?

An American named Jonathan Harris decided to lighten up our understanding of Bhutan and of happiness. And he used balloons.

As this story from Bhutan’s news service tells us, Harris went around Bhutan with a camera and recorder, and he asked 117 people five questions relating to happiness and their dreams. He then took their pictures, holding balloons with their dreams written on them, and the results are posted at balloonsofbhutan.org.

We have to fight the temptation to think of Bhutan as a place frozen in time, filled with people from the past. It’s a beautiful country which has held off modernization for many years, but its people have the same dreams we do. And yet the relative simplicity of their lifestyle and aspirations can inspire us and remind us that maybe we don’t need to be so stressed out.

Yet another reason we love to travel, especially to go trekking in places like Bhutan.