Fran Bak was the only tourist allowed to enter Bhutan in 2021 – and almost used up her retirement savings. A conversation about a cautious country, its king and healing gongs.
Interviewed by
Ingrid Bruner
Bhutan is currently even more isolated than it already is. However, a tourist allowed the small kingdom in the Himalayas to enter the country in 2021 – as a test person in times of a pandemic. The tourism authority chose Frances “Fran” Bak from the large number of applicants because the 70-year-old American had already traveled to the country before the pandemic and was known to tourism boss Dorji Dhradhul. In addition, the retiree was willing to pay $250 per day in advance and go into quarantine for three weeks at her own expense. Others don’t even have vacation that long. For three months, Fran Bak traveled around Bhutan, sleeping in monasteries and meditating with monks – with a few unusual musical instruments in his luggage.