Issues?

The dichotomy of living in Bhutan became so very apparent to me today, I just could hardly take it. I was in town to view a Football match played on blacktop, here is to called Footsal or something like that. After the game, I had some errands to do so I went shopping. I stopped at a cafe that is frequented by ex-pats all the time. Some of the people I recognized, others I did not. I sat facing the big picture windows. In one corner were 4 Americans chatting about where to go and what to do here in Bhutan. They decided that they would hike up to Buddha Point today and then on to Punakha and some fly fishing. It was obvious that money was not an issue and they were here as tourist. Their affluence was rather apparent and a bit sickening. In the other corner was a monk who I know. This monk is from California and is spear-heading drug rehabilitation in Bhutan, especially in Thimphu. A family of three generations came in and sat down. The monk started laying out all the possible options for the teenager at the table in terms of centers that could help him. Sitting there listening to both conversations just reaffirmed to me the state that Bhutan is in and how cautious the government must be with the future. On one hard, the country needs and wants tourists; on the other hand, with western ways come western problems. I guess only time will tell how this fledgling Democracy addresses it's issues.