Salted butter tea, or suja, is served on all social occasions. Chang, a local beer, and ara, a spirit distilled from rice, maize, wheat or barley, are also common and widely favored. Doma or betel nut, is offered as a customary gesture of greeting. The Bhutanese way of life is greatly influenced by religion. People circumambulating the chortens with prayer beads and twirling prayer wheels are a common sight.
Every Bhutanese home has a special room used for prayers, a chosum.
The form of government in Bhutan is as unique as the country. It is the only Democratic Theocracy in the world. His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck is Bhutan's fourth king. A very special man who has kept the culture and traditions of his county intact while listening to the voice of his people. The Tshogdu, or National Assembly has 154 members who fall into 3 catagories.