Behind the Scenes of "Liza Explores the World" | How We Planned a Once-in-a-Lifetime 16th Anniversary Trip to Bhutan for Liza Wang and Law Kar-ying

When conceiving the Bhutan episode of "Liza Explores the World", the team reached an early consensus: simply filming scenery and following an itinerary would never let audiences see the true Bhutan. As fate would have it, this journey was built upon a clear and definite premise—this was a life journey centred on Liza Wang and Law Kar-ying's 16th wedding anniversary, not merely a filming arrangement. Therefore, the core of this planning was never about "where to go", but about how to properly honour a significant chapter of life.

For many people, a wedding anniversary is just a marker of time; but for couples who have journeyed through different stages of life together, certain years carry within them the meaning of reflection and blessing. Bhutan's culture, faith, and pace of life happen to offer a setting that feels no need to perform, yet is filled with a sense of blessing. The devotion of Tibetan Buddhism, the mutual respect between people, and a natural environment carefully preserved, all make it easier to slow down and return to the essence of relationships and life itself. This is also why this journey was not guided by the principle of "more", but by the principle of "right".

The starting point of this Bhutan journey was never to film a travel programme, but to create meaningful memories worth looking back on for Liza Wang and Law Kar-ying's 16th wedding anniversary.

During this episode of "Travel the World with Sister" in Bhutan, DeWonder founder Rubio also travelled to Bhutan as the tour guide, accompanying and explaining Bhutan's customs and cultural characteristics. During filming, he also interacted with Sister Wong and Brother Ka-ying, experiencing Bhutan alongside them. For Rubio, Bhutan is not a place suited to a ready-made travel formula. He once shared that, in fact, long before the show officially took shape, the team had discussed the possibility of a Bhutan travel programme many times, but it was never realised. The key issue wasn't the difficulty of execution, but rather that they could never find the right people. "What Bhutan needs to convey is a state of travel with low material desire — one that connects with the deeper layers of humanity, while also requiring enough life experience to share and go beyond what is simply seen." That's why he once half-jokingly said that Law Kar-ying and Liza Wang might be perfect for it. When this idea actually came true, the team realised it was more than just a programme concept — it was a deeply meaningful experience for both of them. It marked the first time the couple appeared together on screen in a travel programme, and it also coincided with their 16th wedding anniversary.

Personally accompanied and guided by DeWonder's senior Bhutan specialist Rubio, Liza Wang and Law Kar-ying explored Bhutan's everyday neighbourhoods, allowing the journey to hold space for deeper understanding and spontaneous exchange beyond the filming itself.

This Bhutan journey is not an "upgraded" or "luxury" version of a standard Bhutan tour. The real difference is that this is a journey designed for specific people. Throughout the planning process, the team considered three dimensions simultaneously:

• How to present the true culture and spirit of Bhutan, beyond surface impressions
• How to respond to both of their interests, personalities, and stage of life
• How to leave behind genuine, natural interactions for their first journey together on screen

Every arrangement featured in the itinerary was never meant to "enrich content" — it was designed to strengthen the connection between people and place. 👉 Further Reading: "Taking Aunt Suk to See the World" Bhutan Travel FAQ

The difference in this journey wasn't about observing culture, but about truly immersing in it when given the opportunity. Aunt Suk and Brother Ka Ying joined local monks in completing a mandala sand painting, experiencing the everyday rhythm of Bhutanese culture in focus and stillness.

During a traditional Bhutanese wedding blessing ceremony, Aunt Suk and Brother Ka Ying naturally joined in the villagers' singing and dancing — not as a performance, but as participation born of mutual respect. Ka Ying Go's dedication to history and religious culture also means that the exchanges throughout the journey are never just about listening to explanations, but genuine conversations built on curiosity and understanding. What makes these moments so touching is precisely that they aren't staged scenes, but natural encounters arising from character and culture meeting each other.

The most precious moments of a journey often come from exchanges like this. Stepping into villagers' daily lives, meeting Bhutanese people face-to-face in settings of trust and respect—not merely passing by.

What was originally meant to be a relaxed friendly match ended up sparking a rare exchange. Members of Bhutan's national team joined in, and the local guide took to the field as well. Ka Ying Go threw himself fully into the game, while A Jie became the most enthusiastic cheerleader on the sidelines. Here, football isn't a scripted show for entertainment—it's a shared language that transcends words.

What started as a casual friendly match became one of the most natural exchanges of the whole journey, letting everyday life in Bhutan unfold authentically on the field.

This journey didn't come together because of any single special arrangement—it's the result of years of accumulated experience. DeWonder Travel has spent years cultivating deep roots in Bhutan, familiar with the local culture, administrative rhythms, and networks of relationships—and knowing exactly when to move forward and when to step back. In this project, we needed to balance several things at once:

• The integrity of the show's filming
• The weight of a life milestone
• Respect for culture and beliefs

This kind of balance comes from long-accumulated cultural understanding and local trust.

Looking back on this Bhutan journey, what makes it so moving isn't how far they travelled, but that every detail was placed exactly where it belonged. For Liza Wang and Law Kar-ying, this is a cherished memory of their 16th anniversary; for the DeWonder team, it also affirms DeWonder's philosophy: when a journey focuses on depth of experience, it naturally becomes an important life memory.

Beyond the camera, what this Bhutan journey left behind is a chapter of life that was truly accompanied and truly lived.

Bhutan's beauty isn't just scenery—it's a rhythm of life. And what DeWonder wants to do is bring you into that happiness you can see and truly feel. Here's why so many travelers choose DeWonderIn-Depth Bhutan Tours, and perhaps why you'll love this way of traveling too:

• 10 Years of Local Expertise in Bhutan: From guides to farmhouse stays, we've worked with local partners for years to make every experience authentic.
• Direct Flight Partnership from Hong Kong: In select months, we offer charter flights direct to Paro, making your journey smoother and more time-efficient.
• Small Groups, Flexible Private Tours: Averaging 8–14 people, with private group arrangements also available to suit your own pace.
• Cultural Experiences That Go Beyond the Surface: Farmhouse dinners, mandala (sand painting) demonstrations, festival viewings... elements that add warmth and depth to your journey.
• A Track Record of International Collaborations: We helped organize Ed Sheeran's exclusive concert in Bhutan, the country's first-ever event featuring an international superstar.
• TVB Partner: Assisted in planning the Bhutan segment for TVB's program “Travel with Sisters”

If you can't quite picture what it would be like to actually join one of DeWonder's in-depth tours, why not take a look atDeWonder travellers' reflections, giving you a more concrete picture of a Bhutan itinerary! If you'd also like to experience Bhutan in a more comfortable and authentic way, feel free to check out our latest departure dates or chat with us about your travel plans. 👉Check out the Bhutan year-round departure schedule 👉Sign up for a free online Bhutan seminar to get more of your questions about travelling to Bhutan answered: Click here to sign up 👉 For more on travelling to Bhutan, we recommend reading thisComplete Guide to Bhutan Travel