The tiny nation of Bhutan resisted technology for decades - but computers and cell phones are changing things fast

REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

Technology is changing the way of life in Bhutan.

• Bhutan, one of the most mysterious countries in the world, has resisted modern technology for decades.
• But lately, cell phones, computers, and TV has transformed the way of life in Bhutan.
• Reuters photojournalist Cathal McNaughton documented everyday life in Bhutan to show how industry and technology are taking hold.

For many years, the South Asian nation of Bhutan has resisted technology - no television, no cell phones, not even a single traffic light.

But lately, outside influences have slowly started to take hold of Bhutan's 800,000 people.

Teens, wearing jeans and English soccer jerseys, spend much of their time on their cell phones and playing computer games at internet cafes. Adults while away their nights at karaoke bars and pool halls. Meanwhile, industrial plants and construction sites are popping up across towns, introducing modern problems to a largely traditional culture.

Reuters photojournalist Cathal McNaughton traveled to Bhutan earlier this year to speak with residents in the changing nation and document their everyday lives. Although Bhutan's government pioneered the concept of "Gross National Happiness" to measure its success, McNaughton found that modern challenges are taking their toll.

Here's how technology is starting to change one of the most mysterious countries in the world.