Lockdown in Bhutan

 It's been  one week since Bhutan underwent nation wide lockdown as one of the returnee from middle East testef positive for COVID-19 yet again after finishing the quarantine period for one month. The government lead by the prime minister who is a doctor and surgeon himself with His majesty the king's guidance traced and tested around 200+ of her first contact and and 300+ secondary contacts which all came out negative. That was a huge relief, but only the beginning of another sad wave of news which was to unfold as the number of lockdown days increased.

On the third day of Lockdown, Phuntsholing RCCO mini dry pot became the hotspot of detection and the presence of COVID-19 outside the mandatory quarantine for the first time in the country. Immediately the government tagged and alerted  Phuntsholing as the red zone and presence of community transmission in the area. The government was able to trace, track and test not only the primary and secondary contacts but also the whole region of Phuntsholing in which out of about 4000+ samples, 4 came positive.  The government also announced nationwide urging people to come forward who have visited Phuntsholing on and after the first August to get tested which proved timely and affective as another two positive cases are being detected, only this time at different place - Paro. So looking at the unfolding of all these, I feel lockdown was very timely and that we as a citizen can only comply with the government's directives. The best we can do is to stay home strictly and to monitor ourselves of the symptoms if any. Let's not betray the trust entrusted in us by the godly King and the government. Together we can!

Apart from the COVID-19, let's also talk about the movies, the Bhutanese movies. Here again it's the concern of his majesty on his subjects who have commanded to show the movies in TV so that people don't get bored during lockdown. Not just this and the Bhutanese people, his majesty is also concerned about the stray dogs who might go wild without food and create problems in the community during lockdown. The royal Bhutan Army has initiated to feed the stray dogs across the country. What better can we expect during such tough times? May the dieties and Lha choechong sungma keep his majesty safe  and sound at such and all times. May we get through this pandemic soon.

Coming back to movies, till 12th standard, we used to watch movies being screened at the school's multi purpose hall. Those days, the producers of the movies would travel across the country to show their movies in schools and it would cost Nu 20 per movie. But I since left for college, English movies and the series took their turn to pass my leisure time because of easy availability on the campus. It's almost fifteen long years since I watched Bhutanese movies which I feel is not fair. We gotta support our own productions and our own people right? After getting employed, it only worsens to be frank. Hardly is there time for leisure such as this to make time for movies. 

A good friend of mine who never fails to watch Bhutanese produced movies once recommended me to watch this movie called 'Pot of Gold' ( གསེར་རྫམ་གང་།) which he said bagged many national awards. I was determined to watch it and make time with family for locally produced movies as well but could never make it. Thanks to BBS and the Bank of Bhutan, it was aired on television and in fact it was worth watching it. (By the way I have not watched any other movies aired by BBS since lockdown). The movie has strong message with artful dialogues that keeps you aughing throughout. It's aptly reviewed it at here: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=199577918254086&id=102969014581644. 

Apart from all these, I personally feel Lockdown is a good time for your own self, to go inward and find your true self. You can pray, you can meditate, exercise, read and reflect upon your self. It's best time to engage with your family and gave quality family time. Since when do we get such time in one's life? Although on the other hand, it's like putting brake on the economy, business and the very engine of growth for a country as a whole. I spend most of my time in trying to bring my mind home with some prayers. We can never have such a time, sorhubk positively, the good sides of this lockdown and  make best use of it folks. It's such a milestone in our generation where we can serve the Tsa-wa sum by just staying at home! 

Age of Adaline

I watch lot of movies, in fact a lot of movies and television series because it is the only thing that drains my leisure time besides reading which unfortunately has left me doesn’t interest me for a while. Some movies no matter how much critics say is a waste of time, you never enjoy, I often watch movies after recommendations from friends or after reading reviews. A friend from Mauritius recommended me to watch this movie: “Age of Adaline” which I watched and it was just worth spending my leisure time.

It is a movie about a girl staring Black Lively who meets with a kind of miracle where she never gets aged after 29 years. It portrays the realities of life that we might have to face and how it is to live a big secret, the struggles, the fear, and the lies. It is a beautiful story with romance, suspense and surprises in between that totally glues you with the screen.

After watching the movie it was like really? What if that happens to us in reality? Sometimes we silently wish if only we could outlive, if only the good moments lasts long but imagine that wish is granted just for us miraculously.  Do you think it will be worth praying and wishing? Watch the movie how it might seem. I would rather wish living to the fullest knowing that life is uncertain.

Cheers…

Inspiring Blog award

First of all I would like to thank Langa Tenzin, Ugyen Tenzin and Jigme Zangpo and Sherab Pelmo for nominating me, it is such an inspiration for me. I am really sorry for the late response though. I will directly go to the seven facts about me.

1. I am originally from lauri, under Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag which is one of the most remote place in the country. And I am the first to do engineering from my village. As a kid, I wanted to become teacher but after twelfth standard it got change after securing scholarship. I opted engineering and surprisingly ended up working in aviation company (Drukair Corporation Ltd) where I have to start right from the beginning. The fact is in Bhutan it is very rare where an individual chases and chooses the profession out of sole interest’ it very much depends upon the availability of opportunities!
2. I am most of the time silent but I talk too fast seriously, all my colleagues and friends advise me to talk slowly. I am bit introvert kind of person and I hardly start conversation with strangers and that is why friends have often said that I am too serious; it is just that I need more time get familiar with. 
3.  I started reading only after twelfth standard and was inspired by a teacher who always talked about language rather than his subject-science; but sadly I haven’t been able to keep aglow. I maintain diary as well and the funny thing is that if you read, you will see the most repeated word I use is ‘any way’. I noticed while I was once checking how I wrote in the previous years to save my boredom. Perhaps this is because the word consoles me somehow, don’t ask me how? 
4. I am too bad with kids. I mean I can never be friend and play around with little kids, and for the record, there is a nine months old child of my friend, who seem to have known me by the face; maybe I look so terrible that whenever I lend my hand or try to play with him, he just starts crying terribly. 
5. I also like watching English television series and my all-time favorite is “The Lost” and “The Friends” which I would watch again and again during college days. Now also I try to find time for these but life changes you know with time and with it your habits as well. 
6. I don’t drink much but whenever I am drunk, which is so very rare, I tend to become talkative and courageous revealing all the secrets. Onetime I was too drunk (during college days) that the next day was an embarrassing one for me to hear from friends about how acted and even confessed a girl of my crush! Since then I have never been drunk, and I wish never to be henceforth.
7. People say forget and forgive but unfortunately for me it is bit difficult. I don’t get hurt too easily but once I get, it becomes very hard to forget as well. This is where I try hard to change; I hope i can change with age.

well, about the nomination I don't think even one is left without being nominated for I think I am late, yet as a norm, i would like to derive inspirations from following who are not so frequent in the world of blogging and this is just to say that i enjoy every bit of your writings, please continue writing. 

1. Penstar 
2. Rekha Monger
3. Tempa Gyeltshen
4. Namgang chejey
5. Pema Wangchuk
6. Gyembo Namgyal
7. Maid of Astolat
8. Yeesi7
9. Ram Bahadur 
10. KK wangdi
11. Leythro's Journey
12. Symphony
13. Novice pen
14. My Page
15. Dechen

Happy blogging folks.......

Will I ever fall in Love again?

As she scrolls down the News Feed page of Face book on her laptop, Dema comes across a photo of her friend at the intermediate school with her lovely husband married recently in their best attire with Khadars (white scarf) all around their shoulders. “Oh! Perfect matching” envies Dema. She pictures herself into that frame but sees a big shadow, she sees the pain instead, a big doubt, because she knows in her own sense that her future is but a bleak. A cold gust of guilt and haplessness runs down her nerves. She tries to forget but the picture provokes her. The more she sees it, the more she becomes edgy and sad. “Why is there impartiality in love? Why can’t we have our own choice? Why stereotypical norms and caste system in the society? When we can love why can’t we continue forever?” She wonders.

She enviously presses the Like button below the picture and scrolls down the page. She comes across a status update which says: “Yesterday is but a history, tomorrow a mystery while today is a gift, which is why we call it, the present”. This beams Dema’s face, because the lines reassures and consoles her bitterly wounded heart. It takes away the pain and shallow future she was picturing herself a moment ago. Why should I brood about the future, for it is but uncertain? She then thinks of her past which has been wonderful, (at least) after Arjun came to her life; she is taken back to the good times they shared which they still do (for the moment though).

The first time Dema bumped into him was on her way to the academic hall one afternoon. Then they met in person during the dance practice for the annual cultural festival of the college. Arjun was then in second year while Dema herself was in first year. Arjun was a cool and smart guy. So many college girls were after him. And Dema was one of them. It was love at first sight. He was everything a girl could ever desire and dream of.

Arjun was born and raised to a typical Indian family of caste and creed. The family respects the age old tradition and culture. His father in particular- a prominent and respected figure of the town maintains and strictly expects the family to keep up their name without disruption. He is strongly against the marriage of any of his family member with outside community of theirs. This necessitates Arjun to be abided by the ethics and codes of his own after all it’s a family. As for Dema, the so-called Love has blinded her very priorities and realities. Her family may not be totally against such harsh conditions for ultimately it is her life, yet it all comes  with so many social disgrace and difficulties.

And Love neither has creed or caste, nor distinction of any kind like country, culture or haves and have-nots. Fortunately or unfortunately Arjun also couldn’t resist his feelings for her after a month of dance practice with her. He was overwhelmed by the beauty and simplicity of Dema. He never missed a day for practice that was held daily in the evening after the class. That was how their feelings for each other bloomed with each passing day until they became inseparable. This makes her smile and reminds of how much she finds peace under Arjun’s arm and how a beautiful life can be for two perfectly matched hearts.

It is almost three years now that they have been together. Together they have sailed both good and bad times, together they watched movies, had meals in one plate, went shopping, studied, laughed and even cried together knowing the uncertain and clouded future as one. They can’t imagine the life they will lead after the college life; separated by miles of mountains and valleys knowing not even if they will ever meet once. Sometimes she even wishes if she can stop or amend the tick of time and the typical norms of this real world.

As the days of college knocks the end, Dema can’t think of the future that waits, because she knows in her heart that even if her parents accept, Arjun’s would never. She knows that her time with Arjun will just be a chapter of her life. Therefore she is into living the present trying hard  not to think of the future. Of course she is afraid to accept the realities of life that will unfold; she is ready to face it.

Meanwhile the bottom left bar of the Face book page is popped with several ‘Hi’ and ‘Hellos’, some are her friends and others are strangers; she ignores them all, logs off the Face book and asks herself: “Will I ever fall in Love again?”

A for April Fool

“Tok tok…..Tok tok….. Sir someone is seriously injured and unconscious; we need your help, you need to come” It was 5:00 AM in the morning and N Buddhan sir was disturbed by that incessant knock on his door. He reluctantly got from the bed to the door; when he heard about one of his students being injured; his sleep instantly vanished. It was Dorji Phuntsho, one of his students in class VIII. “What happened?” asked Buddhan sir.

“Sir you need to go to football ground, one student is unconscious” added Dorji Phuntsho vehemently.

That was how my science teacher- Mr N Budhhan sir,who was also the health-In-charge, was brought to the morning PT (Physical Training) by one of his students, my batch- Dorji Phuntsho back in the year 2004 on this day at Minjiwoong Lower Secondary School under Samdrup Jongkhar Dzongkhag. Recall this: Every boarding schools in Bhutan has a thing called morning PT before the day begins; where the games captain and other school captains coordinates and which is compulsory for all students to take part except those below class three or two. The peaceful sleep of students is disturbed by the noisy sound of Wessel early in the morning. I still remember those times at primary school, of course the bitter ones like how the captains of the school used to guard at the door. If we were late by just a second, we would be whipped by rough belts (or Keras) on our back! That was the power of captains in the primary schools.

Anyways, to continue the story, Dorji Phuntsho, who is a teacher himself now in one of the schools in Pemagatshel, accompanied sir to the football ground, where every other student were in full swing with the usual morning exercise. Each student was vigil on that day as no one wants to be fooled around by their friends; hence the students were aware that the day was April fool day except sir himself who was completely taken by the news of injured and unconscious student. When sir enquired about someone being injured, everyone shouted: “April Fool”

He seemed angry at first (we could make from his reaction!) for being lied by his own student. Who wants to be fooled anyway? But still he kept aside and forced a broad smile. He then joined the students into morning PT for an hour and even taught us some tips for the morning exercise.

I don’t know if that’s even right and if the day really is about making others fool. I Google-ed and the following is what I got:

 “April fool’s day, sometimes called All Fool’s day is one of the most lighted-days of the year. Its origins are uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe it stems from the adoption of new Calendar. The most commonly cited theory holds that it dates from 1582, the year France adopted the Gregorian calendar, which shifted the observance of New  Year’s Day from the end of March (around the time of the vernal equinox) to the first of January.

According to popular lore some folks, out of ignorance, stubbornness, or both, continued to ring in the New Year on April 1 and were made the butt of jokes and pranks on account of their  foolishness. This became an annual tradition, according to this version of events, which ultimately spread throughout Europe. A major weakness of the Calendar-change theory is that it fails to account for the historical record replete with traditions linking this time of the year to merriment and tomfoolery dating all the way back to antiquity.

          Another explanation of the origins of the April fool’s day was provided by Joseph Boskin, a professor of history at Boston University. He explained that the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman Emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed edict calling for absurdity on that day and the custom became an annual event..”

                  

“Let us be thankful for the the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed” ~Mark Twain

  

Homeland

Homeland is a psychological thriller, an American Television series which is aired in showtime Channel, premiered on October 2 2011. It is developed and created based on the original Israeli series the Prisoners of the wars.

From Google

Two seasons are finished as of now and a third season is also renewed which will be aired on September 20 2013.(source: Wikipedia) . Each season is of twelve episode of duration ranging from 45 to 60 minutes.

Last Thursday I was watching the 70th Golden globe Awards (2013) and the winners of most of the categories for the television series were from this political drama, and that was when I decided to watch and yeah as a matter of fact, I even bunked some of my classes and sacrificed even my sleeps to watch. It is so entertaining.


It is a series that makes you more intrigued and glued with lot of suspense,once you start. I particularly enjoyed (and even cried once...:P) watching it and I can't wait to watch the third season.

I particularly liked the character of Saul Berenson who is the CIA's (Central Intelligence Agency) Middle-East division chief and of course the protagonist, Carrie Mathison played by Clair Danes an Intelligence Officer, who after conducting the unauthorized operation in Iraq against al-Qaeda, is put on probation and reassigned to a a counter-terrorism center at Langley, Virginia.

The Internet says that this series the Homeland is also the favorite of USA's president Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton.

The Social Network..

Today's world is sophisticated and advanced with all kinds of developments and accessories in front of us. We have the fastest mode of communication on our desk and in our Pocket, the fastest mode of transportation in the door step, least strength requirement gadgets and super computers that performs mega times better and faster. The humans have managed to conquer the apex of everything and may be this is the very beauty of this human era- the privilege to be the part of this whole evolution.

How ever with all this sophistication and merits,if we are unable to use it wisely and intelligently, it is nuisance too. As good as we enjoy the fruits of all the developments, the world is equally into the state of turmoil and chaos, into constant threat with constant fear of terrors; the world has the dangerous nuclear weapon that will destroy everything in seconds. Physically this world seems to be so peaceful and calm; yet a deeper look makes us think if we are safe at all?

Source: Google

The communication field has gone into dramatic evolution within short span of time. The social networks in particular has grown and expanded so rapidly that we are aware of anything that is happening around the world, just in one click. For no doubts, the social networks have done tremendous good things to mankind. Thanks to the ordinary men with extraordinary minds.. The common social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace and twitter has attracted so many users and it is only on the verge of advancement. On the other hand, the sad thing though is that good has not left the bad and the darker sides behind. It has invited along with it so many chaos and cries, law suits, divorces(The paper in England reported that 75% of the divorce case of 2012 was related to social network!), confrontations and bad repercussions

The most obvious changes that has brought to the modern people can be described in a word 'CONFINEMENT'. Yes we do interact with so many people through such platforms, but from the four confined corners of  our room. It has therefore depreciated the very beauty and charm of the real interaction and socialization. We seem to have lost that energizing handshakes, the mesmerizing laughs in the midst of funny conversations. The more we get closer with such facilities, the more we seemed to be deviated and distanced from the real world.

Yet we can't resist from using the very facility and take advantage when it comes to us. For a week (the past week), I have been away from these social interactions (I mean from internet) I can't believe my self how much such facilities have impact on me in this information world. I really missed and I don't know how people of this age will ever survive without such facilities.

Last Saturday, I took my Laptop for some maintenance and since then for a week, I was cut off from the internet world. The college LAN connection was also very slow, which was lucky for me in a way...:). Random thoughts like; what would be notifications in the Facebook and tweets in twitter? Who would have drop me message? Who would have written new post in my blogger dashboard? what would be the news in BBS or kuensel?... etc started to bother me. Every time I opened a Book to study, such thoughts came and disturbed me. It was all the more torture so to say.

Any way my point is we (Me in particular) seemed to be governed by such facilities and  motives in this present world. Such platforms are inevitable and indispensable in this modern information age. Walk one step backward and it seems like you are ages Behind!  Such is the importance of Social networks; provided we use it wisely.

Wonderful Bodh Gaya Trip

In front of main Chorten

Bodh Gaya is a religious site and is the center of this very world. It is the place where past three Buddhas have attained enlightenment and the present Buddha- Sangay Sakyamunni sometime in 623 BC. There are so many important stories that makes the place a very sacred and important one to visit at least one time in our life.
This is for the second time that I visit the place, the first one being during the Moenlam Chennmo coinciding with Dukar Wangchen last winter. But that was just like a dream, amidst thousand of people, I couldn't even enter the main Chorten and it was also just for a day due to accommodation and other problems. This time it was a very relax and peaceful. We got to visit every place nearby.

Five of us; Dorji, Kinley, Yenten, karma and Myself had a very wonderful time there. We stayed in the Royal Bhutanese Monastery during our time at Bodh Gaya. We were also lucky enough that we met Lopen Khadu from Punakha who is Umzey in the monastery who helped us a lot and even acted as guide behind every sacred sites, we have visited.

Kinley, Dorji, Yenten, karma and Myself

If there is one thing that I will be always proud of and never be regretted by the placement I got at this very place- Allahabad, to pursue my degree, it is the chance I got to travel different places. Allahabad lies in the very center to all the important and sacred places, at least from Buddhist point of view. Varanasi is just a three hours drive by Bus, Kushi Nagar is few hours by bus and Bodh Gaya is just seven hours away by train.

With Lopen Khandu toward Jagoe Phung poi Re

I have also  been very fortunate to have wonderful friends, who knows the very meaning of being friend in times of both thick and thin and for this I am very much Thankful. There are so many moments I am going to cherish throughout in my life.