Jela- Dho Chorten-Bemri Trek (25/6/2022)

 It was along time dream to experience this famous trek from Jela- dzong to Bemri via Dho-chorten. It is a beautiful trek indeed. We booked an ECCO Taxi which took us up till chubjakha, above Ta Dzong. From there through beautiful trees, shrubs and grasses it took us one and half hour to reach Jela- Dzong. The story behind Jela (Drela in other words) is connected to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It's said that Zhabdrung got the signs of victory against the Tibetan forces at here, met Yeshey Gonpo in person hence the name Je- meeting. The monastery was first built by Ngawang Chogyal; the main statues are the Buddha of past, present and future which was later built by the sixteenth Jekhenpo of Bhutan Sherab Gyeltshen.

From Jela- dzong it takes an hour to reach Dho-chorten. We can see a huge rock in chorten shape. It is said that Gelwang Je Kuenga Peljor, the 9th previous reincarnation of Zhabdrung visualised 8 type of chortens in this rocky chorten shaped structure. On the top hill above the present lhakhang is a foot print of gyelwang Je. It is said that once when Gyelwang Je was residing in Dho- chorten area, the valley down had a prosperous livelihood. Yet the people didn't like and decided to assassinate the lam. The lam knew this through his clairvoyant power. He instructed his assistant to go down the valley and get him a meat, whatever he gets on the way. The assistant encountered the meat of an eight year old girl and offered it to lam. A dog and cow happened to taste it as well in the process of preparing the meal. After having it, the lam (and the dog and cow) were able to fly while the assistant couldn't. When lam asked if he had taken the meat, which he said he hasn't. The assistant was therefore unable to fly and accompany lam. The lam instructed him to stay back and be the local diety of that area so that the local people offer everything he needs. As in the story, the local diety of present day Goenkha is that assistant who couldn't take the meat and couldn't fly. The lam flew to Tibet leaving his footprint which is still visible today on the stone. In the lhakhang the main statue is of Guru Rimpoche who is said to talk in future.

From Dho-chorten, it takes more than two hours to reach Bemri. Bemri is a sacred place and a beautiful place aesthetically; we can see both part of Thimphu and Paro. The lhakhang at Bemri is said to be built by Khandros (100000 Khandros). Unfortunately we were unable to go inside and seek blessings as it was locked. If only the caretakers of such lhakhang stay there as places such as this are not often reached by the general people due to the distance. Anyways the rocky mountain at Bemri is so full of 'Nyes'. Sometimes I just wonder as to how people in the olden times were able to leave behind prints in the rock? Scientifically is it possible? I don't know? But then it's all to do with believing. What we believe is what we become! The very core and essence of so called Buddhism.

By the time we finished visiting the places in and around Bemri, it was almost 6 pm. The time wastage was added in by us going to the wrong way. We had to literally run down the rugged terrain as it was becoming dark. It was almost 730pm when we reached Nephu Goenpa, the seat of successive Nephu Trulkus. The taxi was called to pick is up from there. He brought with him a bottle of juice each which greatly helped us relieve the thirst and pain from about 12 hours of journey. It was such satisfying trip all on all.

If you are interested to experience this wonderful and interesting trek, why delay? I think this time around is the best although monsoon has started. Ours was the best weather, no sun, no rain although the clear blue sky was often blocked by the running clouds.

COVID-19 Vaccination

 Bhutanese are so lucky to have a king, people's king at the helm, who serves its citizens with all the love , compassion and care. As the world is been hit by COVID-19 pandemic, Bhutanese has been least affected. As a citizen being the recipient of all these, I have no words to thank. How fortunate and lucky are we to have such a boddisatva dharma king. Perhaps the best and only way is to do our own part of responsibilities and duties deligently. We have our own part to play and we must do that with utmost dedication and integrity.

As the whole world now are racing with emergency vaccination jabs, Bhutan also began its drive on 27the March 2021. It will continue till April 2. The uniqueness is that the government has chosen to do all the eligible people at the same time in one week's time. The monastic community did thier part of blessings and chosed the particular day, time and a candidate to be given the first shot. Today is the fourth day and so far, no serious complications have been reported. I did my jab on the third day. Seeing the number of people turning up to get the vaccine, I am overwhelmed that the public has understood it's importance, the government has done excellent work on awareness and importance. So Thank you my king and the government of day. Thank you doctors and the health professionals for your tireless work. Thank you Dessups for your excellent service. 

Regarding the side effects of the jab, it has been reported that some people had minor symptoms like mild fever, nausea, headache and pain and swell at the site. Some have even reported of their faces being swelled. I personally didn't experience all. I took my jab at around 4pm and by 1am midnight, I started to have a mild fever and as I write this, I am still having the symptoms. I hope it goes was soon. So as per my witness and experience, the real effect of the vaccine seem to come seven to eight hours after you took Jab. But not to worry, it's bearable. For the larger good, for the safety of yourself and others please get vaccine yourself.

Lots of gratitude  also to the government of India for providing us the vaccine despite sharp shoot up in the number of positive cases. May the whole world be normalised soon.  

My new Interest

If there is one thing that I regret right now at this very stage, it is about not participating in the games and sport during school times. I have never taken part in whatever games and sports the school conducted, for the reason being that I hardly saw future in that area. As being from mediocre family enjoyment or entertainment was never my bread and every time such opportunities came, I gave second thoughts like what if I get struck and not be able to fulfill my eventual goal? Ultimately it was the academic results that mattered and knowing that, I had always easy excuse when it came to PE classes. By the time I realized the importance of games and sports and other co-curricular activities other than bookish knowledge it was almost too late. It was during the college days in India, when I realized how much it is equally important and fortunately I had college mates who were all interested, most of who were first timers like me who had realized and who were interested to take chance and that’s when I also decided to learn; back then we used to play football the most every evening and surprisingly there was some improvements but sadly the habit got lost after the college days, after entering the world of work and now I see myself nowhere. You see the so-called interest also changes like season and it very much depends upon the environment we dwell.

And last year after going New Zealand for basic training, I started to try new interest: to play tennis, I watched the Wimbledon and US open and soon liked the game and we five of us started to play after class whenever the time permitted. The best thing about in New Zealand is the availability of public resources like outdoor games and sports facilities. There are beautiful parks with free playgrounds for any kind of games after few kilometers distance. The city council is doing excellent job to maintain those parks with beautiful flowers and trees around, clean and green. This is but simple difference between developed and underdeveloped country like ours! Here even if one has interest it is hard to materialize and resources like this are not available except in the schools or institutes or in military camps which are for themselves and sadly outsiders have to pay. But anyway lately I with four other friends have been visiting the lawn tennis court of NIE Paro almost every day. The fee is Nu. 100 for per hour and we have no choice but to adhere to for it is our best time pass these days as the work gets over early (it is still windy season!) a friend of mine plays well and he has been coaching us which is going so far so well.

Well, eventually I think it is never too late to learn in life. And there is nothing like this isn’t for me or that is never meant for me; what matters is the opportunity. There are few of the lists which I missed as small kid and during school life which I am considering to experience as the time goes on; Life is in fact a journey than the destination!

Orana Animal Park on BiCycle

 New Zealand is a peaceful country and Christchurch is a beautiful city full of flowers everywhere; that’s why Christchurch is often called the Garden City of the world. Just roam in and around the city and you will be greeted by vast area of parks within few kilometers surrounded by various types of flowers and trees. The roads are also well-maintained with separate pedestrian path and bicycle strip by the side. People here often say that riding bicycle is the most dangerous thing and that the highest accidents are due to people carelessly riding bicycle. However, ever since I reached here, I have been relying on bicycle and it has been pretty much convenient. Thanks to almighty, there has not been major accidents albeit minor ones at the beginning when we were just getting used to it. Otherwise even if we take metro bus (to institute), we have to walk about fifteen minutes from the nearest bus stand and fifteen minutes is hell lot of time.

Anyway last Friday started our second mid-course break for ten days, we  five of us and Ugyen sir decided to take further the service of bicycle to Orana animal park (Zoo) which is about 20 km from place of our residence. Ugyen Namgay sir is the only Bhutanese who has PR here and works at here in Air New Zealand. He previously worked in Drukair Corporation Ltd. He has been here since 2008 and we are in fact very lucky to have met him. He is jolly and full of humor and has been very good to us. He has helped us with everything and we are indeed very much indebted to him. Last Friday he was day off from the work and he took us to the zoo and we decided to ride bicycle. It was a wonderful and memorable trip.

Orana animal park is a beautiful park and there are lots of animals of which most were the first time for me to see in real including the tiger, lion, giraffe, gorilla, zebra, cheetah, rhinoceros and most special one- the Kiwi bird. I was particularly fascinated by the stories of tiger and the Kiwi bird which I would like to highlight. The two tigers at the park are Sumatran (Sumatra Island in Indonesia) tigers which are listed as critically endangered species. There are brothers brought to the zoo at the age of two. It was feeding time for tiger when we reach and was such a good scene to witness how it walks and the way it roars. It was captivating to see how tigers try to defend their territory by urinating, a sign of the demarcating the territory. They live alone unlike lions who dwells in groups.

 Then it was the kiwi bird which has a special connection with New Zealand. Kiwis are the significant national icon; you know New Zealanders are called kiwis by the way. It is a small flightless bird which normally comes out at night (nocturnal) and is the only bird which has nostril at the end of their long bill. They have very strong smell that attracts dogs that kills them. So dogs are the worst threats to their survival. It is said like the kiwis hatch hundreds of eggs but only two to three percent of it survives.

We weren’t that lucky to watch closely the other animals as they all lazily busking sun after heavy meal, but still, it was a memorable and adventurous day. We came back exhausted and weird enough I was thinking if keeping animals in such way- captive as in zoos is any more good or bad I mean if one is to weigh between pros and cons? What do you feel? Seeing most of the animals lying under the warm sun, i thought like they are lucky in one way as they don’t have to hunt although their freedom is limited. Nevertheless I hope that people who visit such places will think beyond the adventure and fun to protecting the species some of which are critically endangered and others threatened.

some of the pictures I took in my mobile phone:

Lion

Sumatran Tiger

Giraffe

Emu

Rabbit

Gorilla

Tibetan Yak

Story from New Zealand -Part I

The world may be too vast physically,  we may be too far from each other, from our loved and desr oned, but thanks to so-called development and advancement on the field of science, technology and communication we have every means to connect each other, we have various social medias apps on mobile phones that h connect helps us rejoin with our loved ones,  irrespective of the place one resides and provided there is mobile connectivity of course. And thanks to our service providers - Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell, we have almost every parts of the country connected by mobile connectivity. So no matter where you are, in which part of this world you reside for what ever purposes you can easily connect, talk, and see each other. We can also hear, listen and watch through live streams anything that are happening in and around the globe and this is yet another plus point besides huge ill impacts that comes with it along.

Source: Facebook

Anyway the point is that provided one knows the limit, provided we are aware of the negative effects, it is very much Ok because what comes with  just plus points anyway? Well, it has been almost three weeks in foreign land and contrary to what people say about life abroad being always a wonderful one with nothing to lose, I am beginning to hate my stay here instead. I don't know why but yes despite everything at disposal,  despite the fact that the country and the people over here being so generous and kind,  I am already missing my own motherland! I miss my parents, my siblings, my work in particular and the favorite - chilli.

So today I was just browsing internet, reading news and face-booking. It was almost noon here at New Zealand which means 6AM in Bhutan. Madam Tshering Dema who is radio presenter with BBS Radio pinged me to say hello in Facebook and shared me a link to listen the live stream of BBS radio. And to my surprise it is working so perfectly here! The sound is loud, clean and crystal clear. She even asked us to write a dedication (kathuen) for our parents, relatives and loved one's so she can read for them on her program. I wrote a short prose and even listened when her programme aired after 8AM news. I hope my messages has been heard back at home especially my parents where radio is still the main form of communication and entertainment. The mobile connectivity has reached there just a year ago and the electricity has just been released and inaugurated recently.

listening the the live streamed BBS radio in foreign land, it just pushed me back to my village as a small kid herding cattle with a radio on one hand. whether it rained with blankets of clouds hovered or under the scorching sun, it was this small piece of equipment, the radio which was the sole companion besides animals. The emotional songs of lopen Kezang Dorji used to be the most popular back then. It makes me nostalgic, oh I miss it dearly! What do we have now? Just the memories! but the memories such as these fill in the holes created by the disorientation, the fallacies and the ills that life often begets during our course of so-called living. such kind of memories make us realize that we don't really need anything so glamorous to define one's happiness, that the more you have, the more you want and that it is the moments that matters after all.

Till then happy Sunday and days ahead folks....

Walking Alone

Yesterday I was allocated to with wheel shop to assemble the wheel tyre and the work was finished by 1400 hours. I decided to walk from the work to my house at Woochu. It was bit windy and the sun was having tough time getting through the fluctuating clouds. The new majestic high way from Bondey till Paro NIE Bridge welcomed me where the works are still in progress. The chilly Paa chhu flows down by the side of this high way and it’s peaceful to see and feel how beautifully the river flows; clean and calm and is refreshing to walk down with the river. I wished I was like the river you know, to which it has nothing like turning back, no complaining, no sadness, sorrow or happiness.

I walked through the new pedestrian path- also work still in progress until the Bondey town. I scanned the view of it and thought myself about how shabby it looks. If you do the same next time you will see that Bondey town has more number of beauty parlors than grocery shops! Perhaps people over here are more fashion oriented? There isn’t even one Tailoring shop here. Passing the Bondey Zam which was inaugurated by the then crown prince Jigme Kheser Namgyal Wangchuk, I could feel the shake of it with the rhythm of vehicle’s ply. The road from the Bondey towards Woochu, is dusty and bumpy because the expansion works are in full swing. I wished if it rain for an instant to subside the filthy dusts that irritates not only people who walk or work by the side, but also those lethargic drivers.

Below this is the barren red rice paddy field patterned with few cattle and horses. It is dry and dusty too.  I have walked numerous times along this road but never had such strange feelings. My memories suddenly flashed back to the time when I came for the first time. It was different that time; every valley looked wonderful and green; filled with lively paddy plants. People were busy with the field works.  So this is Impermanence?

Just then a tripper truck loaded fully with logs of wood perhaps for the Bukhari of the cold season passes by and clouds my way with another circle of dusts. I covered my head with the jacket and continued walking to the house wondering if the change that is undergoing in me passes unnoticed as such?

PS: from my diary dated 13th December 2013

For the first time in Air

It was about 12:30 pm, 13^th October 2013, Wangchuck (Friend of mine at work) and I was readying to receive the ATR-42-500 aircraft which had gone to Bumthang at around 10:30 in the morning. I took the transit form and aircraft arrival/departure form from the rack and walked towards the ramp- commonly called as terminal. Sangay sir, a senior LAME (Licensed Aircraft maintenance Engineer) to which I was attached with was already at the terminal and was on his way back to the Hangar. He was busy on the call. I heard him say: “Was there was unusual cranking sound? Which engine is it...”

I walked behind him; I wasn’t sure if there was some problem with the aircraft but I was certain that it was delayed. I enquired him if the aircraft was grounded at Bumthang? And he said:

“We need to go to Bumthang, there is Starter generator problem and we need to replace with it. There is also VVIP tomorrow and the aircraft must be at Paro by any means”

In the midst of our conversation, Mindu sir who is very jolly and straight-forward person joined us. He briefed Wangchuck and me as to what we were going to need; that we get it all issued from the store. The maintenance supervisor was informed formally we were almost ready to start our journey to Bumthang airport by vehicle. But there was transportation problem; I mean there wasn’t a good vehicle! That was when I realized about the two choppers pledged by the PDP government during Campaigns. How much it would of help during such emergency cases? Finally after various calls to the bosses, it was confirmed that the Hilux of Mindu sir was to be taken on hire.

I took pack lunch that day but it reached home as it was. I gobble up some spoons of rice and aludam that was prepared for lunch and hurried with a coat in bag towards the hangar again to load Hilux with the equipment and components that were to take. By then it was almost 3pm when we started off our journey, perhaps the longest one ad-hoc; imagine crossing five Dzongkhags in one evening, make the aircraft takeoff the next day! The worst might was waiting for us. Even more worst was when Sangay sir took the driver’s seat. The road from Dochula till Pelela is too rough and tough while the road from Pelela to Yotongla till Bumthang is small; the minimum speed was at 70km/hr. and every time there was some bumps rings along the way I was scared to hell. The normal nine to ten hours journey was reached at seven hours. It was 11:07 pm when we reached Bathpalathang airport. No sooner did we reach there than the trouble shooting began, we replaced the starter generator which took almost three hours in lamp light and tested again which was Ok; the engine was starting fine. Relieved we headed to Rinchenling Hotel at around 2:30am and took our night halt.

Wangchuck and I were to return to Paro in flight for sure; but the passengers were almost full in the morning trip and there was talk of Load penalty; so we were told to take the evening flight on the VVIP’s return journey. But in the morning again on pilot’s consent, the plan was changed and two of us were called to board in the morning at 6:30 am flight. So excited were we for it was the first time to fly in the air. The air hostess welcomed us cordially with smile. I was excited to see the beautiful valleys from 20000 ft. above the ground. Unfortunately most of the views were clouded and the views weren’t as expected. Nevertheless getting the opportunity to fly for the first time itself was pretty much an experience and I would never forget the story behind my first flight in air.

Within 30 minutes, the airplane landed at the Paro international airport. So short was the journey; the seven long torturous journeys by a normal vehicle is reached within 30 minutes thanks to Wright brothers; technology is a wonder indeed I thought.

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.