February, 2008
Bhutan: Philatelists’ Paradise
Learning about a country through stamps sounds odd but it is true for Bhutan. From a variety of thematic stamps issued by Bhutan Post one can piece together the history of Bhutan. Perhaps this is the only country in the world about which we can learn from its postal stamps. Stamps ... [more]
Bhutan – home to multi-hued butterflies
Bhutan has about 800 to 900 species of butterflies, a huge number for a small country. An incredible range of climatic zones from sub-tropical in the south to alpine in the north provides a vast array of habitats. Some species are rare and internationally protected. A group of farmers, on their ... [more]
Arrows and Sorrows
Penjo and Tawchu were great friends. Their bond was further strengthened by their being on the same archery team. But they drifted apart. No one except them knew why. The crescent moon drifted slowly on the vast expanse of the sky. The calm of the night was frequently interrupted by the ... [more]
An unlit butter lamp
It was Tuesday, 2nd of February 1980. The quiet evening light filled the valley of Dungsam with a golden glow and when the last ray was about to set, the dreary pond nearby was transformed into a thing of surpassing beauty with a reflection of a house situated nearby. In this ... [more]
An Accidental Death
Screech! Crash! The awful twin sounds of braking tyres and rending mental accompanied by the tinkle of glass that proclaims a road accident was heard above the hubbub of street noises - the call of vendors, the hoot of horns, the incessant chatter of pedestrians and, from a distance, there ... [more]
A Walk to Taktsang
Taktsang, known as Tiger's Nest, is Bhutan's most recognizable religious icon. It is built over a cave where Guru Rinpoche and his consort Yeshe Tsogyel meditated. I cross the Paro river and start up a gentle trail. The pine forest opens to a little hamlet protected with prayer flags and ringing ... [more]
A Vision from the Thunder Dragon
The tiny kingdom of Bhutan gets ready to present the best of the sights and sounds of its ancient living culture to the world. When 190 countries, institutions, and organizations come together as a small global city to present their creative vision at the World Expo 2000 in Germany, the kingdom ... [more]
A Spirited Tale
It was harvesting season and villagers were gathering their crops. We could see them below from our cave above. Tshampa Wangpo and I were mending old sacks to collect alms of grain later. The people always give gladly and greet us with benign smiles. "Kota," Tshampa croaked from his room, "Make ... [more]
A land steeped in Buddhism
Bhutan is the only country in the world which has embraced tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism. The country is dotted with humble shrines built by devotees to earn merit and protect the land. The mournful call of a sacred horn echoes from slope to slope as we climb through fragrant pines, ... [more]
Looking Forward
Another test is over. The second round of the National Council elections was a success. The verity that there were no major glitches in the elections was commendable. Despite recent tensions of infiltrations in the country, which was in the form of a serial bomb explosions, exchange of fire in the ... [more]