hApPyGaLaX's pAgE

 Since the nation was put under complete lockdown on 11th August, it is the 10th day today. With some places declared red zone, people have experienced an unusual life. Lockdown is a new experience for our nation of ours whose great wall of volunteers and plans kept the virus at bay until 11th August. People knew it was coming, yet we were never prepared for it. The situation has changed everything we do and think. Now, I love to hate the virus and the situation. The first few days of the lockdown have been challenging, having to switch and customize the regular schedule, but the lockdown has also provided time to reflect on myself and life at large. Life is a race, and if one fails to cope with the pace, you are left behind. And in taking part in the race, I have forgotten to look at and admire the small things in life. I have never thought of looking out of the window and enjoying the little animals going on with their daily rituals undisturbed by the pandemic. The lockdown has g...

 With the detection of COVID-19 in a woman in Gelephu in the early morning of August 11, the nation was put under lockdown on the same morning. Since then, the government, under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, has taken up rigorous activities all for the benefit of the people and, more so, for the crowded places of Thimphu and Phuntsholing. The lock down has been a very unique one, indeed one of it's kind in the world. The most advanced countries could not control their citizens during the lockdown, but it has been otherwise in Bhutan. It is the eighth day of the lock down, and people adhered to the directives of the government. The central and the local government, in partnership with volunteers, are trying out everything to provide the essential items at the door step. There were a few glitches due to the overwhelming response from the people, yet the government did the best they could, and they have promised to improve the delivery. Apart from the essential items, ...

Recently, the government has announced that the influenza vaccine will be made available for every Bhutanese by the end of this year (2020). This has come as one of the greatest pieces of news for the people in this modern time when new diseases emerge every other year. The world, it seems, will succumb to the new diseases if measures are not put in. "After receiving a royal command, we are considering a flu vaccine for everyone from next year onward. Because ordinary flu will complicate or mix with other flu-like symptoms like in the present case, it is COVID-19. That is why the Health Ministry is working towards providing the service from next year," said Dr Lotay Tshering, the Prime Minister, during a Meet the Press in April- BBS This is aimed at eradicating, or if not, reducing, the number of people getting infected by influenza. On the other hand, many diseases have similar symptoms like the influenza, and recently COVID-19 symptoms have been the best example of this. A ...

His Majesty the king at flood site. A sparse part of the society  slander us for our uncertificated ingress. Yet we are not dissuaded by the dubiety. I shall strive to be the greatest buttress,  a trust for all and loyal to my king and praises for my nation i shall sing. It was a customary monsoon day for me and you alike. Soldier i am, they say, a man with intellectual knife-like, a human with a iron heart willing to serve my nation at a dart. With unwavering circadian obedience,  I perform my duty unrevealed. Any call is far from my disobedience, even if my life, before me, keeled. Uncertain of my homecoming  my little ones, my wife, was calming. As I stand beside the furious Mao river I see fear crawling fast in those fellow citizen. Did anyone see in them, the shiver? This, the situation, it was unwritten but there is scarcity of time   to love the life of mine Braving the unappeasable curr...

Dogs were and are men's best friend. They have played vital roles in our lives, including their service during the wars and rehabilitation, and, more so, as companions. According to Wayne (2008, dogs were domesticated between 18, 800 and 32,100 years ago. He believes that it took place in Europe or western Serbia. Since then, dogs have played a pivotal part in human life. It has become the cutest and the friendliest pet humans can ever have. Although Bhutanese are not very fond of keeping intimate pets like westerners, we also cant think of harming them. As Buddhist, we feed them though they are not our pet. People feed stray dogs, and in return the dogs just linger around. There is a Dzongkha proverb which says, "If you want to give alms, give to the dogs, for they do not eat grass" (Roughly translated) But lately, dogs are going back to where they came from. They are in transition, becoming wild animals again and nearing their close cousins in the wild. Packs of dogs ar...

The Guru's cave Bhutan was blessed by many great Buddhist masters, and Guru Rinpoche was the greatest and the first master to have visited Bhutan in the 7th century. The worldly pleasure History has it that Guru visited Bhutan for the first time, as invited by the local king of Bumthang, Sindha Gyalp (Sindhu Raja).  According to the records, Guru Rinpoche came from Nepal to Tibet and then to Bhutan. However, Mr. Tenzin (Son of Chakar Lam), from Chakar lhakhang in Bumthang, believes that Guru Rinpoche was already in Bhutan when Sindhu Raja sent his two ministers to Nepal to invite Guru to cure him.  The king sent 7 Dreys (1 drey equals appropriately 1.5kg) of gold powder as an offering. When the ministers reached the present-day Reotala, they met a monk meditating in a cave. The monk asked where they were heading, to which they shared that they were on their way to invite Guru Rinpoche from Nepal. The monk then insisted them to show the gift that they were carrying, bu...

Lhakhang with Choekhortoe School  in the background.  Zhabjethang Lhakhang is located about 21 kilometres away from Chamkhar town towards the north of Bumthang. It is connected by a farm road from the Gewog office near Kurjey Lhakhang. The two storied lhakhang is nestled among the houses of Zhabjethang village under Choekhortoe Chiwog, which is under Choekhor Gewog, and is just a few meters from the road. Zhabje of Guru Rinpoche (right) and Khandro (left).  There is no detailed written history about the lhakhang, but the place and the temple is accorded with rich oral history, which can be authenticated by any layperson by visiting the lhakhang. According to the elders of the village and the caretaker, Guru Rinpoche visited the place and blessed it. Although no exact date and year can be confirmed, one can relate this to the visit of Guru Rinpoche between the 7th and 8th century. The FIVE kings Tertons As it suggests, the Lhakhang got its name from the main relic, th...

Dorji Goenpa is about 20 kilometers from Trongsa towards Bumthang. It is located just a few meters above the Trongsa-Bumthang PNH. The actual name of the Goenpa was Dhozhom Goenpa. Dho means rock and Zhom is a tub. There was a bathing tub of Menmo (deity) of the Lhakhang which was carved out of a solid rock. It is believed to accommodate about 10 people. Sadly, according to the caretaker, the tub was destroyed during the highway widening. The Goenpa was established in the 19 th century by Lopen Tsheltrum Tharchin, who was a learned Buddhist monk. He meditated at the place, revering Drakmar, and also left a Zhabje (Footprint) on a rock about 100 meters above the Lhakhang. Lopen was from Tsangkha under Trongsa Dzongkhag. DoZhom Goenpa The two storied Lhakhang has Yoepadma at the center, with Guru Rinpoche at the right and Tsepamed and Zhabdrung on the first floor, while the ground floor is used as storage. The Tsepamey and Zhabdrung statues are said to have spoken, so they are reve...

The beautiful Tokjoung Lhakhang Chogyal Drimed Kuenden was an Indian prince who later became a great dharma king. After giving away his nation's most valuable wealth, his father sent him and his family into exile for 12 years to “Dhuring Harshang KemKem” or “Kemkem Rig. The place is also known as ‘Harshang Rinag ’, about a three-day walk from the village, although no one can pinpoint the exact location. View from Karshong. The Jongthang village. The present Lhakhang can be seen partially behind the cypress tree on the right side of the village while the initial lhakhang (a small temple) can be seen above the first cluster of houses. As the prince and his family journeyed towards the north of his kingdom, which is Bhutan, he crossed many villages and one of the last village on his journey was the Dzongthang village which is pronounced more as Jongthang. According to oral history, there are two great plains about three hours walk from the village where the national animal of our coun...

The corona virus pandemic has come as a surprise to most of the countries in the world. The people of the planet never expected, in their wildest dreams, the impact of this pandemic. At an individual level, I never, in my widest dream, could measure the impact of the virus. Now that the waves of the virus have reached our country, we have nothing but to embrace it, but we are very proud and lucky to have taken a human's life in this beautiful country. The giants of the world may not know us, but the way our visionary king is fighting the pandemic will be and must be remembered in the history of the world. When the leaders of the so-called developed nations are guiding from the safety of their office or home, our king is out making sure every citizen is protected and not a single stone is left unturned in the fight against the virus. Can you name another leader like him in the world? Logically, a new father is supposed to be around his wife and new baby, tending to and loving them,...

The Watch Tower still stands Tall and Strong, though it has been turned into a Museum 

Phuntsholing Zangtho Palri at Night. May people there be always protected. 

With the first positive case of COVID-19 detected in the country on 5th March, the country has gone through a lot of drastic journey though the field of worry and stress. Despite the repeated reminder from the government, people started to panic, which in someways they were right. This kind of epidemic was the first time for most of the citizens, and they were expected to panic, yet the country, under the dynamic guidance of our King, who have done everything for the nation and her people, did things that not many nations could do. He, the Prime Minister, and his team have spent many sleepless nights to calm the society and bring everything under control. As His Majesty always reminded us, our small population is a great advantage for our country to have done things in a few days, which developed countries are yet to achieve. Bhutan has had other outbreaks in her history, but we have learnt to combat those epidemics with calm and sensible plans. On the other hand, as a Buddhist nation...