Author: mag

Last night we all went to a bar owned by one of Marie’s colleagues. It was set up like a concert hall with chairs packed in rows and tables in front of each. When we arrived a band was playing – an electric guitar and a drum machine – and a girl was screeching her… Continue reading Green Grass of Home

Last night was the bonfire and salsa farewell for some expat friends. Dad and Brady were too exhausted to join, but Mum came along with Marie and me. It was a great night – all the expats in full party mode and all very friendly, and of course it wouldn’t have been anything without a… Continue reading Bonfires and Chiropractic

Parents and bro arrived safely. Marie and I had a not so safe trip in a rented Maruti van to pick them up. Everything about the van was sloppy – brakes, steering, even the side mirrors had a case of droopy ear. But we made it. And we made it up and over Chilela 4000m… Continue reading Haa!

Today was perhaps my last day with the RIM students. They leave on the 18th of June and my family will be around until then. I’ve been asked to judge the student’s final projects which is a great honour and will probably be fun. Then again, it could be tough to have to give honest… Continue reading Student Attitudes Explained

Bureaucracy strikes again. I asked my favourite travel agency to fax the visas for my family to the Drukair station managers at the respective airports, but they refused to send the one for my brother on the grounds that it said he was coming by land. I pointed out that it had the correct name,… Continue reading Visa Troubles

There have been gurgling and clunking sounds above our flat almost since we arrived. A few weeks ago, Marie met a girl in the stairwell who was on her way to work at a printers in the flat above ours. The noises suddenly became clear, but how could the landlord let his residential flats be… Continue reading Bumps in the Night

There’s little doubt that the rainy season has come early this year. Most of today was warm and dry, but the rain that hit at 5pm this evening has flooded Thimphu. As we were driving into town, we saw a block of concrete about 2 feet on all sides sitting on the road a metre… Continue reading Monsoon

You know those dreams we all have of turning up to school or office naked? Well, I’ve started having a Bhutanese version. In this dream, I get to the top floor of Chang Lam Plaza where we have our office and realise that I’ve forgotten to put on the belt to my gho. The hem… Continue reading Gho Dreams

A family friend is visiting Bhutan at the moment and invited us to dinner at the most expensive hotel chain in the country. At $1200 per night, this is where Steven Seagal and Richard Gere stay. Mike, the friend, is having his way paid by the hotel on the premise that he’ll write a review… Continue reading Performance Based Promotions

I was crossing the main street on my way home this afternoon and saw two policemen converging on a stationary scooter, blowing whistles. I don’t know what he’d done, but from the angle it was facing, I’d presume negligent driving at the least. The rider managed to get the scooter sorted out and took off… Continue reading Car Chase