Category: Bhutan

It turned out there was something I could do. I could ask the other wireless ISP to set me up with a higher speed account. They agreed and arranged to install the antenna today. But this is Bhutan. Early today, as I sat in my office in town, I was told to expect a call… Continue reading Antenna

Our broadband internet connection still isn’t ready. Despite giving the provider a month’s notice, they only realised on the day of installation that they were missing the power supply for the antenna. There’s nothing I can do, so I have to practice my Bhutanese patience and wait. The new flat is being painted today to… Continue reading Home Hassles

OK. It’s time to turn this into a real blog. I’ll now try to update this every day, true to my definition of culture as the difference in everday life between people around the world. You’ll now get to see life in Bhutan as it happens. This will be easier in the coming week as… Continue reading A Real Blog

Marie and I recently returned from a 10 day trek into the north of Bhutan. For those of you who don’t know, Bhutan spans a large climate region – from near-equatorial tropics in the south to Himalayan mountains in the north – so you can imagine how excited we were to be headed into the… Continue reading 5000m!

It happens at some point in every country. Life takes over and the time to write dwindles. Since I last updated this page I’ve walked the Druk Path, started working, been to the setchu, travelled to Bumthang again and we’ve started living like the poorer locals. This afternoon we’ll meet with friends to discuss the… Continue reading Too Busy

Yesterday, I went in to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit a visa application for Big Dave, who’ll come to visit in September. It was the 3rd time I’d been for the same request and this morning the woman flicked through all the documents she’d told me I needed, saying ‘yes, yes, yes.’ I… Continue reading Bureaucracy

Marriage is a relatively new concept in Bhutan. In the rural areas, couples form and create families and, presumably, many live happily ever after. But those families can also break apart with a word. I haven’t yet delved enough into the details to know what form a dowry takes, if any, or what the implications… Continue reading MBA

I’m not religious. I tend to think that religion is a coward’s way of avoiding responsibility for our own actions. Lets blame it all on God. But Bhuddism always struck me as more philosophy than religion. Its tenet one of peace, respect, simplicity and taking responsibility for your actions. But is it? Over the last… Continue reading Under a Monk’s Robes

I’ve been off the air for a month now, while I returned to my family and friends and got my knee repaired. When I left, the days were reasonably warm, the nights cold, the terrain dry and the insects friendly. I return to a Himalayan summer. Who’d have thought that it could be so hot… Continue reading Himalayan Heat