Category: Asia

Bhutan, which is the English butchering of the proper name for the country, means Thunder Dragon in the local dialect. Embarrassingly, I’ve never thought to ask why. The answer was evident last night when a rumble of thunder lasted close to twenty seconds. Marie explained that it was echoing off the surrounding mountains and, though… Continue reading Thunder Dragon

The film we watched last night, as part of VAST’s Monsoon Film Festival, was Cry of the Snow Lion, a movie about the opression in Tibet. It’s a one sided view, but I have no problem with that and recommend everyone watch it for the powerful message. The film sent my thoughts in so many… Continue reading Cry of the Snow Lion

It’s another day with many topics to write about. After we got back from a movie last night (will post on this soon) I read another chapter from my book on Buddhism. It’s the first chapter that’s made any sense to me. It talks about reincarnation being of name and form, not of the soul.… Continue reading Reincarnation

The mountains were so beautiful under this morning’s sky that I had to rush back to get my camera. Hmmm… it seems I can’t put the picture directly into the blog yet. You’ll have to follow the link until I can set up the plugin. Great. Looks like the plugin’s working.

The royal famiy is very much a part of life in Bhutan. While I haven’t met any of them, I’ve been in the same room as a queen on one occasion and as the King’s sister on another. Today I met with one of Marie’s taikwondo instructors, a friend I made in my first week… Continue reading Everyone knows the Prince

I’m sure that yesterday, one of my young neighbours stole a packet of noodles. Ah, but let me tell my story from the end. The rainy season flexed its muscles all the way down the mountain. We’d just been standing in the cloud at 4000m with Pierre, a visiting friend of Marie’s. There was little… Continue reading Theft

As Marie sat working last night, a big drop of water landed on her head. She looked up and found the ceiling wet and forming huge drops just above her desk. There was a similar patch over the bed and another just in front of the door. Our first thought was that the monsoon rain… Continue reading Raining In Bed

A couple of days ago, I was accosted by a young man on the street. It took a moment to recognise him, but his grunted gesture at my gho followed by a big smile and thumbs up as he moved past identified him as a man I met on my return from India. I was… Continue reading Happiness

Yesterday was a great day for cultural experiences. One of the topics that came up when talking to my friend at DIT was call centres. Bhutan sees the money made in India from outsourcing call centres for developed countries and wants to join the game. Naturally DIT is involved and the big one they’re working… Continue reading Doma-free Call Centres

I know I just posted a few minutes ago, but this is one of those days when interesting things happen repeatedly. On my way home, I decided to stop in at DIT to see my old friend the Associate Director. I’d helped him last year on the IT Showcase for the National Assembly and he… Continue reading Technology in time