Category: Asia

I’ve moved a number of times in my life. Each time, I embrace the new and am eager to move on. It’s the same now. Sydney calls. My friends and family call. All my possessions currently locked up in storage call. This morning I bought my ticket out of Bhutan. I fly out on Friday.… Continue reading Hard to leave Bhutan

I’ve decided to leave Bhutan by next weekend. It’s all a bit of a rush, but there’s not much for me to stay here for. Marie has asked me to let her take the next assignment on her own – just to prove she can. I’d rather be home for christmas and I think I’d… Continue reading Kuensel Editorial

There’s a sign up over the main street announcing World AIDS Day. A great cause, I’m sure. Awareness is the best chance to combat it, but I’m not sure this is the best way. The sign says ‘World AIDS/HIV Day – Keep the Promise – Accountability’. I don’t even know what that means. How are… Continue reading World AIDS Day in Bhutan

The weather this year is crazy different to last year. I don’t want to attribute it to global warming. It might just be the standard flux in weather patterns that occur everywhere. Anyway, last year had almost no rainy season and winter was cloudless for its entirety. This year, after an extended rainy season, winter… Continue reading Winter Weather in Bhutan

Finally! I’ve just heard that the main monk body snuck off to Punakha in the middle of last week. That means that the real winter (as opposed to the government winter) has officially started and I can wear thermal underwear under my gho. Of course, that would look silly if it was too visible, so… Continue reading Religious Winter

I’ve been having a small debate on kuzuzangpo.com because at least one member feels that whites should stay in their own country. He seems to ignore the fact that there are far more Bhutanese in Australia than Australians in Bhutan (especially if you look at per capita numbers), but other reasons for a dislike of… Continue reading Language to Change Thoughts

Over the past year and a half, Marie has regularly come home from work, frustrated with stupid management style and government policy. I’ve had to tell her that it isn’t any better in the rest of the world. We all have the same complaints, though I’ve come to realise just how lucky I’ve been with… Continue reading Tea bags prove Bhutanese management like corporations

Bhutan has only had TV and internet since 1999, but they’ve taken to technology like stray dogs to a meat shop. One prime example is kuzuzangpo.com, a web forum for writers in or about Bhutan. I recently found out that it’s run by a young Bhutanese man studying in Bangkok, and has members throughout Bhutan… Continue reading Thimphu Writers Meet for first time

Recently, when I’ve walked out of our flat in the evening, there’s been a young girl sitting on the steps outside our door. She lives upstairs, but I guess there’s no room in the attic flats to study, so she brings her notebooks down and sits there to read them. This morning, Marie and I… Continue reading Exam time in Bhutan

Karma’s friend came with me this morning to see the Regional Transport Officer, which may or may not have helped. The RTO scanned my letter, scribbled dates on the page, checked his calculator, reminded me that I now owed 16,200 Nu, which included one month free and then offered a reduced fee of 4500. It… Continue reading A Ransom Paid; Confusion Caused