After a 5am ride up to Dochu La this morning, I was energised for a day of religion. OK. There’s very little connection there, but I did feel like heading into a bookstore for a look at some books on Bhuddism. I chose a couple of titles to help me overcome guilt at having lived… Continue reading Philosophy or Superstition
Category: Countries
Domesticated
Marie’s due back tomorrow so I’ve been finishing all the domestic tasks that needed doing. She’s not going to walk in the door and say, ‘It looks like a bachelor’s house’ this time. – shelves all put up – balcony cleaned – washing done – living room clean and tidy – study clean and tidy… Continue reading Domesticated
Himalayan Monsoon
Last year it generally rained at night, leaving beautiful sunny days. This year it’s been raining many days, but never too hard. Not much harder than what we called ‘Brusseling’ – the rain that hangs in the air like a mist. But a couple of times this year, I’ve felt the power of a monsoon… Continue reading Himalayan Monsoon
The other side
I was going to write about the monsoon deluge we had yesterday and the rubble and rubbish strewn around town as a result, but I changed my mind during dinner tonight. We were having the usual expat gripe / wow session about life in Bhutan and Nathan and Andrea kept telling me to shush when… Continue reading The other side
Recovery
It’s been a long slow recovery. Marie is still away on her trip to survey a cross section of Bhutanese farmers and distributers to better understand the dairy chain. It’s her first time leading a team and she’s loving it. I, on the other hand, have been moping around the house for a couple of… Continue reading Recovery
The Turning Point
The one thing that I enjoyed on the way back from India was reading a book I’d picked up at a shop in Varanasi. It’s called Turning Point by Fritjof Capra, one of my favourite science writers. He talks about some of the major problems the world is facing – health, environment, economic – as… Continue reading The Turning Point
Road Poetry
Indian Road Poetry – posted by the Indian Border Roads Organisation, mainly on steep windy mountain roads. Enjoy the Scenery Don’t join the Scenery Don’t mix Drink with Driving Alert Avoid Accident Accidents Don’t Happen They are Caused Speed is a Knife that Cuts Life Speed Thrills But Kills Drive Don’t Fly and stuck cheekily… Continue reading Road Poetry
Angry
I’m home, but the trip has left me exhausted and angry – violently angry if it wasn’t for being exhausted. Perhaps it started with the rusty nail in my samosa, but I think I was still laughing at that stage. More likely it began with the bicycle rickshaw trip to Varanasi Station. The driver wanted… Continue reading Angry
Idyllic Evening
So many memories they’re running away from me. We’ve eaten every meal at the Alka hotel where we stay as it’s too hot to go out much. Bought ticket for trip back to Siliguri from a guy in the corridor of a shopping arcade. He had his own shop (sitting outside it) but if he… Continue reading Idyllic Evening
Train Bullets
Wrong keyboard and foggy head so will keep to bullet points. back and forth to get ticket but still waiting list 1-4. climbed balcony to escape hotel, still WL1-4 saw chief reservation superintendant to get general ticket on 11:40 train stuffy, hot, humid, reminded me of Romania train, so I started talking to locals. university… Continue reading Train Bullets