Archery is the national sport of Bhutan, but that wasn’t the only reason I wanted to try it while I was living there. I’ve loved the stories of King Arthur, Robin Hood and the Three Musketeers since I first heard them decades ago so I have always wanted to try fencing and archery. I looked… Continue reading Archery
Tag: bhutan
Free Speech
I knew when I wrote Dragon Bones that it wouldn’t be loved by everyone. My collection of people’s perspectives was meant to be holistic, not good or bad, but some people were bound to object. It was likely that I would never be able to return to Bhutan – that they would never issue me… Continue reading Free Speech
Arrested For Smoking
When I arrived in Bhutan at the beginning of 2005, Bhutan had just ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the nation-wide ban on tobacco had just been introduced. It seemed a rather odd law at the time, but I was supportive. As a non-smoker, I find cigarette smoke more intrusive and irritating… Continue reading Arrested For Smoking
The Tall Man and Dragon Bones
Over the mid-semester break, we were asked to read The Tall Man in preparation for discussion on the treatment of Aborigines in the Australian judicial system. This book chronicles the investigation into the death of Cameron Doomadgee in the Palm Island police station and the subsequent trial of Senior Seargent Chris Hurley for physical violence… Continue reading The Tall Man and Dragon Bones
A Bhutanese Diary
I’ve recently discovered the PaSsu, the blog diary of a young Bhutanese man. In some ways he seems typical of the people I shared so much with while I lived there, but in others I see differences. Like all Bhutanese, he’s passionate about his king. The respect the king enjoys is well-earned from everything I… Continue reading A Bhutanese Diary
Controversy over Dragon Bones
The book isn’t due out for months, but the controversy has already begun. I’ve heard that members of the Bhutanese community are unhappy about the book as described on Amazon. As the first book to portray Bhutan as more than a simple Shangri-La, I expect some backlash from officials, but I don’t wish to upset… Continue reading Controversy over Dragon Bones