Highway

Highway

Highway! The king of all roads
The best of all roads
The busiest of all roads
Many will travel and few will fall

The house I belong was deep and dark
On a beautiful super sunny day to watch this highway, the last day of the year

Tonight is the last to breathe for the last year
Tonight many will fall but I will watch this road more sour-fully than ever.

Tonight many will blast their belly
And some will rock their road least travelled.
I will stay tuned for the night watching this highway.

Tonight some will become a highwayman
And some will ride for the last
I will stay active eleven meter away watching some gruesome highwaymen.

Tonight some will ride their horse on this highway and few will ride for the last
I will watch this musty road in color.

Tonight some will ride their tiger on this highway and few will sum up their cash for the last
And I will watch this highway of pattern pitifully.

Tonight some will ride their dog on this highway
And few will ride for the last
I will follow this bending road in light until the next day.

Drive slow, be safe
Enjoy but responsibly
2019, is all ours.

Many many happy New year 2019 to all.

Do not compare your child’s achievements with those of other children

I am sharing one interesting piece of writing from the book –Teach Your Children Well. This book has tons and tons of parenting information. Teachers can also get plenty of good material. The puzzle like why Tashi outperforms Pema in math tests is overly solved through examples and case study. A very book for all of us.

Kids this age are making comparisons in earnest and they make them about everything, most especially academic performance, athletic ability and popularity. This opens the door for a few high-performing kids to feel really good and many more to feel bad.

Teachers and parents both intentionally and unintentionally make comparisons between a child and classmates, siblings, peers and other family members. Your brother got all A’s, why can't you? If you don’t keep up in math, you and your best friend, Tashi, won't be in the same math group anymore.  

Pema and Tshering seem to have such nice friends. Couldn't you try a little harder to be friendlier?

While these kinds of comparisons are hurtful, kids often say they feel the worst when their parents look disappointed, angry or sad. Kids are exquisitely tuned to their parents' emotions and if they are disappointed that your child can't hit all the balls, wasn’t invited to the popular girl's sleepover, or isn't in the top reading group then your look is enough to tell them that they don’t measure up.

When you have just begun the process of learning a world of new things, the best medicine is encouragement and positive reinforcement. Applaud effort and improvement.   

While it's fine to acknowledge that another child excels at something, let your own children know that you love them whether they bat first, fourth or last.

Happy Reading!

How Parents can Help?

I am sharing some excerpts from the book titled –Teach your children well. A most read book worldwide. This book is for all ages -parents, teachers, school counselors, siblings, politicians, law makers, seniors, businessmen and entrepreneurs to know your own child first.

For some moms there is a sense of loss now that their child is out of the house much of the day and increasingly turning to peers for companionship, support and comfort. The secrets and confidences that once were shared between the two of you are now being shared with others and your access to your child's internal life is becoming restricted especially toward the end of elementary school. For other mothers this is a welcome change, allowing them to concentrate more on other siblings, a career, their spouse or themselves. For most of us it's a mixed bag. 

There's the drumbeat of eventual separation at the same time that we are extremely involved in our child's burgeoning desire to explore and be active. There are carpools and new schedules, clubs and teams, parties and sleepovers. Since, we are handing part of our children's lives over to new people and new friends, we want to make sure that they have the skills they need to form healthy, satisfying friendships.

Think back to your own early friendships. Do you still have contact with any of those friends? Do you remember more the close parts of those relationships or the conflicted parts? 

Your attitudes, the pictures you pull out, the stories you tell will affect your own child's view of friendship. Share some of your positive stories with your children. Let them also know of your positive stories with your children. Let them also know that friendship involves cooperation and sometimes even disappointment.

Keep in mind that the rules, expectations and behaviors you endorse when your children are young are being internalized and will serve as a template for how they will approach friendships now and in the future. 

Listen to the voice of a nine-year-old student.

It's easy to make friends unless you do not say hello. To be friends you should not talk about them behind their back. That means, do not talk about someone when they are not with you. Don't say mean things like you are stupid. And you should always smile when you introduce yourself. That is the number one thing. And also you should behave properly –even when you are angry. And never shout at your friend. If you are that angry, go get your mom.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: 1984

Name of the book: 1984

Book genre: Political satire (classic/fiction)

Page number: 318

Year of publication: 2005 (7th impression on August, 2014)

 

George Orwell's 1984 is a book that talks about the basic human qualities that change so often. Therefore, the book is all about the expression of the mood of despair of humanity.

 

Peace and justice are the goals of man. With the breakup of the medieval age, man's sense of strength and his hope, not only for the individual but also for social perfection assumed new strength and took new ways –war and peace are inevitable part of society.

 

While one experiences freedom, there are societies facing prejudice, irrationality and injustice that are the main cause of sorrow and unhappiness.

 

Precisely the significance of Orwell's book also talked about the new mood of hopelessness, which pervades our age and has taken hold of our consciousness. The book discussed in great length about the mood of the present and warned for the future to behave well and accordingly, otherwise the consequence will be different and severe. 

 

The personal life to professional life, what is called "ego" plays a very important role. It will make as well as it will destroy mankind. I mostly liked the author’s idea of war, war means the end of an organized society and by dropping a bomb to end war is not the ultimate solution to end any form of injustice.

 

One of the most remarkable points in the book I have found is the human truth, that basically what the author called it as "double think". What he found was that weapons might destroy most of our population and that of our enemy but it can't root out pain and suffering. 

 

The book predicted about the future of mankind in a mesmerizing way that I think would be a turning point in ages. Whatever maybe the cause it is important for all of us to be mindful, be reminded of human race and ego. More importantly what matters above all is the leadership. Not to forget that we need to respect each other's existence and the spirit of humanism. Like any other authors of negative utopia, Orwell is not a prophet of disaster, he warned and awakened every mankind to behave as one race of human and politics shouldn’t interfere with human society. 

 

Should be there be School on Saturdays?

Although, Saturday classes can give a few extra hours to study (almost null in our present context) and will help them not to compromise their learning subjects because of pressure and lack of time (this has not happened much across all the subjects). 

Usually on Saturday students can come to school on their best colorful attire but only to ruin their mood and themselves in their agriculture garden or SUPW or mass cleaning or class decoration work. In this way most of the Saturdays are used up for such miscellaneous activities which actually is more stressful and burdensome for our young kids and school teachers. That means Saturday classes aren't benefiting much but end up more tiring than usual. Same day (Saturday) in most parts of the world reunites most working and school children with their friends and families. However, this luxury in our context is given only to a few handful fortunate civil servants. So, in this way there is free time, washing time, family time and friend time for our students and teachers.

Next, why I think there should be no school on Saturday. Unlike any other individual, teachers also need a break, need rest for their brains and re-energize themselves (both teachers and students) to last for the next five tiring days. It can also give them (both teachers and students) happy family time and great weekend to have fun. 

In PDP's time, the education sector felt the exact same thing with the idea of Child Adoption Policy (one child, one teacher policy) which both teachers and parents felt unrealistic and unnecessary. I mean dislike the idea of our previous government. It was a hump dump. There were so many questions being fired to our ex-PM through some social media platform. Why adopt someone's child when they already have living parents? How to adopt? But slowly the idea picked so well and rooted deep within and beyond the ministry's domain. Now it's doing very well in our schools across the country. Everybody was happy now. Similarly, let us test this new reform also.

In the education system there are already overloaded workloads to perform on a daily basis by our teachers. Students almost paralyzed throughout the year for heavily mismatched content. When school activities become too intense it becomes very difficult for students to cope up with content. These things are already making the education system weaker knowingly or unknowingly. When one cannot be at par with the syllabus and with other friends, it is obvious for more school dropouts (that is happening and it will happen). Our education system has failed horribly somewhere. Five learning days in a week is enough for any kinds of learning. If there is any pressure for completing PE classes or any other co-curricular activities, any few Saturdays can be used at school conveniently. Sometimes, more is less!

Therefore, something must be done now. The question I always ask myself –Why is our education system failing to produce scientists or someone working in an international firm or some multi-billionaire entrepreneurs or some high intellectuals with our present curriculum. I feel we have still so many things to look upon in our education system. Right through building facilities, curriculum, fooding for students, play field and smart classroom settings. We can still crop out some redundant topics that are no longer applicable and in use. Interestingly, some genuine topics are missing out from our curriculum. Topics like cooking classes and highly valued classes are highly recommended. These are the simple equations for making classroom learning more interesting, engaging and fun for both teachers and students. 

Although, in our context there isn't any research data to back up this decision but it can definitely find lots of benefits near and far. Some countries not only have free Saturdays but also most of their afternoon session is filled with value driven learning activities like how to forge fire, entrepreneurial skills, farming skills, learning of foreign language and their culture. However, looking down at our present syllabus, our education is rather a volume driven and not knowledge and value driven. Instead of shouting at the new reform, we must come together and look for some smart classroom setting and how to help children learn more and better life skills within a framed timeline. When an old system does not work well, we must look for something different and unique. I feel such change in education is a must. 

Interestingly, most of them were worried about the syllabus coverage and some unhappy about the teacher's long holidays. However, many feel that the change in this time and space is a must and it would definitely bring lots of positive impacts not only for students but also for families and friends.

Until we are clearer about our core values, the parenting choices and good old curriculum that are most likely to lead to few successes, we will continue to raise exhausted and mentally impaired children who believe they are only good as their parents, teachers and friends.  Therefore, please do not say this new reform (going to be) is a stupid idea of one man.

Take-home message from Chhokhor_Tang (Bumthang) general election public debate

As Bhutan gears up for the third general round of elections, we can see so many political glitches. There are numerous attacks for both the candidates and the party by other party representatives and fellow Bhutanese citizens. But, the more severe was between the two different party candidates when they were on live tv programs. 

Like any other constituencies the Chhokhor_Tang general election public debate between former Journalist Dawa and DPT incumbent Pema Gyamtsho has surprised me more. Although they come from the same blood, I never thought they would be this polite to each other because they represent two different political parties. Like in Bumthang, other Dzongkhags also have similar family members taking part in elections from different parties but never was like DNT Dawa and DPT Pema Gyamtsho. Both are fighting to win the political race with their own party motto and pledges. To me the debate between them was very lively. At any point of the debate, I did not feel like the debate between two different party candidates. Instead of being very rude and talking more for self, they were perhaps supporting each other more. The debate was very professional, educative, goal oriented, clear and matured. Overall it was meaningful and straight. No personal attack. The fight was absolutely clean. Both seemed clever. I salute them. Some highly qualified and experienced candidates who lack professionalism and maturity in democratic process need to learn from them. 

The best part of the live program was one never put the other down to lure the live vote stating so many ambiguous party pledges. Both the candidates were substantially superior and eloquent. We want such quality leaders.  

People of their constituency should feel proud of them. They have represented all of them to the next level of humanity. Both have quality and they can work perfectly under the feet of His Majesty and the people. If people elect DNT Dawa, he has the quality to become cabinet minister and DPT Pema Gyamtsho can still lead his team with his 10 years of experience and can become the next Prime Minister of Bhutan.

The final choice must come from the people and not them. Let the public decide their fate in a free and fair manner. I feel public debate must be something like this, sublime and vibrant.

Youth and Culture

Culture is a strong part of our everyday lives. It influences right from our views, hopes, values and loyalties towards self and others. Together culture and tradition play a very important role in building strong family bonds from generation to generation.  

Nevertheless, to progress further with existing practice of serving meals in traditional etiquette in Zhemgang CS, school has recently introduced the culture of "Phob and Thoray" (Phob means "small soup bowl" and Thoray is loosely translated for "white scarf") to uphold our age-old culture and tradition. Perhaps, it may have seemed new to some, fashion to a few and burden to little. But it is for the good cause. 

So long the history is known, "Phob and Thoray" has long existed as a part of culture and tradition in some parts of the high Himalayas. But, Bhutan Zhabdrung instituted this culture in the 16th centuries. We have nothing but this very uncommon folklore. This makes us very different and special from the rest of the world. This very isolated and untouched culture and tradition of ours have already attracted enough foreigners. With the introduction of this forgotten traditional culture in school, our children are experiencing two very strange lifestyles –one of the past and the other of modern days. While some said perhaps food taste best from their "Phob and Thoray" and some feel cool to have food in such extraordinary fashion. 

At the time of rapid advancement in science and technology, it is extremely difficult to convince our young friends on such subjects. And even difficult for them to accommodate in such old fashion. For our students the only way we can conjure such lessons is through emphasizing its significance and integrating into daily lessons. Although it was quite late, nevertheless I hope this lesson would immensely benefit them in many ways than one. It may give them new hope, new excitement and a new dimension to explore and take this culture –beyond school boundaries –to their family, friends, neighbors, relatives and community.

The conundrum of age–old culture and tradition is putting every society at risk and has become a thing of the past. And at this time and space if we fail to educate our kids on such deteriorating customs at home and school, we will face the consequences very soon. It is everyone's sole responsibility to jointly share and uplift our ancestors' good value to new generations. What I wish our political party must include this kind of important and necessary unit in their manifestos rather than insincere agenda in mining rivers. 

If we want to be the champion in our uniqueness, let us do it together with our heart. If it is good for the self and the nation, let us join our hands collectively to say we are one people and one nation. 

Thus, we are the creator, we are the actor and we are the ambassador of our own culture and tradition. Together we can!

Why BKP lost their primary election?

When the party motto fails, politics is a game of luck and it favors the other party. BPK have lost their third parliamentary primary election for a few silly reasons.  

Like any other party, BKP was a good combination of people and could have become one very strong and capable political party if elected. 

1. Debasing or uprooting corruption from the system. Word "Corruption" has always a negative connotation for whatever maybe the affairs. People have misinterpreted the concept of corruption this time. Corruption motto did not interest more people. They mean to make a corrupt free society through a good system in the next five years. BKP wanted to debase and uproot all forms of corruption for a better future of the country and people. 

2. They have failed because they have not appointed any party coordinators, or they have not used any money to bribe anyone anywhere in any-form. 

3. The other could be probably for her straight forward spoken tone, which everyone felt she would dominate and she is incapable to become Prime Minister of Bhutan. 

4. She was a female president. In a patriarchal society like ours, it is very difficult for a female counterpart to raise their voice. There is very less trust for any female friends. Thus, she and her party failed.

But she is the one last piece who can probably serve king, country and people with utmost loyalty and dedication. There won't be anyone above her who can serve TSA-WA-SUM. 

Know your NA Candidate

Honestly, our party lacks long-term pledges and the environmental conservation agenda to deliver. Thus, I voted but not only for the water pledges. 

While all the political parties gear up to publicize their party, party president, themselves and their pledges for next five years and –beyond, it is also important to know the right party and the right candidate who can possibly serve the nation well. Whoever comes into power, they must keep the wheels of development and progress turning without increasing the national debt. Therefore, they must be creative and workable.

Whatever and however they sell themselves and the party, the only two best and the lucky party will see the light of the day after 15^th October and two losing parties have to be in the queue for the next five years. Although, the journey of the two winning parties will become one step closer in crowning the victory but at the same time it will be more intense and challenging to pass the final test. For which they must be smart and selective for whatever they will talk and how they will walk their talk.  

Whoever comes into power, they must remember that they represent all the four parties in their best suit, they must live up to their full promises from their office or they must remain committed in their good behaviors, actions and will. More importantly, we want proper progress and the wholesome development to take place. We want someone who believes in the most fundamental principles of life and someone who can really unite people as one nation and one people. 

Winning doesn't lie in the party president, party motto and the pledges. But, the winning formula lies in those who have travelled to the furthest and to the remotest pocket of their constituency. They must or have to win the heart of the people they come across. 

I doubt their one-day luck but one is sure to win the race. One will decorate in full blue kabney and the pathang for the next five years. Therefore, I wish good luck to all the party representatives of my constituency on and after 15th October. 

NA representatives of Sergithang-Tsirangtoed constituency.

Reading Solitude

Reading. One word that defines everything. 

Is it necessary to read a book or anything? No. But, reading makes you wise and bold. 

It may be the easiest thing for some and hardest for the other. But for me reading is something that pleases me so much. It's always fun to read some good books. Remember, reading few books will never transform your feelings, make you a good speaker and a writer. But, it can definitely widen your thinking horizon. If you enjoy reading some lines or a few paragraphs a day, that is good enough. Feel happy and satisfied. There is nothing as good as that. 

To my students, I always encourage them to read more books besides their school text to see the world –beyond seeable. Reading makes you feel better, takes you away from bad habits, it relieves your pain, engages your brain cells and more importantly it makes you wiser.

Although, I picked up reading habits quite late in my life due to some circumstances, but I enjoy reading now. I am seriously into it now. Nothing interests me as much as when I am with some good books. There is nothing as special as reading a book now. Please, know that reading happens everywhere –steps, corners, ground, kitchen, bathroom and in the bush. 

Today, to mark the end of reading week, we chose to read outside for 45 minutes. In fact, it was the mass reading that happened in the steps, assembly ground and on the lawn. I enjoyed reading a few pages of the book that I am cemented for a few weeks now. However, it was not so pleasing to see some indecipherable and nervous faces. Maybe reading wasn't fun to them. While few have shown their expensive smiles, which means some have enjoyed reading. I have learnt that perhaps, reading is not everyone's cup of tea.

But, to me reading is always fun and this part of habit will remain forever with me. I read when I am happy, I read when I am sad, I read when I am unable to sleep, I read when I am in pain and more so, I read when I am normal. Thus, I find secret happiness is reading and it improves my moods as well. Thus, there is nothing beyond reading. For me reading will remain impregnable for now and in future. My heart thump when I see some good books and articles around the corners. 

It also injects feelings of eagerness and eases my stress when I am with books or anything that is readable. 

However, it is disappointing to see our youth not taking up reading habits seriously despite repeated requests both at school or at home. I don't know what will actually interest them.

Often, I use this phrase –if you wanted to betray yourself, please don't read anything. 

But, I feel good when I read...

Are we ready for the Water Pledges?

Instead of more water flowing in our water taps, the onset of summer brings in more water shortage. And this is our perennial problem for decades now. Perhaps, there is a very scarce water shortage in a water rich country.  But with the election nearing, party campaigning on high and tight, the hopes in access to safe and sufficient drinking water supply for every household is becoming quite hopeful and impressive, whoever comes into power. Since, all the four political parties have their water agenda to deliver. However, I am a bit worried about this embellish pledge for how far it takes and works for the common need.

I am happy for the handsome and excited big party promises but worried equally for not being so genuine. I could see their pledges would cost more than a country's total revenue for five years. If this is the case, why our two governments have terribly failed to solve this water problem which they are promising now. They felt the urgency, but they have failed to deliver their services to people for the last 10 years are something very unexpected.

Now they claim that the main problem of insufficient water supply is all due to the poor water management system in place. Whom shall we blame for this? What have our two governments done for all these many years? We must understand the difference between –physical water scarcity and economic water scarcity. Ours is economic water scarcity, which means improper planning and distribution of infrastructures and insufficient human capacity to meet the demands. Current data states that around 80% of homes lack the access to clean drinking water supply which is something to worry for a small country like ours. 

When our taps go dry for almost every day, should we feel proud of our mountains and valleys or should we feel proud of our governments for not doing enough.

Bhutan being in the greater Himalayas should out-stand with enough drinking water supply. Going objectively by the number of mountains, trees, glacial areas and the population we should easily achieve the goal of clean and sufficient drinking water by now. In fact, this problem should have invariably been solved and focused 10 years before and not now. 

Although globally water is becoming scarce and an extremely rare element. But it shouldn't be an excuse for all of us and walk the talk for the future. It is extremely important that every effort must be made to restore this problem at the earliest not only as a party convention and candidate wooing for a vote in their constituency.  Nonetheless, we can have rice shortage and salt issues. It is understandable for a mountainous country but not this water shortage at all. 

Although, in our context one thing is obvious that human settlement and streams or rivers are perfectly mismatched. About 87% of human settlement is away from the periphery of streams/rivers but it should not be an excuse. Thus, I feel bogus party pledges should not stand for this.

Of late, the research based in London and USA made me think overly for which they have found out that, "levels of plastic fibers in popular bottled water brands could be twice as high as those found in tap water." Which means bottled water is no safer to drink. What are we supposed to drink, when our home taps go dry for almost 24 hours a day?

The more shameless is when you get your monthly water bills so high, when your taps still go dry for a month. Interestingly, water in Zhemgang has become more expensive than Lobster Frittata and forget about fueling your own body with clean water. 

I am a bit worried about the very curious party febrile air forming now about all ambitious promises. However, I am ready to vote for the party whose primary agenda is in conserving environment and not for anyone else. 

I have lost a great friend

Sir, Dawa D. Tamang with his boys.
Image: His FB page

 

 

As we come together to bid a farewell to one of our colleagues, the ministry of education is short of one experienced and qualified teacher. 

 

I have lost a great friend, school has lost great asset, ministry has lost a great teacher, and students have lost a very passionate human being. I know how sad and heart breaking it is to lose a single teacher from the field.

 

He is a cool and soft-spoken guy full of humor. He is one of the best-looking guys in the school. 

 

Until the education system and teaching job become attractive and unpolluted, we will continue to lose our teachers. I don’t know why teaching jobs are not grabbing the interest of our teachers and job seekers. If we continue to lose teachers especially the seasoned ones from the field, I worry about the future of education. If education has to prosper, we need a passionate and a self-driven human being moving the motion in schools. The Ministry needs to find some ways and means to hold back the teachers, especially the trained and experienced ones. Only few can understand what it is to be a school labay. 

 

Teaching jobs are not like other professions. Losing even a single trained and experienced teacher from the field is a great loss to student, school and ministry. Anybody can fill the gap but not the space of a teacher. His teaching and content of the subject matter is irreplaceable. I bet you; a person of his caliber will be pretty difficult to substitute. As a teacher, I found him very adjustable, friendly and above all a good human being. Even though he teaches one of the most hated and difficult subjects, school has already seen his potential of teaching and wisdom in the form of a good performance of students in the past years. Perhaps, mathematics is not everyone's cup of tea. 

 

To the world and in the eye of ministry, he may not be anything but in the eyes of our students; he may be worth million dollars. For them he is a hero and a superstar. I saw all science heads bemused so much on his resignation. It came quite abruptly but I knew he would do this journey someday anyway. However, it's a far cry now, we can do nothing but to sit and maneuver the challenge.

 

We wish Sir Dawa a very safe flight to the far away land, in the land of chilips away from the hectic education. 

# India through Bhutanese Eyes

India through Bhutanese EYES.

As we stand to celebrate 50 years of successful diplomatic relationship between two countries, I stand to salute wise and visionary leaders of all times. It is time we must all come together and reflect upon the past and plan for the future to further strengthen the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries.

Bhutan and India not only share boundary, but also share strong diplomatic tie that has benefited Bhutan –beyond the sky and the earth. Some significant developmental assistance committed by government of India are hydro-power plants, construction, roads, education, agriculture and health.

Despite its massive population, India successfully made impression of being one of the biggest democratic countries without compromising its culture and tradition, setting a perfect example for a developing country like ours.

Thank you India for helping Bhutan become a beautiful place to live. We will never forget the support and contributions made so far and we hope to continue with the same degree of friendship in the year to come.

Book Review: Emotional Intelligence

Name of the book: Emotional Intelligence

Author: Daniel Goleman

Book genre: Self-help book

Year of publication: 1995

 

The book by Daniel Goleman “Emotional Intelligence” takes us into a journey of self–discovery. It talks about close relationship between IQ and EQ. It says IQ is important but more so EQ is must. Perhaps, human intelligence is far too narrow and that our emotions play a huge role in decision making that lead to mountain of success. Therefore, EQ is the key to both personal and professional accomplishment. 

 

In this grotesque world where people are fully run by technology, this book can give a very effective and practical solution to overcome your daily obstacles with colleagues and bosses. Perhaps for the same reason, I was immensely benefited. More so, I highly recommend this book for teachers and parents. It has lot of practical solution to increase leadership ability, team performance and decision making to personal wellbeing. On the other hand, it also helps to reduce occupational stress and staff turnover. 

 

To the least one can also get to read on how to overcome low self-esteem and become better human being without having to spend any energy. It basically talks about how to manage oneself. Interestingly, this book is the enemy to anger and fury, depression and anxiety. 

 

Amusingly, after having read this book, I come to realize so many scuttle of my life. In this millennial generation, for people with different academic ability, more than IQ, EQ is must. And this book will serve as the perfect guide to unlock your success. Please, read this book!

 

This book is a perfect guide to improve overall quality of life and relationship everywhere. If you are looking for a perfect solution to your fractured relationships with your family, friends and community this book is the perfect guide to your problem. 

If you are looking for a successful career and wanted to champion your professional life, you must read this book. Therefore, better grab a copy and read to understand yourself and around. BE THE CHANGE! 

 

A must read book for parents, teachers, lawmakers and in fact everyone who wants their child or anyone who want to champion in life. This book would be your personal guide. Please grab a copy and do not miss your chance to be a successful person in life. 

5 best places you must visit in Bumthang

Bumthang is located at an altitude of 2800m (9,185ft) above sea level. From the time immoral, the valley is famous for holding many age-old monasteries, Lhakhang's and other secret religious sites more than any other places.

Due to its beautiful landscape, people often mislead Bumthang with Switzerland. For the local people, their main crops still remain buckwheat and barley although potatoes were recently introduced in the valley. 

For centuries the valley also houses for many highly regarded lamas and intellectuals. Above all, Bumthapzams are uniquely tall and beautiful. 

1. Kurjey Lhakhang

 

View of Kurjey Lhakhang from Tamshing monastery

Kurjey Lhakhang is located few minutes’ drive away from Chamkhar town. Kurjey means the body print of Guru Rinpoche. The main temples also called as the Guru Lhakhang, that was built by Trongsa penlop, Minjur Tenpa in 1652. As you travel more inside the Lhakhang, you can see and touch many ancient histories. But more surprisingly one can witness the 16^th century old Cypress tree still standing firm and strong, which was supposed to be the walking stick of Guru Rinpoche. The other is the Kurjey Drupchhu, a sacred spring water. Therefore, don't miss the chance if you visit Bumthang valley.

2.  Membar Tsho (The Burning Lake)

 

Path that lead to Mebar Tsho

Mebar Tsho

The burning lake is located along the way to Tang village. It takes approximately thirty to forty minute's drive from Chamkhar town. Mebar tsho is considered as one of the most sacred place in the region. It is believed that the great Terton Pema Lingpa have re-discovered the hidden treasure (the text hidden by Guru Rinpoche).

The place is always filled with the local people from all works of life and as far as Lingzhi. On pick tourist season, many tourists visit the sites to offer some butter lamps and to see the amazing beauty of the lake. But more importantly, one need to be watchful while visiting the sites since the path leading to the main lake is extremely narrow and slippery. The place is not advisable for small kids alone and someone who is a heavy boozer.

3.  Tamshing Monastery

Tamshing Monastery is one of the most important Nyingma Gompa built by Pema Lingpa in 1501. It is one of the oldest monastery in the country. It holds many sacred histories and important relics. Interestingly, the heavy iron net has completely dazed me for its supernatural belief. I wish for my Australia dream and if you happen to be around the valley, please make a visit and throw your wild wishes. It may be possible sometime!

4.  Tharpaling Monastery

 

View of Tharpaling from Gyetsa village

Tharpaling Monastery from mountain top

Men in action to cross the dead lock hill. 

View of Chamkhar town from Tharpaling top

View of Chumey town from Tharpaling top

View of Chumey town

Tharpaling monastery is located above Chumey valley approximately at an altitude of 3,600m. A very narrow diversion road from the national highway goes up to the monastery from Gyetsa village. It takes an hour drive uphill to reach the site. The main part of the monastery was established by Longchen Rabjam in 1308. Chodrak monastery, a place where Guru Rinpoche mediated is also located just above the main sites. The whole flank of the mountain is serene for mind training and meditation. Therefore, if you are looking to calm your mind and body, please do visit and experience the amazing and blessed mountain.

Once you reach on the top, above all the monasteries, you get the best view of Chumey valley to the south and Chamkhar town to the north. The place is simply amazing and simply spectacular. It gives the best feel, the feel that touch heaven on earth.

However, if anyone wish to visit the monastery, the best season is cross summer and early spring. I discourage winter season because it will definitely freeze your ball however it can give the best view of some mountains and the valleys. More so, if the plan is for more detail visit, you need to look for tent and need to pack your lunch. My only advice is carry some sweets otherwise, you will go dry and etiolate on bald mountain top and I am not responsible for that!

5. The Palace of 2^nd King [Domkhar Dzong/Palace]

  

Domkhar palace is located above Domkhar village, few kilometers drive above the national highway on the left bank of Chumey river.

The second king, Jigme Wangchuck have built this palace as a summer residence for himself and the queen, Ashi Phuntsho Choeden in the year 1937. From then it continues to serve as the residence for Trongsa Penlop, the future king.

Inside the palace one can clearly see numerous relics and statue of khandroms. More interestingly one can also get to see the place where late king, Jigme Wangchuck used to meet Ashi Phuntsho Choeden in the room.