Butterflies

 

The beauty queen

Taste in the air

The art in the nature

Queen of color

The invisible feast

Queen of the nectar

Water, the life savior

Hello LAL

Butterflies are small flying creatures. It is beautiful and attractive. Found in different colors and sizes, it is one of the very shy and sensitive creatures to photograph. As beautiful as it appears, it is extremely difficult to be around. However, good control over the camera is one way to maneuver the mission. Further, your behavior, body gears and movement also makes your trips successful and fulfilling.

 

I started my journey of watching and shooting this little creature in the year 2013. I lost a good collection (a few thousands) of photographs of roughly 150 different varieties of butterflies when I got a bad hard drive crash. It didn't stop me. I took another journey to keep my passion alive. I started watching and shooting in the next few years. Ever since, I fell in love with this little and beautiful creature in nature. It is nice to hang around with this flying being. Sometime, I wish to fly like them. One of the best moments I ever spent around bushes, fields, mountains, streams and riversides was with this little guy. It will definitely gonna get into my memory for the rest of my life.

The other hope I have with this insect is to go to the valley of Tashiyangtse and Pemagatsel to shoot Bhutanitis Ludlowi, better known as Ludlow's Bhutan Swallowtail. 

Please do not misunderstand me over hunter Frank Ludlow and GeorgeSheriff. I am no way outraging like them in the field of nature. But I am one a serious nature lover.  

Thank you.

xxx

Book Review: Within the Realm of Happiness

by

Kinley Dorji

After a Radio Valley Talk Show hosted by Kunga Dorji, better known as "supe", I came to know Dasho Kinley Dorji more and better than I saw him as a secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communication. Listening to their talk show, I was thrilled to have his book and waited for the book. 

A few weeks ago, I came across a post made by Chablop PaSsu on "BOOKNESE" about the book release, ready for an online order. It took me no time to place an order. With the hope deep inside, I waited for an immediate response from the page admin. After a few hours, it was Lyonpo Loknath Sharma, Minister for Economic Affairs who gracefully and coincidentally responded as "Sancha, where are you –I can send you a copy as I got two la". It took me some time to think and respond to Lyonpo. Honestly it took me many more to respond. But, deep inside I needed the book by Dasho Kinley. I was longing read his book. I gave my address to Lyonpo in a personal chat message. It was this special moment I realized how deep and low our Lyonpo is for the common subject. Had a few quick conversations and a few lines of introduction. It made sense on both ends. Lyonpo assured, the book will be sent in the fastest possible express. It also says, cost is notional. No worries sir, as long as your students are happy with you –I can spare a tiny and mighty book for you. Goodnight!

Indeed, it was a beautiful way to end the conversation. Perhaps, I was happy and excited. 

Next day, I received a call from his officer stating the book was sent through taxi service. It will be delivered at your doorstep in next 5-hour. Lost in puzzle, and deeply moved by the kindness, hardly a few more words came to thank the person talking to the other end. Thank you madam. I will let you know once I receive the book. 

It was before dusk, I got a call from Taxi driver saying; please collect your parcel from the booking. I did as ordered. 

The piece of literature I dream for so long from the person I admire so much is finally in my hand. I was happy.

 

Short Reflection

The book is a random collection of 13 short stories, memoirs, and essays from childhood memories and travel tales of the author himself. It's more like a self-reflection and journey made in both good and bad times. 

Going through the short preface, it made me think and rethink. It is very short but powerful. More or less, the introduction covers all the aspects of reflection. 

The first story "Angay" was woven so well that it put me back in time with my 72-year old grandma, who is no more with us. The story was so nicely expressed, more like the "Tom and Jerry" series, the non-violent fight between Angay and the mouse. The battle was a never-ending game. It made me laugh a lot. The last line says it clearly, "the mouse scurried away and disappeared into the bushes".

It took me no time to cover all the stories and reflections. As I read through the book, second in order was "Mi-MI's Surprise, two men, two worlds, pretty woman and so on. The last in order was the answer lies back home. 

"Karma's story", the story of a friendship, lesson of heroes, subject of discussion, matter of time, mystery of Capital, education, exposure, friendship more than a Whisky. The humor created in between was flawless. Story should be something like "Karma's story". 

"A legend that lives" the reflection of deep Bhutanese is an eye opening one. I could realize how important and significant is our "Paro Taktshang", popularly known as Tiger's Nest. And what lesson and values should we take is up to one's will and interpretation. I like how seriously our Bhutanese felt the loss of Taktshang by fire. It was also proven how united and selfless were our people in restoring into former glory back in those times.

My favourite was in between "pretty woman" and "the answer lies back home". A Bhutanese in Japan has no less knowledge and experience. It was worth sacrificing my family time. There were plentiful lessons and wisdom, insight and thought, profundity and versatility, wit and suspense, metaphor and satire in each story. 

The story line was a massive luxury of words and adjectives. Crafted the ideas so well to suit the time and place, mood and feeling, old and young.

Overall, it was special. Thrilling.

As Dasho Kinley puts his end, "it was time to go home", I landed up thinking and lost, into serious and deep contemplation, mesmerised by the fact of a beautiful literature piece. And finally knew how funny and entertaining is our own Dasho Kinley.

 

NOTE:

I sincerely thank BOOKNESE, Lyonpo for sharing the book, officer for taking time to pack and send the book, taxi driver for delivery, Dasho Kinley for the book, my wife for sparing the fare and myself for reading the book very sincerely till the end.

 

Winter Timing –Self Perspective

Hello Sancha,

I got a surprise email from a friend in Guinea this morning. He stated a few pertinent points, which I feel like sharing here. 

 

How is Bhutan? 

I always love to visit your beautiful country. I want to learn more about GNH from your country and people. It was so nice to see your beautiful king and queen giving their best for the country. I was happy to learn that COVID situation was very much under control. Keep it up! 

 

I wasn't sure what to reply. Instead I landed up writing about recent winter timing for civil servants, which raises many concerns. 

 

I sincerely applaud RCSC for making a bold decision about winter office timing for civil servants. It is a win-win situation for the country and the individual. All the civil servants will continue to work from 9am to 5pm this winter was the press statement. This is not a real big deal for all of us who have come from a very hard time. I am not so sure if this trend will continue to remain the same for the coming years. But I would love to have the same working hours hereafter.

 

It was disheartening to see many grievances being passed down in social media platforms. It has raised some genuine concerns too. I see two inconveniences. First is travelling home as the dark set 30-60 minutes early. Second is the bitter cold and windy weather. Anyways, there are plenty of solutions at our hands to overcome this tough perk. Nonetheless, an extra one-hour should become worth spending in respective offices, or workstations. 

 

I heard about the winter timing, but honestly I wasn't sure of when it starts and ends. Being in the education system, I don't care about office timing. No matter what, I am used to with working extra hours with the future of the country. So far, I have never worked differently for the winter and summer.

Should we thank, or curse this pandemic for such a big change?

 

It was worrisome to learn that the country's GDP has shrunk at an all time low of negative 10.8 per cent and hell bed is being dug for loan debt of 112.6 percent of the country's GDP. Shocking! 

 

I was happy to learn that civil service being the key to good governance and efficient delivery of the services, bears the responsibility to support and accelerate economic recovery. 

 

Starting November 1, 2021 by working 1 hour extra, we should learn a very different lesson, lesson to develop Bhutan. This start is just a tip of an iceberg to know and realize how the rest of the world works and functions. Small nation like ours, this change should have happened a decade ago, however, it is time for solidarity in such hard times as this to put and risk everything for the country. We must contribute individually at our own capacity and style to make this change workable, impactful and lasting. 

 

Positivity is a must now. Changing mindset is a must now. Unity is a must now. Thinking as one is a must now. Becoming resilient is a must now. However one thing is certain, this change may take time but we must stand out together, we must come together strong and united and make this change happen in a very meaningful way for the nation. 

 

I hope our biggest economy, BPC alone, won't be happy and pocketing the net profit. At the cost of raising the utility bill for electricity and water, together we must work for the cause. Let us learn to give our fair service to people of any background and qualification, status and race. 

 

It's fine for the education system; we don't use room heaters in our staffroom. Fair from our end, it's a net service for a country. Like never before, it's a golden opportunity for us to serve our country and people well.

 

I am proud to put my statement bold and straight. I have served our king, country and people with full dedication and loyalty, and it was great thus far. I never felt the pressure of time and work nature, although there was time for an unprecedented situation. As long as I am physically fit, I am ready to serve TSA-WA-SUM. More so, as a school lopen, I am used to working hard all day long. Used to working by setting an alarm clock to monitor study and other activities, which happens beyond school hours. I have even sacrificed most of the holidays and weekends for the cost of benefiting the future of the country. This is truly a cause of nation building. 

 

We must feel proud of our smallness and our visionary kings. Perhaps, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck, first King of Bhutan who unified the country under difficult circumstances and handed it over to us safe and united. From 1907 and on, by now everything including the road network, education and health service and policies should be world class. 

 

Anyway, we aren't late to start this reform. We have many more flaws to fix including working mindset, good work culture both at home and work place. There is nothing wrong being workaholic, or addicted to work. Let us learn to give 100 per cent for the country that has given so much. Rest will be taken care of by itself. 

 

Life is like riding a bicycle 

I feel sorry for my friend who is seven continents apart who thought my country is flawless in everything. But we are struggling to fix our TIME and POTHOLES.