Expression from an Idiot by birth:

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that where we live remain clean, safe, well organized, and beautiful, for all times to come” His Majesty The King of Bhutan, address to the Nation, 109 th National Day, 17 December 2016 It is about time Bhutanese respect the genuine concern remarked by His Majesty and not take His Majesty’s vision for clean society lightly. We are lucky to have such humble leadership with broad vision for Bhutanese and Bhutan. Vials and syringes [Buddha Point] Collected by Barma Enteprises Bhutanese at large has always been a “great” planner and law makers, but has always been bad implementer of what transcribed from the meeting or the plans. We somehow fail to continue what was initiated and leave the great initiatives to face natural and slow dead. We have many profound Acts and Rules, however we tend to implement what is inside the Acts and Rules for about a week and then forget after that. I suppose, it is a disease we have, which we ...

I am a vegetarian and I love animals. Unless all Bhutanese go vegan, I am for the establishment of slaughter house for Bhutan has to become meat self sufficient.  The issue on establishing a mega farm AKA slaughter house is again tabled for discussion in the National Assembly when the opposition questioned the government citing the sentiments of Bhutanese at large. I felt that having understood the economic un-stability of the country by our so called policy makers, such initiatives should not be questioned at-all let alone opposing it. I am for the establishment of mega farm with following reasons: 1. Establishing a mega farm mean meat self sufficient - Though statistically not proven, I am pretty confident that about 50% of Bhutanese eat meat. I feel even more than that. And to make matters interesting, almost all the Bhutanese meat eaters are heavy meat eaters with majority going for beef and pork (rural areas); and chicken, fish and mutton. Don't believe me! visit any mea...

I MAY BE WRONG, BUT AT-LEAST THIS IS HOW I SEE The country is divided when the law makers of the nation tabled the  minimum daily tariff of USD 250/tourist/day for discussion. The debate is on and i believe that debate is healthy for any kinds of paradigm shifts and developments. My vote was for doing away with minimum daily tariff, however to maintain the daily royalty of USD 65/tourist/day. There are many thinkers who believe that tourism policy and the minimum daily tariff has worked in Bhutan and there is no need for revision or rather discussion. I will not argue on this as it has made Bhutan one of the most sought after destination and only about 5 % of those in whose bucket list Bhutan is reflected is able to visit the country. And this is not because Bhutan is expensive. It is because many tourists has always thought that Bhutan's visa is difficult to get which is further coupled with the daily tariff of USD 200-250/day/tourist. It isn't the fault of the tourists, ...

After having completed my Bachelors in Forestry, i have been extremely lucky to have been gifted with an opportunity to work in the conservation and environmental institute in Lamai Goempa - Bumthang. It was mid - January 2007 and Lamai Goempa had its first snow fall of the year. My job demands me to teach, conduct research and make presentations. I will admit that, i have been given the great opportunity to attend quite a good number of international and regional conferences wherein I was also provided with an opportunity to give a talk. In July 2015, I was asked to talk on the climate change hazards and adaptation experiences based on natural resources and phenology in Kathmandy - Nepal; in August this year, I was asked to deliver a talk on Bhutan's Natural Capital in Goa, India; on 9th November I was made to talk on Sustainable Development Goals and linking GNH, in Bumthang; and yesterday I delivered a talk on Climate Change and Energy Security - Challenges and Strategies ...

What A man can do? How can A man achieve the impossible? How can A man be architect of a nation? How can A man put his own life for the nation’s sovereignty? And many more ! All the un-answered answers are what defines The Great Fourth, His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth king of Bhutan. November 11, 1955, a boy destined to rule Druk-yul, the land of Thunder Dragon was born to His Majesty the third king of Bhutan Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and Her Majesty Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck. A boy, upon whom the responsibility of guiding his people and developmental activities of the nation fell upon his shoulder at the tender age of 17, when His Majesty the third king passed away. Seventeen! When I was 17, I didn’t even know what was good for me and what was not, let alone differentiating between the two for the nation, but the young Prince did – Amazing! An IMPOSSIBLE is achieved. When the young Prince inherited the country, the country didn’t see much of the infras...

I am sick of seeing trash everywhere and worst of all seeing our people throwing trash off their cars. Even worst, seeing people just throwing their thukpa and tea plastic cups below the road and on the road after emptying the contents. What a world we live in? There would be more"EVEN WORST"...worst of all, not caring the cardboards which was used as carpet to keep your butt during the Wangs and other festivals.  If only: -        Our DOMA sellers refrain from being generous with quantity of Lime -        DOMA eaters carry small piece of re-usable cloth to smear excess Lime -        DOMA eaters don’t smear excess Lime on every available poles and pillars -        Usable trash cans were installed at every 50 meters interval in towns -        Someone empties the trash cans twice daily -      ...

In the last five years I have travelled four times to the United States of America and this time to the Columbia University, New York. The one year I missed was in 2013 where I traveled to Melbourne and New England, Australia. Every time, I travel to US or any other countries abroad, I always struggle with visa processing activities. It would be free and easy to travel if we forgo the hassle of requiring a visa, but it is a territorial marks we want to create requiring such documents to visit any country apart from which you are citizens of and I respect that. Thats not what I'm suppose to write, my point was, what an invention human beings made. A steel can fly and there are devices with which they have routes to ensure safety of all the people on board. Ground people makes sure that all engines, even the smallest of the parts, are thoroughly checked and baggages are efficiently segregated and safely transferred to next flight in which the owner boards. A transportation mechani...

When the Ministry of Finance- Royal Government of Bhutan, finally made a public notification on release of quota, civil servants who were eligible were happy that finally it is coming through and I have to admit that I was one of happy civil servants. I had no issues on the "Vehicle Quota Rules 2014". However, I had the difficulty to digest when I heard that there are no RULES in place for the so called "FULL QUOTA" for Honourable Members of Parliament and National Council. I feel that the whole purpose of framing rules with an intention to prevent import of two vehicles (One by using quota and one by earnings made from selling quota) is defeated. To lay my justifications on the "Defeated" words I used: with 8 lakhs quota, even if two vehicles are imported another imported vehicle will be a small hatchback, but if full quota are allowed to sell, it will lead to the import of two SUVs- everyone understands the amount of pollution made by SUVs and Hatchba...

Going Electric is a noble idea and endeavors followed by People's Democratic Party (Current Ruling party) in Bhutan. Bhutan has been applauded for the green vision not only this time but several years before, for being very particular about preferring to conserve natural resources to economic gains. However, recent decision by government to go purely electric in automobile department came out little surprise, at-least to me. While, I acknowledge that going electric would mean lots of benefits to the environment and help preserve the serenity of our country as electric run cars are known for little to no sound at-all to zero emission of poisonous gases. However, the fact we should understand is; we are a small nation with unforgiving, of-course beautiful, topography and under developed. Going electric would demand building charging stations within the 100 kilometers distance each to ease passerby and to avoid traffic clogging at charging stations. We should know that, Bhutan do...

Writing has always been my weakness and I am sure that it is never going to take even gradual improvement let alone exponential improvement. However, I have a passion for reading and writing: probably helping me to certain extent in whatsoever ways it might be helping me. I have been not able to post any during the last many months, not because I didn't want to write any, nor because I m not interested to blog anymore. It is all because of the crazy life I have been through for the last one year and a half- it is because of the 14th International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) Congress. It is after I took over as the Chair of the organizing committee of the 14th ISE congress. Congress Participants with HRH Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (www.uwice.gov.bt) under the Department of Forests and Park Services organized the congress in collaboration to International Society of Ethnobiology (www.ethnobiology.net) 14th ISE Cong...

Being a Bhutanese citizen, it is the sole responsibility of every Bhutanese to be able to read and write fluently in our National Language, Dzongkha. It is of utmost importance, and I think every Bhutanese or even people around the globe would agree to my statement. Having said that, we should not forget that there are major chunk of Bhutanese in remotest parts of the country who can’t speak and understand Dzongkha, our National Language. While we understand the importance of campaigning in national language in common forum for our election processes, we should also keep in mind if our messages are getting conveyed. I’m trying to refer to what I observed in the Bhutan Broadcasting Services’ television show. I know that all the aspiring candidates are well qualified and will surely benefit the people of our communities and nation as a whole. But, what is surprising is, some of our aspiring candidates can’t even speak the pre-written statement, forget conveying the message if as...

(It has taken nearly four month for me since I last wrote an article in my blog. This is my 50th article and what a shame on me as it took me long time to post. My long days of absence from blogging does not show my "dis"-interest in blogging, it was just that, my days were very busy and it is getting busier. I gained all my strength to stop working for sometime and write something today). Have you ever been asked by your friends, “What is the most comfortable place on Earth?” The question seems foolishly simple, but if you try to think carefully and try to answer, this “simple” question, it would force you to scratch your head several times before coming to the concrete answer. Typical toilet structure in rural Bhutan I faced a similar question few years back and I couldn’t answer it. This question made me to think for several hours until my bladder was filled with un-wanted liquid, which urgently needs to be expelled from my body. Yes, you got me ...

Both Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) refers to what is earlier known as Minor Forest Products (MFPs). The use of "MFPs" terminology has been discontinued as it seems to greatly mis-guide the produce. For instance collection and trade of Cordyceps ( Ophiocordyceps sinensis ) by high alpine dwellers and even Chirata ( Swertia chirata ) in the east (Shigkhar Lauri) contributes more than 50% of their annual earnings, which of-course is clear that these forest products doesnot justify to be called as minor. NWFPs and NTFPs are two very similar yet different terminologies adopted to address these produce of forest other than timber. In short it includes everything besides timber. Rattan Shoot In Bhutan we use NWFP and it is defined in the National Forest Policy of Bhutan, 2011as, "NWFP means resin, varnish, katha, kutch, plants, flowers, seeds, bamboo, bulbs, roots, leaves, grasses, creepers, reeds, orchids, cane, fungi, moss, medic...