Tshewang's Journal

As a freelance blogger for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, I embarked on a unique photography project - capturing tourist hotspots in Bhutan using the "Smart_Torch Relay" app on my Android phone. It was an honor to be among hundreds chosen for this task, especially as the Torch Relay itself was being made electronic and accessible through smartphones. My journey took me to historical sites like the tallest Buddha statue in Kuensel Phodrang, Paro's Tiger's Nest, and Kichu Lhakhang. On the way back from Paro, a thought-provoking encounter unfolded. An elderly couple (around 70) hailed my taxi. The driver, blasting loud Hindi music, provided unwelcome background noise to our hour-long ride. As the couple boarded, they engaged in a philosophical debate. The husband, Meme Phuntsho, questioned the essence of our travel. "Are we riding this car?" he asked, "Or are we riding the money that bought it?" His wife, unfazed, countered, "We could walk or take...

Hello Folks! Yes I am back; and it is rainy in Dhaka as late. While it makes weather to be cool and calm negating the excruciating heat of the time; it creates lots of mud scores on the streets and most often my bus to the class is stranded on the way. But that is fine because I get to sleep more; and well if you say sleeping is the waste of time; I have heard quiet poignant adage saying sleeping is the best meditation! The traffic doesn't help at all! Just as always, the city flocks in huge number of cars, buses and lorries not to mention the bikes and rickshaws that often leads the way outward. Whatsoever, I am back now; and I am cognizant enough to say that now I feel like a doctor with wards and Outpatient Department taking most of my times! It has been a while, and I admit I am such a lazy one. On it's list was my travel schedule that kept me busy for the past month. Good vacation it was! I was in Mumbai with 12 hour layover on my way to Colombo for World Conference on...

The incessant buzz of life, much like the unyielding clamor of Call of Duty, pervades without pause, accompanied by the ghostly visage of a spectral lady haunting the peripheries of consciousness. Life unfurls its mysteries at depths we scarcely comprehend, relentless in its momentum, untouched by our desires or the fleeting grasp of control. The grandiloquent promises of politicians, their eloquence and statesmanship, offer little solace, mirroring the ephemeral allure of an amateur's melody. We find ourselves adrift, like fading zephyrs, grappling with the paradox of giving more than we receive in an endless cycle fueled by insatiable greed. The stage is set, awaiting our performance in this grand spectacle of existence. The narrative takes unexpected turns, presenting incongruities that defy conventional wisdom—a monk indulging in tobacco, a corrupt politician, a biased journalist, and the aloofness of societal elites. These figures challenge the boundaries of expectation and tr...

The recent decision by the National Council on requiring the ten years experience in taking the elected government office didn't come as a good hearing to me and most youths alike. As a youth activist; I have been working and trying to find the voices of youth included in our decision making process. I had the idea of model YOUTH ASSEMBLY, which after thorough discussion with few friends of similar interests barged on with a similar assembly called YIDDD . While the main focus was to foster the deeper understanding of the political issues in and within the country; the assembly herald quite an interesting platform rather.A more conducive and lucid in ways of educating on how to deliberate and debate on an issue and refute in a way necessary. Either way, the focus wasn't adjusted towards bringing our youth's voices in decision making process. The NC's decision of 10 years experiences has put another bar. As opposed to our cliche of saying 'youths are the future of ...

The recent furor over the tobacco amendment bill, endorsed by the National Council, ignited a flurry of discussions across online forums in the country. Opinions varied widely, from staunch support for the legislation to vehement opposition, with a significant number of citizens observing the debate with a nuanced eye, pondering the broader implications of such a law. With eighteen votes in favor, the bill was set to be discussed in the National Assembly's summer session. For many smokers, this development was met with jubilation, yet it also sparked a lively discourse among the online community, offering a rich tapestry of perspectives to consider. Reflecting on the tobacco ban's impact in Bhutan reveals a complex picture. At both the individual and national levels, the ban's enforcement highlighted stark disparities within our society. Instances where ordinary citizens faced severe penalties for minor infractions contrasted sharply with the apparent impunity enjoyed by th...