Right tatoo

August 13, 2009Posted inMiscellaneous
The last big picture was easy. Too easy. Almost all of you seem to know the answer. Frankly, I'm amazed. And I feel silly. So I'm declaring the results before I feel any more sillier. Yes, it's a tattoo. Yes, it'sa tattoo of a dragon. And yes, it's a tattoo of a dragon on Jurmi Chhowing's left arm. Jurmi, who's also known as Taliman (not Taliban, dear Pompom), got this "lifetime marking for a temporary insanity", as Ugyen put it, at Naktsi Tattoo Parlour. The parlour is located in Lhaki Lam in lower Motithang. It is owned and run…

Real money

August 11, 2009Posted inEconomy
Recently, on the 9th of August, Kuensel published a story about the Rs. 5 billion that our central bank had borrowed in 2008 to meet the rupee requirements in the country. On that overdraft, our central bank is pays more than Rs. 500,000 every day on interest alone. That same story also informed us that the government total rupee debt with India stands at Rs. 22 billion, Rs 17 billion of which is for hydropower projects. The next day, on the 10th of August, Kuensel ran an editorial telling us that we need to expand our economy – to…

Rejected

August 10, 2009Posted inLegislature
The third session of the Parliament did not pass two bills: the Local Government Bill and the Civil Service Bill. Both the bills are important. So, many people are concerned. And, more than a few people have asked me how the discussions will be continued. One concerned reader, a Samdrups, was particularly worried about what I wrote in “Parliament rejects civil service bill” and commented: “You are talking as if you are in favour of referendum or making the bill dead!!! I am sure it will be very costly to have referendum and costlier to make these bills dead.…

Going forward

August 9, 2009Posted inLegislature
The third session of the Parliament rejected the proposal to lift the ban on the slaughter of animals and sale of meat during the first and fourth months of our calendar. Some, like Freewill who wrote “…I think it is a stupid move”, are confounded by the Parliament’s decision. But others are happy. Ifyouwilliwill (no prize for guessing the intent behind this nickname) wrote, “I feeeeeeeeeel great. Good decision by the MP’s.” Both comments were posted in “Parliament rejects LG Bill”. The proposal to amend the Livestock Act, which would have lifted the meat ban, was debated in both…

Friendship

August 7, 2009Posted inGeneral, Miscellaneous
This morning, while going through some pictures, I came across a photograph that had friendship written all over it. I’m featuring it in the banner to celebrate international friendship day, almost a week after it’s over.

The Musk

August 6, 2009Posted inCulture7 Comments
About a hundred years ago, a Haap left Bhutan for Kalimpong. He didn’t return home, choosing, instead, to settle down, with other Bhutanese, in Dolopchen, a small hamlet near Pedong. Several generations later, his great granddaughter, Deki Lhamu, is back in Bhutan. And, together with her husband, Jigme Norbu, she owns and runs Musk, a restaurant in the clock tower square. Musk (formed by reversing the last four letters of CHOKSUM, their daughter’s name) specializes in Kalimpong food – a delightful blend of Bhutanese, Sikkimese, Tibetan and Nepali cuisines. I enjoy their menu. So, I go there often. If…

Politicians

August 5, 2009Posted inPeople
My friend, an Australian, sent me this joke. It’s about how politicians are inherently different from other citizens. I hope our politicians are still different. Different from the stereotype, that is. One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'  The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at…

Leki

August 5, 2009Posted inMiscellaneous
In Big Picture – 3, many of you guessed that the sound was that of a bird, a cuckoo. Many others, however, chose to focus on the landscape and guessed, correctly, that the trees – the willows and pine – were in Taba, below my parents’ house. And one reader, a philosopher, saw the tranquility of weeping willows and pine trees coexisting peacefully, and suggested subtly that our political landscape needed more harmony. We do have a winner. It’s “ps” who wrote: “I think its some kid pretending be a cuckoo!” To claim your prize, please email me your…

The Big Picture – 3

August 3, 2009Posted inMiscellaneous
Okay, let’s make Big Picture a bit more interesting. Here’s an audio-visual clip. The first one to correctly identify what the Big Picture is wins a commemorative Nu 100 coin celebrating His Majesty’s the King’s coronation last year. It’s the Big Picture – 2 prize that was not claimed. Enjoy

Thanking our king

August 2, 2009Posted inLegislature
What follows is my statement of thanks for the Royal Address at the concluding ceremony of the third session of the Parliament on 30th July. On behalf of all members of the Parliament and, in particular, the opposition party, I offer thanks to Your Majesty for gracing the concluding ceremony of the third session of the First Parliament of Bhutan. Your Majesty’s personal presence in this august hall, and Royal Command to us, clearly indicates the exceptional level of support and guidance that Your Majesty continues to provide the Parliament in particular, and to democracy in general. The Parliament’s…

Royal address

August 2, 2009Posted inDemocracy, Monarchy
ROYAL ADDRESS AT THE CONCLUDING CEREMONY OF THE 3rd SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT, 30 JULY 2007 On the occasion of the concluding ceremony of the 3rd session of Parliament, I congratulate the elected government of the Druk Phuensum Tshokpa on the completion of one year and four months in office. In these early days of a new political system while bearing great responsibilities you have, despite the limited resources, successfully carried out the difficult duties of government in service of the Tsawasum. The Opposition, though comprised of only two members, has through diligence and commitment, fulfilled the important duties…

Answering questions

August 1, 2009Posted inLegislature
In “Questioning questions” Di asked, “Did Kuensel report correctly that you were in the end supporting the PM in that the ministers need not attend QT?” If that was what Kuensel reported, they are wrong. I did not say that ministers need not attend the National Council’s Question Time. What I did say, however, was that I appreciated our government’s efforts to accommodate the NC, as we, in the National Assembly, were told by the PM. What I also said was that, as far as the opposition sees it, the issue is between the Cabinet and the National Council.…

Another tragedy

August 1, 2009Posted inNature
There’s been another tragedy, this time from Wangduephodrang. A Class 11 student was swept away by the Punasthangchu. He and his friends had gone to the river to escape the mid-day heat.  Officials and volunteers have not yet been able to recover the young student’s body.

Walk talk

July 31, 2009Posted inDemocracy
A regular reader, Guest, asked me in “Lobxang’s anger”, my last entry: “Is your party behind this Solidarity Walk? I need to know.” Here’s my answer: “No, PDP is not behind the solidarity walk. And, nor am I.” Ashan, another reader, commented in the same entry: “I just hope that PDP is not behind the Walk.” My answer, again, is that PDP is not behind the walk. We had, and have, nothing to do with it. Now, what I’d like to know is this: why is PDP being linked to today’s walk?