Upon repeated invitation from Bjankhar lam, i along with a couple of frriends and some field staff went to Bjangkhar Lhakhang to attend tsechu. 
     As we set our journey,  the day was bright.  It was good to have the sun after some days of heavy downpour and gloom.  With blessed heart and glowed face we journeyed to the lhakhang through breath taking nature at her best.  The school children who were taken there for their cub investiture ceremony were more excited to play on the bridge over Dharangang River which is underutilized asset in the community. Some children were experiencing their first steps on the bridge.  Frightfully but carefully they step their feet and cross over. In few minutes their terrors were gone they were having fun running across. 
     We were welcomed heartily by the host and the people.  The children were served orange juice while we were treated with tea and chang.  About half the people in the community gathered there for the tsechu.  Forgeting their work and worries the people were seen having perfect rest,  talking and relaxing over a tokshing(bucket) of bangchang.  We could also join them and share some moments strengthening our bond with them.  Of course by involving ourselves in the community gatherings like that,  we could learn many things which we usually neglect in our life. 
      It had been a great moment for our school cub members.  They felt honoured to receive their scarves from the lam.  The moment was solemn as the cubs receive their scarves and make their cub promise. The idea of scouting penetrates even in the remote hamlets. And that the people especially the parents of the cubs feel proud to see their children receiving scarves from someone whom they regard as special person in their community. When we cannot club cub investiture with some significant events in the school,  it is hard to draw the people. And thus why not add little spice to the programme of the local festival.
     Towards the end of the programme,  the lam enlightened the people significance of the Lord Buddha's parinirvina coupled with his reinforcement on the need of merit accum7lation in their lives. 
     When i wasnt able to host cub investiture in the school,  i could do that day at the lhakhang.  When i wasnt able to do some good turns to commemorate the lord Buddhas parinirvina,  i could walk to the lhakhang and attend the religious activity there. May all sentient being have perfect time to rest. 

The farmers in the community are planting money and I am planting beauty these days. I mean they are planting cardamom and I am planting privet hedges and a couple of flowers. Surely in three to four years the farmers will pocket in hefty cash and I will embrace the beauty of my hard work if i will be here. 
      I am not sure whether all the privet hedges I am planting will survive or not.  Although the privets are among fast growing bushes, there are numerous factors that hindering their growth.  In the first place,  I am doubtful whether my way of planting is technically correct or not.  I am not aware about the technical aspect of growing this plant.  However I have seen the plants well developed in other places especially at educational centres.  And I was very fortunate to see a gardener in Gelephu HSS maintaining hedges last winter when I was there on invigilation duty.  The gardener advised me that it would be better if we raise nursery of the plants first. Here I am following his suggestion that I asked my children to collect a good number of snack covers and fill them with a fertile soil.  Then I clip the aged plants and plant them in the washed snack wrappers.  I keep them under the peach tree canopying the water tap beside my residence.  I water them regularly and make sure that they receive mild sun for their proper growth.
     My last weekend was spent on planting the privets in the new cub park I am developing for the school.  The nursery plants I am raising patiently will replace those which will not survive as a result of stamping by children and of course as a result of not receiving required nutrients and care from my side.  I have urged my students to be mindful not to stamp their feet while visiting the park.  I am dreaming of my present project to be a source of delight to both outsiders and insiders. 
     Slowly and steadily the park of my dream is coming into shape with encouraging support from my colleagues and children.  I have deputed the two cooks to build a miniature house quintessentially kheng in nature.  But they have come up with an average peoples height house which still is fit for the park.  With the people shifting towards concrete buildings in the name of improved living standards typical kheng house build out of naturally available materials such as bamboo, wood and cane will walk out of this community,  I think.  So my modest dream to have a miniature kheng house in the school campus may act as a model house in some years to come if it survives the scrutiny of future leaders and faculty of this school. Sustainability of my miniature house is still at risk with the central schools pulling all the children in the community.  However i am still positive that the school area would fall in the hands of good in charge who would let beauties in the school area enthrall everyone.  Markus wild,  a swiss photographer who had been here in this community a couple of years back developed a special affinity for the typical kheng house.  He was enthralled by the naturally sourced house that he loved to sleep and dine in the thatched houses than in those concrete house.  I had special moment of making excursion with Markus in some of the remote villages in this community during which i have learnt his interest in typical kheng house. One as a teacher and other as a foreigner, we would be showered with best of the hospitalities in every village we visit.  So the people would prefer us to sleep and dine in concrete houses with the hope to treat us with speciality but Mr Markus would decline the offers favoring huts and local drinks and cuisines.   His great affinity and admiration towards the typical kheng house was engraved and immortalised on the cover page of the book he coauthored 'Bhutan's Cultural Diversity' with a spectecular picture of a typical kheng house in Pongchaling. 
      With monsoon approaching,  the rains are getting heavier and heavier.  The start of heavy rainfall coincided with my planting of hedges and flowers.  I don't have to water the plants regularly.  The timely rain is surely a blessing for the flowers in the school.  And of course for the people's cardamon. 
     May farmers pocket in hefty cash out of their sweats in planting cardamoms while people whoever would be around embrace the beauty I and my friends are planting in the school. 

(The following post was written on May 2 this year but due to poor network the publication failed and thus the repost please.)

Today I message, 'Behind every exceptional person, there is an exceptional teacher, ' by Stephen Hawking to my teachers,  colleagues and friends via facebook, sms and wechat to wish my teachers for the greatness they had showered in my life. 
       The nation comes together to celebrate the day with loads of gratitude bubbling in the hearts of all people for the proud place in the society all because of their teachers' sacrifce and unwavering dedication.  The social media today is bombarded with messeges of gratitude and wishes towards teachers.  At least for a day every teacher feels honored and their hard works in the task of nation building recognized. 
     And it is also approlriate to celebrate the national teachers' day coinciding with the birth annniversary of our Drukgyal Sumpa Jigme Dorji Wangchuk who is opened the eyes of modern education in our nation.  Because of modern education our country can swim in the sea of fast changes and moreover at individual level one can dream the finest dream he/she likes to dream. Today's developments we see around which our nation has achieved within short period are the manifestation of our modern education steered by selfless teachers.  Thus in our time to rejoice the glory of modern development spurred by modern education we can meditate the farsighted vision our third king had for us. 
     Here in my school, our children put up dances to thank us.  A small gift gifted with true feeling of thankfullness meant a lot for us. We are paid for teaching and thus teaching is our job.  But I have seen a huge difference in teaching with attitude of teaching as  our work and teaching with true love and care for our children.  When we have the attitude that teaching is our jobs our teaching do not go beyond the mandatory obligation we have fulfill.  On the contrary if we teach with children in our mind our work goes round the clock.

A Package of My Leadership

These days I am in Zhemgang Dzongkhag  to attend the Dzongkhag Principals Coordination Meeting along with other principals of the district.  Upon the transfer of our principal Mr Sonam Wangchuk to Zhemgang Central School A i was e trusted the in chargeship of the school by the DEOs.  That is why i am here to represent my school,  Kagtong Primary School in the meeting. 
      Having served under two knowlegable prinxipals, Mr Kezang Gyeltshen and Mr Sonam Wangchuk,  i feel secure to captain the school as i can cherrypick some of the best  management practices exercised by them. Moreover my colleagues are very talented in their own ways that would surely uplift my captainship. Still I remain behind I can request the seasoned principals to help me push  my works.
     It is a kind of opportunity for me lead a school although small in size and population that I would learn a lot and garner my experience. Actually I have no aim in leadership going by the lots of energy I am short of to be a leader. I only wanted to serve the best as a teacher and excel in the art of teaching. However the time has fallen on me to channel my energy to run a school. May be this kind of circumstance is a package of opportunity for me to groom skills of leadership in me.
     The meeting I am attending is one way towards gathering my leadership skills. I am learning a lot listening and observing the experienced leaders.
     I am determined to do the best I can to lead my school for the betterment of the innocent children and backward community and moreover to shape my leadership skill, a skill which is very necessary in my life. 

Brief ride to Yongphula

Yesterday morning in clear light of morning sun, I was reading Anita Desai’s ‘Clear Light of Day’ as required for the PGDE course here in Sherubtse when friend Tashi phoned me, “Kinga Yugs is here. Come and meet him.” Immediately I book marked the book and rushed to the highway.

It had been long time since we haven’t met in person. Namgay Wangchuk from Punakha known among our circle of friend as Yugs was on his way to Samdrup Jongkhar from the village of his better half Nim Dem who is also our friend too. Although we could keep track of each other in social Medias, meeting old best friends in person conjures in us exceptional feelings of happiness, the joy of special moments we have shared and nurtured. We were happy to meet each other, all happy and in perfect status. We spent some hours expressing our happiness for the great opportunity to meet after long time of our departure from the college. We talked about how we are faring with our lives. After few moments of happy meeting, Namgay and his family had to go and we bid them safe journey.

     Some sticks of sugarcane from Namgay kept us on the road for few minutes after his leave, crunching and sucking the sweet coupled with some gossip. In the mean time Tashi, Yangchen Nob, Pema Chodup and Nado wanted to visit Yongphula. I was asked to join them if I was interested. I thought for a while and agreed to join them though I had to read the book for the class discussion in the following days.

     In few minutes we were all set to go and packed ourselves in friend Nado’s luxery car. Winding up to Yongphula enjoying the ride in the comfort of the car we reached up there safely. Our friend Yangchen Norbu’s colleague who was at his wife’s house too joined us at the junction of Samdrup jongkhar and Yonphula road. The bright sun was on. But the warmth of the sun didn’t embrace us much as the wind was far stronger as if to blow us away. The ongoing extension work of the airport scraped the landscape differently. We couldn’t walk the runway fully as the wind was blowing away dust from the dug lands. After about three minutes of our photo session on the soil filled run way we went straight to the lake few miles below the run way. The lake appeared brown and calm in front of us. We ran down to the lake to get more of the lake. There we took several photos to celebrate the beauty and the joy of our time together. At one side there were sand at the bank on which Tashi scribbled ‘BEACH’ soley to photograph. Later when were on the way one of us (I cannot remember who was that) shared, “now I will post the photos of the Facebook and Wechat with comments, “moments at Yongphulia(not austrilia) Beach”. Then with not much rhododendrons to be seen there, some of us commented that the Bhutanese song composer of the song “Yongphula lay atho metho tshak de gi Drangmi chu na kowa phang may” was lying. Such lighter moments we have shared besides the open view of some valleys of Tashigang.

     In the mean time we were invited to Yangchen’s friend’s house for some rest. We had to walk few miles down the airport to reach the village. We were given teas and ara. We thankfully had the tea and ara circling around the bukhari. The ara was so strong that the smell runs through our nostril so strongly. We bonded further with lots of talks concerning our lives and beyond often snaking on biscuits, tengma and ezay.

     Finally we came back thanking the hopitality of Yangchen’s friend. Although it wasn’t planned tip for me I enjoyed the moment with my college mates. Although I couldn’t finish up the book, ‘Clear Light of Day’ I was reading in the morning, I have rediscovered a clear light of friendship in us in clear light of sun at Yongphula. 

Happy Continuation Year 2016

A new year has drawn to continue our life with success and jubilation. Many moments have passed by leaving behind many memories.

The year 2015 had been glorious and eventful for all of us. Across the world many countries suffered badly. Debt crises, terrorism and some natural disasters struck some countries badly. However our country remained undisturbed by all the global issues. We could roll up the year with festivity and jubilation.

The commemoration of 60^th Birth anniversary of our 4^th Druk Gelpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk across the nation gave us all the great opportunity to rededicate our service towards our nation. The faith and gratitude towards our leaders of destiny were reinforced through all colors, shapes and sounds of the celebration of 60^th Birth Anniversary of our king.

Now we are welcoming the new year with total prayers and hopes to roll the year with renewed hopes and aspirations.  With mistakes as our teachers and success as our motivation we are hoping to see live another year with success.

The birth of our Royal Heir will promise us the eternity of peace and prosperity in our nation.

On the personal level, I have lot to reflect on the errors of my life and make heart to lead my life as perfect as I can. I resolve to nurture best family love and find enormous peace and joy in my life. I also resolve to do everything with professional ethics in my school. There is something I have to do with my habit of taking things for granted and for that I will do as much as I can at a very moment of task in my mind. Of all this year I will keep constant connection with my relatives especially my aging uncle Nidup who is in prayers in Goen Tshaphu and my father in the village.

May 2016 be a perfect continuation in the course of our life. 

My Peacock Quest

Where? : Gelephu HSS

The school principal fired my curiosity to explore the area in the vicinity of the school campus when he had leisurely evening with us about three days ago, 'many peacocks visit our football field along with some wild animals such as deer and boars in early in the morning and in the evening.'
     I set out to the football field last weekend morning while my friends were still in sound rest. A gentle breeze ran refreshingly over my face. The lawns were dew-washed. The well maintained privet hedges and blossoming bougainvilleas which the school is rich at and beautiful at greeted me as usual.
     Some mynahs were crackling in the gulmahar trees and so did bulbuls in the bamboo clumps. There were no sights of peacocks nor were there deer and boars. Maybe the ongoing extending of roads to expand the town kept them away, I thought. I walked around sighting some small birds in the bamboos. I photographed the birds that were visible on the twigs and branches.
     With more to get out of my morning walk, I went out struggling out of the barbed wired fence. The road stretched out wide and dusty. A hoopoe was taking advantage of the excavated land to claim its share of meal from the mother earth. It disappeared in the dust left out by a car leaving towards the school. To escape the dust I walked a roadside. There were birds some familiar and rest unknown. I was very happy at the sights of different birds up for their morning chores. Of all the birds long tailed shrikes and red vented bulbuls were common. Then a couple of barbets. A beautiful bird in green with a hairlike feather from  the tail was most eye catching. Unlike most birds it wasn't shy and that helped me to held my breath and moment to watch and capture it in my camera. In few minutes the sun appeared from the eastern horizon penetrating the grey-gold clouds and the lighting became perfect on the area I was in to photograph birds.   
     Then I came back with my eyes angled into the woods for birds. A woodpecker was busy pecking in the bark of a tree accompanied by some bulbuls and a shrike that were resting on the boughs.
      Finally when I was about to leave the place the sight of a pea cock on a bough made my purpose of the walk, purpose to watch peacocks answered. I focussed my camera immediately to immortalize the bird. I was fortunate get a shot of  the peacock walking on a bare branch before it  hid into the bushes. I inched few steps towards the tree to get better view of the peacocks resting and receiving warm light of the sun. Unfortunately the peacocks flew away one by one into the bushes. I couldn't capture anymore pictures of them. I might have disturbed their morning time.
     A sort of peace and freedom I get from the sight of birds would go in expanding great happiness in my life.
     My peacock quest has presented me many beautiful birds and freshness of the morning though I couldn't watch the peacocks as I could watch other birds.