Nawang P Phuntsho

Suddenly, Phuentsholing is become a noisy city filled with people from different regions of the country - all with one big purpose - to attend a two-month Wang-lung-thri ceremony from His Holiness the Kyabje Namkhai Nyingpo Rimpochhe. Thanks to His Holiness, this sleeping border town would stay awake this winter and get blessed. Starting this week, people started pouring in and this afternoon, we realized it was even difficult to walk in the streets without bumping into someone. The dust would be once again regular feature of this city. But I am sure, businessmen on both the sides of the Phuentsholing Gate must be dreaming big. I would not be surprised if 30,000 to 50,000 people gather for this holy occasion. After all an event of this sort would happen only once in many years. The actual event kicks off from December 2, 2011.  Many people are putting up different types of stalls ranging from food to garments. And this winter the roar of Amochu (Toorsa) would be even louder....

Today there is another announcement in Kuensel. It was of course from MoIC. The written exam, which they announced to be conducted on November 30 now stands postponed. The ministry, I was told, called all the shortlisted candidates asking them to be there in Thimphu. Many I assume must have rushed to the capital yesterday. But now, it is cancelled? How did that happen? If deadlines can be as flexible as that then one would not miss so many opportunities in life!   Do you smell something here? Maybe some powerful people's relatives could not be in Thimphu in time to attend the interview. This may not be true, but it appears like that now.  Right or wrong, anyone has the right to assumptions until the real truth is out.  By the way, the ministry's website  isn't updated even when this cancellation of examination is announced in the media.  

On November 9, 2011, MoIC announced availability of a number of vacancies in the Department of Civil Aviation to be placed in the country's four airports. The last date for the submission of application was November 25, 2011. The ministry announced the names of the shortlisted candidates only on 29 th November 2011 Kuensel issue and not on 28 th as informed earlier. A screenshot of MoIC web site A friend of mine frantically opened the ministry's website to scan the list to see if her sister was shortlisted. But lo, the website did not have any information about it, whatsoever. She again confirmed if her friend in Thimphu, if what he said was correct. Yes, there was an announcement in Kuensel.  The website is still silent on the announcement.  And my friend then called some people in the ministry to confirm if shortlist was out. Then she checked her e-Kuensel, which did not have any information about the shortlist. It was only available in Kuensel hard copy, they said....

Every evening, I find my neighbor waiting outside the apartment for her two children from their evening tuition. And my neighbor has been doing that as long as I can remember. As a young parent myself I can understand how concerned she is of her children. It is jungle out there. Any rushing cars can make our children no more. Doing well and performing exceptionally beyond what is expected is becoming a trend in Bhutan today. Time was different when we were students. By the way tuition is illegal in Bhutan. That’s the way it is here. Many things are illegal and yet we see them everywhere. Only this afternoon, we passively smoked in a restaurant – that lady, I think she was unaware of the fact that one is prohibited of smoking in a public place. She did it just before our eyes and so proudly too. Anyway, you see tuition is illegal in Bhutan. And I am really encouraged by the reason our authorities give to defend their decision on the prohibition of tuitions in the country. They think...

Penstar Photo The recent issue of K2 covered almost everything that you need to know on the custom and trend of chewing doma in Bhutan. The articles familiarize its readers starting from how doma, paney and tsuni are prepared to wrapping trend to the hazards it poses on the chewers to what doctors are saying about the habit to what doma - khamdo is known in English, etc. And pictures captivate the essence of the stories in full. I have always admired the team behind that magazine and one of my uncles buys only the weekend edition of Kuensel for the same reason. K2 has already carved a niche market and the fact that it has its mother to accompany makes it more successful. But sometimes I become uneasy with the expression “K2 comes free with the Saturday edition of Kuensel”. On the other days the newspaper sells for Nu. 5 while on Saturday they charge us Nu.10/- (Nu. 5 is for the free K2 Magazine, I tell my wife). But, good job K2 and congratulations to the team behind this wo...

A few years ago, Nidup Dorji started with Bhutan’s maiden reality show Bhutan Star , which was apparently inspired by Indian Idol . But the organizer could not continue the show in the following year. A few years later, Kencho Wangdi launched his own version of the reality show and called it Druk Star . It displeased Nidup Dorji. He thought it was copyright violation or whatever the authorities termed it later on in the drama. And then the court case ensued. That’s what we were told although we were not sure what happened at the end. One of my favorite shows on BBS recently happens to be Nazhoen Express . Sangay Chophel and his team did an excellent job. It was a wonderful show and the producers should be really proud of the unique show they gave Bhutanese audience at least once in so many years. They gave us something new, something that’s truly our own. The show presents what we have seen and heard and experienced all our life and yet as we watch the show with rapt attention, ...