Peeping through the Window

After having heavy diner, I was not feeling very comfortable and kept walking inside the room. Always thought of skipping the diner but the moment I see or smell the food I can’t resist myself from having it. Anyways that is not what I am going to share here. 

I was bit tired and then felt like lying down. I leaned against the wall on the bed and put on the TV. I could not find anything interesting and was switching the channels up and down. I heard people talking outside and it tempted me to peep out through the window. It was not my first time doing this, I usually peep through the window watching the flow of traffic and people on the road below. I see many different scenes and yesterday was the different one and interesting too. I heard people talking outside and I got up to see what they are up to. I saw many people this time along the road side. And there was a man acting so weird in the middle of the road.  He was drunk and did not know what he was doing. He confronted the every passerby and one of the passersby charged him back but the people nearby compromised. That man was stopping every car and all cars were lined up in queue. Honking everywhere; from right and left. He was charging every vehicle, banging and shouting but the good thing I observed was none of them confronted him, may be many understood that he was under the influence of alcohol or any other substances. Nobody there could stop him.

Then out of nowhere a man in white tracksuits came and dragged him to the side of the road. The drunkard tried to kick him but he could not as he barely could stand. Then man in suit was a police officer, he was with a handset and made a call to his companions. He slapped the drunkard twice for having misbehaved and confronting him. Many other people present there were like "yes! that is what he wanted". Then two personnel came and the man was handcuffed and pushed into the car. All present there were talking about it and once again there was a peace flow of traffic and people. After that I did not hear anything regarding that person.

Watching through the window come across many different scenes and sometimes, it is a good way to understand well the society we live in. After that I slept thinking "why do people act so weird after intoxication".   

City Hawkers

It was late at night when I along with some of my friends had a get together diner on 8th of August and we were boozily walking along the street in Thimphu. By then it was 12 midnight and I could see so many people along the road. I wondered "at this hour!!” People were really busy like in the vegetable market. As I walked near the crowd, a lady called "thukpa thukpa sir" I looked and was astonished to see a line of hawkers with big hot-case in front of each one of them. Most of them are women and at one point of time I was thinking 'why at this hour in the middle of the street where so many delinquent youths move, it is not very a safe place'. I nudged one of my friends and told him; let’s see what they have got. I went near one elderly woman and asked her "what have u got". Without even us asking for it, she poured in a plastic cup and offered me saying "beef thukpa, how many more?" I took it and all my three friends were interested too. We took two each and paid which cost Nu 20 per cup. 

Then little up in the line, I saw a girl aged 13 or 14. I went near her and asked "what have u got", she happily said, "Veg thukpa, momo and Doma". I told her, "Do u stay nearby?" She referred to a place which is about 3-4 kilometers away from town. "Then how do u manage to stay late at night?" "We come in groups and we go in groups and sometimes my uncle comes to pick me up" she said. I was curious if that place could be safe for the hawkers like her, she said so far there was a not a single problem but she fear all the time that the problem could arise any time. My friend called me and I just left after having paid for the delicious Momo she prepared. Especially during a chilling night, they serve a very warm and delicious thukpa (porridge) and people especially the party goers are highly benefited. It is a very good business but at the same time I find it not very safe especially for the girl hawkers.

Then after that we drove to Luntenzampa parking areas as one of my friends told us that its a very good place to hang out at night. We reached there and I was again surprised to see so many cars parked, so many people, singing, dancing and having good times there. Even there, I could see so many hawkers, some even setting up a stall displaying so many edibles inside a car. After spending sometime there, we drove to Buddha point and I found the same there along the road sides. Then I realized people do very good businesses, they help those who go for walk/drive serving very warm tea and porridge and in return they are getting paid.

City hawkers play a very vital role in creating a very comforting scene for those who hang out late night and at the same time they are able to make a living out of it. Almost all the hawkers are women and this is something we have to respect and appreciate their effort despite the late night risks. 

Driving Test in Bhutan

In life every one wishes to own a car and go for a drive. For those who are fortunate enough, they get a chance to drive at the young age. But for many others, its a dream until they are able to own a car or if their close friends have it. If you own a car, it is very convenient. But it does not mean one must own a car to lead a happy life. A car is good if we drive safe, but if we are careless, it is also a source of misery. 

The Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) and Traffic Police play a vital role in maintaining the safe traffic flow throughout the highways in Bhutan. We have so many traffic rules which are strictly being followed by both the drivers and the authorities. These traffic rules and regulations maintain smooth traffic flow even during the busy hours. One very important rule is to have a proper Driving License where ever and whenever we drive a car. Driving license indicates that we are capable and are authorized to drive. To get a driving license, the issuing authority, RSTA follows very strict rules. We have to have the Learner license first which at least is six months old. We have to be 18 years of age and medically fit to drive. They make sure that we have attended the driving introductory courses provided by RSTA or other driving institutes in the country. These are the requirements to apply for the normal driving license. If they find us fit for the license then they register us to take a driving test which is another bottle neck we have to go through. 

                                                                                                                                                             (Ref - RSTA website)

First the written test (MCQ) of 20 questions out of which we have to get minimum of 12 questions correct. If we get through the written test, then we are allowed to go for a practical test which every aspiring candidates fear. The practical driving test contains a small box at the open space. A box approximately of 6.5 by 6.2 meters in length and breadth has been drawn on the ground, with one entry point. We have to drive a car inside that box, first head-on and have to come out head-on. Then we have to repeat the same in reverse direction. This whole practical test has to be finished in just 3 minutes. We should not touch the line with any of the four tires, we should not honk, we should not show any light indicators, wipers, etc. and we should not let the engine turn off at any point in the box. If we do any of these and if we can’t finish in the stipulated time, we are considered fail and the license will not be issued. There is no consideration. If we are able to make through this box test, then they ask us to go for highway test where we have to drive our-self along the highway which is being monitored by one of the Road Safety and Transport Authority (RSTA) officials. If the highway official finds us okay on highway, only then they remark "You are passed".  That is a great relief!

I did not get chance to learn driving at the young age. I learned only at the age of 24 and did test recently with the help of a friend who bought a car recently. I went through all the hurdles before they declared me pass. It was a great feeling of pride and joy. Therefore, I would like to request all my other friends to give a test and get a license. We feel proud!

Drive safe and follow all traffic rules perfectly while driving. The rules are for our own safety and for the safety of others. 

Thank you!

“Ode to my Love"

Slim and tall, a figure everyone loves.

Hair silky, in the air they dance.

Eyes like a diamond they sparkle

Like a dew drop are her winsome lips,

When kissed, feel the effect of bottoms up opium.

Her voice, drives me away to dreamland.

Touch of her hand, heals every wound.

The breath of her, perfumes the air.

Dresses! Suits whatever she puts on.

Walks in a way, that drives my eyes,

The sound of her sandal, taps to the beat of my heart.

Her smile, brightens my gloomy life.

Lends me help, in every field I suffer.

Care for me, as a mother of a beloved son.

Love me as no one in the world can.

Great in every sense, she is my love.

Like an angel she dances.

Sings the voice of a nightingale.

Like a trap she entraps many.

Helpless are those lost in her.

Amongst thousands I found one,

The one sealed in my heart.

Out of many things I love,

I love her the most, she is my love forever.

Where are we Heading to? What have we Become?

Sometimes when I move on with my life, many questions come to my mind. Hearing the news that I have never thought would be heard in this land, seeing the things that I have never thought would happen here, many weird things happening, many shocking news that are heart breaking in the small peaceful land. 

This is Buddhist land and we all are considered religious. We believe in cause and effects and life after death. In olden days, people have fought to restore peace, to unite and to maintain sovereignty. Once this land was unified by our great leaders, a blissful place was then handed over to our generation. In this 21st century, may be due to modernization and with introduction of so many technologies that connected different people in various parts of the world, we people, I am very sorry to say this, but have become more like barbarians or hooligans. 

Recently in the newspaper issue, I think it was on 25th July, 2014, it has covered the news of father raping a minor daughter, teacher harassing a minor student, brother in-law harassing minor sister in-law and many more. I was ashamed to read it for myself. I couldn't describe the feelings that I was going through reading the news, also the epidemic of pornographic clips within the people recently. The news of stabbing one another, gang fights, robberies, vandalism of religious monuments, children going against parents, losing respects and manners, confronting teachers, tattooing all over, spiky hairs, where are the values that we have been valuing a lot since our forefathers? Sometimes I feel we human beings are not being Human. No one could have dreamed of this land going through this trauma.

It is really disheartening to visualize all these happenings in the society with my own eyes. Trying to father a child when we even don't know the duties behind being one. Just to quench the lust, people these days, can do anything. The only safer place to live with, in this world is with our beloved parents. If even the parents are involved in this blunder, where else can a minor turn to, for safety, support and guidance? This behavior is no better than an animal! The other thing is filming of pornographic clips and being distributed by many. At first, we should not film such clips, be it consensual or non-consensual. Secondly even if we know of such clips, we should not view or encourage others to view it and thirdly, let it end with us, do not form the channel through which such clips are transferred, delete it and be a responsible citizens. We live in a small place and we all are like a family. We cannot stab someone, we cannot rob ourselves. This is a small place and we can't afford someone threatening others. We have been living happily and lets continue. We are still developing and it is better, if we do not act, like the ones in the developed countries. Let us be who we are. We all know we are human beings, so being human is very important. We have to ask ourselves, where are we heading to? What have we become? Its good to change with time but be the good change.