With love, From Ura: New Place, Cold Place

Dear Wify,
Greetings from Ura.

The term “chilled to the bones” is applicable to this place, because the wind literally chills deep into your bones. The mornings are frosty white, the evening’s chilly dark. Summers are almost non-existent, while winters are literally cold. The barren landscape is riddled with stones, while the smoke from the homesteads paints the skies above the valley. Somewhere at the base is the village of Ura, with the local school hugging its side.

With Love, From Jakar: Bear Season

Dear Wify,

The cold has started her journey through Bumthang, and the tap water has a chill to it. There are frequent power cuts, both during the day and at night.

Whenever I power on my desktop to so some work, the power goes off. So today I thought ‘why not write a letter to my wify?’

Basically Scouting: Hiking and Camping Report

Introduction

The genesis of the retreat idea emerged organically during the Dzongkhag Scouts Conference on 21st March at Wangduechholing School. Amid discussions focused on operational improvements, a quiet yet pressing need surfaced — the necessity for Scoutleaders to reconnect, away from their habitual educational settings. Thus, the idea of a spiritual and physical retreat at Tharpaling Monastery was born, envisioned as a space not only for repose but for renewal.

Future Past

I can feel the chill in my bones, as the rain increases from a drizzle into a torrent. My shoe gets wet and the tan turns dark red. Why is it raining this time of the year? The morning was bright, yet it gets cloudy in the evening. But my day is made brighter by the many conversations I had with Sonja in the anteroom of the kitchen. The warmth of the iron stove (bukhari) dispelled the cold of the outside.

My Place of Happiness

Nestling on the lap of a mountain, 
a small cottage with blue curtains, 
a bamboo fence around it, 
a small hinged gate that creaks 
every time I open it. 

Threshold

Day in and day out, I've been laying here.

For generations, I have been laying here,

A silent witness to the unfolding drama,

A seat for the impatient daughter

Waiting for her father’s return home from his travels,

A place for the weary traveler to rest their load

Or for the mischievous child to crack walnuts.

Of Fire-Blessings and Naked-Dances

Jambay lhakhang, located in Bumthang observes its festival for five consecutive days. This festival is called Jambay Lhakhang Drup.

Jambay Lhakhang being one of the oldest temples in Bhutan holds many ancient relics such as Jowo Jampa (Maitreya) from whose name the present name of the temple is derived, more than one hundred statues of the gods of Kalachakra built by the first king, in 1887.