Life Style

Between disaster and devotion

We are not lumps of rock, and so we naturally feel the pain of those affected by such tragedies. The great Dzogchen master Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche gave an example: if we see a child struck by a bus, we rush to help without considering whether the child is known to us or comes from a good family.

Sep 05, 2026 4 mins read 420 views
From ore to opportunity: Ensuring natural wealth remains national wealth

Natural resources can provide an important opportunity to diversify an econom...

Aug 29, 2026 4 mins read 1,001 views
Same choice, same result: A letter to someone in recovery

There are two simple reminders from the recovery community that are worth bearing in mind: “Whatever the problem, drugs an...

Aug 22, 2026 4 mins read 1,524 views
The colour drains from the scene

Sure, here’s a version edited to fit the lower word limit. For two weeks I have woken to the silhouette of a large potted plant, its leaves etched against the pale morning light.

Aug 15, 2026 4 mins read 1,499 views
The empathy and humility to say yes

Empathy helps us understand the needs and perspectives of the people we serve, keeping us grounded in their realities. Without it, we risk becoming bureaucrats who create rules and regulations that are not only impractical but also cause unnecessary hardship. As the proverb reminds us, to truly understand another person’s circumstances, “we must walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.”

Aug 08, 2026 4 mins read 1,591 views
Forever young–really?

“Don’t even think for a moment that you are not going to die” is a quote by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. It expresses a simple truth — one of the fundamental realities of existence. Yet few of us would readily put such words...

Aug 01, 2026 4 mins read 1,969 views
The social media river: Guiding youth energy online and off

Generally, I believe heavy-handed bans are less effective, as they tend to fuel black markets and push unhealthy act...

Jul 25, 2026 4 mins read 2,178 views
Life is dukkha — Now what?

Drukpa Tshezhi, which falls on 18 July this year, commemorates the first teaching the Buddha gave after his enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree.

Jul 18, 2026 4 mins read 2,740 views
Bored stiff

All of us carry a subtle, nagging insecurity about who we are — a persistent need to confirm that there is a solid, permanent self we call “me.” This insecurity comes from an unconscious habit: treating this “me” as fixed and real, even though that assumption has no foundation at all.

Jul 11, 2026 4 mins read 2,735 views
The Debt Call

There is a particular kind of courage required to make a film almost entirely without dialogue, trusting landscape, silence, and a single face. At 70, veteran filmmaker Pelden Dorji (popularly known as Ata Pelden) precisely does that.

Jul 11, 2026 2 mins read 3,035 views
Between two Kingdoms: The story of Bhutan Kitchen Bangkok

When the doors of Little Bhutan closed during the pandemic, Bangkok lost more than just its only Bhutanese restaurant....

Jul 08, 2026 2 mins read 4,229 views
Wisdom in a warming world

Lama, as a young guy, I’m concerned about the future. What do you think will be the biggest issue for the planet within the next half century, and how do you think we can face it? Are you optimistic? What can we do her...

Jul 04, 2026 4 mins read 3,786 views
Vietnam Corner: Bringing authentic Vietnamese cuisine to the Capital

Set against the quieter surroundings of Lower Taba, Vietnam Corner brings a distinctive slice of Vietnam to Thimphu’s growing culinary landscape.

Jun 27, 2026 2 mins read 3,898 views
Bullying and the roots of harm

No, I didn’t watch the video. Unless I were acting in a law enforcement capacity, I would not view this kind of footage. In cases of a fight or an accident, I try to consider how I would feel in the posi...

Jun 27, 2026 4 mins read 4,720 views
Stop recording, start living

Like television, the internet, and AI, TikTok can be a force for good or bad. It entirely depends on how it is used.

Jun 13, 2026 4 mins read 3,789 views
Stop recording, start living

Like television, the internet, and AI, TikTok can be a force for good or bad. It entirely depends on how it is used.

Jun 06, 2026 4 mins read 4,191 views
Ask Mr Bhutan: “Money can’t buy happiness.” Is it true, when everything is dependent on money?

Once born into a physical body, there are certain absolute necessities without which most of us are incapable of experiencing happiness. Sufficient food to nourish the body, medicine to avoid pain and disease, clothes and shelter to protect us from the elements of nature, all require money. Depending on which country you live in, the cost of these necessities will vary.

May 30, 2026 2 mins read 4,478 views
Duchen Nga Zom: What a butter lamp and a few flower petals can teach us

Duchen Nga Zom is a duzom—an auspicious convergence of sacred time within the Bu...

May 30, 2026 4 mins read 4,336 views
The virus, the fear, and the freedom beyond both

Hantavirus is not a single virus but a family of rodent-borne viruses that occasionally spill over into humans, sometimes causing severe illness and...

May 24, 2026 4 mins read 4,633 views
Whose face are you wearing?

The desire for happiness is universal, and beauty, prestige, and wealth have always been seen as pathways to achieve it. In that sense, this is nothing new.

May 16, 2026 4 mins read 5,160 views
A memoir of hustle and heartache

May 11, 2026 3 mins read 5,810 views
From monastery to street: A Bhutanese case for rap

May 11, 2026 4 mins read 5,528 views
Café by the waterfall

About six kilometres before Trongsa town, just past the Bjee Zam Bridge, a traditional one-storey house appears on the left of the highway. It is not easy to miss. This modest structure is the Willing Waterfall Café – a must-st...

May 02, 2026 2 mins read 6,196 views
Where tradition meets treatment

In Bhutan, healing is not a choice between past and present but a collaboration between the two. Across the country, patients move between modern clinics and traditional medicine units with ease, guid...

May 02, 2026 3 mins read 5,905 views
Between Homes

When I first arrived in Australia last year, I thought I was prepared. I had spoken to people, watched videos, and tried to imagine what life would be like. But nothing really prepares you for how different it feels once you’re actually here. The first few weeks were exciting, everything felt new and full of possibility. I told myself I would adjust quickly.

May 02, 2026 1 mins read 9,961 views
The true wealth of Dzambhala

The name Dzambhala — from the Sanskrit Jambhala — is traditionally associated with wealth and prosperity, reflecting his role as a symbol of abundance and generosity. There are five principal forms of the deit...

May 02, 2026 4 mins read 5,593 views
No amount of money can replace you

The early years — roughly birth to five — are critical for emotional development. While a child raised with consistency and warmth by devoted grandparents can fare well, separation from paren...

Apr 25, 2026 4 mins read 8,437 views
You’re not what you think you are

You are not alone in your confusion — and much of it arises from the word itself. Emptiness can sound like nothingness, which is precisely what it does not mean. A more precise term might...

Apr 18, 2026 4 mins read 7,297 views
Sundays at Le Méridien

The monthly Sunday brunch at Le Méridien has become a special experience that goes beyond dining, offering guests a relaxed four-hour setting to reconnect with family and friends.

Apr 13, 2026 3 mins read 6,854 views
Browse Archives
Ugyen Tsheden Tobgay wins Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026 title

Fourteen-year-old Bhutanese youth advocate Ugyen Tsheden Tobgay has been recognised as Bhutan’s National Winner at the inaugural Glocal Teen Hero South Asia 2026 on September 1 at  The Plaza in Lalitpur.

Sep 04, 2026 2 mins read 2,035 views
Rural Samtse farmers fight a losing battle against human-elephant conflict

For farmers in Majathang, Samtse, nightfall does not mean the day is done. It marks the start of another uneasy vigil –...

Sep 02, 2026 4 mins read 1,988 views
LG aspirants question whether revised FLT tests competence or qualification

Several aspiring candidates who sat for the Functional Literacy and Possession of Skills Test (FLT) for the second phase...

Sep 02, 2026 3 mins read 2,926 views
Bhutan hosts Global Food Summit amid its own farming crisis

More than 400 delegates from over 60 countries have gathered in Paro to chart a “conscious” future for global food syste...

Sep 02, 2026 4 mins read 1,312 views
Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project breaks ground with inaugural tunnel blast

The 570MW Wangchhu Hydroelectric Project has entered its main construction phase, with the first blast for the diversion...

Sep 02, 2026 2 mins read 1,792 views
Zawa village’s second chance to bring back White-Bellied Heron

With 17 households, 80 people and about 35 acres of wetland, the village is working to protect the habitat of one of the...

Sep 02, 2026 3 mins read 1,315 views
First international school opens in Bhutan

EtonHouse International School, the country’s first  international school, opened on August 31, with an education model...

Sep 02, 2026 1 mins read 2,252 views
Sarpang inventory records 134 wild edible species

The first systematic survey of wild edible forest resources in Biological Corridor 3 (BC-3) has recorded 134 species fro...

Sep 02, 2026 3 mins read 1,439 views
Labour shortage, dry weather, and invasive species threaten eastern region’s lemongrass trade

The blazing August sun and the heat from the furnace do little to bother 49-year-old Rinzin as he busies himself around...

Sep 02, 2026 3 mins read 1,437 views
Bhutan falls to Singapore in AFC U-20 qualifier opener

Bhutan began its AFC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifying campaign with a 3–1 defeat to Singapore at Changlimithang Stad...

Sep 02, 2026 3 mins read 1,769 views
Central banks call for unified regulations on cross-border payments

Central banks from across the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region have called for stronger regulatory cooperation, unified technical standards, and enhanced trust among financial institutions.

Jul 11, 2026 3 mins read 5,504 views
Trade, transport, agriculture, credit cards breach NPL threshold

Four key economic sectors have breached the Royal Monetary Authority’s (RMA) 5 percent non-performing loan (NPL) thresho...

Jul 08, 2026 3 mins read 4,874 views
Rituals take the biggest share of household expenditure

Bhutanese households spend an average of Nu 27,689 annually on routine religious and ceremonial activities, according to...

Jul 02, 2026 4 mins read 5,225 views
Ten listed companies declare dividends for FY 2025

Ten companies listed on the Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan Limited (RSEBL) have declared dividends for the financia...

Jun 24, 2026 2 mins read 7,851 views
Between disaster and devotion

We are not lumps of rock, and so we naturally feel the pain of those affected by such tragedies. The great Dzogchen master Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche gave an example: if we see a child struck by a bus, we rush to help without considering whether the child is known to us or comes from a good family.

Sep 05, 2026 4 mins read 420 views
From ore to opportunity: Ensuring natural wealth remains national wealth

Natural resources can provide an important opportunity to diversify an economy, create employment, and generate governme...

Aug 29, 2026 4 mins read 1,001 views
Same choice, same result: A letter to someone in recovery

There are two simple reminders from the recovery community that are worth bearing in mind: “Whatever the problem, drugs...

Aug 22, 2026 4 mins read 1,524 views
The colour drains from the scene

Sure, here’s a version edited to fit the lower word limit. For two weeks I have woken to the silhouette of a large potted plant, its leaves etched against the pale morning light.

Aug 15, 2026 4 mins read 1,499 views
The empathy and humility to say yes

Empathy helps us understand the needs and perspectives of the people we serve, keeping us grounded in their realities. Without it, we risk becoming bureaucrats who create rules and regulations that are not only impractical bu...

Aug 08, 2026 4 mins read 1,591 views
Forever young–really?

“Don’t even think for a moment that you are not going to die” is a quote by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. It expresses a simple truth — one of the fundamental realities of existence. Yet few...

Aug 01, 2026 4 mins read 1,969 views
The social media river: Guiding youth energy online and off

Generally, I believe heavy-handed bans are less effective, as they tend to fuel black markets and push unhealthy activit...

Jul 25, 2026 4 mins read 2,178 views
Life is dukkha — Now what?

Drukpa Tshezhi, which falls on 18 July this year, commemorates the first teaching the Buddha gave after his enlightenment beneath the Bodhi Tree.

Jul 18, 2026 4 mins read 2,740 views
Bored stiff

All of us carry a subtle, nagging insecurity about who we are — a persistent need to confirm that there is a solid, permanent self we call “me.” This ins...

Jul 11, 2026 4 mins read 2,735 views
The Debt Call

There is a particular kind of courage required to make a film almost entirely without dialogue, trusting landscape, silence, and a single face. At 70, veteran...

Jul 11, 2026 2 mins read 3,035 views
The illusion of the conscious plate

More than 400 delegates from over 60 countries gathered this week at Dungkar Dzong for what Bhutan hosted as the world’s first “conscious food summit”. The idea sounds lofty.

Sep 05, 2026 2 mins read 647 views
Strengthening early warning systems

The flood that struck the Nepal-Tibet border in the last week of August has claimed more than a thousand lives, with thousands still unaccounted for.

Sep 02, 2026 2 mins read 485 views
A cold reminder

Even as search and rescue efforts continue to locate hundreds of people missing after the devastating floods in Nepal, the images emerging from the disaster are as d...

Aug 29, 2026 3 mins read 1,133 views
Buyer’s market, seller’s rules

Every day, roughly 38 Bhutanese walk into a car showroom or apply for an import letter, ready to spend on the second-largest purchase of their lives. That should be a buyer’s market. Instead, the rules governing it are wri...

Aug 26, 2026 3 mins read 1,828 views
Beyond an 'Et Tu, Brute' case?

The recent election of the National Assembly Speaker, won by a member of the opposition party for the first time, has dominated public discourse, with many drawing their own conclusions and speculating about wh...

Aug 22, 2026 2 mins read 3,157 views
Rethinking Phuentsholing’s economy

Phuentsholing and Jaigaon are twin border towns with a shared business ecosystem. They depend on each other for trade, employment, and services. At the same time, they also compete for the same customer base.

Aug 19, 2026 2 mins read 1,671 views
The buck must stop somewhere

As a resource-strapped country, we cannot afford to waste public funds. Yet it keeps happening. Several projects built with scarce public funds and donor money are either sitting idle or falling apart. Wh...

Aug 15, 2026 2 mins read 2,045 views
The bridge to cheaper goods

The findings from the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority’s (CCAA) latest study should worry anyone who cares about the future of Phuentsholing.

Aug 12, 2026 2 mins read 2,050 views
Beyond hydropower: Bhutan’s hopes lie in the ground

Recent reports of an airborne geophysical survey identifying significant anomalies of tungsten, copper, and other precio...

Aug 08, 2026 2 mins read 2,237 views
City bus drivers deserve better

The drivers who keep Thimphu’s city buses running deserve more than gratitude. They deserve fair pay for the hours they put in. City bus drivers work more than 12 hours a day, clocking in 120 hours of overtime in...

Aug 05, 2026 2 mins read 2,794 views
NC endorses annual budget as per NA

The National Council yesterday deliberated on the National Budget Report for FY 2026–27, the Budget Appropriation Bill f...

Jun 09, 2026 2 mins read 6,237 views
Bhutan to pilot green finance taxonomy from June

Bhutan will begin testing its expanded Green Finance Taxonomy 2026 with a six-month pilot from June to November, before...

May 30, 2026 3 mins read 9,016 views
Startups call for support beyond seed funding

The country’s startup ecosystem has helped many young entrepreneurs launch their businesses, but founders say support be...

Mar 21, 2026 3 mins read 12,950 views
National debt to rise by 26%, reaching Nu 380 billion in June

The country’s national debt is expected to rise by nearly 26 percent this June compared to June last year.

Feb 25, 2026 2 mins read 14,556 views
Economy uncoils for strongest growth in years

The Year of the Snake became a defining moment for the country’s economy, as growth accelerated sharply following severa...

Feb 18, 2026 4 mins read 14,814 views
Between two Kingdoms: The story of Bhutan Kitchen Bangkok

When the doors of Little Bhutan closed during the pandemic, Bangkok lost more than just its only Bhutanese restaurant. F...

Jul 08, 2026 2 mins read 4,229 views
Wisdom in a warming world

Lama, as a young guy, I’m concerned about the future. What do you think will be the biggest issue for the planet within...

Jul 04, 2026 4 mins read 3,786 views
Vietnam Corner: Bringing authentic Vietnamese cuisine to the Capital

Set against the quieter surroundings of Lower Taba, Vietnam Corner brings a distinctive slice of Vietnam to Thimphu’s gr...

Jun 27, 2026 2 mins read 3,898 views
Bullying and the roots of harm

No, I didn’t watch the video. Unless I were acting in a law enforcement capacity, I would not view this kind of footage....

Jun 27, 2026 4 mins read 4,720 views
Stop recording, start living

Like television, the internet, and AI, TikTok can be a force for good or bad. It entirely depends on how it is used.

Jun 13, 2026 4 mins read 3,789 views
Finding the fuel for private sector growth

An initiative worth pausing to reflect on this week is the collaboration among three key agencies to review Bhutan’s bus...

Aug 01, 2026 2 mins read 2,369 views
Sky-high airfares drive visitors away

More than seventy percent of international visitors to Bhutan now enter the country by land rather than through Paro Int...

Jul 29, 2026 2 mins read 2,513 views
The cost of living in the city

Sky-rocketing house rents are a grim reality haunting the capital city’s residents. While this was once a burden shoulde...

Jul 25, 2026 2 mins read 4,028 views
Charging the future

Every single day, Bhutan adds 38 new petrol and diesel vehicles to its roads. In just the first six months of this year,...

Jul 22, 2026 2 mins read 2,623 views
Not a fab (FAB) show

The Film Association of Bhutan (FAB) has lost its legal standing as a Civil Society Organisation following its deregistr...

Jul 18, 2026 2 mins read 3,340 views

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