Lingzhi,a place of breathtaking scenery

Lingzhi Dungkhag (Sub district) under Thimphu Dzongkhag

A beautiful views of great vales and mountain

A view of Jhomolhari and part of Jichudrakey mountain

(Thimphu district) has Soe and Naro geog ( Soe & Naro block). There are several ways to connect it like one through Paro Gumitsawa (name of place) and the other Dodeydra (place name) and etc. The one travelling through Paro Gumitsawa has to cross Shingkap (place name) and Thongthangkha (place name) to reach Soe and then to Lingzhi. Many people make night halt at Thongthangkha to reach Soe geog but some halt at Shingkap. Meanwhile, some people make it through Dodeydra way to reach Lingzhi from Naro geog.

One will have to follow constant Pachu bank (river name) till Soe to Jomolhari base (peak name) if going through Paro Gumitsawa.  Initial journey will be encountered with cool broad leave forest to alpine meadows to tree line. Several wooden frame bridges with countless crossing of same pachu river with lofty vales and mountain scenery are common feature one will enjoy. Just after crossing Soe geog, one can view Jomolhari Mountain and Jichudrakey on other side enveloped with various other mountains.

Lingzhi is moorland with medicinal and aromatic plants with fresh water stream. Smooth fine meandering Punakha Mochu (river name) river source, beautiful mountain ranges, distinct colorful flower pattern and pristine environment makes perfect epitome of heavenly landscape. One may see highlanders blue tarpaulin roofing hut in mountain base and some in middle ridges rearing Yaks (animal name) especially during the month of August and September.  One will fully enjoy the scenic beauty and will remain as unforgettable memories in your life, if in case weather is clear and sunny during times of your visit. Many tourists pay visits especially in snow men trek crossing Lingzhi-Laya or Laya- (place name) Lingzhi crossing countless vales and mountains.

 

Base of Jichudrakey mountain clinging ice

The inhabitants in this place earn their living through cordycep ( Cordycep sinensis) sale,  luggage transportation through mule,mare,stallion and selling of cheese and butter. They normally practice seasonal migration with yaks and other domestic animals including social animal dog, originated of Tibetan mastiff. This traditional precious practice is still alive and is mainly in low lying areas during winter and high altitude areas during summer in search of pasture and to be acquaintance with the adaptation.

 

Source of Punakha Mochu river from the base of Jichudrakey

Early morning hour scene of Jomolhari mountain

 As will be the lifetime window of opportunity to pay visit and received its blessing of scenic beauty, if one and all make it in form of excursion, official or personal trip at any time. The place will have many things to offer and comfort based on individual perception and interpretation. The ultimate impact I received during my visit was in many forms like peace of mind, wellbeing and complete nature enjoyment satisfaction. High rays of hope that all those visitors will have excellent and memorable trip with full swing joys and happiness in many ways.

Glimpse of 14th Congress of the International Society for Ethno-biology

This year theme as One Earth for All; Regenerating Bio-cultural Ecosystem Resilience

I have participated for the first time the 14^th Congress of the International Society of Ethobiology in Bumthang-Bhutan from 1^st to 7^th   June 2014. This ISE concept and its rationale was very new and fresh eye opening for me which I hadn’t known if I weren’t participated there. It was most amazing experiences and knowledge foundation not only for me but all Bhutanese participants who had participated for the first time.So accordingly I wanted to share my knowledge and experiences obtained through this participation were in the following ways:

 

Posters and artifact exhibition

The ISE concept was born from the first International Congress of Ethnobiology in Belam, Brazil during the July 19-24, 1988, organized by Dr.Darrell Posey. The first documents was adopted “Declaration of Berlem”. The ISE have maintained three core programs: The Global Coalition for biocultural Diversity, the Ethics Program, and the Darrell Posey Fellowship for Ethnoecology and Traditional resources rights. (Source: ISE Website) 

My perception on ISE Congress

This will play a pivotal role in providing platform and opportunity to all the researchers, scientific communities, academicians, conservationists, ecologists,…and …..So forth particularly working with natural resources and communities to share their knowledge’s and findings. It will also impart one’s research skills and methodologies especially to beginners through various presentations and questions answers sessions.

Yak dance peformance by Merak community

 Meanwhile, its gathering and sharing will encourage and boost ones unique cultures, indigenous communities’ knowledge and associated biological resources through culture and knowledge exchange program. Furthermore it creates new research topic and scientific discovery while various scholars, researchers and etc stimulate ways and directions for future collaboration and researches owing to their deeper interested field. Hence it will also recognize the intellectual property right and their freedom of indigenous communities’ prior utilization and conservation of natural resources.

 

Tawanese exhibition

This forum will also know individual country’s culture, identity, sovereignty and elegant through interaction and showcasing of fold songs and stories.

Land Of Complete Bliss

 

Beautiful vales and mountains

Bhutan is small Himalayas Kingdom sandwiched between China in the north and India in south. Remained independent with rich culture and tradition intact since time immemorial. Its historic landmark would be as many great saints and scholars has introduced and spread Buddhism with numerous introductions of sacred place and hidden treasure. Many have tirelessly walked length and breadth of the country to spread the message of peace and contentment which lead to path of enlightenment.

Typical Bhutanese architectural desingned house

Many temple, monasteries and hermitage were generally located in mountain and hills top built and blessed by precious scholars and masters. Many treasures believed to be hidden by Padmasambhava in eight century and more are yet to be discover by Tertenpas( Treasure discover) with the passage of time. Performance of mask dance and ritual are common in every monastery where people attended to get blessing and empowerment as well.

People and nature through concept of interdependence is well conceived and respect which help each other in daily life. Numerous lofty mountains with pristine forest coverage feature amazing scenic beauty blowing sound of happiness.

Prayer flag spreading message of peace

Bhutan education system in ancient time was monastic and therefore students used to visits Tibet and India for learning monastic education crossing rugged terrain and thick forests. Now with establishment of modern education, we follow both system i.e education for all to nourish one with good skills and knowledge as to global standard. Where almost 80% of people are doing farm work as self subsistence farming system although steps towards commercial farming just beginning.

Music and Beauty

Music gives someone to express their emotional feelings, admire, love and whatever engrained in their mind albeit joy full or soreness. Different people will have different definition of music based on their own thoughts and feelings. Music in one way is art where one can showcase their talents, skills and ability to suits various forms of song which ultimately spread the message of peace, culture, adventure and anything one composed on it.

Music helps in easing tension if one at all is going through difficult times in his or her life by tune into their favorite musical rhythms with songs. It can also unite people in larger audience at same time especially during spotlight by various artists. One can also show nature and its surrounding beauty through music.

Many people says that anything like plane song, joke expression, movies and whatever actions performed without incorporation of music is bore and unpleasant. This clearly shows music is one of main ingredients in everything in our daily life and it has great potential to determine every contents of work.

Horror music signifies scenes of ghosts and spirits which brings everyone fear and tiresome. Sad melodious one brings kind of nostalgic feeling and sense of regret as that of missing golden opportunity over someone.

Music is everything like, friend, parents which ultimately guide one to joy or melancholy prior to one’s adoption and expression.

Cock And Culture

Bhutan being blessed with numerous scholars and great saints are endowed with rich culture and tradition. We had started open to outside world as early as 1960’s and now everything is in full stepping onto digital world. Bhutanese people don’t posses any watch to look for time during those days and that’s how adult male chicken (cock), had played the fundamental function of time in the past.

 Different people in different regions of the country have their own way of time observation based on cock voice chirping especially during early hours of dawn

People in the eastern region generally had notion that three to four rounds  of cock voice which normally sung with certain range is believed to be  welcome of dawn. People had maintained certain kind of time table where supposing first round for grain milling in traditional way and spontaneously for certain other household chore.  

 Some people will get early watering from distance pound, bamboo collection, weaving and some making cheese and butter through milk crushing in traditional Bhutanese container. So, all early works were performed as per cock sequential musical rhythms round of voice.

This types of voice observation and early work doing are just remain as history as it was replaced by many brands of watches today with the advancement of modern technology. Therefore, we don’t much bother on ancient style of looking time and even today rearing cock in villages is diminishing albeit forget about town.

In the past there were also believe that cock voicing during late dusk is bad omen and house of cock replying to tune of starter is very bad omen according to great grandparents.  So, it is very stunning to know how cock play vital social role beside key reproductive function to hen and therefore, its preservation as part of culture seemed vital.