Ten Things I Love About Bhutan: Number One-The King Himself

He is Jigme Kesar Namgyal. The fifth King of Bhutan who was crowned on its 100th year of monarchial rule in 2008. His father who was then the 4th king abdicated the throne in favour of his son and to give way for a new form of government which is democracy.

The King is still young and well-loved by the people. Our tour guide Ugyen even enthusiastically told us he is a very popular figure in Bangkok when he attended the monarchial anniversary of the Thai King.  A "superstar" who has been targets of Thai teenage crushes.
He exudes power, intelligence, simplicity and vision.
The kingdom may be conservative in many ways but the Bhutanese religious texts is available on-line.

I was given the very rare opportunity to see him walking along the Bangladesh airport while being met by the President and other dignitaries.

I am 40 in Bhutan

I have always dreamed of celebrating my birthday outside of the country. In my 39 years i have spent it in a small house in the squatter's area in Caloocan or in my childhood home in a southern booming rural city where my wonder years were spent mostly or back again in the various restaurants or coffee shops or even hospital wards during my different adventures as a growing adult in the main capital city.

It was my childhood fantasy to reach the Himalayas. What country can best exemplify the fictional place by James Hilton from the 1933 novel, the Lost Horizon labeled as the  last Shangri-la but the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

Sandwiched between two most populous countries in the world, north by the Tibetan borders of China and south by the mountainous regions of India, Bhutan has remained hidden from the modern world by choice.

Its my choice to spend my 40th birthday in this wonderful, bewitching, grandiose country which is less than half the size of the southern island in the Philippines but with lesser population than the city of Z. And i have never regretted it ever since.

It was the simplicity, and the hospitality of the people which makes this country one of the best places in the world to live in. Their character was shaped probably by their philosophy of Gross National Happiness being better than gross national product. What would be a simple dinner among the tourist agency's guests (2 German couples plus two Filipino adults in their early forties), turned out to be a surprise chocolate birthday cake and a birthday greetings from our host. I didn't mention anything about my birthday. But Deki the young daughter of Dorji must have seen my passport when i was applying for our visas.

We were offered a Bhutanese hospitality, the experience of a typical Bhutan home, spicy Bhutanese food in the buffet table consisting of pork, chicken and fish cooked the traditional way.

The German couples in their sixties were also delightful dinner companions.

This is definitely one of my unforgettable experiences, even away from my loving family.

Zamboanga-a Classic Tausug-language film we almost failed to see

I was part of the audience who witnessed the initial showing of  the film, "Zamboanga" as part of the Zamboanga film festival. I only read about the film fest a few hours before from a local newspaper. I dropped scheduled tasks for the morning since in a few hours it is slated to be shown in a local movie house.

I read about "Zamboanga" several years ago. It was Mr. Nick De Ocampo a Filipino movie columnist who stumbled upon this rare Filipino pre-war film while doing some research at the Library of Congress. Apparently, it was one of the six well preserved Filipino pre-war films. It was the earliest among the six films, which was done as early as 1936, and was shown locally in 1937. The film was directed by a Fil-american director and it starred the young Fernando Poe Sr. and Rosario.

I reached the movie house and found a long queue of high school students raring to see the film. It was a surprise to see a Tausug speaking film. I thought its all about Zamboanga. But it turned out to be a film depicting the then beautiful,and exotic island of Jolo. In its black and white photographs with slightly hissing sounds as a result of age. Some outstanding underwater photography were noted which was probably the first of its kind at that time.

My Varanasi Preview

A Tale Of Fisbone

I am here in my hospital bed
Five hour after my endoscopy procedure.
Yesterday i accidentaly swallowed a fishbone.
I was hungrily feasting on a small-sized tuna fish head.
Trying to suck every little flesh from the sumptous, and tasteful delicacy in this part of the country.
Cooked in several mixtures of vegetables like eggplant, raddish, kangkong leaves, few tomatoes and some crushed sampaloc and lemons to add a sour blend.
The dish was so tempting oblivious of its dangers- the lifethreathening fishbones which apparently got stuck in my esophagus...ughh!
I swear, ill never eat bony fish again!
I tried to swallow some unchewed bananas and rice but to no avail..
I can still feel a throat discomfort which eventually progressed to mild chest heaviness..
I called up my doctor and he advised to observe the symptoms till the next morning.
And the rest is history.
My lessons:
Eat slowly and carefully
Separate the fishbones first before you eat the flesh..
Or better not eat fish which is infested with tiny bones like milk fish, or any fish heads..
I thank God i'm well

12 hours in Kuala lumpur: what to see, where to eat and where to shop

This is my second time in kuala lumpur.
I spent 12 hours in KL last week and i visited the twin towers and the sprawling gardens in the vicinity. In the wee small hours of the dawn, a cab worth 111 RM took us to the Ancasa Hotel and spa which is actually just a walking distance to Chinatown and the Central Market. The sleepy Malay receptionist greeted me lazily- sorry no yet time for early check in... Which is actually about 3 hours later. I saw a bunch of chinky tourists sleeping on the sofa lobby. Perfect! I can see vacant divans in the corner just in front of the souvenir shop. So tired i was that the next thing i knew, i was woken up by Meloy. Grabbed my luggage and off we ran for the elevator for our 5th floor room.
This time, our itinerary included as follows:
1. Window shopping at the central market. Its an edifice which was built in the late 19th century originally as a wet market. A famous KL landmark and considered as a heritage site. It now serve as a showcase of multicultural and multi ethnical Malaysia with clusters of shops selling batiks, souvenir meibutsu.. (930-11 am)
2. The Chinatown at Petalling street. Which is similar to our own Divisoria.Meloy got a class A backpack for 110 RM after me haggling( originally priced at 180 RM) (11-1230 nn)
3. Brunch at the coffee shop in the Central Market (1030-11)
4. Bought post cards at Menara KL Tower which i sent to my parents and myself, a Filipina named Mary Ann from San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija assisted us.
5. Sight seeing tours at the Butterfly Park. We enjoyed photographing the national buterflies of Malaysia, some rare insects and turtles. (12-2pm
6. high tea at the revolving restaurant at KL Tower at 50RM per person. (3-5:30pm)
7. Shopping at Central Market - bought some chocolates, brass compass from a Kashmiri shop, an Indian pen ( 5:30-7pm)
8. Since we're still full from our previous gastronomic tour at tea time, went to Hatung Heritage Restaurant for coffee and kaya sandwhich. (8-9 pm)

                                             

New Year in Delhi

                                        

Unforgettable 2011 New Year:

Hotel Imperial, New Delhi

Dinner buffet at 1911 Restaurant

(RP 5000/person)

Dazzling Punjabi performances by a Danish singer

backed up by Bollywood dancers

Raffle Draw-i won a dinner for 2 at 1911 restaurant

after dinner cocktail and all-you-can drinks

Rum cola is the best in India!

(RP 1500/person)

together with Indian dignitaries and hotel guests from all over the world!

what more you can ask...