tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16426355712172468622024-02-06T22:37:42.594-08:00Heather Robertson in BhutanUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-1146170627683273422019-07-14T14:36:00.002-07:002019-07-14T17:01:09.595-07:00HR in Prince Edward Island Ok. so it is not as exotic as Bhutan perhaps, but it is Canadian. I flew to Halifax with Mom, stayed at her sister, Linda's for a few nights, then flew here. So I have some photos of eating lobster at Linda's - the first is a napkin ring and that is what Mom is holding in the second photo too. Mom and I visited Peggys'Cove and Margaret's Bay and put our feet in the freezing cold water. We had a yummy seafood chowder and salad, before going to see Linda's choir sing. With a choir from.... Salt Spring Island BC. Small world? Not so - the country is huge and it took forever to fly here. I cannot imagine driving or riding a bike across the whole country!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lobster Trap </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lobster<br />
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Now I am in Charlottetown. I have had a meeting with the department, set up my classroom for Monday morning and think I am ready to teach.<br />
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I have been riding on the Confederation trail, oh right .... I brought my bike in bike luggage and actually managed to put it together. For one reason or another I could not get the brakes properly set up so wandered down the road pushing my bike and found a bike shop. They fixed her up very quickly and now I am pedalling everywhere. </div>
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Yesterday I was out and about and kept riding across a bridge to Stratford, then along the shore to a wee beach. Red sand. Very red sand. I know it looks a bit brown in the photo, but really it is red. </div>
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Today I rode to a yoga class, then along the Confederation trail. </div>
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I am living in a university residence- with a full kitchen and 2 bedrooms. Kitchen supplies are limited, so I bought a bowl at Value Village. Luckily we do not have that store in Nelson as I would be there all of the time. </div>
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PEI.... my impressions. Well when I got off the plane it felt awfully flat. It is still very flat. Which is great for zooming around on the bike. I cannot believe how much of a small town person I am. The Bulk Barn and the Superstore and Sobey's just about did me in. So big, overwhelming and so much stuff. And more stuff next door to each of the stores. Luckily for me there is a Farmers Market across the road from my residence on Saturday and Wednesday. Yummy yummy food and loads of greens. Strawberries are just starting here so I can barely wait for Wednesday. </div>
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The bowl: </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-27129325949085654532015-08-25T08:22:00.001-07:002015-08-25T08:22:24.930-07:00Flying into the smokeThe smoke was denting as we flew closer to home from Vancouver. Here are some photos. It was even denser in Castlegar, but the (female) pilots did a great job of the scariest landing I have had. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5TaZZctQKrheK84OmJVwEh3LEkQ9EIdYUlH3LiF2uhzR71lyGzecMO-_ylLZNyohKgxXrWHzD1t_G_EbrQMjEjsVUXL-dzF59y2VNH21GanQvE08SM6cPxXDq5ytAJqGgOGEo08k2NrG/s640/blogger-image--124065448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5TaZZctQKrheK84OmJVwEh3LEkQ9EIdYUlH3LiF2uhzR71lyGzecMO-_ylLZNyohKgxXrWHzD1t_G_EbrQMjEjsVUXL-dzF59y2VNH21GanQvE08SM6cPxXDq5ytAJqGgOGEo08k2NrG/s640/blogger-image--124065448.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbj5NJK_KyIojGNzQJbkocSDGUP3ytAbwk7f6hBllbaGRkWsyy2qVGdcTN7K8BUZaGZIlPdpSdheXmKjSu4gRqeQ3MK92LeYFKfy1uJe2fiET7u3jKQYgewxDRhmaQ2-qaSNjBvJsw8JD/s640/blogger-image--267456793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbj5NJK_KyIojGNzQJbkocSDGUP3ytAbwk7f6hBllbaGRkWsyy2qVGdcTN7K8BUZaGZIlPdpSdheXmKjSu4gRqeQ3MK92LeYFKfy1uJe2fiET7u3jKQYgewxDRhmaQ2-qaSNjBvJsw8JD/s640/blogger-image--267456793.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOXN3v1mmFlw68y4WJ6GqD8FcBQaYoFEpx2_d7yXXU0OO12jurE530GEd3BeMk_kfDHaVm3Rd-2YPxpj7E0tZ9ipso3yMW0EmPUYSzxuINkMwy7fjS7d7vnQAYsHvepGmvWVKgzhkJSQQ/s640/blogger-image--1273993814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOXN3v1mmFlw68y4WJ6GqD8FcBQaYoFEpx2_d7yXXU0OO12jurE530GEd3BeMk_kfDHaVm3Rd-2YPxpj7E0tZ9ipso3yMW0EmPUYSzxuINkMwy7fjS7d7vnQAYsHvepGmvWVKgzhkJSQQ/s640/blogger-image--1273993814.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22UuiSHTVFOLOXaY0n4LiYsUQoTQuXEeRJIa6FgosMOOSR51dTes1aC5q3WZp7gYrKbdfSCKN_HVPyT0KaRs1UoOSJbWMuXiaYgZG6PseYiELUabRBjuqmlyjcLccscfay6mKmzpnDzCn/s640/blogger-image--1401314263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22UuiSHTVFOLOXaY0n4LiYsUQoTQuXEeRJIa6FgosMOOSR51dTes1aC5q3WZp7gYrKbdfSCKN_HVPyT0KaRs1UoOSJbWMuXiaYgZG6PseYiELUabRBjuqmlyjcLccscfay6mKmzpnDzCn/s640/blogger-image--1401314263.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-11145977349001601802015-08-23T22:01:00.001-07:002015-08-23T22:01:10.254-07:00The Takin ReserveThere is a reserve in Thimphu for rescued animals. The first photo is of a takin, the national animal. Everyone says they are lazy looking. They do seem to move slowly. The young ones were running and jumping and chasing and wrestling. They remind me of the Bhutanese people, slow, steady, strong, fierce looking and resilient. Although the people are not as unfortunate looking as the takin. The second picture is of a barking deer and 2 goats. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0AmVra92dkLxzPeBlyUV1-2VqMc6etUgRa_rBGSuyTn-z3r-T2yTas88x1bmLMHcM2J88uEcfOyz13Op3Nm66HfkuqogHNBp5Hck74IM7JK7Y9N5ZSn0C-tC81Rg-2jbL1-2oXEspwAy/s640/blogger-image-592204597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0AmVra92dkLxzPeBlyUV1-2VqMc6etUgRa_rBGSuyTn-z3r-T2yTas88x1bmLMHcM2J88uEcfOyz13Op3Nm66HfkuqogHNBp5Hck74IM7JK7Y9N5ZSn0C-tC81Rg-2jbL1-2oXEspwAy/s640/blogger-image-592204597.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMHN_DmLNLfeNwPRv6efPe5_W8PTHaZEe_v8ys3Gn4jsEgJ0F1dM0EhuXIbgEesHqQ6qX5bW40XXB7pXMlH6ZXHwwN_DCzQLZ8R4YKklrCiPh1AP7QSbnpKgrUzJ2h8DURfXZd4nv0g53/s640/blogger-image-2038504517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMHN_DmLNLfeNwPRv6efPe5_W8PTHaZEe_v8ys3Gn4jsEgJ0F1dM0EhuXIbgEesHqQ6qX5bW40XXB7pXMlH6ZXHwwN_DCzQLZ8R4YKklrCiPh1AP7QSbnpKgrUzJ2h8DURfXZd4nv0g53/s640/blogger-image-2038504517.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-57354158548561832802015-08-23T22:00:00.003-07:002015-08-23T22:00:57.665-07:00Paper factoryTraditionally paper is made from the daphne plant. Here from white daphne, in the past from black daphne. <br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgnPFWrNSQdwIH-YnXIoHUg6bVLC2zR3Vkx-iC3nnc2GiuZLfhz3qY5rN0hz2cPu3vYR_98Wi4mZxn3_nBR4xcKAdpmVOvQePPe1Z7N9fa6TTy3EF4kbQNvpEVDXTSEUnoRPPZWjfBRQ4/s640/blogger-image--151943504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgnPFWrNSQdwIH-YnXIoHUg6bVLC2zR3Vkx-iC3nnc2GiuZLfhz3qY5rN0hz2cPu3vYR_98Wi4mZxn3_nBR4xcKAdpmVOvQePPe1Z7N9fa6TTy3EF4kbQNvpEVDXTSEUnoRPPZWjfBRQ4/s640/blogger-image--151943504.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGGuO2ZSmQBCzztS6zMp5FH_-GKmqZUO0cr1AV2mw_uvGaAaJeifj1CSgPcQGRuj2UhNutk1aXEDoQYKulIX4uL-VzLkDu_TeypOGwyP9ytERvoIXN-A5g3oQH9j-I-CXNAYh6GxPA0yA/s640/blogger-image--1825917846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGGuO2ZSmQBCzztS6zMp5FH_-GKmqZUO0cr1AV2mw_uvGaAaJeifj1CSgPcQGRuj2UhNutk1aXEDoQYKulIX4uL-VzLkDu_TeypOGwyP9ytERvoIXN-A5g3oQH9j-I-CXNAYh6GxPA0yA/s640/blogger-image--1825917846.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGdc8itZJomi8dZ2RGFnuHW94xGC-bdcDfxy5LuI8df_Zuyvxi3wtb7kAjQEKxcIoQuyedpEi5BmK0Zmimh2AbmHk9cGC2U5s8X1Y5j0pZkC0XeWTJ4zXtD46MFIxTLCvSzcnJMgaJSFi/s640/blogger-image--1683905130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGdc8itZJomi8dZ2RGFnuHW94xGC-bdcDfxy5LuI8df_Zuyvxi3wtb7kAjQEKxcIoQuyedpEi5BmK0Zmimh2AbmHk9cGC2U5s8X1Y5j0pZkC0XeWTJ4zXtD46MFIxTLCvSzcnJMgaJSFi/s640/blogger-image--1683905130.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-28691912080104555872015-08-23T22:00:00.001-07:002015-08-23T22:00:22.432-07:00Leaving Bhutan . . . AgainI am actually in the air nearing Taipai. I left Bhutan on the 22nd of August and spent a night in Bangkok.<div>After Chukha we had a day in Thimphu. The Mountain Echoes Literary Festival is a big event for writers, both Bhutanese and other. Actually I get the feeling that it is a lot of work for the Bhutanese. There are speakers, book launches, films, performances and art. On Saturday morning we went to a book launch. A very interesting book by Serena Chopra. She began photographing Bhutanese in 2003 in remote areas of the country. She spent about 6 years travelling and taking black and white film photos with her Hassleblad camera. It sounds as though she made a personal spiritual journey<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> through that time also. She met the Queen Mother unknowingly at first as Serena was a business woman and was shutting her company and donating goods. She came across the Tarayana Foundation which was created by Her Majesty and donated a lot of household goods. A book of her photos was published, but another publisher asked her to create a bigger book with text from her journals. The three women were on stage, talking about the book, the process and the Bhutanese. The first edition was presented to the Prime Minister. Those of you who have been in Bhutan will be able to imagine and picture the ceremony and simplicity combined of such an event. Lots of standing and sitting and standing again as officials and royalty enter, stand and sit. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-21352206047470076522015-08-20T18:20:00.001-07:002015-08-20T18:20:12.598-07:00Foggy Chukha<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdx1UnYltN63NuRMqdly7fEyZlBrruZ5WW9lore4APSMe3YSBHn5HoQ6lTro4o0-tgk8WTLQr4RwDz2u6KXB3ABFK2dL2LCe1tU9h8L5SHtmOdmsACBJ3_Msm9OICgpOVqjmpGAarYu5f/s640/blogger-image-1012802045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdx1UnYltN63NuRMqdly7fEyZlBrruZ5WW9lore4APSMe3YSBHn5HoQ6lTro4o0-tgk8WTLQr4RwDz2u6KXB3ABFK2dL2LCe1tU9h8L5SHtmOdmsACBJ3_Msm9OICgpOVqjmpGAarYu5f/s640/blogger-image-1012802045.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-13770142611342792162015-08-20T18:19:00.001-07:002015-08-20T18:19:53.753-07:00Visit to ChukhaOn Wednesday night 4 of the 5 volunteer teachers travelled to Paro. We stayed at the Gamgtey palace. I had the room where Andrea and I first stayed in 2013 and the couple that was with us had the beautiful corner room that Rob and I were lucky to have before he flew out. <div>The other teachers were headed up Tak Sang on Thursday morning. </div><div>At 6:45 am Palden and I got on a bus that was headed to Samtse, and rolled down the foggy road to Tshimilakha. Luckily the fog lifted enough to be able to have a good view. We got off at the zero point and did the walk up to town that we did together so many times in 2013. We were both nervous and excited as we were surprising our old Chukha high school friends. Well the effect was overwhelming. My face is still sore from the enormous grin I had all day. First in the village, then I went alone to the staff room while Palden waited for Chimi Pem to get her a Kira. The look on teacher's faces when they saw me was heartwarming. We had tea, then my class 9 students gathered around. I also visited them in their classes and chatted. </div><div>Anju planned to have Palden and I for lunch, but the women all wanted to hang out so we went to a new hotel in the bazaar for fried rice. Then to homes to visit the babies. I did not have time to return to the school for more visits and photos of the students, which I regret. The fog closed in and we took a bus to Thimphu. Passang, the BCF driver, called and the gang met me at Chuzom, which was awesome because Palden and I had time to say good bye. I have so many rich memories of my year at CHSS - it was a wonderful day.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVSLKRVdudPMiDkrJUHGqdMmBVZ1OZ9P6Fb-PjFfuYC6wqB9qQ1D2yDxKnX-lfDxZcASyfMG506q4QpfEs2MTm1wM4bWLfFFSQ_iypJkH0qSH9BfX9hXqU53a7Wxoz4Cg5LfPLTctiBml/s640/blogger-image--1301832670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVSLKRVdudPMiDkrJUHGqdMmBVZ1OZ9P6Fb-PjFfuYC6wqB9qQ1D2yDxKnX-lfDxZcASyfMG506q4QpfEs2MTm1wM4bWLfFFSQ_iypJkH0qSH9BfX9hXqU53a7Wxoz4Cg5LfPLTctiBml/s640/blogger-image--1301832670.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBImUZhTJyOn3jykIP_3Z5IWnChjXrO5mgbm50anboM8c2ZUqbOfXmhlNsXa0cXV4YkwJ1qYl4a2KxifQTgy3MTUwzQJjnqmhp0ispxt4xP9nFTWw_Bvqt3c3C9xIgnLsonANlrgAHphIu/s640/blogger-image--2026564275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBImUZhTJyOn3jykIP_3Z5IWnChjXrO5mgbm50anboM8c2ZUqbOfXmhlNsXa0cXV4YkwJ1qYl4a2KxifQTgy3MTUwzQJjnqmhp0ispxt4xP9nFTWw_Bvqt3c3C9xIgnLsonANlrgAHphIu/s640/blogger-image--2026564275.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69jMasNYeV18xS_CJpX_gXf6mZBOlhNmSLrObHevnU7FdzFb3KVThqjBo7i-R6DUB8J6a7_i9RzNQCMB7B0lw_z0DNlmtHjLYCiH3tMGEVo_3mo5P9rsyNmxqt2kC8eWdArMeAD53CwRe/s640/blogger-image-606630063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi69jMasNYeV18xS_CJpX_gXf6mZBOlhNmSLrObHevnU7FdzFb3KVThqjBo7i-R6DUB8J6a7_i9RzNQCMB7B0lw_z0DNlmtHjLYCiH3tMGEVo_3mo5P9rsyNmxqt2kC8eWdArMeAD53CwRe/s640/blogger-image-606630063.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-26345310119003716102015-08-20T17:58:00.001-07:002015-08-20T17:58:19.317-07:00Gas cylindersThis photo goes back to Bumthang. The night before the long drive west I did not sleep well. There was a lot of noise outside, all I could imagine was someone in the fields clanging <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> pots together to keep the wild boars and the bears away from thier crops. That would not be unusual in the countryside, however we were at the River Lodge in Chamkar. When I woke up there was a traffic jam in front of the gas station and lots of horn honking. A delivery of propane cylinders had arrived the day before and everyone had lined up to exchange their empty cylinders for full ones. They arrive by truck from Phuntsholing, so they make the trek across the bumpy road... </span><div>Here is a photo of the cylinders lined up, in order along the highway below the lodge. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyONKQCIdZwqf_Y4VCBFFVlLgqoXHthYePovUTd3q4ST7johMex0LFTslaIA9NzlYVmjiNDKeONbZ_9z97PscTg4yGnrTh-ctl_tQhzyRFUxvE6Y_81cMCJe2sbdlHNzLIPuqIqhblwWK/s640/blogger-image--1642745845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyONKQCIdZwqf_Y4VCBFFVlLgqoXHthYePovUTd3q4ST7johMex0LFTslaIA9NzlYVmjiNDKeONbZ_9z97PscTg4yGnrTh-ctl_tQhzyRFUxvE6Y_81cMCJe2sbdlHNzLIPuqIqhblwWK/s640/blogger-image--1642745845.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSR0vIgELO0LCIt-pnwNBwOiRLZFRZvhrKI_afH0XlHBGyk9Y2ASy5CVX3s8kbOBsPKO_EsmlHr7iKgbcMW6GXjRt9HqTPyg-Epey6ZyRcvUM2l3qF05IXXgA33DMV0-prC0bE0WRLcQ31/s640/blogger-image-878345644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSR0vIgELO0LCIt-pnwNBwOiRLZFRZvhrKI_afH0XlHBGyk9Y2ASy5CVX3s8kbOBsPKO_EsmlHr7iKgbcMW6GXjRt9HqTPyg-Epey6ZyRcvUM2l3qF05IXXgA33DMV0-prC0bE0WRLcQ31/s640/blogger-image-878345644.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-76300609153566208492015-08-20T17:45:00.001-07:002015-08-20T17:45:44.927-07:00Travel on Bhutanese roadsTThe country is undertaking the immense task of widening the road that crosses the country from the west to the east. If you have travelled in Bhutan you know that the roads are impossibly windy, steep and narrow. When Rob visited in 2013 he said "you were'nt exaggerating about the roads." That was prior to going east from Thimphu. It is actually hard to describe. <div>Right now the road is mostly one lane wide. The process they have decided to use is to give 10 kilometre stretches to different contractors in order to increase employment and to spread the work throughout the country. This means the entire length of the road is under construction. Imagine trying to widen a road that already sits on a treacherous cliff. </div><div>Here is a photo of a large machine (of which there are currently many on the roads) pulling rock down the cliff in order to widen the lane and fill gabions to help stabilize the cliff below. Shortly after this photo we were stopped in order to take photos of a spectacular bird. A pounding on the roof as some golf ball sized rooks randomly spattered the van rushed us forward. The yellow headed large parrot like bird was shy, however we did see another red,bird. No photos. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_Nwp6POqITLINqtaETm3PVxaJyanpB-fzn7cKy-AIIUaAS1BmjXAbgLXGe187kwgsFdCenylfwN6LdRPjD_PfXJwN7SWhWUx8pR1xHsUildsHzI_UxZ4CffYxuytVQ9N__r987d-c3qL/s640/blogger-image--254958264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_Nwp6POqITLINqtaETm3PVxaJyanpB-fzn7cKy-AIIUaAS1BmjXAbgLXGe187kwgsFdCenylfwN6LdRPjD_PfXJwN7SWhWUx8pR1xHsUildsHzI_UxZ4CffYxuytVQ9N__r987d-c3qL/s640/blogger-image--254958264.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-83051465823667177972015-08-15T21:01:00.001-07:002015-08-15T21:01:56.053-07:00FrisbeeBoth Catherine and I brought frisbee. On Saturday we gave the, to the school and right after assembly the staff started playing, figuring out very quickly how to play as they are athletic. They did not go to class for a while. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Look for the frisbee. </span><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">The photos below are progress on the altar being constructed for the Golden Jubilee celebrations. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XT0o8-UNjykVU8A2wyLjz-HBtKXGaL29a4SEf2m1b6So8kpNRdeiFGzAeOQMsWQZhtjE4vnkfMytRb6rnhANxr2kB7jsfoseXLfJbM23pwayeKJoObimTOB9Gc358sVVKKAGOxmkcOil/s640/blogger-image--1133114523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XT0o8-UNjykVU8A2wyLjz-HBtKXGaL29a4SEf2m1b6So8kpNRdeiFGzAeOQMsWQZhtjE4vnkfMytRb6rnhANxr2kB7jsfoseXLfJbM23pwayeKJoObimTOB9Gc358sVVKKAGOxmkcOil/s640/blogger-image--1133114523.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04TN0__rce-3ySoNWR8SFwCqU3pqQbOcNltAFH5-ngXW-nRu0B1RdSiKdppD9dp7LCZ0PCIX7Q3tsOiaegYksxdOblKCwnBnqWrJpUFJpz6BKG4Yw42tJ6YTe_o1cNctp0zFYGtqksqyO/s640/blogger-image-135998114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh04TN0__rce-3ySoNWR8SFwCqU3pqQbOcNltAFH5-ngXW-nRu0B1RdSiKdppD9dp7LCZ0PCIX7Q3tsOiaegYksxdOblKCwnBnqWrJpUFJpz6BKG4Yw42tJ6YTe_o1cNctp0zFYGtqksqyO/s640/blogger-image-135998114.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPfOvSNTs1lh4nF90OmC47X0chfGS6PoSQYeAdsuHAeHWy9-Aqaa1JQX_WFw7XaSc2w0Y7g0eMbHetCvjeV3-WjbUyfFZyi478M9iZszGx2aRzJlf5eoV1GbS4GI3aktCgwilutdH_t8A/s640/blogger-image-718032379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSPfOvSNTs1lh4nF90OmC47X0chfGS6PoSQYeAdsuHAeHWy9-Aqaa1JQX_WFw7XaSc2w0Y7g0eMbHetCvjeV3-WjbUyfFZyi478M9iZszGx2aRzJlf5eoV1GbS4GI3aktCgwilutdH_t8A/s640/blogger-image-718032379.jpg"></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-44083995584834299542015-08-15T20:18:00.001-07:002015-08-15T20:19:39.591-07:00Interesting momentsWhile in the Tang valley we stopped to talk to some ex students of Tashi and her husband. They had just returned from Tibet, a smuggling run. They walked at night and let during the day. They sold wooden bowls and the belts one wears with a gho or Kira for immense profit.<div><br></div><div>Leaving Tang, we were in a caravan, with 5 cars following us, some teachers, a couple of kids, wives and even the principal and his wife. They were seeing us off. We stopped a couplr of kilometres from the school in a clearing on a height of land. Rugs and foamies came out to sit on and we were served tea and biscuits. There were two types of suja and milk tea with ginger in it. Yum. It was a special way they say good bye. We were told it was a school tradition, but later heard it is white common to see special guests off in this way. Everyone (the Bhutanese) took lots of pictures and laughed a lot. It was actually quite touching. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-3233380543768503972015-08-15T06:26:00.001-07:002015-08-15T06:26:01.370-07:00Leaving MisithangOnce again I have to leave Bhutan, and it will be a long process. On Thursday morning I was asked to speak at the assembly: tips on writing book reviews. On Thursday afternoon, I gave a session to the teachers for their professional development. At the end of the session Catherine and I handed out BC and Canada pins to the staff, they proudly wore them on thier gho and tego. That was the first set of speeches and thank you's. <div><br><div> Friday morning Catherine said her farewells to the assembly. The men had erected a ( very) temporary flagpole for the Canadian flag. We distributed Canada pins to each student. More thank you's and farewell letters. I made banana cake in the rice cooker and the staff ate it during interval (recess).</div><div><br></div><div>Friday after school Tashi, her husband and daughter took us the Tang valley. We saw a mill for the buckwheat, thingley, a plant that grows asort of Sichuan pepper which numbs your lips and leaves them tingling for about 20 minutes, and the primary school where they used to teach. When they arrived at that school, was no power and only a tractor road. Tashi had both her children there. </div><div>We returned for a farewell dinner, with speeches, many, on both sides; a cultural program, dancing and singing on both sides and a lot of food cooked by the men. Shoo dates, fish curry, chicken curry, rice, red rice, dal, Emma dates and fresh fruit and veggies sliced and beautifully arranged. </div><div><br></div><div>Saturday morning we will have our last assembly where there will be more speeches and exchanges of gifts, then we judge the debate and trundle down the valley to Chamkhar. After that a 2 day drive to Thimphu. </div><div><br><div><br></div></div></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuUw9nbxtURntwig-pGv5_H7Zq2GVtYBMtAnC_M-xRv1wrVRk4NT-5iI1lXigAFZwHMFqJEQhHcpZ4vQYJyWausK6D0YPU0nm5bVYZYneE04IQqJn6Dc3VBC5LGRZDETbG2atMBmXEUFU/s640/blogger-image-1021494401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuUw9nbxtURntwig-pGv5_H7Zq2GVtYBMtAnC_M-xRv1wrVRk4NT-5iI1lXigAFZwHMFqJEQhHcpZ4vQYJyWausK6D0YPU0nm5bVYZYneE04IQqJn6Dc3VBC5LGRZDETbG2atMBmXEUFU/s640/blogger-image-1021494401.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWHIo0NjOi6qKMkTvPwnoi4f3o7u3PEbr4zJ7X0KTQRY2INynsFhyYsJNwX9IevMOcc1ZGpnFW7VX3DYrAbgukSYrrlczGIJu-ihk6VGQKMDwTdUJJE4cEn0F_GKsOucxRQ5jk0OQeS0_/s640/blogger-image-1149745472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWHIo0NjOi6qKMkTvPwnoi4f3o7u3PEbr4zJ7X0KTQRY2INynsFhyYsJNwX9IevMOcc1ZGpnFW7VX3DYrAbgukSYrrlczGIJu-ihk6VGQKMDwTdUJJE4cEn0F_GKsOucxRQ5jk0OQeS0_/s640/blogger-image-1149745472.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3LjHI_hrKFaB6tw1Cd24gsc1Wr3OFJauFP8zF7A4j2waATT51UieiP_zo4nkTgdeOH0jxNReE9qOmF3ho6UyCowfR77pozzRE0lGtX6BzXlB_TkIfv4GBJ1Sud_yv2vJxF7CS10fGsGH/s640/blogger-image--370141808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3LjHI_hrKFaB6tw1Cd24gsc1Wr3OFJauFP8zF7A4j2waATT51UieiP_zo4nkTgdeOH0jxNReE9qOmF3ho6UyCowfR77pozzRE0lGtX6BzXlB_TkIfv4GBJ1Sud_yv2vJxF7CS10fGsGH/s640/blogger-image--370141808.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S9e9dTTE-CRPdrrVY8EDncvGH0yqGGxpvwBmwrSKqznjo0erwn9PEfo5YnKz_WOGAqA0XmkIfR-P4Mcm86jBe__wNeMWx3lnDxyIEQ10YMcIp2G9MsvjJ7_MP4TQZd__nkkuIQ0Hncoc/s640/blogger-image--1678117160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7S9e9dTTE-CRPdrrVY8EDncvGH0yqGGxpvwBmwrSKqznjo0erwn9PEfo5YnKz_WOGAqA0XmkIfR-P4Mcm86jBe__wNeMWx3lnDxyIEQ10YMcIp2G9MsvjJ7_MP4TQZd__nkkuIQ0Hncoc/s640/blogger-image--1678117160.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-387104091602226222015-08-11T21:39:00.001-07:002015-08-13T23:39:36.255-07:00Ground breaking ceremony at KizomTuesday mornings there is no assembly at Tang school. The students are in their classes and all of the staff, including lab assistants, are helping with reading. Yesterday I was in class 3 reading "Little Hiawatha" when ther was a commotion- dog fight. Then the teacher disappeared. There was a big discussion and it was decided that the Canadian teachers should go to Kizom for a ceremony. The Indian ambassador was to be there as India is financing the building of rock walls to prevent flooding in the valley. <div> There is a tourist campground financed by the WWF and tents were set up. <div>After lots of waiting the officials arrived, Catherine and I were treated like dignitaries. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Speeches (not us) and then the students performed traditional dances as did the locals. There was a very local masked dance, with giant dancers. A special lunch of local foods provided by locals included buckwheat noodles, which I had not had before. </span></div></div>We danced as it seemed as though the dancing would not stop until we participated. The women who were spectators laughed hard every time we passed them with our rather clumsy efforts at a graceful Bhutanese dance. It was a very hot day and there are no hats worn at official function -several older men created shade from branches they wore on their heads. <div>After the lunch people wandered home along the roads and pathways. We walked part way back to school, but were soon scooped up into a car and jostled homewards along the bumpy road. The older woman we were walking with arrived about 10 minutes after us, such is the speed of car travel. </div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLoSP4M_0Py49-MzXsCzuoEyvS9GynfFTUa538eNrfb67iy9h8xOye4whOd-YWEZqu_Tdxp2BnHsyvKooTbjcl_sIBFhQK8MpL2wO5rlHuvuXlqs1wChCdzS7pQhZKVfufvwsMATRTlDU/s640/blogger-image--908858519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLoSP4M_0Py49-MzXsCzuoEyvS9GynfFTUa538eNrfb67iy9h8xOye4whOd-YWEZqu_Tdxp2BnHsyvKooTbjcl_sIBFhQK8MpL2wO5rlHuvuXlqs1wChCdzS7pQhZKVfufvwsMATRTlDU/s640/blogger-image--908858519.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgURhw0YB-EZ-BuNqZu8H_ypZj8gH_x6CdHkQA6BSVZRrbIBho33UF8tPXWEkfpX9g6W4ryYndWIqQx3mbFlRi8jrwdXlk3BmpjDbfCxsx4f8bumOT7qTn2n0NGen0Gic6D0FoDLXh3ziA1/s640/blogger-image-1173742593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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It was nice out and had not rained in the night. There were patches of blue sky above the mountains at the head of the valley on my morning walk. I was much more interested in a long walk up the valley, than a bumpy ride to town. <div>However, that was the plan and a teacher and her husband had put aside the day to take us. I felt a bit better because we had hiked up the hill behind the guest house to the prayer flags yesterday afternoon. We walked along the "plain" on the top of the ridge, more like a meadow that had been cleared for grazing cows, and came down behind the Rimochen Lakhang down the road from here. The views were stunning. Later that evening we were treated to Bhutanese movie at the multi-purpose hall. Will all of the students and most of the villagers. A romantic comedy we were told. Shakespeare and the Greeks could have learned a lot about tragedy from the Bhutanese.</div><div>So the adventure to town started fairly calmly. I noticed hos dry the roads were, with no rain for about 30 hours. In town we were served momos and did a bit of shopping before going to the Dzong. It was "closed" for Sunday, meaning all of the government offences were closed. There were 2 young officers on duty and Sonam (Rinchen's husband) knows everyone so we were invited to go down to see the underground water source they were checking on. There was a sort of walled space with staircase after steep staircase winding down the back of the very steep hill the Dzongkha is perched on. After many steps we went into a tower like building down a half dozen sets of stairs. Fortunately, these had been renovated and were no longer the steps cut out of logs pictured below. It was a great adventure, with no power and only one cellphone to light our way, bats and slimy steps. I loved it. </div><div>Later while we were having lunch a violent thunderstorm rolled through the valley. A real Bhutanese storm. On the drive home there was a tree across the road that had to be removed. Evidence of a lot of wind, with many trees down and the creeks and rivers were running very brown, with several areas of flooding, including one corner of the road. </div><div>Just when things felt calm and the routine felt like a routine, everything changes. We returned to beautiful blue skies here in the Tang valley, and I will now go for a walk albeit not all the way to the end of the valley.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj35HSv-gUm-h4a8dFTAc62tjPKzYthdfbzSuDBW2opexcCazLdpI5IuL9KBLNbansBXNl2wLlsc_gx1b776NB4zNc-oU7_Zvnurh9pw7Bh4ziDHdnWg_daOYG0KXm4xn_ju2Taxv3T286/s640/blogger-image--290695313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj35HSv-gUm-h4a8dFTAc62tjPKzYthdfbzSuDBW2opexcCazLdpI5IuL9KBLNbansBXNl2wLlsc_gx1b776NB4zNc-oU7_Zvnurh9pw7Bh4ziDHdnWg_daOYG0KXm4xn_ju2Taxv3T286/s640/blogger-image--290695313.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEArBW4utuq1a2Dn1LB_DzBvvSvDHWiqyHRNxrYyOlOclWfBOyA2tFqDbd0R5H0vuOResvdBVtI0e1jucl5V9hGRX4x2trcshoBcjC_nqLvNmgTyDci15_FhXzqWUtEg_kUY6q4wwRsk77/s640/blogger-image-633455155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEArBW4utuq1a2Dn1LB_DzBvvSvDHWiqyHRNxrYyOlOclWfBOyA2tFqDbd0R5H0vuOResvdBVtI0e1jucl5V9hGRX4x2trcshoBcjC_nqLvNmgTyDci15_FhXzqWUtEg_kUY6q4wwRsk77/s640/blogger-image-633455155.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFduzSE_iOzmvScUpOuWbHCxx2VfeG09tGc9oQLlDVD1_vRT-0NLHC8HV9cmAULwxt9I55N7BfgQuo-Xim6n1JOKFgm8_r8Ebbp4DdWvMWHRTR0PA2aqvx1cjWASm2T7LI2VacKQ-46iCs/s640/blogger-image-1810357461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFduzSE_iOzmvScUpOuWbHCxx2VfeG09tGc9oQLlDVD1_vRT-0NLHC8HV9cmAULwxt9I55N7BfgQuo-Xim6n1JOKFgm8_r8Ebbp4DdWvMWHRTR0PA2aqvx1cjWASm2T7LI2VacKQ-46iCs/s640/blogger-image-1810357461.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX9T4nrpIcd9eQ_oo9OS_5Fob_WqLAWn7sOQ_MF6XyOpcQUNwu6MQdlwyL1jQXG7fx8kUq2j97ZqngQhN_csQZddzdTLFPXPYkCXLnnt5zWL3NS5PDwJUjZ_FhupYsD5io7ys4Q8NOJaH/s640/blogger-image--128916579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFX9T4nrpIcd9eQ_oo9OS_5Fob_WqLAWn7sOQ_MF6XyOpcQUNwu6MQdlwyL1jQXG7fx8kUq2j97ZqngQhN_csQZddzdTLFPXPYkCXLnnt5zWL3NS5PDwJUjZ_FhupYsD5io7ys4Q8NOJaH/s640/blogger-image--128916579.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4ZKDWFFXwqj_7gftON62szPcfUgbOfVgC51RL4QCQj8JvtgTu4fQK9r6UHJbqEtjd582LSt3nRrkQYCoEBRr5MDuoRqtp6-DA0JPk9ayGVHrHWC3NM8_VNVtMw18LMCi0_RO_moXdHGM/s640/blogger-image-1872037891.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF4ZKDWFFXwqj_7gftON62szPcfUgbOfVgC51RL4QCQj8JvtgTu4fQK9r6UHJbqEtjd582LSt3nRrkQYCoEBRr5MDuoRqtp6-DA0JPk9ayGVHrHWC3NM8_VNVtMw18LMCi0_RO_moXdHGM/s640/blogger-image-1872037891.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF8-Tnxjqynh7mAymFo9EC5eUtQ-AnYvLgb5bsWmjzND3fnApLu9Aghq1N442E61hWbRTTi-iHrUS-ToEApntyjPqPpyGsL_HuliS7zIrp5aAo7tgyFlLoezxXjMO91wGgtI4OCuc9Jhl/s640/blogger-image--1497739908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF8-Tnxjqynh7mAymFo9EC5eUtQ-AnYvLgb5bsWmjzND3fnApLu9Aghq1N442E61hWbRTTi-iHrUS-ToEApntyjPqPpyGsL_HuliS7zIrp5aAo7tgyFlLoezxXjMO91wGgtI4OCuc9Jhl/s640/blogger-image--1497739908.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-23416007527196196372015-08-06T20:16:00.001-07:002015-08-06T20:16:41.404-07:00Heather teaches PPK PP is kindergarten. The students, tables and stools are unbelievably small, and cute. My biggest challenge is that they speak and understand Dzongkha, but not much English. Second challenge: the wigglies.<div><br></div><div>Today was a special day at the school. The medical team visits once per year. They do eye tests, a bit of hearing, take a blood sample (for blood typing I think) and there is a dentist. The PP students all had teeth pulled 5 minutes before I was to teach them. If I thought they were distracted before, it was nothing compared to bloody wads of cotton, comparing holes in their mouths and some genuine distress. I soldiered on. Too bad about the language gap because I would have loved to do something about the teeth instead of alphabet and Apple green Apple red, Apple fell on Dorji's head. </div><div><br></div><div>Two teachers watched me and the entire gong show was filmed on their phones. </div><div><br></div><div>Most of the rest of the day Catherine and I worked in the library with the struggling readers. Both of our sponsor teachers were there as much as they could be, and are sincerely trying to grasp how we are working. They are going to ask the principal to have free periods scheduled while their English classes are in the library next year, so they can continue to assist the weak readers. In my mind, if that is the only thing that comes from our visit, everything we have done is worthwhile. </div><div><br></div><div>On the home front I made Chile for dinner. Soaked kidney beans, stewed up chile powder a la Bhutanese, peppers, onions and the world's yummiest garlic. I even threw in a splash of Takin wine. Catherine and I are both FIGHTING the germs behind the green slime that is constantly dripping from the kid's noses. Sometimes it looks like little snakes peeking out - constantly present, sometimes sniffed back inside for a rest. The perils of primary teaching without Kleenex. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAIydoJnBY7vDqIES3knbWobAsfb-pMs8GuNqGnsYic_SfPDFoFhERWmJrgxNaQ3gEMxmWc9nO7P2Rp1VOOXDSWC1ez3FtwEvhIItOpyVuAfWovHYAHSCk3vu0-DIj0aCsr3O-h2Jjzgg/s640/blogger-image-2135690770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAIydoJnBY7vDqIES3knbWobAsfb-pMs8GuNqGnsYic_SfPDFoFhERWmJrgxNaQ3gEMxmWc9nO7P2Rp1VOOXDSWC1ez3FtwEvhIItOpyVuAfWovHYAHSCk3vu0-DIj0aCsr3O-h2Jjzgg/s640/blogger-image-2135690770.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2KHP1YNW9x-YLgSmYKS0CjP9AbZ2PBjElrsiGXIprQ3A35fQJ1OjaWk70KeIPqNRi7CFC-l1kfcLc4-oYdCLJYPPUvDEE-mgunWQgcStkdZ8ja1l1jV8KL-5VEuY3-WisLp8c6TrLka6/s640/blogger-image-1059761459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2KHP1YNW9x-YLgSmYKS0CjP9AbZ2PBjElrsiGXIprQ3A35fQJ1OjaWk70KeIPqNRi7CFC-l1kfcLc4-oYdCLJYPPUvDEE-mgunWQgcStkdZ8ja1l1jV8KL-5VEuY3-WisLp8c6TrLka6/s640/blogger-image-1059761459.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3g8nWWj5kVlIJen5CZGQ6ndnVIuHgUwnqJygsQf2Mule1xpPVtlVbVSf2Pbww7whj1xLyPeI4WsqCq5KLvmqVEsUFWDiYu3tYZmTpP1tpQW4w0Mc-lxP43pi-xuqISRp1Rwz6nqwrQnob/s640/blogger-image-1495952284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3g8nWWj5kVlIJen5CZGQ6ndnVIuHgUwnqJygsQf2Mule1xpPVtlVbVSf2Pbww7whj1xLyPeI4WsqCq5KLvmqVEsUFWDiYu3tYZmTpP1tpQW4w0Mc-lxP43pi-xuqISRp1Rwz6nqwrQnob/s640/blogger-image-1495952284.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-64938171137520168152015-08-03T20:20:00.001-07:002015-08-03T20:20:38.739-07:00Sunday at Ogyen Choling,Sunday Catherine and I started walking up the Tang valley. In the village where we are living -Misithang- the valley is quite narrow. The Tang river runs behind the school and across the river, the mountains rise quite steeply. On this side of the road, the farms back onto steep hillsides, where the cattle graze and small fields are stuck to the steep hillside. As we walked up the valley, it opens to a stunning landscape. The river is larger and the valley bottom wide. Hills rise with small villages and large homes. Fields of pink buckwheat and yellow mustard. There are even some high altitude rice paddies, growing since 2008, thanks to global warming. <div><br><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> From everywhere in the valley the wanderer can see a prominent structure - Ogyen Choling. For many centuries, 20 generations, the same family held this property. In Bhutan, it was until the mid nineteen fifties that land owners were manor lords and indentured labourers worked the land. The third king emancipated the serfs at that time. It was a great change in the country. Ashi Keunzang Choden was born here in 1952. She was sent to school in Kalingpong, India at the age of nine. It was a twelve day journey by caravan as there were no roads. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">On Sunday she greeted us at the gate. We had a wonderful tour of the private museum. Her family manor is now part of a foundation and she and her family have worked hard to preserve artifacts and the buildings in order to tell the story and keep an important part of Bhutan's history available for both Bhutanese and foreigners. </span></div></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vc_y6XFCMsOncxzIPTvZ1plDq830UKEZgDB7t30VQWJrdyEbTSMRqMGVDaObm4soB6XsJ6M_gNnjZcsRyiatf7PCds9WjJFozCh5TI3Xl4JsVyu34KMXhlmc0uak6U5cfbKmJ5b4wEBt/s640/blogger-image--29395238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vc_y6XFCMsOncxzIPTvZ1plDq830UKEZgDB7t30VQWJrdyEbTSMRqMGVDaObm4soB6XsJ6M_gNnjZcsRyiatf7PCds9WjJFozCh5TI3Xl4JsVyu34KMXhlmc0uak6U5cfbKmJ5b4wEBt/s640/blogger-image--29395238.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVjp0XQT_wtV5dTEG8WGCitD9DWThMw4hKIRw3C5dU4AXXkJrhWH6X3YxsLzLSNV_ga8gOlhiQ3SYx8uJZLjZh7wau3-_jG38WYsFUUceA1gAb9Oar3cpe8w0IJqfcoMf1QiLUtlBb4N9/s640/blogger-image--1093983578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVjp0XQT_wtV5dTEG8WGCitD9DWThMw4hKIRw3C5dU4AXXkJrhWH6X3YxsLzLSNV_ga8gOlhiQ3SYx8uJZLjZh7wau3-_jG38WYsFUUceA1gAb9Oar3cpe8w0IJqfcoMf1QiLUtlBb4N9/s640/blogger-image--1093983578.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYX9Gp8fAnQkgeOdQvPHfnWOm5JjDdYMpkYJeM4PiyvhXV1x3H9Y7GFqdP8_yby_XRKoTjZT92waACfpP1hOpl94K62RxYq2UD8gDbr2avYOHAQyAtd5uvad5bW27JvxU1pTppRxt_oAv/s640/blogger-image--271924959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYX9Gp8fAnQkgeOdQvPHfnWOm5JjDdYMpkYJeM4PiyvhXV1x3H9Y7GFqdP8_yby_XRKoTjZT92waACfpP1hOpl94K62RxYq2UD8gDbr2avYOHAQyAtd5uvad5bW27JvxU1pTppRxt_oAv/s640/blogger-image--271924959.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-52778869195612627962015-08-03T20:17:00.001-07:002015-08-03T20:17:59.360-07:00Tang Central SchoolThe school has about 400 students from PP to grade 10. Some live in the hostel, even the youngest. There is a matron, a warden and a caregiver for the youngest. She does activities with them, and helps them with things like their laundry. "Central school" is a new designation as they are eliminating some of the remote schools and bringing students to a larger facility. Boarders get almost everything paid for: 2 uniforms, shoes, mattress, blanket, books and shiny steel plates and mugs. <div><br></div><div>We are each assigned to an English teacher, mine is named Tashi. She teaches PP, class 1 and 5. Each week every class has a library period. Catherine and I are working with weak readers identified by their English teacher. We were hoping for small groups, but have 10 to 12 at a time. Next week I will have one period with each of Tashi's classes to work on reading strategies. It all feels like a drop in the bucket, but it is enjoyable. Last week I taught 3 classes of English 7 for the principal as he was away at meetings. </div><div><br></div><div>I go for a walk every morning. There is an important lakhang 5 minutes up the road backed by cliffs with beehives hanging. The road follows a big river, moving fast. This morning I walked down the road to a suspension walking bridge and thrashed my way back through the forest on the other side of the river. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4L4wORyBNtJANtKDbVdMDZXV9mFSkpa8d3ljStxH8WMPFhtVolksiFT8GCge_Cmk-Yo6I6DMe-x6uLddPi8-tQqIC1vp7hDaVJ-N6VPmfW3fBMugLeaAtoXxBdd_xw1P98jVXxqHRITZV/s640/blogger-image--1477652824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4L4wORyBNtJANtKDbVdMDZXV9mFSkpa8d3ljStxH8WMPFhtVolksiFT8GCge_Cmk-Yo6I6DMe-x6uLddPi8-tQqIC1vp7hDaVJ-N6VPmfW3fBMugLeaAtoXxBdd_xw1P98jVXxqHRITZV/s640/blogger-image--1477652824.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXRuM_KVQ37mFCI2wJW-4LHzAZc4vMqZXijTRK94BeK3joN_-bo_bFmoI9Ji2pyb3Fp3YmzKjZ_xjH3NNkZFXzgWb7GWhVpKMprYrtGCVE0-Uew38IHwH-YEnkYGqAK38sQiomVKS0oGc/s640/blogger-image--875408930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXRuM_KVQ37mFCI2wJW-4LHzAZc4vMqZXijTRK94BeK3joN_-bo_bFmoI9Ji2pyb3Fp3YmzKjZ_xjH3NNkZFXzgWb7GWhVpKMprYrtGCVE0-Uew38IHwH-YEnkYGqAK38sQiomVKS0oGc/s640/blogger-image--875408930.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK2gl6q34l1LasnxyWJA_1eB7sug7rBnU-H6Q3jP05iIRqQclKS4BXuyH7TIDZLaB3BLQDeA6zDqRdtjhmXoNhyphenhyphen8nyygjQi9lxJt03cRAo0g5uhyonfLwrpGLLfU-ZtyGnjOIRe1_EYdG/s640/blogger-image-515823944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK2gl6q34l1LasnxyWJA_1eB7sug7rBnU-H6Q3jP05iIRqQclKS4BXuyH7TIDZLaB3BLQDeA6zDqRdtjhmXoNhyphenhyphen8nyygjQi9lxJt03cRAo0g5uhyonfLwrpGLLfU-ZtyGnjOIRe1_EYdG/s640/blogger-image-515823944.jpg"></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-62116259731374059772015-07-25T17:40:00.000-07:002015-07-25T17:40:22.805-07:00Bhutan Canada Foundation summer reading programFive C<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">anadian teachers piled into a Toyota Hiace van with luggage and guitars on Friday morning to head east. The weather was beautiful and the roads were, well . . . Not. The entire road east is being widened, all at once. Each 10 kilomrtres is contracted to a different contractor and is in a different stage of construction. Mud, ruts, gravel, blasting, narrow, bumpy and slow. And of course road blocks, which are closures for certain hours of the day. Along side the closures families have set up road side stands to sell cold drinks, veggies and junk food. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We spent from 9 am to 7 pm on the road the first day, and stayed in the Phobjika Vallyey at Yo Lo Ki guest house. I had stayed there with Jon in November 2013 to see the black necked cranes. The woman who owns the farm recognized me! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next morning was hot and sunny and we dropped Gina and Aldo at their school. The principal welcomed us with milk tea, then there was an assembly under the hot sun. A couple of Pp ( kindergarten ) boys puffed out their chests in pride as they sang the national anthem. It was results day so parents were arriving and sitting on benches,waiting to hear who the class troopers are and then get their child's report card.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The three of us contained the trek with Passang Driving and Karma riding shotgun. As we reached the height of land leaving the Phobjika valley, we caught a glimpse,of the Himalaya peeking out of the clouds. Lunch in Trongsa the Yangkill resort I think. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We dropped Robert at the Nature Resort in Chumey, where Becky is working and welcomed us. More <span id="goog_1406111412"></span><span id="goog_1406111413"></span>welcome tea. When we arrived at the River Lodge an hour later Pema welcomed us with a whisky as more tea was out of the question and in Bhutanese style, there must be a welcome. </span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This morning we shop, then head to our new abode in Tang. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span id="goog_1406111414"></span><span id="goog_1406111415"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-4233017941577918382015-07-22T13:55:00.002-07:002015-07-22T14:16:02.922-07:00Vibrant BhutanTh<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">e brilliant green paddy fields, the strong, rich colours of the womens' national dress, the red robes of the monks- it all felt so much like home when I landed in Paro. Of course it is not home and could never be home, nor do I want it to be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The plane left Bangkok fairly empty, in Bagdogra it filled up. From the tarmac we could see the mountains of Bhutan across the plains of India, the clouds of the rainy season swirling around in shades of white and grey, piling up and sweeping away to glimpses of the Himalaya.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was vibrating with excitement or perhaps it was the black tea. Descending into Paro is dramatic, I found it even more so with the clouds. So different to to clear blue skies of winter and the stark paddy fields of January.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That odd feeling of never having left overtook me immediately as I worked my way through immigration with my new colleagues, visas not quite correct, time spent explaining to officials, signing for money exchanged and paying entry taxes. Meena was there to greet the teachers and Palden my dear teaching friend from Chukha, was thereto greet me. It was overwhelming and I loved it all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The day moved to Thimphu, where it was hot and cloudy, sunny and windy. Lunch at Nancy's - delicious of course. Stories of years past teaching in Bhutan and hopes for the reading program.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back in the hotel I did not want to let my heavy, weary body pull me into sleep, for fear of being awake all night. I convinced Gina and Aldo, a teaching couple from Toronto, to go for a walk before dinner. In the monsoon. Refreshing and muddy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Indian dinner at the New Granf Hotel - Matt and Lucy introduced me, Rob and Jon both ate there with me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am now sitting on my back alley balcony in a wicker chair, wrapped in a plaid wool blanket listening to the chorus of dogs barking and howling, rendering the night sleepless at this point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite the shiny new cars, new buildings and rapid construction, some things have not changed here in Bhutan.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-16328553606594623052015-07-21T07:17:00.001-07:002015-07-21T07:41:47.903-07:00Rewind 2015Here I sit in Bangkok and it all seems so familiar that it brought me back here to my blog. I sometimes wonder who reads blogs . . . .<br />
<br />
To bring readers up to date, I am on my way to the Tang valley in the region of Bumthang, central Bhutan. I am volunteering on a summer reading program in an elementary school. I will be working with kindergarten, grades 2 and 4 or 6. Very different for me and I have to thank Robyn Simard for materials and suggestions.<br />
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In regards to travelling, I am overwhelmingly amazed by our capacity to move so many people around the planet in the air. To me it is surreal to take off from Vancouver and be in Bangkok 18 hours later. There is an awful lot of water down there as I look out the porthole from my cramped seat. My contemplations on the flight took me to wanting to sail or at least go in an ocean liner to some distant destinations. What a life it must have been sailing off to discover new islands. I don't think it was terribly long ago as one of my grandfathers or perhaps a great-grandfather "sailed the Seven seas under sail".<br />
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As I sit in Bangkok I am flooded by memories of arriving in Bhutan in 2013, not knowing the adventure that lay ahead. And leaving Bhutan with a dear friend (Dave-dear is an unusual word, but we share precious memories). I am not certain what is drawing and pulling me back to Bhutan apart from the friends I left there; maybe the feeling that I was not "finished" when I left in 2014.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-44729686607891279442014-02-09T10:58:00.001-08:002014-02-09T11:01:15.397-08:00From the Mountains of Bhutan to the Mountains of British Columbia<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', fantasy;">Here I sit in my home in Beasley,
BC staring out the window at Red Mountain. I feel an eternity away
from my year in Bhutan. I miss the students, I miss my colleagues at
CHSS and I miss my BCF friends. Some are still in Bhutan, reporting
to school tomorrow and some, like me, have returned to their lives
around the world. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0.07cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, fantasy;">I am very content at home. I had
three weeks prior to going back to work and have been teaching for a
week now. My students were excited and happy to see me, even those
in the French Immersion program that I had not yet taught said they
were happy to have me back. Each class I have had students thank me
for the class. I am enjoying both the classes and the students. </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', fantasy;">I am grateful every day for my
warm, fat, comfortable life. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rob and I at lunch</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am so lucky to hel-ski with Rob</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYxJrr0RvMyT0AsIXtQJUO5HhCOP9g1LTPhfR_KHRXCZQyUkhM8pJ21OROZtqLgG1LzKxCErdofMGsfmgMLNSM4t4R4sd-YQD-0dyjkufPUkM3ncOhnTrSuznH1zd32DuOmhnn5TsrNDE/s1600/P1060794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYxJrr0RvMyT0AsIXtQJUO5HhCOP9g1LTPhfR_KHRXCZQyUkhM8pJ21OROZtqLgG1LzKxCErdofMGsfmgMLNSM4t4R4sd-YQD-0dyjkufPUkM3ncOhnTrSuznH1zd32DuOmhnn5TsrNDE/s1600/P1060794.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Heli-ski lunch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0.07cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', fantasy;">During my time off I skied at
Whitewater, I learned to skate ski, I took my mom cross country
skiing and I went helicopter skiing with Rob. There is a pretty
strong ski theme here. I guess I was making up for a winter away.
Seriously I enjoy and thrive with the wind on my face, the cold and
the winter wonderland. The tops of the mountains, the snow, the cold
all make me feel very much alive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', fantasy;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0.07cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, fantasy;"> On the other hand I feel
confused and over-stimulated when I am in town or at work. There is
so much going on at once, so much stuff and too much choice. I have
a hard time in the grocery store, nothing seems to make sense. There
is so much waste. I go to the photocopy room each day and pull
one-sided paper out of the recycle bin to reuse in my classroom.
There is more paper used in one day than we used all year at CHSS in
Bhutan. The 2 schools are the same size. I am guiltily enjoying the
ability to copy a reading passage and give a personal copy to each of
my students. </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, fantasy;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0.07cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, fantasy;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, fantasy;"> On Thursday I gave a slide show
and talk about Bhutan to my students. They enjoyed the photos of the
Bhutanese students, the clothing, the pictures of monasteries and
villages. I dressed 2 students per class in a kira and a gho. I
am not sure they could imagine wearing a uniform to school. I am
certain they could not imagine the hard work, the cold water and life in the hostel! </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, fantasy;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: none; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding-bottom: 0.07cm; padding-left: 0cm; padding-right: 0cm; padding-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, fantasy;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS, fantasy;"> Yesterday I cross country skied
with two girlfriends along the Slocan River to see the Trumpeter
Swans. They winter here and spend their summers in Alaska. I felt
quintessentially Canadian. </span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa_NfoXqngsbAETr47MTLSi2weg6lqKtvxw5nKI-zzkVIiVvsduOZq-P_lLXcRM7DilxsrdCSuJzD0Pcx4o_rkETQMv_ZSmsa-IqDGEP_aGLnyY1UBfNuNW2OyDkv4a8l7eY0BVBf6oas/s1600/P2080250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa_NfoXqngsbAETr47MTLSi2weg6lqKtvxw5nKI-zzkVIiVvsduOZq-P_lLXcRM7DilxsrdCSuJzD0Pcx4o_rkETQMv_ZSmsa-IqDGEP_aGLnyY1UBfNuNW2OyDkv4a8l7eY0BVBf6oas/s1600/P2080250.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Canadian Winter Day </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLJITHIwKclz7YjOTT8JNDju_1Rahz2ykvA_6oqUJwwVNk1J1rDM03zUYaAyE_djj-xcX_wS6sJECklB6Ib8SjxHAroFgFvdn-f_SQoPWxdYZBL_cObTyQjnm7kvSR3C0yQUnqO327zLo/s1600/P2080253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWLJITHIwKclz7YjOTT8JNDju_1Rahz2ykvA_6oqUJwwVNk1J1rDM03zUYaAyE_djj-xcX_wS6sJECklB6Ib8SjxHAroFgFvdn-f_SQoPWxdYZBL_cObTyQjnm7kvSR3C0yQUnqO327zLo/s1600/P2080253.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Slocan River just before sundown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-26604865581926451802014-02-09T10:41:00.000-08:002014-02-09T10:41:07.234-08:00Vancouver <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Travelling: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can handle plane food, especially on asian airlines. The rice is always good. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cannot handle sleeping seat-mates that do not move when I try to get up to go to the toilet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do not sleep well and everyone else seems to be able to konk out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My body does not like sitting on a plane for 5 or more hours. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This trip: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I keep thinking I see people I know . . . from home - ex-students, other teachers . . . I think simply because they are not Bhutanese and I am not the only chillip in the room, town, region. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The roads are very wide and straight in Thailand and in Vancouver. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The beds are very comfortable in Canada. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is so much stuff in the malls. It took me an hour and a half to buy some body cream in Hua Hin, Thailand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-4769032738726732072014-01-07T11:15:00.004-08:002014-01-07T11:15:51.968-08:00A Special Goodbye from Thailand <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was walking away from my hotel room I heard a thump beside me. Something had "fallen" from the coconut tree. S/he waited for me to put my bag down, take out my camera and take some pics. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVf_fzof2-YguBJ2X14bHdHASESjRAcra6zTIPclSVFhbCSK1v743KciOJYclwbyd6WBph5-EGSszFGIgH4aJvdcI8WBBHjYU4fIEo5ZR3kGL0epgGM5SPqRtN5PRfOrFKLDew-bugenH/s1600/P1050241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVf_fzof2-YguBJ2X14bHdHASESjRAcra6zTIPclSVFhbCSK1v743KciOJYclwbyd6WBph5-EGSszFGIgH4aJvdcI8WBBHjYU4fIEo5ZR3kGL0epgGM5SPqRtN5PRfOrFKLDew-bugenH/s1600/P1050241.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8PPY7XqmdnbxpDugRm4B4j6Qn0Us-4myQiSKCzNqf6CZENZsK81JPd_Iwa9XJpnqrSLYh97_TOkmdHEFSP6spanr31mHQYmVKEGb7kzijQfbW2PyXQNgVYw-gt9V1Aieej25d6t4km40/s1600/P1050240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8PPY7XqmdnbxpDugRm4B4j6Qn0Us-4myQiSKCzNqf6CZENZsK81JPd_Iwa9XJpnqrSLYh97_TOkmdHEFSP6spanr31mHQYmVKEGb7kzijQfbW2PyXQNgVYw-gt9V1Aieej25d6t4km40/s1600/P1050240.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1642635571217246862.post-49227634664632241732014-01-07T04:02:00.002-08:002014-01-07T04:02:22.411-08:00Thai Fishing Village turned tourist town <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The place I stayed in Thailand is still an active fishing village.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBPqWXYTg5tBhD7Xa8yAKYoFbatBbERcXNiAV1nUWvhP5I3tsHCxx_b2Nd887dn4iAMwUlzec7LCt9kIWHA5ljAV_-_ANhuh2NZio3D2TelyZKO9WPj44QR8vcWdA_T2nGiRhr9ZlRDtz/s1600/P1040245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBPqWXYTg5tBhD7Xa8yAKYoFbatBbERcXNiAV1nUWvhP5I3tsHCxx_b2Nd887dn4iAMwUlzec7LCt9kIWHA5ljAV_-_ANhuh2NZio3D2TelyZKO9WPj44QR8vcWdA_T2nGiRhr9ZlRDtz/s1600/P1040245.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhC6cejSvLNQd0B0u1aMnAyC4xntwDkQ98lAVKatBRqqV2dhOUF6lIIOqyksqwMDGmGxQeKWhYlD0jtLw2prbexWIPLCUUXeCETj3Q1cqtY6CTvUESFGISHTaw8qGyLmKkARAkbJ3sGZOJ/s1600/P1040248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhC6cejSvLNQd0B0u1aMnAyC4xntwDkQ98lAVKatBRqqV2dhOUF6lIIOqyksqwMDGmGxQeKWhYlD0jtLw2prbexWIPLCUUXeCETj3Q1cqtY6CTvUESFGISHTaw8qGyLmKkARAkbJ3sGZOJ/s1600/P1040248.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXOmFDNnEJsG7Zp3LzgGF5bJpF5QMtsO1wEsapHHAPSvUi4q2Jbi6Hhyphenhyphen1yRl95SHgbqher6Ny-MsDHmhYVkVl3g8zcCecuY5D5uad8UGicNzfVZ333imN_z-iUK9XrG2JQTiQLeHNqLXC/s1600/P1040249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcXOmFDNnEJsG7Zp3LzgGF5bJpF5QMtsO1wEsapHHAPSvUi4q2Jbi6Hhyphenhyphen1yRl95SHgbqher6Ny-MsDHmhYVkVl3g8zcCecuY5D5uad8UGicNzfVZ333imN_z-iUK9XrG2JQTiQLeHNqLXC/s1600/P1040249.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKXfaewkKLSSg5EIlhUq713_ySOtUzK7Unnaruc47Oo1UDn6sx9Xi9O-lqFY75bo6E6G8vc-c0rnVOf1EEwj4-Dzt38ycGc3kl2M5Xrnb87MdrUtQA0ASrtPhw7W777ilWi2gCFO_6Vxr/s1600/P1040250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKXfaewkKLSSg5EIlhUq713_ySOtUzK7Unnaruc47Oo1UDn6sx9Xi9O-lqFY75bo6E6G8vc-c0rnVOf1EEwj4-Dzt38ycGc3kl2M5Xrnb87MdrUtQA0ASrtPhw7W777ilWi2gCFO_6Vxr/s1600/P1040250.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
Where the tourists get to stay at great places like this: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZESW4aLxeYq-FgmzJSQMgOtx3uXdWysb0YtcQtyee-euy5qgLlACkAah8iZHPn6Djg0LYhNQ0S_iSXSIpc_bJK1I8lEkbLdDNMBo7k4gkiLxnLLr1idGzUTSJlx81wMNxjHzSqOh622O/s1600/hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeZESW4aLxeYq-FgmzJSQMgOtx3uXdWysb0YtcQtyee-euy5qgLlACkAah8iZHPn6Djg0LYhNQ0S_iSXSIpc_bJK1I8lEkbLdDNMBo7k4gkiLxnLLr1idGzUTSJlx81wMNxjHzSqOh622O/s1600/hotel.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfS5hb3S94douBzFV19b1wf907rAn1frZDRae0Xrpm91nEzr6keNgGKbgJ5_fs7ssh5aZix4wCeUcied0nE4XbBFOKTQduj5H7Y3RLjCOZayQQ3z904ZgToMA_Zo0-PACtgfsNlhgDDXm/s1600/P1040257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPfS5hb3S94douBzFV19b1wf907rAn1frZDRae0Xrpm91nEzr6keNgGKbgJ5_fs7ssh5aZix4wCeUcied0nE4XbBFOKTQduj5H7Y3RLjCOZayQQ3z904ZgToMA_Zo0-PACtgfsNlhgDDXm/s1600/P1040257.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Which is actually the same place. What a contrast it must be for the locals !!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0