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THIMPHU, BHUTAN 🇧🇹: OLD-STYLE ARCHITECTURE

Amidst Thimphu’s growing modernity, traditional Bhutanese architecture still stands strong—ornate woodwork, intricate paintings, and centuries-old craftsmanship telling stories of heritage and resilience. A timeless reminder of Bhutan’s rich cultural legacy.  1march2025

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN 🇧🇹: FAST FOOD ROW

Fast Food Row in Thimphu is unusually quiet today as most families celebrate Losar (New Year) at home. The usual buzz of sizzling momos, spicy ema datshi, and piping hot suja is on pause—but the flavors of Bhutanese street food will be back in full swing soon!  1march2025

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: ON CONFIDENCE AND SOLITUDE

On Confidence, Solitude, and the Quiet Courage of My Students Reading my students’ essays today has left me feeling existential. Their words, their struggles, their dreams—they all sit with me. Many of them dream of travel, of seeing the world beyond Bhutan. But what strikes me most is how many of them aspire to something I’ve never thought twice about: the confidence to walk into a restaurant…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: THE TIGER’S EYES

The tiger’s eyes burn through the wall, wide and unblinking, caught somewhere between fury and wisdom. It is not just paint on plaster—it is a presence, a reminder, a guardian from an older world where symbols hold power and myths walk alongside the living.In Bhutanese Buddhism, the tiger is strength, protection, a force that does not hesitate. And yet, in the way its body stretches and curls,…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: THE HISTORY OF BHUTAN by KARMA PHUNTSHO

Bhutan is a land of contradictions—ancient yet evolving, isolated yet deeply connected to the world in ways that defy logic. In The History of Bhutan, Karma Phuntsho unravels the country’s past with the precision of a historian and the storytelling instinct of a novelist. From the earliest myths of sacred mountains and hidden valleys to the rise of the Wangchuck dynasty and Bhutan’s cautious…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: THE EVER-FLOWING NOW OF IT ALL

I saw that dragon, that crazy serpentine beast dancing up the mint-green wall like some holy apparition rising through Himalayan mist, all spotted and scaled and breathing fire-clouds that curl like the smoke from a thousand butter lamps in the dawn. Always passing by it in a taxi, today, I decided to walk to it.And there hanging, this massive prayer wheel with its ancient Sanskrit wisdom etched…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: BHUTANESE BUDDHISM

Closeups of paintings of great historical characters from Bhutanese Buddhism ☸️ displayed on a chorten near the Old Faithful tree. 1- This is Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), the revered Buddhist master who brought Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet in the 8th century. He is considered the “Second Buddha” and is credited with subduing demonic forces, blessing sacred sites, and establishing…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: THE OLD FAITHFUL TREE OF CHANGZAMTOG

The Old Faithful Tree of Changzamtog: The Legacy of Drukpa Kunley“Let this tree stand for those who seek wisdom and those who seek mischief—both will find shelter beneath it.”———————-This ancient tree, said to be over several centuries old, is not only known for its imposing presence but also for its legendary ties to Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman.According to local legend, when Drukpa Kunley…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN 🇧🇹: DISILLUSIONMENT

( 📸 : me, February 2025) Disillusionment in the Land of GNH Bhutan is often painted as some mystical kingdom, a paradise tucked away in the Himalayas, where Gross National Happiness (GNH) replaces GDP, and people live in harmony with nature and tradition. It is a compelling ideal—one that has brought travelers, seekers, and dreamers like myself, to its mountains, hoping to find a world…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN 🇧🇹: SOLITUDE IN THE LAST SHANGRI-LA

A lama (spiritual leader) walks alone across Clock Tower Square in Thimphu, Bhutan. 🇧🇹 ( 📸 : always by me, February 2025) Solitude in the Last Shangri-La There is a quiet magic to being alone in Bhutan. A solitude that is not loneliness, but something richer—an immersion into the slow rhythm of a country that exists between past and present, tradition and modernity, simplicity and…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: COOL VARIATIONS OF THE GARUDA

February 2025

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: GARUDA, TIGER, AND ELEPHANT

February 2025

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: BHUTAN LISTENS

Ed Sheeran in Thimphu. Neon blue, dragon red, guitar strings buzzing. Pop meets the Himalayas. Big hands on the screen. Who’s playing who? Music loops. History loops. Bhutan listens. 24jan25

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: BHUTAN MEETS POP

Ed Sheeran in Thimphu. Bright lights, loud music, dragon fire on a football jersey. Bhutan meets pop. 24jan25

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: SUPERSTAR ENERGY

In Thimphu, Bhutan, where they measure Gross National Happiness instead of money…And there’s Ed with his guitar, bringing his superstar energy to the Himalayas. The orange in his shirt is like, competing with all those beautiful Bhutanese temple colors. Just so pop, so global, so now. I love how the green lights are kind of like the prayer flags. It’s this crazy beautiful culture clash – British…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN 🇧🇹: POP MEETS PRAYER

Ed Sheeran in the Kingdom, 2025. What a trip – first Western pop star to play in Bhutan, land of dragons and prayer flags. Look at that orange jersey against those Himalayan nights. Very spiritual, very now. I love how the ancient and modern are crashing together here – you’ve got this guy with his simple acoustic guitar playing in this Buddhist kingdom that didn’t even have TV until 1999. The…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN: LHADHAR

The flag in the image is a Lhadhar (ལྷ་དར་), a vertical prayer flag traditionally used in Bhutan. It is often placed on rooftops or high poles near homes, monasteries, and important sites.Significance in Bhutanese Culture:1. Symbol of Victory & Protection – The Lhadhar represents the victory of Buddhism and the presence of divine blessings. It is believed to protect homes and sacred spaces from…