Hawkers and the Buddha Point - Pictorial Tour

Buddha Dordenma statue, popularly the location is known as Buddha Point located at south of Thimphu.

We can of course offer butter lamps, I did one.

An established roadside hawker at Buddha Point with whirling lights. They require no license for the business. You can hop in on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Hawkers ain't established during day time.

Well, we get drinks, snacks and light cuisines with camp fire set up.

You can hear or can play music! And yeah, party beings start dancing till morning. 

Of Love

Rambling around streets

Alone and ransacking

I found love

I found hostility and despair

Evoked to the supreme

Realized the time is traveling

And love egregiously fading away

Generations advancing

Crowds stuck on phones

Conversing the unknowns

Parrying friends around

Observed in oneself

I see lovebirds everywhere

Some with no happy endings

I see parental love

I see children going erratic

Evoked to the supreme

I pondered upon Law of Universe

Wondered what’s wrong

People dying and people crying

Television flashing lamenting news

The world is worried

Love is fading silently

Dwellers start loving!

The Theory of Everything - The Origin and Fate of the Universe ~ Stephen Hawking

A great modern physicist and the author of the bestseller, A Brief History of Time is here again with his book The Theory of Everything; The Origin and Fate of the Universe. He also authored The Black Holes and Baby Universes.

His book takes readers into the depth of origin of the universe, Big Bang, String Theory and Black Holes. It covers a series of seven lectures on cosmology, delivered at universities and conferences. Despite the study of cosmology being complex which includes various equations, he tries to make it simple for the public. It also takes readers back into the theory of Aristotle’s determination of cosmology and Hubble’s discovery of cosmological particles and theories of various other ancient renowned physicists.

The book describes the history of cosmological discoveries beginning with Galileo’s invention of telescope until the modern day approach towards latest scientific researches on universe and black holes. He describes black holes based on his research which took him more than a decade. According to his research, space-time may be finite in extent but without boundary or edge. Also, black holes has boundary-like particles known as the event horizon. He exemplifies this by giving us a picture of the earth which has a boundary but no edge. You can travel around the earth and reach to the same point but you would not fall off the earth because it does not have an edge.

Hawking also takes us deeper in explaining his theories and arguments on expanding universe, black holes, origin of universe and direction of time. He explains the influence of gravitational forces and magnetic field on black holes and speed of light. His theory also explains that there might be many more dimensions in outer space including space and time. According to his theory, time travel might be possible. However, it might seem like a science fiction.

As a great scientist, he tends to make the public aware of cosmological studies by simplifying his theories. The book is a treat for anyone who is fascinated by the concepts of universe, outer space, space-time etc. If you ever wondered and gazed at the night sky with fascination, there is nothing like reading Hawking's books who is not only a great scientist but also a literary man. 

Flowers of Nubtshonapata, Haa

Bistorta

Corydalis

Primula

Eriophyton

Lagotis

Rheum

BLACK HOLES AND BABY UNIVERSES - STEPHEN HAWKING

A great scientist and an author Stephen Hawking of the phenomenal bestselling book, A Brief History of Time  has done it again with his book Black Holes and Baby Universes. The book with calligraphy and great scientific theory sheds  light on the unexplored regions of the black holes, light, space and time. I haven’t as yet read his masterpiece, A Brief History of Time though, since I have lost the book but somehow I will try managing it from the book store.

Despite being physically disabled, his adroit and phenomenal equations goes beyond the consistent limited black holes and universe exploration. He has taken the scientific world over limits and his book also takes the audience into the intricate details of black holes, time, space and the universes. The black hole theory has been ramified attributed to his numerous years of researches, according to Hawking, black holes are not black. He has also suggested that there might be numerous black holes in the universes considering the existence of numerous other unobserved or undiscovered universes.

Black holes absorb everything including light, his theory talks about radiations and particles which travels faster than light in the black holes which are emitted steadily. The speed of light is usually distracted in the black holes by the minute radiations, probably invisible. What happens to the radiations and particles emitted steadily from the black hole is unknown and therefore what happens eventually in the black hole is also unknown. However, he has described briefly the phenomenal theory and his researches about the black holes.

Stephen Hawking takes physics to a whole new level compared to other scientists about the origin and the history of the universe since the big bang in the real time but what exactly occurred before the big bang still remain a mystery. However, in the imaginary time if considered, it would reveal the dimensions of space and time or even the other unknown dimensions in cosmology. Imaginary time considers that the universe has neither beginning nor an end. The universe is self-contained and pre-determined.

The book describes the formation of black holes and existence of some advanced species in the other universes.

What I learned now is that the universe is expanding to the lower state of density and we are out of the black hole. Stephen is also fond of classical music besides his scientific studies. 

Punakha Dzong, Bhutan

Punakha Dzong was established in 1637 and its the second oldest Dzong (Fortress) and the second largest Dzong in Bhutan.

The Royal wedding of His Majesty The King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his Fiance' was held here.

Here are some of the random pictures of the Dzong:

Words of My Perfect Teacher – A Brief Review

A worth reading classical Tibetan Buddhist book by Patrul Rinpoche introduces readers into the depth of Tibetan Buddhism. It is one of the rare classical books translated into English language by the Padmakara Translation Group trying to reach out to the wider audiences.

The technical aspects of the different stages of meditations are briefly described, which I believe that would be beneficial if practiced consistently. Some of the higher meditation techniques are also briefly described which obviously seem to be unnatural, but practical. Well, it’s all about the enlightenment and to achieve it, the book has it the right path.

The fact impermanence of earth or life and the universe itself has been revealed; which also includes the beings which live in the outer universes. Obviously the principle of cause and effect are comprehensively described and the solutions revealed too.

As everyone is well aware about the Karmic effect, brief confrontations with the bad Karma and accumulation of good Karma is very well instructed. 

A certain part of Guru Yoga and the ultimate method for arousing the wisdom of realization are well instructed attributing how capable we are and how much perseverance and patience we have. 

So as the title of the book, the teachings in the book are based on the teachings by his Master/teacher of the author without much manipulation. 

The Yak Dance - An Unique Traditional Dance

Yak Dance is often considered as the native dance of the Merak and Sakteng communities. The dancers traveled all the way from Merak, located far east of Bhutan to perform at the International Ethnobiological Congress in Bumthang. Various participants from 57 countries participated at the Congress and obviously the ceremony. This dance was one of the most prominent features at the ceremony and well it was a life time experience for me to witness it. 

Yak's expression seems to be excited  and yeah also it was worth watching. Culture is the one that has identified the unique identity of the people of Merak and Sakteng and Bhutan at large. For most of the communities in Merak and Sakteng, Yak farming is the main source of income besides agricultural trade and tourism.

How Bhutan look at Merak - Sakteng is how the world look at Bhutan!

Hands on Moths

Agrisius guttivitta

Golden Emperor Moth (Loepa)

Lemyra

Myrtata

Flowers this season at Chelela

Clematis montana

Corydalis ecristata

Meconopsis horridula

Piptanthus nepalensis