*Expression valley*

Introduction According to Chang Dorji, an old man from Sonam Galing, Ap Wang Drugay’s initial name was Wang Dung-gyud . However, later his identity became popularized as Wang Drugay. Ap Wang Drugay’s stories are so popular in the western part of Bhutan particularly in the Wang region, now in Thimphu. His fascinating stories are also popular in some other parts of the country. That is why he is called by Chang-Ngan (meaning naughty) by the easterners. Wang Drugay is assumed to be there in the advent of twentieth century. He is a famous Bhutanese folk hero well-known for his extraordinary intelligence and beguilement, even today.   Wang Drugay was a wifeless man who would earn his living wandering the entire region by being shrewd with others. His stories consisted of several unimaginable incidents he created with the people around and even with a local deity. In his time, nobody would be successful in overcoming his cleverness or deviousness.   He would always leave the...

Few decades ago, there were two brothers in a small village called Phanjong somewhere in the eastern part of Bhutan. Unlike the younger brother, the elder brother was stupid. He was called as ata yongba by everyone in the village. Their parents had passed away at their early young ages. They had only a small patch of land to work. One day, the younger brother planned to sow maize seeds in their field. He borrowed oxen from the neighbor Aum Yangden to plough the field. Even ata yongba was taken to help him. The brothers were ploughing the field helping each other. It was almost lunch time. The younger brother sent ata yongba to get the pack lunch for him, “ata yongba, can you go home and get us lunch? I will continue working here.” Ata yongba nodded his head. Ata yongba got home, packed lunch in a bangchung and walked off. He was walking freely murmuring words what comes on his thick lips. He was subconsciously lost in his worldly thoughts. Suddenly, he happened to step on a pers...

Long, long ago, there lived two boys in a remote village. One boy was so rich because he had a big herd of cattle while the other boy was so poor with only a cow. One day, the rich boy came to meet the poor boy to discuss about the herding of cattle together to a forest. The poor boy humbly accepted the decision. The next day. The rich boy with his large number of all high-bred cattle appeared near the poor boy’s house. The poor boy with his only cow joined the big herd. They had been herding cattle together for several days. The rich boy would always come with a  dapa  (traditional wooden bowl) of red rice with  phasha-sikam  (pork slice). On the other hand, the poor boy would always appear with only a morsel of maize  dango  (floor) wrapped in a leaf. While the poor boy was trying to share his food with the rich boy, all the time he would become a victim of humiliation and disgrace. The rich boy would warn the poor boy,  “Don’t share me your...

Ma’am, As everyone knows Samdrup Jongkhar lies in the hot subtropical belt, it is also home for many different wild animals of the country. Specifically mentioning the region, since Samdrup Choling (popularly known as Bangtar initially) dungkhag is well-known for its plain fertile arable land, the people do an extensive cultivation of paddy annually. At the same time, it is also a popular habitat for the wild elephants and they are attracted by the rich plantation of rice particularly in autumn and winter seasons. Taking this facts into consideration, the conflicts ignited by the bewilderment of wild elephants has been augmenting since several years ago where some were passed unreported to the concern authorities.   As shared by one of the concern people of that region, “Including the recent killing of a man from Samrang the wild elephants had taken more than four lives of the people by this year excluding destruction of several homes, deterioration of large patches of p...

The naked dance called tercham in Bhutan is perceived as spiritual expositions of one in Buddhism. This dance is performed with the belief that it could dispel misfortunes and negative residues upon witnessing or participating as a dancer. Among several dances in the country, tercham is unique mask dance which is performed in only in three selective places of the country, it is performed in Nabji-korphu in Trongsa, Sakteng in Trashigang, and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang. Though tercham’s origin is not clearly revealed, it is believed to be introduced by the great saint Guru Padmasamvawa to beseech the local deities and garner the attention of demons who impeded the constructions of monasteries. A source also depicts that tercham was reintroduced only during the time of treasure discoverer Terton Dorji Lingpa in Nabji-Korphu and Jambay Lhakhang. Today tercham is integrated as a unique culture of the country. The dancers are picked from the volunteer mob, and they are enliste...

Missing the Saturday classes, all the boys of PolSoc except three of them, readied to set off the journey to Phobjikha, a destination discussed a weeklong before. All our luggage and rations were dumped in two cars and in a cab. By 10 pass we started climbing up the hills. In a moment we were at Dochula pass. We had short photo session. Again we descended down the pass towards Punakha. By 12 noon we were acataully at Khuruthang town. A group of friends went to get the hired camper qyite far from the town. Another group was left in the town with a car full of our luggage in it. It was almost 3:00PM as we were waiting for the group to return from getting a camper. We had lunch in the heartland of town and cruised down along with the motion of Punatsangchhu. There were three vehicles moving in a same pace against the breeze of the river. Gulping the cool air from the mild river from Khymi lhakhang until the newly constructed Wangdi Phodrang fortress standingon the precarious elephant-l...

The 16th day of December was the day to start the journey to Nepal. All young Bhutanese men and women were gathered at the Phuntsholing monastic institute with their own luggage at the backs. The young people were from different universities across the country such as Sherubtse college, Jigme Namgyal Engineering College, and Royal Thimphu College. We were of sixteen from Royal Thimphu College and in total there were more than seventy young Bhutanese joining the Pad Yadtra to Nepal.  Before the moment I actually got into a bus, I along with a friend of mine circummambulated the gorgeous monastery for more than eight rounds praying and turning rosary to illuminate  the way lied ahead. There were five buses from Darjeeling. All our luggage were packed up on each bus by the drivers. All bunch of RTC students were seated in one of the buses. We were joined by the members of Young Volunteer group of H.E.  Gyalwa Dokhampa  Rinpoche. Everyone was festooned with smil...

I was the first person who reached the Chang Lam, the express way where were supposed to meet. I was dropped by Ana Sonam. After her return, I was bit worried about her drive back to home because she was in the process of learning that time. The morning was wet and cold unlike that last few days. Within not more than half an hour, the dark blue highsbus appeared near the Changlam parking. Other friends of mine came with their luggage, too. The bus again kicked its engine and cruised. It was almost 9:30AM when we got out of the bus and touched the ground of Paro International Airport. Within an hour,  luggage investigations and currency exchanges were done and seated in the waiting chairs right before the entrance of main gateway to the plane. I started having a mixed feelings as the minute hand neared the area of scheduled time. A gush of nervousness and confusion rushed to my head. I was afraid that there won't be restroom in the  airplane so I peed twice before I go...

The second day of April was the pre-planned day for five of us to travel bicycling to Taktshang. We were of five who literally planned to land on the cliff of Paro Taktshang. Ozzie who was originally from the beautiful country called Switzerland was the brainchild of the plan on which all of us agreed excitingly. Another guy called Tay Powrie who was from Canada was very happy to join us. Sangay and Tshering were excited, too, as I did it. None of us had arrived at that destination except Tshering. "Here we go," we shouted with astonishment as we meet at the Four friends express way at Babesa. "Eki masho" I spoke in Japanese that I have learned of little when I participated in culture exchange program to Japan. And I used to joke with my roommate Tay often times. Only Tay understood. He laughed out and translated, "Let's go". "We're heading Paro" we trumpeted as loud as echoing it back to the college. Biking started. We desc...