Update From Seoul, South Korea

I went to Seoul, South Korea representing Bhutan Customs administration to I attended a seminar on "Fight Against Cross-Border Crimes in Asia Pacific region". As a panelist, I also gave a short presentation on Tobacco free policies and administrative outcomes in Bhutan. I think the presentation went well. I spoke little bit on our recent Tobacco control law. I tried my best to convince the floor as to why Bhutan Government is justified in passing a 'harsh' and 'unmerited' law.  

The Living Art Called Bonsai

Today morning, I had the privilege of visiting a small yet beautiful botanical garden. It was a very brief visit though. Its a Bonsai garden maintained by Mr. Nagendra, alias father of one of my Friend here in Ahmadabad. I have seen such  dwarfed plants before but I never really knew more about its origin and its importance.

Thanks to Mr. Nagendra, I finally got some clue as to what this Bonsai thing is all about. He told me that Bonsai is a living art. In Japanese, They call it "Bonsai" which is equivalent to Chinese term 'Penzai'. A "bon" he told me is like a pot or a tray typically used in bonsai culture and "sai" is Plant or a planting in it. Therefore in English, the word bonsai is often used as an Umbrella term for all miniature trees in containers or pots. He also told me about the differences between the bonsai and dwarfing. But for now lets not go into detail.

Me with Mr Nagendra in his Botanical garden

This art actually originated in China and then later on flourished in Japan. This form of art has become so popular in Japan that today when a family look for a bride, the first thing they ask is whether a bride knows  something about bonsai! (well find it out if you are in Japan now) He told me that, its similar to Indian family looking for a bride who knows to cook and dance etc. 

I took this picture when i was in Malaysia in 2009

Well, with people like Mr. Nagendra, it appears to me that now the bonsai art has even reached to the Indian subcontinent too. The way he cared to talk about the art was truly inspiring. Through it I was also able to see his passion and love for the art. I think he have come a long way. But after seeing so many plants which still requires lot of treading and managing, I also think that, he have a long way to go too. I wish him all the best.

I took some pictures. Have a look. But I am sorry for not being able to write more about those plants. If in coming days, Mr. Nagendra, educates me more on those trees, well then I promise to come up with a separate and more elaborate post on it. But for now enjoy the pictures.

Street Museum in Ahmedabad, Part Two

Finally, I am done with my internal exams and I can now breath a sigh of relief. Of the total six papers, I think I messed up 3. I think the time was the factor here. One and half hour for four good essays, by any measure, I feel is too short even a fastest writing person on this planet. Along with those four essays, let us also not forget the MCQ part!

As always I tried to give my best. But constrained by time, I literally had no time to arrange my thoughts. Therefore I often ended up writing junks-like answers which made less sense and no logic. lol. And I think this happens in every exams everywhere around the world! Since, todays paper is my  last paper for my internal exams, I did not want to mess up any more. So I stayed late and got up early.  Back in the exam hall, I read the questions thoroughly and then wrote my answers like running water.  Now I am waiting for my final exams. 

By the way, I have promised to bring up some more pictures of  the paintings. So here are some of them. Please enjoy and leave me loads of comments to read.

Street Museum in Ahmedabad, Part One

Mathematics! Well, I have just one sentence for it. 'I am not good at it'. But like it or not, I grew up with mathematics all my life. If education was pork then, I accepted mathematics just like a tail of a dead pig. Mathematics is one subject which increased my heart beat and reddened my face. Therefore I never enjoyed mathematics. But for now, let us keep this for another post.

Tomorrow ( i.e on 29.10.2012) I have my Mathematics exam. So today, I got up little early to do my revisions. This used to be my trend and tradition.  For the record, I did not even wash my face nor brush my teeth today. I was all bogged down with thousand paged Statistical methods by Dr. S.P Gupta and over 500 paged Business mathematics by Dr. J K Thukral. I did not even know how and when I had my breakfast. 

So, towards evening I went for a walk and I took the normal footpath. I took my camera along because, I remember seeing some paintings by the road side. I have seen those paintings over thousand time now but today I decided to take a deeper look. And I did. I found all the paintings very beautiful and meaningful. It was like being in a museum. For once they made me forget about my tomorrows exam!

I was told that those paintings were done by school kids. Personally I liked all the paintings and I salute those people who have initiated the project. It not only makes the street look beautiful but it also imparts lots of knowledge.  'Save the Planet' and 'save the girl child' were mostly used title in the art. They look very thoughtful messages from the young generation. Look at the arts your self.

By the way those beautiful arts are grossly misused by the passers. I have seen people peeing and spitting on them. While I was busy shooting those pictures  (i.e in a span of just few minutes) I have seen two men peeing on them without even hiding their dangling penises. For once, I wished I had the power to grab them tight and chop if off from the bottom! 

Enjoy the art works. It is in Ahmedabad. And I intend to bring out some more pictures once I am done with my exams.

Street

The Most Good looking Man and Women in my World

My Dad

My Mom.

Seeing these Portraits,

I go speechless,

There isn't a word,

Which describes neither the artistic beauty 

Nor the beauty you behold in the portrait. 

My Mom and Dad

As it stands,

Immortalized like great Monalisa,

By my favorite Artist,

My Sister.

Pema Lhamo is her name,

Mother of Three,

She is an artist in her own way,

She is my definition of Van Gogh,

Picasso, Edward, and on goes the list...

I Thank My sister for her creation,

I wish her good luck.