Australia Bhutan Friendship Association (ABFA) News

Despite inclement weather, the group had fun visiting local wineries and sightseeing. A table tennis tournament organised by Sonam Phuntso was lots of fun with prizes and presentations at the end. We all enjoyed a progressive shared meal, which was preceded by arra and followed by presentations of Bhutanese dancing by the men which some joined in!.

Bush walks on the property were enjoyed the next day as well as Archery on discovery of an archery field on the property.

A thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable weekend which we must repeat.

More pictures will follow soon on the ABFA website.

As for me, the only impression I carried about the structure was drawn from a photograph stuck on the wall in a restaurant in Thimphu. In one corner, in white bold print, read "Sydney". As I stood thinking that was what Sydney was all about, little did I realise what it took to live in Sydney- i.e., to become a Sydneysider.

Stating hundreds of reasons, I ventured to Sydney, well aware it was going to be no picnic. However, when reality knocks you off balance, you start doubting the very senses that came to this conclusion.

Carrying out every single activity five hours earlier than what your body was attuned to is definitely no piece of cake. Forcing oneself to sleep while the folks back home are returning from work or grabbing a lunch makes one feel like a zombie.

In addition, the "harbour" city’s unusual system and sophisticated infrastructures towering above you can be a unnerving experience.

Fortunately, before you realise it, you are walking on Broadway Street, in the heart of the city, along with people of over 150 other nationalities. Sydney is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, yet the handful of Bhutanese here is always mistaken for a Chinese or Japanese. If you ever care to correct them, you should be prepared to be greeted with raised eyebrows, followed by "Where’s Bhutan?"

It is not difficult to notice Bhutanese, who came before you, add a twang to their normal accent. They must be excused for this; it’s only being done to save themselves from sounding like a nerd, or worse, a wimp. Everyone seems to be in a hurry. You learn to walk faster too. But you also have to wait a lot. Wait for trains, buses and elevators. Wait for traffic lights to turn green and wait to make payments in grocery stalls. While commuting, most Bhutanese take a bus or train. It’s no joyride.

With everyone engrossed in reading newspapers and books or their ears plugged into a music player, there’s not the slightest hint they’re interested in conversing with you. Not knowing what to do, we Bhutanese also end up buying music players, which we plug in every time we board a bus or train.

Sydney’s weather can be peculiar. One moment the 42 degree C heat roasts you alive; the next, several cold days of heavy rainfall. It’s a weird sensation to us northern hemispherians to feel hot in January and cold in July!

If the quirky weather doesn’t driven you crazy, Sydney’s cost of living will. Sydney ranks in the top 15 of world’s most expensive cities. To be on the safe side, Bhutanese, all being supported through various sponsorships, opt to reside in the suburbs, which are comparatively less expensive. Careful budgeting is crucial. A little earning from part time jobs provide some space to live comfortably, but it demands extra skills to juggle different responsibilities.

While supermarkets offer every cooking ingredient we use back home, Bhutanese also make vain attempts to browse through Vietnamese and Indian shops in search of food with similar flavours and spices. "Street shopping," a joke shared among Bhutanese, comes as a relief to tight budgets, as still usable household stuff is dumped along the street by residents.

Getting accustomed to a dramatic technology advancement is the biggest challenge. Newspapers are read only while travelling as more readers shift to online sources. Bank transactions are made via Internet and class enrolments can be done without having to go to universities. Face Book is more than just a social network.

While every day is lived with new lessons, complexities are notably reduced by helping one other. A sense of being a Bhutanese goes beyond the rooms decorated by Buddhist portraits and Bhutanese calendars.

Every national occasion is marked with a small celebration. More than anything, a hint of pride in the voice, while being introduced as a Bhutanese, says it all. It takes much to be a Sydneysider but, along with the experiences, comes the realisation of being from Bhutan and appreciating Bhutanese values.

For others, it’s a beautiful house situated next to a beach in Newport, north Sydney but, for Bhutanese residing in Sydney, it's more than that. This is the only residence in Australia which has a Bhutanese flag erected in front of it.

The house belongs to Mrs Catherine Harris, honorary consul to Bhutan in Australia. The honorary consul hosted a lunch in February 2009 for the more than 15 Bhutanese studying in Australia. The students also met with people, who had reasons to stay connected to Bhutan, and were assured of help and support in times of need.

By Kesang Dema

ABFA members in Bhutan offer our prayers to all who have lost loved ones, homes and pets. To those fire fighters, police, emergency service personnel and all the volunteers, we pray that you will have continued strength to battle this tragedy.

Twenty-one of us squeezed into Benez restaurant and this was the biggest gathering of the members in Thimphu. It was a fun night as conversation between the six Aussies (all the Aussies in Bhutan) and the Bhutanese took place. The Ambassador was accompanied by Second Secretary Mr Michael Cheyne.

The Ambassador said that he was happy to be back in Bhutan. He said that he felt confident about Bhutan's future after his audience with the King. He expressed his continuing support for development activities in Bhutan.

He shared his satisfaction with the increase in Australian government scholarships provided to Bhutan from 11 at the time of his arrival to 44 this financial year.

Of the current total, 22 were Australian Development Scholarships, 16 Endeavour Awards and six Australian Leadership Awards. He said that the Bhutanese deserved a pat on the back for winning so many Endeavour and Leadership awards in open competition with scholars from other parts of the region.

The Ambassador said that he hoped to visit Bhutan twice more before his four-year posting as Ambassador to Bhutan and High Commissioner to India come to an end later this year.

The new ABFA co-chair, Dr Dasho Pema Thinley, reminisced about his time in Australia. He said that he was one the first Bhutanese to study in Australia, going out to Melbourne under the Colombo Plan in 1962.

He also remembered riding in the back of the International Ford Truck with the yaks on his way to Thimphu from East Bhutan. The trucks were supplied by Australia.

Dr Pema Thinley, who has an honorary doctorate from the University of New England in Armidale, said that studying in Australia not only changed his life but also the lives of many people around him. He said that he will do his best to foster people to people relationship between our two countries.

Following is the speech by Dr Dasho Pema Thinley:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, G day Mate

It is clear that the relationship of our two countries go way back in history. But it was only in 2002 that formal diplomatic relationships were established. A year later, to further strengthen this relationship, Tim Fischer set up the Australia Bhutan Friendship Association. Today, we have over 200 members and an active group mail and have chapters in five different states. This year with the assistance of Australia, 71 Bhutanese students will study in Australia. Some of them are here tonight.

All the Friday nights, that Tim is in Thimphu, he has been to Benez. So tonight, this dinner is a tribute to his contribution to ABFA. After five years of active service, this year Tim Fischer has stepped down as the co-chair to take up his posting as the Ambassador in the Vatican. Although in Rome, Tim is still an active member of the association. Some suspect that Bhutan’s s third new overseas mission is the Vatican.

Four decades after the Southern Cross dinner in Melbourne, our karma has brought us together again for another dinner.

Tonight, I would like to thank all of you for coming to this dinner. On behalf of ABFA, I would like to thank all our members for helping foster people to people relationships between or two countries. We thank, Dasho Pema Thinley for agreeing to be our co-chair.

Lastly, we thank John and Michael for their continued interest in our country. We make a toast them for making this dinner possible. Now, before our Member of Parliament who is here tonight with us, pull an Ashi Tashi on John and Michael, we I would like to request John to say a few words.

Tashi Delek!"

Following is the response by H. E., Ambassador John McCarthy:

"In 1962, Bhutan attended the Colombo Plan meeting in Melbourne as an observer. This was our first appearance on the world stage. Lead by Ashi Tashi Dorji, the all woman delegation fell in love with the continent down under.

At a dinner hosted by the Japanese delegation in the Southern Cross Hotel in Melbourne, Ashi Tashi had a dream. The champagne gave her the courage to nurture that dream and she requested Chairman John Gorton (who later became Australia’s Prime Minister in 1968) to admit Bhutan as a member of the Colombo plan.

Gorton was so surprised with the request that he had to put down his cutlery on the table. Having a soft corner for our country, he quickly discussed this request with the other members with great enthusiasm.

Breaking all protocol, at that dinner he pinned an opal on Ashi Tashi's chest and welcomed Bhutan as a member. The dinner was auspicious. Following the meeting, the first international expert came to Bhutan to help with the development of our agriculture.

Ever since that meeting in Melbourne, Bhutan has not looked back. We are now members of the United Nation and various other international organizations. We have six resident missions overseas and will add two-three more this year.

Following the Colombo Plan Meeting, our next big international event was the coronation in 1974. As an emerging global player, Bhutan for the first time invited foreign dignitaries and opened tourism. Here, too the Australians played an important part.

In 1974, it had been two years since we had built our first roads. There were not enough cars so the late Foreign Minister wrote several letters to various countries seeking their help. Australia was one of the few countries who responded positively. That year many of the guests were ferried in the International Ford car shipped from Australia."

This year, most of the students appear to be going to Perth, Melbourne and Sydney Universities, with a few going to Adelaide and Brisbane.

Students are encouraged to get in touch with their local ABFA Chapter representatives, the international student offices at their university, and other students, to help them sort out accommodation and transportation costs, and any other information required.

Further information is provided under some of the links on the Left Hand side of the ABFA web-site Home page.

The site has a lot of dynamic features, and also is in line with the new technology and requirements of today's WWW.

If anyone requires information regarding Bhutanese in Perth, the following link can be forwarded to your friends and others.

ABFA - Perth Chapter

The site also has addresses and contact details for Bhutanese needing help or wanting to join the community in various capacity, and at times getting together for occasions.

A link to the above link is listed on the Left Hand side of the ABFA website, so that it will be helpful to our Bhutanese friends.

Greetings All,

"Just to say bye bye as I head to Rome tomorrow Thursday (29 / 1 / 2009) and step back from my ABFA linkages, to take up the three year posting as Ambassador to the Holy See. It will be a busy job but those uttering the word "Bhutan" in an email ahead, I will do my best to see in Rome."

"In fact the Prime Minister has made "Inter-faith Dialogue" a key priority of my work, including helping expand linkages between Christianity and Buddhism and I look forward to contributing to this."

"The jointly written book "Bold Bhutan Beckons" also touches on this set of issues, Tshering Tashi and I last week have done a "Virtual" set of launches here in Australia, pending the arrival of copies back from the printers. The Publisher is CopyRight Brisbane and books can be ordered direct via www.copyright.net.au at anytime."

"I salute the great success of the Coronation Ceremonies late last year in Bhutan and wish His Majesty the very best, I salute the many linkages between Australia and Bhutan, and wish everyone a great bounceback or bounce around the "Global financial crisis" in this difficult 2009 year."

"Sincerely,"

"Tim Fischer AC"

Various ABFA members responded to Tim with messages such as Dominique McGlynn who wrote:

"Cher Tim,

"Brian se joint à moi pour te souhaiter, à toi et ta famille, nos meilleurs voeux dans cette nouvelle 'entreprise' en Europe."

"Cordialement"

"Dominique"

Catherine Harris, the Honorary Consul to Bhutan in Australia, added:

"Farewell dear Tim, thank you for inspiring so many of us to re-visit Bhutan and keep it in our thoughts over the years."

"You are a star! Cathy"

Finally, Tshering Tashi also wrote to say:

"We thank Tim for providing the guidance, inspiration and being active in ABFA. I join all others in wishing him the best in Rome."

We are here to help students to settle in - their greatest need of our assistance is usually in the first few weeks, to greet them at the airport, and as they find accommodation and acclimatise to Australian eccentricities.

ABFA understand that the RCSC is now coordinating all student placements in Australia, with Honorary Consul to Bhutan in Australia Catherine Harris, who, subject to Privacy principles, will attempt to send this information on to the relevant support people, such as individual Chapters, so that designated members of the Chapters can make contact with the student. Ideally, this should happen prior to the student arriving in Australia, so that the student has contact details of local ABFA members, if any assistance is required on arrival.

N.B. All Universities normally provide an airport pick-up and accommodation service. ABFA recommends that students make use of this, normally free, service. The information of the services provided is normally included in a pre departure package that is sent to students once they have accepted their place at the University. More information about accommodation can be found on the Left Hand side of the Home Page under the link "Finding affordable accommodation for Bhutanese visiting Australia".

Episode 37 features a story on Bhutan which is set to get its first railway. Also covered is train travel in Iran, and China prepares for its' peak rail season.

For podcast details from the January 11th 2009 live radio show, with a link to download the audio to your preferred device, please visit the following link:

The Great Train Show - Episode 37

"From Jesuits to Jetsetters, Bold Bhutan Beckons" - inhaling Gross National Happiness, is a comprehensive overview of this remarkable country. Sandwiched between the two superpowers of India and China, and located in the spectacular Himalayas, the stories of the land and its people are well told by Bhutanese, Tshering Tashi, and Australian Tim Fischer, a frequent visitor to Bhutan.

Details of the book and how to purchase it are available at Bold Bhutan Beckons

In Western Australia, students gathered at the Hayagriva Buddhist Centre in Perth. Led by the Venerable Dondrub of Hayagriva Buddhist Centre, the Bhutanese community and friends of Bhutan offered prayers and khadars to a portrait of His Majesty the King donning the Raven Crown, which they had recently acquired.

Dressed in their finest ghos and kiras, the students were joined by friends of Bhutan and also Australians who visited Bhutan to celebrate the momentous event. Karma Dorji, an IT consultant, who is pursuing his Master’s in IT at Curtin University, said, "I share this moment with all Bhutanese, representing my friends here today, in sharing this joyous occasion of His Majesty’s Coronation, and 100 years of monarchy. Our hearts are with the people gathered today along with His Majesty the King at Changlimithang."

Another student, Sonam Choden fro University of Western Australia, said that she felt a part of the celebrations although removed thousands of miles away from home. "We celebrated in our own small way and wished His Majesty the King a glorious reign," she said.

Ms Jo Bower, counsellor at Curtin University’s Counselling Services, who worked for the education ministry in Bhutan as a consultant, said that such a celebration signifies the devotion of people to the King and the importance of the monarchy in peoples’ daily life.

Dawa Sonam of Murdoch University said that he is satisfied that at least he was able to offer khadar to His Majesty the King on his coronation. "I knew that I would miss this great event before coming to Australia for studies in January. I dearly miss being in Bhutan, but I was able to participate and console myself with the event that is being organised here" he said.

For Kezang Wangchuk, MBA student at Edith Cowan University, the event was a way to connect him to the nation that is rejoicing and entering a new era. "Today is the start of a new era for Bhutan. I wish His Majesty health, happiness and glorious reign and also pray for the long life of our fourth Druk Gyalpo," he said.

For more details and photos of the coronation, please go to 2008 Bhutan Coronation

An ABFA night was also held on the day of the coronation.

ABFA were happy that Consul General Cathy Harris, and her husband David Harris, could make it for the important event.

Hardy and Julie Pradhan of ABFA said "We join our fellow members of ABFA to congratulate Bhutan on the auspicious occasion of the coronation of the Fifth King of Bhutan."

"Best wishes for the future of the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon." they added.

For those in Australia below are some of Cathy's impressions to make you feel more in touch - hopefully not more home sick! By the way the parties held by Bhutanese in Australia were reported on the front page of Kuensel!

Cathy and David have opened a Facebook page at Bhutan Consulate Australia's Photos - 5th Kings Coronation to show photos of the event and are happy to add others if you have them.

The Atmosphere in the Changlingmethang Celebration Grounds was joyous and excited. There were fabulous military parades, cultural dancers and the best for me was the presentation of gifts that included three elephants and all sorts of other amazing animals. The interesting thing about the Bhutanese is the immense respect that they have for their King - when the King was doing his "lap" around the stadium there was dead silence, just waving of flags in that inimitable, understated, respectful, humble way of the Bhutanese. In the room, after the Crowning with the Raven Crown, he personally spoke to every guest. When he shook our hand he grasped it with both his hands in the most genuine and warm way and looked you right in the eye - he told me he was very keen to come to Australia.

It is not every day that you are invited to a Coronation - I would not have missed it for the world, I am also somewhat in awe of this particular Royal Family - their humility and genuine concern for their people. They live in very humble abodes, and many members of the Royal Family are heavily involved in humanitarian issues. After an exhausting few days when we were all retiring to our hotel rooms His Majesty did the round of the crowds, speaking with all the people - farmers that had walked for miles to see the ceremony!

David and I wore traditional formal dress, every morning we had to have a Bhutanese friend come and dress us because, as you know, there are no buttons or zips on Bhutanese clothes - on Friday Night we went to a Royal Dinner and I had attempted to do the Kira thing myself - not a good idea when the side flap dropped out and there was a fair flashing of leg and undies for a brief second! Formal Kira's and Ghos are made of silk with the most intricate silk embroidery - David said his Gho cost more than any of his business suits but he received so many comments including from all the Queen Mothers it was worth it. It is a collector's piece and we will donate it to The National Gallery eventually.

We were sitting fairly close to the King when he made his Coronation speech to the people, to hear this in the same week as Obama made you realise that this country may not be as wealthy or developed as other Western nations but they are spiritually and psychologically advanced. I had an overwhelming sense of a new leadership growing in our world. He spoke without a note for about 20 minutes, he spoke with love and passion, for a young man of 28 he demonstrated a level of leadership and empathy that one sees very rarely.

Bhutan has to face many challenges in the years ahead but I think they will do it with out compromising their most important plank - Gross National Happiness.

If anyone is interested to watch, please view the attached films schedule. Melbourne Buddhist Film Festival

"I watched the Bhutanese Army do some parade practice at the new stadium today, their drill was excellent and equal to 1 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) in which I served decades ago. The lines were tight and straight, it all looked good from a distance.

"Also a huge effort has been made in tidying up Bhutan since 2004 and even last year, this is great and farsighted and reflects the Australian campaign "Clean Up Australia', hopefully the founder of that campaign (Ian Kiernan) might come to Bhutan to swap notes.

Finally it is good to see GNH at work and enjoy everything from the new freeway entry into Thimphu to the 10% increase in the temperature of the Gasa Hot Springs, they are much hotter than 2004 - the waters are very refreshing and the new road continues to be built to Gasa Dzong".

Mr. Fischer said that following several key meetings, including with the PM today, he was armed to continue to spread the word on Bhutan and also complete the book with Tshering Tashi: 'From Jesuits to Jetsetters BOLD BHUTAN BECKONS', by early next year hopefully.

As Tim takes up the role of ambassadorship in the nation state of Holy See, he has indicated that he has to step down as co-chair of ABFA. So any nominations for the new co-chair will be highly appreciated.

Later on some of the group walked through Cleland Wildlife Park to admire many native Australian animals. The wildlife was well behaved!!

Aussies were represented by Nicole Pluss and family, Chris and Karma Finn, Jenny and Andrew Biven, and Paul James.

The following photo of the get together shows some of the attendees.

"It is always such a pleasure to meet the Bhutanese visiting Adelaide." wrote Nicole Pluss, one of the attendees.

A quick update of other events in Adelaide:

There are 5 Bhutanese in Adelaide/Murray Bridge at present:

• Dorji Dhap and his wife Tsewang
• Dorji studying an MBA at Adelaide Uni
• Yeshi
• Ugyen
• Chookie

We are expecting one or two lawyers in the 2009 New Year.

This followed a meeting in Thimphu between Kevin Rudd's special envoy to Bhutan, Tim Fischer, and their Majesties the fourth and the fifth kings, acting Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In this busy world people to people meetings are important and will help maximize co-operation between Australia and Bhutan on a range of issues.

Tim Fischer said that he is delighted to make his 8th trip to Bhutan. This time he is with a group of Australians who are potential goodwill ambassadors of Bhutan to Australia.

The OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria recently noted around the world a consensus is growing about the need to develop a more comprehensive view of progress - one that takes account of social, environmental and economic concerns - rather than focussing mainly on economic indicators like Gross Domestic Product.

The people and government of Bhutan are playing a leading role in exploring this alternative definition of progress, with the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigmi Thinley recently reminding us: "We have to think of human well-being in broader terms. Material well-being is only one component. That doesn't ensure that you are at peace with your environment and in harmony with each other. This view has led the government of Bhutan to develop the goal of Gross National Happiness (GNH). Rather than measuring progress solely in terms of Gross Domestic Product, GNH aims to understand and measure four key dimensions of progress: sustainable and equitable socioeconomic development, cultural preservation, environmental conservation, and good governance.

This talk, hosted by Griffith University's Strategic Research Program 'Social Change and Wellbeing' and Eidos, will provide a unique opportunity to hear about Gross National Happiness and the Bhutanese approach to understanding, measuring and strengthening happiness, prosperity and well-being. The talk will be given by the Secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission of Bhutan, Karma Tshiteem, and will be followed by a response from a panel of local speakers, Associate Professor Geoff Woolcock, Griffith University; Dr Linda Selvey, Population Health for Queensland Health; Kate Hillman, Global Business Services IBM; Kathleen Noonan, The Courier Mail. It is Karma's only public speaking engagement in Brisbane.

When: 7.15am - 8.45am, Wednesday 17th September

Where: Michenor's Room, The Marque, 103 George St, Brisbane

Cost: $45 members, $55 non-members, $400 tables of 10 members, $500 table of 10 non-members

For more information, including booking details, go to Brisbane Breakfast- Happiness, Progress and Wellbeing: The View from Bhutan

ABFA Melbourne Chapter will have a table with information about ABFA at the event. So come along and say hello!

Please see the attached flyer for more information. Happiness, Progress and Wellbeing: The View from Bhutan

Back in April 2008, Suellen was speaking with the manager at the Byron at Byron Resort, chatting about ideas around developing some sort of Bhutan retreat centre. This is a dream Chencho Dorji and Suellen had discussed some years back.

Suellen is planning a Mindful Expedition tour in September to explore the Bumthang region. She has some inspiration that there is a suitable place there for such a retreat project.

"Perhaps we can all put our resources together to manifest such a dream." wrote Suellen.

Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has announced former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer will be the first ambassador to the Holy See.

The 62-year-old former Nationals leader served in both New South Wales and Federal Parliament. He was Deputy Prime Minister for the first six years of the Howard government, before retiring from politics in 2001.

Mr Rudd announced Mr Fischer's appointment while farewelling the Pope at Sydney Airport in July 2008 at the conclusion of World Youth Day.

"Your Holiness, I am confident that Mr Fischer, Ambassador Fischer as he will be, will discharge this position with dignity and enable Australia and the Holy See to be able to work together on the great challenges we face in the world," he said.

"On human rights, including religious and political freedom across the world, on poverty, on food security, on international humanitarian relief, on peace, arms control and disarmament, on the great challenge of climate change and the other great debates affecting the future of our planet."

Before the election, Labor said it did not oppose all cases of politicians being given diplomatic jobs but it wanted to see fewer cases of ex-politicians being appointed.

Congratulations for Tim's appointment have come from his many friends and admirers in both Bhutan and Australia.

"Congratulations Tim, a great post and a great choice by the PM." said Dasho Kinley Dorji, the Managing Director of Kuensel.

Ray Marcelo added "Many congratulations to Tim Fischer for his eminent appointment. "Our man in the Vatican" will be both Australia's and Bhutan's."

"Congratulations Tim Fisher on your Ambassadorial Appointment to the Vatican." said Julie and Hardy Pradhan.

"A big congratulations from us all at Kosciuszko National Park in NSW (the second home for many Bhutanese who study in NSW and Canberra)." wrote Dave Darlington the Regional Manager, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Snowy Mountains Region - Southern.

"Congratulation on your recent appointment. We have not met but I have heard about you long time ago. Looking forward to meet you in October in Bhutan." also wrote Kinley, a lecturer from the Paro College of Education at the Royal University of Bhutan.

This exhibit acknowledges the ongoing relationship between Kosciuszko National Park and the protected areas in Bhutan, and showcases the conservation programs that Bhutan has developed.

The Director General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) Lisa Corbyn has said the close conservation relationship between Australia and the land-locked Himalayan country of Bhutan has been strengthened by a recent visit to Australia by two Bhutanese government officials.

The Hon Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dasho Sherub Gyaltshen and the Director of the Department of Forests, Karma Dukpa visited Australia in January after an Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation between the Royal Government of Bhutan Department of Forests, Nature Conservation Division and DECC Parks and Wildlife Group was signed in Bhutan late last year.

The Bhutanese, while in Australia, were able to visit Kosciuszko National Park where they looked at walking trails and inspected some of the park's infrastructure such as signage, picnic areas and lookouts, and remote power supplies.

A visit was also made to the Kosciuszko Education Centre to look at the "Bhutan Showroom" which was opened only last year. This exhibit showcases the conservation work which Bhutan has achieved and explains the importance of the relationship between Kosciuszko National Park and the national parks in Bhutan. Some of the interactive exhibits in the Kosciuszko Education Centre have already been adopted for use in some of Bhutan's park visitor centres.

Dasho Sherub said the collaboration between Australia and Bhutan, particularly since 2000, had greatly assisted Bhutan to manage its protected areas.

"Kosciuszko National Park has many similar issues to those which we deal with in Bhutan given the fact that it comprises alpine and sub alpine ecosystems. This collaborative partnership should be further nurtured and developed for the benefit of both our countries."

Dasho Sherub said striving for a balanced approach in conservation, ecotourism and sustainable development was also important to the Bhutanese Government. He was appreciative of the assistance provided by the Kosciuszko Education Centre in developing the framework for interpretation and education in Lamperi Royal Botanical Park in Bhutan.

If you are interested to visit the Bhutan Showroom, contact Dave Darlington, the Regional Manager, Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), Snowy Mountains Region - Southern, for more information.

The first phase, over six weeks, was carried out at Armidale New South Wales, under the guidance of Warren Halloway and assistance of University of New England (UNE) staff and others. The teachers have a learning program at UNE and also work in pairs in two different small school communities around Armidale and Coffs Harbour.

The second phase takes place upon their return where some ideas that they learned in Australia will be implemented in their own schools/classrooms. They will write a report based upon their trials.

This is the 16th year of this program wherein 135 teachers have taken part.

Should you want more information see The Bhutan Multigrade Attachment Project or contact

Tom Maxwell PhD

Associate Professor

School of Education

Faculty of the Professions

University of New England

Armidale NSW 2351

Australia

Employer: ATSE Crawford Fund Fellowship for 2009

Location: Call for nominations

The ATSE Crawford Fund Fellowship was established in 2002 with the generous support of Dr Brian Booth AM FTSE.

The aim of the Fellowship is to provide further training of an agricultural scientist from a selected group of developing countries whose work has shown significant potential.

The training will take place at an Australian agricultural institution and will emphasize the application of knowledge to increased agricultural production in the Fellow's home country.

The Fellowship will be offered annually to an agricultural scientist below the age of 35 years who is a citizen of, or who is working in, one of the following countries:

• - Bangladesh
• - Bhutan
• - Burma
• - Cambodia
• - East Timor
• - Fiji
• - Indonesia
• - Laos
• - Nepal
• - Papua New Guinea
• - Samoa
• - Solomon Islands
• - Tonga
• - Tuvalu and Kirabati
• - Vanuatu
• - Viet-Nam

Nominations are invited for The ATSE Crawford Fund Fellowship for 2009.

Nominations supported by two proposers, one of whom must be an

Australian, should be made on the nomination form obtainable from:

The ATSE Crawford Fund Central Office

1 Leonard Street

Parkville Victoria 3052

Australia

or

email: tlangley at mira dot net

or

from the Crawford Fund website: Crawford Fund or contact

Closing date for nominations: 1st September, 2008.

Date published: 26 Jun 2008

Closing date: 1 Sep 2008

N.B. Additionally, 21 Forestry Scholarships are available from the Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry with varying closing dates.

For further information view the listed scholarships on the CRC Forestry website: Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry scholarships

See also the links to the documents in the Left hand column of the ABFA web-site to 2 documents referring to these scholarships.

ABFA could arrange/provide the support to meet the criteria for this year, or future years, for interested Bhutanese students.

Liam Bartlett: The Pursuit of Happiness

Our crew flew to Bhutan from Kathmandu and enjoyed a wonderful view of Everest, shortly after leaving Nepal.

The tragedy of it was that the thickly accented Captain announced this fact as we flew by, but threw it in with a verbal barrage of height statistics and by the time he finished, I found myself looking at the great mountain and not realising it was actually the real deal.

I commented to producer Jonathan Harley that if those we had passed looked so spectacular, imagine what the ‘big one’ will look like? To which JH merely shook his head and said, "You idiot, that was it!"

Oh, well. The approach to Bhutan’s airport in a town called Paro more than made up for my lapse.

It was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced in a large aircraft, with the plane forced to twist and turn around the contours of several valleys as it made a hurried descent to the only flat patch of land available for hundreds of kilometres.

If you’ve ever thought flying into Hong Kong was spectacular, arriving in Paro will blow you away! Wedged between the two giants of Asia, China and India, the influences are readily apparent - Chinese inspired architecture and Indian cooking - and yet, this tiny Shangri-la exudes a uniqueness that is incredibly refreshing.

Perhaps it is the Buddhist faith that makes these people so calm and reasonable but the entire country seems to bathe in an atmosphere of civility.

Travelling between towns is difficult though, with small distances as the crow flies taking a disproportionate amount of time to traverse over the seemingly endless, mountainous slopes.

Consequently, driving is not for the faint-hearted or those prone to car sickness.

It’s almost impossible to find a stretch of more than 80 to 90 metres of straight road before it winds around another tight corner with little or no reinforced edges.

This was really an adventure straight out of the 60 Minute's handbook.

To be able to take a close look at the world’s newest democracy and be the first foreign journalist granted an interview with Bhutan’s inaugural Prime Minister was a wonderful experience.

I suspect our cause was helped enormously by the terrific work done behind the scenes, over the past couple of years by our own former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fisher.

It turns out that Tim has helped to set up the Australian-Bhutanese friendship association and what a job he has done because the locals just love the ‘Aussies’.

Mind you, it’s difficult not to love them back. How can you not grow immediately fond of a country whose government has an official policy called ‘Gross National Happiness’?

And then there’s the giant phallus’.

These are painted on the sides of virtually every house in Bhutan, larger than life, in bright colours and complete with testicle hair.

It’s all about fertility and worship to the villagers, but I’d like to know what Kevin Rudd thinks about that form of public ‘art’ and, better still I’d give anything to see one painted on the side of Germaine Greer’s house.

Still, it worked for our guide, Megan Ritchie. A country girl from NSW, Megan had been told that medically she could not carry a child to full term. And yet, after a visit to the principal phallus monastery and a blessing with the carved version by the local monk, she fell pregnant.

Nine months to the day after her pilgrimage, Megan gave birth to a baby boy.

Little Norbu is now 2 years old and perhaps living proof that Bhutan’s centuries-old traditions can’t be ignored.

As we discovered though, the trick will be trying to blend the old with the new, without making anyone unhappy.

The full transcript, plus photos and a blog can be found at:

60 Minutes Bhutan Report: The Pursuit of Happiness, by Liam Bartlett

"The Bhutan story, on 60 Minutes, was very positive and Prime Minister Thinley and Megan Ritchie presented very well. There was some great scenery shots of the vista of Bhutan but time constraints, with the 60 Minutes format, meant no in-depth analysis of GNH and the four pillars forming GNH, or discussion of the hydro power exports to India et al." wrote Tim Fischer.

"It will help boost tourism to Bhutan and well done to all involved with the segment, especially those who helped out with the crew in Bhutan. Clearly the new PM gave great access and the colour, action and movement will draw many to Bhutan." added Tim.

"Finally, GNH, or Gross National Happiness, is a very well thought out template made up of four key pillars. OECD countries would be wise to study it in detail (Google GNH for the four pillars)." concluded Tim.

"I agree with Tim's assessment and would like to add my thanks to all for making it happen in Bhutan, especially Megan, and Tshering. The producer - Jonathan Harley had a wonderful time and is keen to offer assistance in any way if we need his media skills (Karma!)." wrote Catherine Harris.

Ray Marcelo also wrote saying "I also thought it was a strong, positive story."

Bhutan has become the youngest member in the club of parliamentary democracies. The peaceful elections on March 24th marked a key turning point in a smooth process of transition from monarchy to democracy. With the success of this historic process, the Bhutanese people have fulfilled the vision of the "father of democracy" the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

Outsiders unfamiliar with developments in Bhutan may think the democratization is a sudden step. But Bhutanese history shows that the process started 101 years ago. In 1907 our ancestors elected our First hereditary King. Ever since, the five successive Kings have not only safeguarded and strengthened the sovereignty of Bhutan but also ensured that we enjoyed peace and stability. All our Kings have worked tirelessly and selflessly in promoting the interest of the nation while contributing to the gradual increasing prosperity and the well being of us the Bhutanese.

During the 32 year reign of the Fourth King, he has carefully planned a balance between the development of the country and preserving the environment, tradition and culture. Despite being a landlocked country, in 2006, Bhutan’s per capita income was US$1,321 and has 64 percent of forest cover. In addition Bhutan is one of the last living museums of tradition and culture.

Consequently, we Bhutanese hold our institution of monarchy in high esteem. Two years ago, the Fourth King travelled throughout Bhutan to chair the consultation meetings to discuss the draft constitution. This 34 Article draft constitution has paved the way for the historic March 24th election. However, during the consultation meetings many Bhutanese strongly raised concerns about the proposed introduction of democracy. At that time, most Bhutanese thought the proposal was too premature, and hence pleaded with their benevolent monarch to reconsider his advocacy of this new system.

But now, most Bhutanese are grateful for the "shock and awe" approach adopted by the Fourth King. I suspect the intention of the Fourth King’s dramatic approach was to raise awareness and educate his people about the merits of parliamentary democracy in the 21st century. Soon the people agreed with their monarch’s vision that this new system was essential to safeguard the identity and strengthen the sovereignty of the last Mahayana Buddhist kingdom. Situated in the Himalayas, Bhutan is north of India, which is the world’s largest democracy. Hence, acknowledging the strengths of democracy, and the role of Bhutan in the 21st century the Bhutanese accepted the visionary royal initiative for political change.

Two years ago, on December 9th, 2006, the Fourth King (51) stunned the nation when he abdicated in favor of his Oxford educated son. In doing so he broke all royal protocols and created history. In a special cabinet sitting in Tashichhodzong (Fortress) in Thimphu, the Fourth King formally announced: "The time has now come for me to hand over my responsibility to Trongsa Penlop (Crown Prince) Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck."

Initially all of us were shocked with this dramatic act but soon stood in complete awe. Most of us had realized that our Fourth King had given us a special gift and empowered us to charter our own future.

The Fourth King - a playmaker in his basketball team has always maintained that the fate of Bhutan should not lie in the hands of one person. He has also frequently pointed to us that a King is born and does not become one by merit. He believed that as long as there was a good King the future of Bhutan would be all right. But he always continuously questioned what could happen if there was to be a bad King. In the words of an anti-monarchist foreign visitor whose five minute royal audience turned to be few hours discourse returned home with deep reverence for the Fourth King; He said, "The Fourth King himself never liked nor believed in monarchy." This conviction has been directly translated into the birth of parliamentary democracy in Bhutan.

The initial resistance of the Bhutanese people to change soon wore down. Our faith in the vision of our monarch and widespread respect for his continual selfless acts even to give up power made us realize and accept his vision for this tiny kingdom. In addition, keeping with Buddhist philosophies that propagates impermanence and encourages change, we became more agreeable to change. So left with no option the people slowly accepted the concept of parliamentary democracy and participated with enthusiasm in this transition.

Eventually, the enthusiasm for democracy grew exponentially and spread like wild fire. In 2007 seven out of the ten ministers along with many capable officers resigned from the Government to rise to the call of the nation and contest as candidates in the historic elections. Among them two of the ministers became the leaders of the two political parties (People’s Democratic Party and Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) that emerged in the lead-up to the elections.

Prior to the March 24th election, the primary elections stipulated in Article 15 of Bhutan’s draft constitution had to be foregone because only these two political parties emerged to contest the election.

The Fourth King took personal interest in the drafting of the constitution of Bhutan. Over the few years he had studied the constitution of over 200 countries and discussed it with as many people as he could. The draft constitution has been debated and discussed with all the Bhutanese before the 34 Articles were embraced.

Three years ago, in 2005, in the Fourth King’s last formal public address to the nation on the occasion of the 98th National Day, he said that the introduction of parliamentary democracy was not early if not late and not done in haste. It was after a gradual 26 year process of decentralization and devolution of power to the people that parliamentary democracy was being adopted.

In his last national day address our Fourth King reminded and assured us that democracy was not being introduced in haste. In his address our Fourth King said, "As our people know, Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogdus (state assemblies) were established in 1981 when we first started the policy of decentralization." Ten years, later in 1991 the geog (district block) assembly was introduced. In addition, administrators at the state level were empowered with administrative and financial powers. Our Fourth King told us his plans, "During the next two years, 2006 and 2007, the Election Commission will educate our people in the process of parliamentary democracy."

The Kings of Bhutan were always careful to modernize but not westernize. They have been mindful to view the world through eastern spiritual eyes with respect to nature and human life. Yet embrace modern western concepts like openness, optimism and use of science. In modernizing Bhutan, they have also carefully avoided the pitfalls of westernization like individualism and materialism. In our region where democracy has failed more than it has succeeded, we hope Bhutan will help in increasing the people’s conviction in the system of democracy.

The result of this long democratization process has been a successful one. Despite the initial skepticism to the Fourth Kings advocacy of democracy; Bhutan has emerged from its first elections as united and strong as it was under the rule of our benevolent monarchs. This historic change into a full fledged parliamentary democracy was witnessed by international observers. The EU observation mission was amongst the 107 international media personnel’s representing 63 agencies that covered the 865 polling stations.

Now Bhutan as a youngest member of the club of parliamentary democracies; the first order of the business of the newly elected parliament would be to adopt the 34 Article draft constitution. The 28 year old Oxford educated dynamic King; His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck will formally become the first Democratic Constitutional Monarch with the primary job of upholding the constitution and be the symbol of unity of Bhutan.

With its Multi Grade Program UNE continues to support and provide contributions to GNH in Bhutan.

You can view the details in the attached document. Where cultures meet - How UNE is contributing to Bhutanese Gross National Happiness

The 38-year-old Vietnam veteran, rail buff and then bachelor cocky from the Riverina rose quickly to the front bench, but one of the more profound impressions was made on him, not him on his colleagues. It began with a book - Shirley MacLaine's 1970 memoir, "Don't Fall Off The Mountain" - and it wasn't idle reading.

"Andrew Peacock was our Opposition leader and was dating Ms MacLaine at the time, and I decided I should get to know as much about him as I could," says Fischer, who turns 62 today. The book deals with the rich and varied life of a screen star, including her brush with a coup d'etat in Bhutan, a remote Himalayan speck perilously perched between the old adversaries China and India.

Fischer was intrigued. On his first visit soon after to Bhutan, he was hooked. And he has stayed hooked.

"I fell in love with the place, and particularly its people, more so than any other country I've visited," says the co-chairman of the Australian-Bhutan Friendship Association. "It's unspoilt by its remoteness. It doesn't have the pollution of Kathmandu. There are no McDonald's and no illicit drugs."

This southern spring, Fischer again will lead a party of Australian visitors to his favourite overseas destination. The schedule puts the 30-odd Australians in Beijing immediately after the Paralympics, on to the Lhasa Express high altitude train to a 48-hour stopover in troubled Tibet, and a flight to Bhutan.

There, the travel party will spend a fortnight hiking and indulging in the local potato, introduced by a British botanist a couple of centuries ago and, according to Fischer, "some of the best eating in the world". The details, of course, will depend on China's thawing of its xenophobia over Tibetans' campaign for greater freedom. "We'll keep under review China's preparedness to issue visas," says Fischer. "But the focus is on Bhutan. The opportunity to return there is the reason I agreed to the journey."

Fischer is well acquainted with Bhutan's Oxford-educated king, Jigme Kesar Namgyal, as he was with the king's father.

"You won't find their like in elements of some regional royal families, most notably Brunei, with their propensity for plundering national treasuries," says Fischer, who was John Howard's deputy prime minister for three years and the National Party leader for nine years, until his sudden resignation in 1999 at the peak of his political influence. "Bhutan retained sovereignty by commitment to national benefit and a wisdom that acknowledged the balance between China and India."

And then, this year, the king did an extraordinary thing, voluntarily handing power for the first time to a democratic parliament.

Apart from frugality, says Fischer, the king is "friendly, open, sharp but has all the traits of respect for others' beliefs".

Bhutan, occupying the equivalent of a square stretching from Newcastle to Wollongong and inland to Orange, has a population anywhere between 1 million and 2 million. Most are poor subsistence farmers, and exports aren't strong.

Except for one. Gross National Happiness, conceived by the king's father in 1972 as an alternative focus to gross national product, is taking root in Western thought. It is inspired by Buddhism and built on the four pillars of economic self-reliance, pristine environment, cultural preservation and promotion, and sound democratic governance.

"Does it work? Yes," says Fischer. "The work-life balance is coming to the forefront. The Commonwealth Treasury, for instance, is taking a deeper look at these issues." Fischer led a travel party to Bhutan in 2004 for hikers keen to experience application of GNH.

Challenges to the assumption that affluence makes us necessarily happier might seem an unusual embrace for a politician who successfully steered his party through the One Nation assault on market liberalism. But that's Tim Fischer for you.

Down to earth, he put aside personal ambition by quitting parliamentary life in 2001 to spend more time with family - wife Judy and their two sons, including the autistic Harrison.

His fascinations can each be traced to his experiences. The former soldier, bush boy and trade minister has written books on East Timor's troubles, outback heroes and Australia's trade engagement with Asia. His experience as a conscript to Vietnam, he says, "drew back the curtains for me on Asia".

As a kid, he travelled from the family farm with his father, Ralph, each Monday night to the Boree Creek rail station to collect the Sunday newspapers from Sydney. It introduced him to the global club of rail buffs.

There is a Fischer book, too, on train journeys across nations. Another on John Monash, of Jerilderie, and a sixth - a joint effort on Bhutan, with Tshering Tashi - are on the go.

Occasionally idiosyncratic, and caricatured unfairly as a mangler of grammar because of his emphatic speech pattern, Fischer's freshness derives from a willingness to say it as he sees it, and to combine common sense with common decency. If he hasn't always got it right, he also hasn't hidden behind spin scripts and other forms of obfuscation. The Fischers have leased the Boree Creek farm and reside at Grossotto, a family property halfway between Beechworth and Bright in north-west Victoria, and a house in Wodonga, where the boys are educated. "It's taken a while to put the brakes on," says Fischer, whose post-parliamentary experiences have included a stint as chairman of the Australian Tourism Commission, a rail inquiry for Victoria, co-chairmanship of the rural stream at the 2020 Summit, and charity work.

But there are no regrets. "I look forward to taking my family away in July - just vanishing where the emails can't reach us. It's the sort of trip that was impossible in those earlier years."

Fischer sounds on top of the world. Come October, he'll be back there, literally. And still in love with Bhutan.

This story was found at: On top of the world

Bhutanese can enjoy BBS live at the following web site. BBS Live

It is also possible to log on to Youtube at the web-site below and then type "Bhutanese folk songs" or "Nepali folk songs" in the Search box, then click, to enjoy Bhutanese and Nepali MTV for free.

Youtube

For those Bhutanese in Australia, to call to Bhutan, there is a cheap phone card, which some have used, which costs about 11 cents per minute to call to Bhutan.

It is called "Bubble card", and can be purchased online from

Bubble Card - Phonecard to Bhutan

What is planned at this stage is to run a cultural tour in November 2008 with a natural history focus. We will visit the major centres of Paro and Thimphu (the capital) and travel east to visit the culturally important sites of Punakha, Trongsa and Bumthang.

We will visit many sites such as the historic Dzongs or fortresses as well as many of the culturally significant temples in the beautiful Bumthang valley.

The tour will also visit the picturesque Gantey valley home of the rare migratory Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis). The tour will be timed to coincide with the annual Black-necked Crane Community Festival in the Phobjika Valley where traditional folk dances and ceremonies take place.

During the 15 day tour there will be opportunities for ½ day and full day hikes.

The tour will also visit national parks and have opportunities for viewing birds, wildlife and plant life.

A draft itinerary is attached for your information.

Please let Penny Richards know if you or any friends are interested in coming on this trip!

COSTS:

AU$6090 per person twin share. Single surcharge AU$1100.

SLIDE SHOW - Thursday 6th March @ 6.00pm

There will be a slide show presentation on Bhutan and the tour on Thursday 6th March 2008 at 6.00pm at Passport Travel, Level 1, 12-14 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern, Melbourne 3144, Australia.

Please contact Brent McCunn at Passport Travel on Phone (03) 9500-0444, extn 2008 E-mail: Brent at travelcentre dot com dot au if you would like to come to the Bhutan slide show presentation.

Also could you please advise any people you know who may be interested in joining the tour?

For further information on the tour please contact Penny on (03) 9773 9771 or E-mail: penny dot bhutantours at gmail dot com

For bookings and further information on the tour contact Passport Travel on (03) 9500-0444 extn 2008 or visit their website Unique Passport for further details.

TESTIMONIALS FROM THE OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2005 BHUTAN TOUR

"The tour of Bhutan lead by Penny and John was scenically spectacular, thought provoking and culturally rewarding. It would be rare to traverse a country with such a rapid and sympathetic uptake of its culture and philosophy. Penny and John facilitated the challenge and comfort of the tour through their leadership, knowledge and sensitivity."

David and Jean Nicholls.

"We had read about the fairytale Kingdom of Bhutan but no amount of reading could really prepare us for such a wonderful experience. The scenery is magnificent with high mountains and deep valleys, terraced rice paddies and traditionally constructed and beautifully painted houses, monasteries (dzongs) at river confluences and on rocky mountainsides. Each day held a new experience for us - including seeing the endangered black-necked cranes and visiting the much-photographed Tiger Nest Monastery.

The Bhutanese people, who still wear their traditional dress, could not have been more friendly and welcoming. Our Bhutanese guides and drivers looked after us so well and were great fun to be with. From them we learnt much about their culture and Buddhist religion. We were impressed by the high standard of accommodation and the meals were excellent throughout our stay.

Penny and John were great guides and displayed their knowledge and love of Bhutan and the Bhutanese people. It really was a privilege to be with them in our visit to this unique country which honours its traditional way of life whilst embracing positive aspects of the modern world."

Gayle and Pat Corr.

Bhutan will feature in the first episode of a new series on ABC TV called 'East of Everything' starting on Sunday the 30th of March at 8.30pm. The first episode begins with the main character in Bhutan - he is there writing a book on Gross National happiness ! He gets a call that his mother is dying and has to return to Australia ASAP. You may have already seen a promo on ABC where the main character says to his bro "But I have an appointment with the King of Bhutan in 10 days time!"

John Weiss was the unoffical Bhutan adviser for the script and was able to advise such things as: Monks (generally) do not ride bikes in Bhutan! : there are no tea houses in Bhutan (like in Nepal) and a few other minor details. Whilst not filmed in Bhutan, the series starts in Bhutan - the series was filmed in Byron Bay and a second series is in the offing.

Below are three recent articles from the National Geographic magazine, the Smithsonian magazine and from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

The Changing Face of Bhutan

As the last Himalayan Buddhist kingdom cautiously opens itself to the world, traditionalists fear for its unique culture.

By Arthur Lubow

Smithsonian magazine, February 2008

The Changing Face of Bhutan

Bhutan's Enlightened Experiment

Guided by a novel idea, the tiny Buddhist kingdom tries to join the modern world without losing its soul.

By Brook Larmer

Photograph by Lynsey Addario

Bhutan's Enlightened Experiment

The Next Page: Dawn in Bhutan

For the past century, this tiny Himalayan kingdom isolated itself from the modern world. But tomorrow, the absolute monarchy willingly gives way to democracy. And a Pittsburgh family has played a remarkable role in Bhutan's evolution.

By Mackenzie Carpenter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Next Page: Dawn in Bhutan

The Hon Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dasho Sherub Gyaltshen and the Director of the Department of Forests, Karma Dukpa visited Australia in January after an Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation between the Royal Government of Bhutan Department of Forests, Nature Conservation Division and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change Parks and Wildlife Group was signed in Bhutan late last year.

The Bhutanese, while in Australia, were able to visit Kosciuszko National Park where they looked at walking trails and inspected some of the park’s infrastructure such as signage, picnic areas and lookouts, and remote power supplies. They also looked at fire-fighting equipment used by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service in mountainous areas.

A visit was also made to the Kosciuszko Education Centre to look at the "Bhutan Showroom" which was opened only last year. This exhibit showcases the conservation work which Bhutan has achieved and explains the importance of the relationship between Kosciuszko National Park and the national parks in Bhutan. Some of the interactive exhibits in the Kosciuszko Education Centre have already been adopted for use in some of Bhutan’s park visitor centres.

Dasho Sherub said the collaboration between Australia and Bhutan, particularly since 2000, had greatly assisted Bhutan to manage its protected areas.

"Kosciuszko National Park has many similar issues to those which we deal with in Bhutan given the fact that it comprises alpine and sub alpine ecosystems. This collaborative partnership should be further nurtured and developed for the benefit of both our countries."

Dasho Sherub said striving for a balanced approach in conservation, ecotourism and sustainable development was also important to the Bhutanese Government. He was appreciative of the assistance provided by the Kosciuszko Education Centre in developing the framework for interpretation and education in Lamperi Royal Botanical Park in Bhutan.

Lisa Corbyn said she looked forward to working with the Bhutanese and was eager to see how much more could be achieved for conservation through the collaboration of the two countries.

You can view the media release describing the opening of the Bhutan Showroom on the NSW National Parks Website at:

Bhutanese Showroom opened at Kosciuszko National Park

But today there are more people then seagulls on Newport Beach in Sydney, as this day 26th January is an important holiday in Australia. The day in Australia is celebrated as "Australia Day" and is the nation’s biggest day of celebration. On this day in 1788 the first migrant’s of 1500 people; most of them convicts arrived in boats in Sydney Harbour.

On Australia day, Australians from all walks of life always congregate in pubs, parks and beaches to reflect on their ancestor’s journey and to celebrate the greatness of their country. On this day they take pride in being an Australian and then re-dedicate themselves to making Australia a better place.

The Australians are much like the Bhutanese. With a similar outlook on life they work hard and know how to party hard too. On the 2008 Australia Day, I joined four members of a Bhutanese delegation to celebrate Australia day in a de-facto Bhutan house in Newport Beach in Sydney.

At lunch comfortably clad in our surf shorts and in the company of numerous well wishers of Bhutan, we drank Victoria Bitter Beer, and Penfold wines were quaffed, as we savoured the main meal of salad and roasted turkey. At the lunch table making and maintaining conversations was not difficult as it came naturally and the laughs heard on the beach house that day would have been the heartiest.

Australia is a good example where people from different nationalities live in harmony and co-exist peacefully in diverse climate, geography and history. The people here accept cultural diversity as the strength of the nation. Race vilification is considered a serious offence, but they are exceptions like everything else in life.

The Aussie’s take pride in being able to build a nation founded on a tolerant and inclusive society embracing the goodness of diverse cultures. An Indian doctor who migrated to Brisbane told me, "The Aussie will let you have a go at everything," but was also quick to point out the "Tall Poppy Syndrome." Even the former Prime Minister remarked, "If there’s one thing we need to get rid of in this country it is our tall poppy syndrome." The Tall Poppy Syndrome is distinctively an Australian negative trait, which refers to the cutting the head off the tallest poppies so that none stand out from the crowd. In human terms it refers to those people who like to elevate their importance by bringing down others.

However, the average Australian is spontaneous and generous with their praises of a success of a friend or a neighbour. They can still maintain their positive attitude even after drinking their beers. "Good on you mate," is a remark that is common for encouragement. Mistakes are reciprocated with statements such as, "No worries mate" or "That will be all right mate." Mateship is an old Australian tradition that has been practiced to perfection over time. Mateship is a residue of the colonial times when men worked closely together and relied on the community strength for their survival and growth in the remote Australian bush. This tradition is still an important fabric of the Australian society reflecting the positive nature of the people living in the continent in the southern hemisphere. Even parents refer to their children as mates and the word has no gender.

Australia is an old country but a relatively new nation; only formed in 1901 after the arrival of mass migrants from many parts of the world. The founders of the nation learnt from other countries mistakes and wanted this new nation to be harmonious, united and egalitarian.

According to a school book version of Australian history, the founders had progressive ideas about human rights, the observance of democratic procedures and the value of a secret ballot. These ideas were put to the test in 1930, during political crises, but principles of democracy prevailed when General John Monash stated "There is not too much wrong in Australia that the ballot box and a good education system will not fix."

The results of the vision of the founders can be translated in the unity of Australians. The former Prime Minister, John Howard's statement in 1987 which was used subsequently, when he lost the federal election reflects the soundness of a great democracy. Howard congratulated the leader of his opposition, shook his hands and said, "The things that unite us far outweigh the things that divide us."

The Australian unity is also often demonstrated on the sports grounds. Australia is one of the biggest sporting nations on the planet and it is no surprise that sports is the greatest factor that unites Australians regardless of colour, creed or race.

Since the election of the new Government, Australia has made history by the parliamentary apologies to the Stolen Generations. Australians have just come to terms with the dark aspect of their history such as the harsh treatment of the aboriginal people by the first migrant settlers and the "White Australia Policy" that gave preference to the ‘white’ European migrants over others. In the opening of the National Parliament this year the aboriginals applauded their Prime Minister when he apologized for the wrong doings, and then committed to right the wrong marking a new chapter in the history of Australia.

The success of the Australian society is largely due to willingness to set difference aside and share common values and to co-exist without letting the past affect their duty to the nation and its future. Although Australians admire courage they are wary of foolhardiness and while Aussies love fun and are known for their calmness they don’t like lavishness and waste.

The diversity of Australia is amazing. The culture and customs, the traditions legends, myths and folklore are drawn from a rich tapestry of nationalities. While indigenous 'Dream time' legends and stories form the base of tens of thousands of years of spiritual aboriginal art and culture, Ned Kelly a former bushranger (who lived in the early nineteenth century) is revered as one of the most important historical figure of Australia.

Australia-Bhutan bilateral relations have progressed from very modest beginnings to today's very active and full cooperation. In 1962 Bhutan attended her first international meeting in Melbourne and as a result was subsequently admitted as a member of the Colombo Plan; a move which helped Bhutan advance efforts to modernize and play our part in international affairs

Even before the establishment of diplomatic relations and the formation of the Australia Bhutan Friendship Association in 2003, Australia has always been a caring friend and a strong supporter of Bhutan's endeavor to end its isolation and improve the livelihoods of our people. Today, Australia is one of Bhutan’s committed development partners providing assistance that covers many sectors, though education forms the cornerstone of the relationship between the two countries. Since the 1960's, over 1100 Bhutanese have received education in Australia through programmes like the Colombo Plan, scholarship schemes such as AusAid, Endeavour and the Australian Leadership Award. Today many of the Bhutanese alumni of Australian schools, technical institutes and universities hold very senior positions, both in the government and the private sector. Australia is the sixth largest country in the world in land mass yet has a population of only 21 million people with the lowest population density per square kilometre of any country. Perhaps this is why Australia is still the pride of the naturalist with its wonderful beaches, crystal blue waters, ancient rock formations and pristine rainforests. Australia has 16 world heritage listed sites.

The irony of Australia is although she is surrounded by water, the greatest worry and shortage is water. Due to shortage of water most people live along the coastal regions from Adelaide to Cairns with very little people living in the heart of the land. The low rainfall and the high evaporation make Australia not only the driest continent in the world but also the most vulnerable country in the world to bush fires.

Farmers use all means to harvest water and build dams to even trap a small spring. Urban architects take great pains to design the house to harvest rainwater and then use several ways to sort out the water. The people are conscious of the use of water and accordingly use it wisely. For example, the wastewater is recycled and judiciously used to water the lawns. To economise the use of the water, toilets have two flushes, a half and full and the flushes are used only when absolutely necessary. There is such a great shortage of water that often water restriction levels are increased making it difficult to maintain gardens and wash cars.

In Australia over 200 different languages and dialects are spoken, including 45 indigenous languages. However, the most commonly spoken and understood languages is the "Aussie English". The Aussie spoken English is peculiar and not easily understood by even English speaking people. The nasal twang and blending of words and consonants are characteristic of the accent. As much as it is a nightmare for an English grammer teacher, it can be a source of great hilarity. An example of the Aussie vernacular can sound almost Greek, "After drinkin a cuppa at brekkie a bloke and his mate wear a Beanie each and go to the creek to fish and have a couple of stubbies."

I love Australia for many reasons. The minute I land in Sydney’s Kingsford Smith International Airport I can not only feel the warmth of the salt breeze but also the warmth of the people who seem to wear their heart on their sleeves. It is common for Australians to wear their sleeves rolled up-just like we Bhutanese fold the sleeves of our gho when a tough task has to be done-showing that we are serious and committed to what we do. One example of this Australian attitude is the recent signing of the Kyoto Protocol in accordance with the promises of the election campaign of the new government.

Like the Bhutanese, the Aussies too are masters in the art of sarcasm and use it liberally in their day-to-day conversations often confusing visitors. During my numerous travels to down under I have observed that the people here are happier and less intense and think, "Life is a beach" summing up their casual outlook on life.

So it is no surprise that a few weeks after the celebration of Australia day, I am back at Newport Beach soaking up the sun on the golden beach, long after the Bhutanese delegation have left. I watch the sunset on the horizon of this country that both foreigner and Australians refer to as ‘down under’ (because it is below the Equator). I notice and watch anxiously as a sail boat struggles to negotiate the wild winds and rough tides until my mate smiles and says, "She’ll be all right mate!"

"Oscar had better start getting ready at an early age to start climbing mountains in Australia and Bhutan, as well as preparing to play cricket for the Guild against Bhutan on the TCG - with dignity and grace!" added Tim.

In Canberra, Dasho and his team visited the parlimanet house and met with several senior Government officals.

The Bhutanese team had Lachlan Harris, who is now the senior media adviser in the PM's office, to escort them in Parlimaent house. After seeing the PM's office, one of the Bhutanese officers was amazed at the simplicity of the office and remarked, "The Aussie PM's office is like our King's Office. It is so simple."

The Bhutanese delegation then flew from Kingsford Smith airport in Sydney to Bangkok, after spending Australia day in Catherine's beach house in Newport. As usual the team expressed great joy in learning about Catherine and her family's great interest in Bhutan.

The team were as excited and anxious about sleeping so close to the ocean with consistent waves crashing close to the windows. Just as they were amazed with the friendliness of the Australians, the team suffered some culture shock to see so much nudity on the beach!

Over Australia Day breakfast of various fruits, the visiting Bhutanese delegation eagerly listened to Tim's, "The Great Train Show." The Great Train Show was interesting and became more interesting when Tim, as usual, weaved Bhutan in the story just near the end, when he mentioned the proximity to the Delhi Rail Museum of the Bhutan Embassy.

A few weeks earlier, Catherine also hosted the Bhutan Agriculture Secretary in her house.

Meanwhile Saturday's Herald Sun newspaper, in Melbourne, had two full pages on the Bhutan Cricket match due to show on ABC TV Thursday evening 31st January.

For those who don't know...

In 2004 an unknown cricket team went to India in search of one last glorious innings. They made history in the Kingdom of Bhutan!

Like so many kids, they once dreamt they'd be famous cricketers, representing their country. But funnily enough, things haven't turned out that way.

So 20 years later, on the cusp of sporting oblivion, they return to the game they loved as boys and form The Guild Cricket Club - former backyard heroes assembled on the strength of their imagination more than natural ability. They set their sights on India in search of one last glorious innings.

Building to an historic showdown in the Kingdom of Bhutan, BEYOND THE BACKYARD is the remarkable story of The Guild Cricket Club's bold quest for a little sporting glory.

The film was recently nominated for Best Screenplay at the Palermo International Sport Film Festival.

You can view the trailer at:

http://www.suitcasemurphy.com/index_01.html

or on YouTube at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HXjg_tjuAQE

Further information can be seen under OTHER LINKS in the Left Hand Column of the website.

THE GREAT TRAIN SHOW is a 16-episode podcast series hosted by Tim Fischer, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and well-known train enthusiast.

Featuring a tantalising mix of rail news and engaging stories from and about the world of rail, the series is very much built around the show’s host. Well known for his great passion and near-encyclopaedic knowledge on the subject, it will draw on Tim’s extensive knowledge of all facets of the industry here in Australia and internationally.

Each week Tim will present a round-up of the week’s rail news and will focus on issues affecting the industry today. The series will highlight heritage rail operations around the world including some of the best steam locomotive recordings available.

Tim is also keen to hear from rail enthusiasts with their stories and ideas and will feature interviews with unique railway characters recalling their behind-the-scenes experiences.

"The 21st Century is seeing a worldwide swing back to rail as a mode of transport, both passenger and freight" says Tim Fischer, "Join me on THE GREAT TRAIN SHOW for an express ride on the railways, past, present and future".

THE GREAT TRAIN SHOW will be launched via a live national ABC Local Radio broadcast on Australia Day Saturday 26 January 2008 at 9am. Hosted by Tim Fischer with Jeff Richardson from the ABC Local Radio program The Coodabeen Champions, the broadcast promises to be a fascinating reveal of all things rail.

To download your free podcast or to email Tim Fischer, simply follow the links to the website:

http://www.abc.net.au/backyard/greattrainshow/

Available from Saturday 26 January 2008

Tim Fischer is available for interviews. For interview requests, please contact Susan Atkinson on (61) 2 8333 2418 or 0419 620 440

"If over the next few days a spare moment arises and the relatives are driving you to a happy form of madness, think of Gross National Happiness and then Google Maps and focus on Punakha to Gasa Dzong valley.", wrote Tim.

"The new road to Dumji is very clear and Tourism Bhutan might call it the "Great Zig Zag Zig". It means the Gasa Hot Springs are now just 2 to 3 hours walking from the 4wd vehicle car park. Imagine young of heart sixty year olds will make it in a canter!" added Tim.

"And a very happy Christrmas and safe New Year to you and your family Tim." replied David Jobson, recently back from another motorbike ride, through India in September 2007.

"Firstly, before, all of us catch the New Year fever and switch into party mode, I would like to wish all a Happy New Year." writes Tshering Tashi.

"May 2008 help all of us obtain work and life balance and increase our efforts to promote world peace and happiness. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for helping fostering closer relations between the people of Australia and Bhutan." he added.

Lastly, on behalf of ABFA we would like to congratulate our ABFA member, Lachlan Harris for being appointed as the Senior Media Adviser in the new Government." said Tshering.

Megan's contact details are as below:

Megan Jones

Desk Officer

India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives Section

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

R.G Casey Building, Barton ACT 0221 Australia

T: +61 2 6261 2573

F: +61 2 6112 2573

Email: Megan dot Jones at dfat dot gov dot au

Please visit http://www.abfa.bhutanconsultancy.com/ and share your news, views, ideas, recipes, etc.

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Greetings All,

May I offer a salute to the Royal family of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the people of Bhutan on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the crowning and enthronement of Ugyen Wangchuk as the first King of Bhutan on the 17th December 1907 at Punakha.

Bhutan can be very proud of its many achievements and especially proud of the unity of purpose and progress the five Kings of Bhutan have delivered over the last 100 years, against considerable odds. The very location of Bhutan, wedged in between two giants, China and India, points to one aspect of the mighty challenge over the decades but it is a measure of the success of Bhutan that both China and India fully recognise the independence of Bhutan.

John Claude White sat at a nearby table to witness the enthronement 100 years ago on the 17th December, it was the British Empire and the British Government that gave early recognition, but it was the Bhutanese that unanimously created the Raven Crown and set Bhutan on a united forward path. Well done to Bhutan then and now.

Yours Sincerely,

Tim Fischer AC

Former DPM Australia

- The new double laning work of the Paro to Thimphu road has commenced, also work on parts of the road Thimphu to the Indian Border, south of the Confluence.

- The Paro runway has been extended down the valley about 100 metres and Drukair has sold the two heroic BA 146, as soon as crews are retrained they will depart for Germany. The two new A319s do great work, as long as the emergency door chutes are not deployed whilst the jets are stationary!

- Expats are in good form and tourism is on the up, new hotels are coming online around Thimphu and Paro, where the pace of life I sense has quickened in recent years.

- Election preparations, with political parties operating for the first time, are in full swing, but the concept of His Majesties Loyal Opposition is not yet well understood.

- Finally and most importantly I had the privilege of calling on His Majesty the King, and also on the King Father. Both continue to be very dedicated and focussed on moving Bhutan forward with the new Constitution and elections. I always find their observations to be very thoughtful and wise, reflecting their dedication and determination. It was good to catch up with Bhutan's Leaders, despite their busy commitments.

There were many other great activities and meetings and observations, all heading into the book, what book? Both Tshering Tashi and I have nearly completed a joint book on Bold Bhutan, hopefully out next year, during the auspicious Coronation Year of 2008!

Tim hosted an ABFA night in Benez on his last night in Thimphu. Tim also met several journalists from Bhutan Times and Kuensel who gave extensive coverage of his visit.

Tim reading his interview in Kuensel discovered a third child and wondered how his wife Judy and his two sons would react!! In addition, Thimphu's popular FM "Radio Valley" also interviewed Tim. The interview was aired on the programme "What's your story" on Sunday September 16, 2007 at 6:30 PM.

Given Tim's interest in Bhutan and his tireless efforts to promote the relations between the two countries, it was no suprise that it was Tim's seventh visit to Bhutan. After all his visits to Bhutan, he continues to be baffled with the warmth of the people; the beauty of the landscape; the philosophy and the wisdom and the dedication of the kings.

Tim's experience and knowledge on Bhutan will translate into a book, "Beckoning Bold Bhutan" scheduled to be released in 2008. As the co-author, Tshering Tashi, seized every opportunity with Tim's free time to discuss the book, which is now seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

Tim has not had enough of Bhutan and now plans to visit Bhutan next year with his family.

Postscript from Tim Fischer - 29th April 2008:

As father who has returned from Bhutan with a book half-written entitled "Gross National Happiness" gets to know son again, after many years of absentia, son blackmails father into deleting and clearing the hard drive of two years work and nearly completed manuscript of the book. One suspects son may have kept a secret extra copy, to be revealed in a later episode!

Like most people of my generation, in Bhutan I grew up with some influence of the American culture. I grew up playing basketball, listened to Elvis Presley, and watched Clint Eastwood movies. I dreamt of visiting this great nation of US.

My recent visit to the US has confirmed the vastness of this country. It is immediately evident in the size of the supermarkets, cars and architecture and the food. So far in the US, I have not finished a meal. The denim clad waitress in ‘The Cellar’ in Macy’s, New York told me, "I haven’t seen any one eating the appetizer as a meal before." She may not be aware that the generosity of her servings having contributed to making the US a nation of the obese. The US Government considers obesity to be the single largest public health crises.

New York State has been historically known as the gateway for immigration to the USA. It is and has been a leading destination for international immigration. According to a 2004 estimate, "20.4% of the population that live in New York are foreign-born". Today the majority of the Bhutanese in America can be found in New York City (NYC). As a result NYC enjoys extraordinary social and ethnic diversity.

New York is known by many names: ‘Big Apple’, the ‘City that never sleeps', and ‘Zoo York’. However, back home some Bhutanese know New York as the land of ‘Big Ray go Lama and Nani ko Ama’ (Land of spoilt Lamas and baby’s mother). This is because many Bhutanese getays (disrobed monks) and middle-aged Bhutanese mothers venture into the city to make a fortune. Most of them have made it. We in Bhutan have felt their successes manifested in land inflation and the construction boom in Thimphu.

One week-end I ventured into NYC from Princeton. I arrived at Port Authority, NYC, and bus terminal on 41st street where I had arranged to meet up with an old Bhutanese friend on 48th Street.

I waited for a good thirty minutes on the 48th street for my friend Kuenga (name changed) but he was nowhere in sight. NYC is a user friendly and a well-planned city and it is difficult to get lost - but I managed to do so within thirty minutes of my arrival.

When I left Bhutan, to avoid the rat race, I vowed not to use a mobile phone and had given mine away. But life in NYC without a mobile phone is unimaginable. So I bought one from ‘Radio Shack’ and made contact with Kuenga. I confirmed the street number and gave him my location. I waited but he did not show up. It took me a while before I realized why not. Most Bhutanese work in Manhattan but live in Queens, which has the biggest Asian American community. I was on the wrong Island.

My host, Kuenga is not an ordinary Getay. He completed his Lho Sum Cho Sum (three year mediation retreat) at a very young age. He gave up his chance of obtaining enlightenment in a monastery in Bhutan to join his sibling to live and work on the streets of NYC. He confided in me that he is happy to be able to send money to support his ageing parents and educate his siblings. Like many Bhutanese I met, he told me too that, "I will return home when I have made enough money to buy a land and build a house."

Like most Bhutanese in NYC, Kuenga has found that adapting to American work culture can be a challenging task for foreigners who have not been exposed to western culture before.

An average Bhutanese working in NYC can earn more in a month than a college graduate can make in a year in Bhutan. But making money in NYC is not as easy as receiving it in the Western Union in Thimphu. The working hours are long and living in the noisy city can get lonely and depressing.

The Bhutanese women in NYC find it easier to get a job. Most of them work as baby sitters for the lawyers and earn more money than their counterparts. Kinza (name changed) works as a baby sitter for a lawyer who has 2 year old twins and a 4 year old daughter. She told me, "The children call me Ama (mother) Kinza and treat me like their mother." However, she says, "The chilip (foreigner) kids are smart and cannot be fooled."

Kinza is as happy with her job as her employer treasures her. She is proud that her American children know more about Bhutan than any adult on the block. But other Bhutanese women have a harder time. "Being a baby sitter is not easy especially when they remind you so much of your own kids back home." Pem, a mother of 2 children told me with tears in her eyes.

There is no dearth of jobs in NYC for those who are ready to take the risks of fines, imprisonment and deportation that come with illegal work. Bhutanese men can be seen in the streets of Times Square selling posters or handbags. "The fastest selling photos are those of the Statue of Liberty and Robert De Niro." Namgay told me, "With my earnings in NYC I have been able to make changes in my village in Gasa."

Bhutanese women also enjoy the heightened sense of anonymity, independence and empowerment that the big city offers them. Karma, a Bhutanese woman told me, "But we have to be careful of our conduct lest it leaks to the Thimphu rumour factory that seems to work overtime all the time." Penjor sheepishly said to me, "Because my girl friend earns more money than me, she calls the shots."

NYC is a haven for shoppers and gourmets. You can find bargains any time of the year in the various departmental stores. They are also various restaurants serving cuisines from every part of the world. The favorite restaurant of the Bhutanese is the ‘Yak’ a restaurant run by the Nepalese in Jackson Heights in Queens.

As for Bhutan like the 192 other Member States, New York is the Head Quarters for the United Nations. Historically, New York has great significance for Bhutan; in 1971, Bhutan joined as a member of the United Nations making her debut on the world stage.

Before I left Bhutan, I was told, "If you have a problem locating the Permanent Mission of Bhutan Office (PMB) in New York, just get on a helicopter. The office is the one with the red chilies drying on the roof." However, I did not need to be airborne to find the office. It is one of the few red brick buildings on the 43rd Street located majestically just opposite the UN building.

During my stay in NYC, I visited a few of my friends and noticed that all their homes have a photo of our Kings and a lam (Bhutanese teacher) and their fridge stacked with chilies. The Bhutanese love chilies and the Himalayan winter sun dried red chilies are cooked only during special occasions. Back home in Bhutan, their parents would devote a lot of time drying them on their roofs. The farms houses with red chilies drying on their roofs are part of the landscape of the Bhutan. The further the Bhutanese are from home the fonder they seem to become of their country and religion.

NY is a busy city and one can easily get distracted. It is also a city where a six pack of Miller beer cost (US$ 4.79) is cheaper than 24 tablets of Tylenol (US$ 6.49). The high cost of medical care is a source of worry for the Bhutanese who are used to free health care. "My greatest concern living in America is the cost of my health care." A Bhutanese student Eutha told me.

As I gazed at the high rise mindlessly, I noticed a blonde lady and stared at her chest. Her T-shirt read, "Money can’t buy happiness but for everything else there is New York Summer."

I have walked with few thousands of people in Manhattan during rush hour and not seen a single person smile. I realized the people here have to take time off to watch stand up comedians or tune on to Comedy Central to have a few laughs that comes naturally to us Bhutanese.

The Bhutanese are increasingly known as ambassadors of happiness. I hope that as the Lawyers pay wages to their Bhutanese baby sitter, they are learning just as their children are that there is more to life than just money.

Tshering Tashi

"A great piece of writing Tshering! I really enjoyed it and I felt it painted a fascinating view of New York from a Bhutanese perspective.", wrote Kyla-Jane Hunt the Business Coordinator from Melbourne Cares in Victoria.

"Thank you for your entertaining and reflective piece on New York.", also wrote Christine McMahon the Country Director from SNV Bhutan and SNV Bangladesh.

"I'm sure those of us who are sometime-visitors to the UN Headquarters will never again be able to go there without thinking of the chillies drying on the rooftop just opposite :)" she added.