Bhutanese People are blessed with fertile land where they could cultivate different varieties of vegetable to make a decent living, especially if you have small land holdings. Most Bhutanese people of wangduephodrang, punakha are lucky to have the weather and monsoon favoring the growth of varieties of cash crops and food. There crops are grown through out the year and provide them a varieties of choice to sell in the market which ensure a steady supply and a steady inflow of cash if one works hard enough. With the Thimphu Vegetable market opened from the early Thursday till Sunday, the demand for fresh vegetable has increased at large where people of Thimphu have plenty to chose for the curry.
With the growing numbers of Bhutanese vegetables in the market, people of remote villages are paid off for their hard work and this is the only mean of getting few pennies to home for the purchase of kitchen necessity. For most of the Bhutanese farmers, they come with handful of vegetable transported from the village to the town area, most Bhutanese grown vegetable which are in the market are the chilies. Cabbage, brinjal (Egg plant), beans, sag, ferns, pumpkin, coriander and lot’s more. With government investing and training more farmers to use of new modern technology for the farming, Bhutan would be looking for sustainability in the production of vegetables products in near future. A seed sown for a poor farmer would mean a good amount of cash once it’s harvested. Most Bhutanese people still depends on the farming in remote parts and a good years of harvest would be an joy for whole families.
July 21, 2007
Vegetable Farming Lucrative for Small Landholders
July 18, 2007
Chocolates for a Change.
If you are new into the Bhutanese shops and are given chocolates or chewing gums instead of coins whenever they have to give you back change, don’t get surprised, this practice has now been moving for quite few years in all parts of the Bhutanese Shops through out the Country and has become a common practice even if the shop keepers have few coins for change. For an Example, you have purchased a goods worth NU 96 and you have paid NU 100, the shopkeepers usually offer you Chewing Gums or Chocolates worth Nu 4 and he/she would say “ Sir/ Madam, I am sorry, I don’t have changed you can take this chewing gums as change.”
Won’t it be irritating for you if you have less money in your wallets, this will make a huge difference to poor villagers after all a penny or a Ngultrum (Bhutanese Currency). Such acts or practice has now been moved from shops to ticket counter of transport service as well, recently, I was to board to Gelephu on some work and the counter lady had to returned me Nu 3 as change and she said that she doesn’t have coins to offer and up goes her hands into a jar of Chewing Gums where she gave me three, I had no choice but to accept it. But for most of the people like me, it’s a matter of prestige and quietly accepts chocolates or sweets for a change. “grin” Am in being forced to buy their goods. Government should come up with some ideas so as not let the people suffer or are made to pay for what they don’t intent to buy.
Bhutan Currency : Ngultrum
Bhutan use the barter system to do the trades and in 18th Century Bhutan first began to produce coins in silver, mainly for use in trade with the plains. These were followed by coins struck in alloyed silver, copper or brass, which were used for minor local purchases. These pieces, known as "Ma-trum" or "Chhe-trum" were struck by several local chieftains, rather than by the central government. Coin production continued into the 20th century under the reign of the first King, Druk Gyalpo Ugyen Wangchuck (1907-26), who gradually improved the quality of striking. In 1928/29, during the reign of the second King, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Wangchuck (1926-52), fine machine struck silver and copper coins were introduced into circulation, marking the beginning of modern coinage in Bhutan. However, throughout this period the use of coins remained limited, and barter remained the predominant means of carrying out transactions, and even government officials were paid in kind, rather than in cash. In the mid 1950's, during the reign of the third King, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1952-72), the economy gradually started to become more widely monetized, with further issues of "silver" coins, using the dies of his father, but of a nickel alloy. In 1968, the Bank of Bhutan was established as a further step towards full monetization. By this time most salaries were paid in cash, rather than in kind.
Monetary reform commenced in 1974, during the reign of the present King, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck, with the issue by the Ministry of Finance of the first bank notes in 1974 coinciding with His Majesty's Coronation. The unit of currency was accordingly standardized with 100 Chhetrum being equal to 1 Ngultrum. In 1982 the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA) was established to act as the central bank of Bhutan. The RMA commenced its operations in 1983, when it assumed liability for all notes and coins previously issued by the Ministry of Finance.
Denomination of Banknotes and Coins in Bhutan
At present, notes in Bhutan are issued in the denominations of Nu.5, Nu.10, Nu.20, Nu.50, Nu.100 and Nu.500. The printing of notes in the denominations of Nu.1 and Nu.2 have been discontinued, and the Nu.1 denomination has been coined. However, such notes issued earlier which are still in circulation and are still legal tender.
Bhutanese Coins are available in denominations of Ch.5, Ch10, Ch.25, Ch.50 and Nu.1.
When the Ngultrum was introduced in 1974 the Bhutanese pegged it to the Indian Rupee and have the same face value with Indian Rupees : 1 NU = 1 RS. The Rate of Exchange against the USD Dollar is Approximately : 1 $USD= 40 NU.
In 2007, The New Clean Note of Bhutan has been circulated where Bhutan yet again changed the notes and Nu 1 notes has been reissued. RMA has also circulated the clean note policy where the new notes should have no damage or any ink or print on the it.
Ngultrum 5 Face
Ngultrum 20 Face
Ngultrum 50 Face
Ngultrum 100 Face
Coins of BhutanNational Emblem of Bhutan
The Emblem of Bhutan maintains several elements of the flag of Bhutan, with slighly different artistry, and contains much Buddhist symbolism. The national emblem, contained in a circle, is composed of a double diamond-thunderbolt (dorji) placed above a lotus, surmounted by a jewel and framed by two dragons. The thunderbolt represents the harmony between secular and religious power. The lotus symbolizes purity; the jewel expresses sovereign power; and the two dragons, male and female, stand for the name of the country which they proclaim with their great voice, the thunder. July 17, 2007
Bhutan National Flag
The national flag of Bhutan consists of a white dragon over a yellow and orange background. The flag is divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner, making two triangles. The upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange. The division starts from the lower corner of the flag where it is hoisted and runs along the diagonally opposite corner. The national flag of Bhutan was officially adopted in 1965. The dragon is centered along the dividing line, facing away from the hoist side.The dragon depicted on the flag, Druk or the Thunder Dragon, represents Bhutan's local Tibetan name, The Land of the Dragon. The dragon grasps jewels, representing wealth, in its claws. The snarling mouth represents the strength of the male and female deities protecting the country. The white color stands for purity and loyaltyThe yellow field symbolizes the secular monarchy, while the orange represents the Buddhist religion.Bhutan Media need to pull up
Bhutan Media is such to be blamed that there has been nothing news about the Sports when there has been Tournament played in Gelephu District, Media need a bit of attention, Thimphu, the Capital City of Bhutan get a news or two in all the papers which are Kuensel, Bhutan Time, Bhutan Observer. But what about other Dzongkhag, is there not enough journalist or reporter feeding the news, there might be an improved media quality when the news seems to interest the people of all parts of the Nation. This is just a view that when Bhutan Cricket who recently organized the Last Shangri-La Cup 2007 in Gelephu from 7th-15th July, There are media personal from all the Newspaper but there has not been a news on the paper when the publication was done.
Indeed that was a necessary for the people to know that something is happening in parts of the Bhutan. Apparently, the Bhutan Football got their news where they held the Tournament in Thimphu. Why didn't the Bhutan Cricket Tournament not got into the news section of the Media when their website is updated every match and every events, Check this out. For some reason may be there has not been reporters to report the news but they can still make enquiry and check the website, get the news from them and am sure Bhutan Cricket website is the only sports federation website in Bhutan which is updated regularly. Bhutan Media should really keep the news and events of various sections on.
July 16, 2007
Gelephu Town Review
Gelephu Town which is 8 hours drive from the Capital City Thimphu is border with Indian State Assam. When you enter gelphu from Sarpang or from Trongsa road, you will be greeted by Lord Buddha which is built in the Gelephu Sports Association ground. Gelephu is one of the four Town which has Bhutanese Gate bordering with the Neighboring Country Inda, th eother three being, Phuntsholing, Samtse, Samdrupjongkhar. Gelephu fall under Sarpang District but is has it's own Dungpa who looks after the Town. Gelephu town is so small that you can walk around in half an hour. There are plenty of Hotels and Restaurants which serves the spicy and delicious food, apparently Gelephu is the hub for people coming from Trongsa and Samdrupjongkhar while going to Thimphu and vice versa.
Gelephu Has it's own Entertainment as Losal Cinema Hall which is out of Condition still provides movies crazy the old hindi movies and nepali movies. The Movies hall need some renovation, looks like some old haunted place. Nevertheless, Gelephu has it's own charm, provides fresh food and fruits to the people, being a neighbor with Indain State Assam. Pot Black provides a leisure time for a pot or two and there is a party hall just near Bhutan India Friendship Association, Gelephu Local Chapter Office.
