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[mikekeshwar]

Life’s Wisdom from An Epic Road Trip

Life’s Wisdom from An Epic Road Trip

In 2020, we live in rather uncertain times. COVID they say would change things forever. Personally I have found time to reflect – and here is one story I must tell.

They say – ‘The best picture in the World, is no Good in the Camera’

We all have dreams in our heads, some big and some small – but effectively they are no good if they remain in head and are not brought to life.

On the 2nd…

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[mikekeshwar]

Bhutan Ride in 20 Images

Bhutan Ride in 20 Images

Hey Guys,

Hope you all are doing well – its been quite a while when I last wrote a blog. And thank you for following my Blog. While the Blog has been silent – a lot of action was happening all over.

After I got back from the London trip May-June 2018, I got busy with all the pending work and a some rides. Ladkah ride, Nepal ride, Hornbill Ride, Sikkim Ride and the most recent Bhutan Ride. This…

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[mikekeshwar]

India to UK Stories : The Team, North East and Enter Myanmar (8 minutes read)

India to UK Stories : The Team, North East and Enter Myanmar (8 minutes read)

Hi Friends,

Thanking you from Myanmar, for being here and following this blog on road trip to London. Please do share with those who are keen on reading our stories from the highway.

Getting this blog out is more challenging than I initially thought. The sheer quantum of operations and coordination work in the day light hours, consumes us all completely. But I am committed to bring it to you -at…

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[mikekeshwar]

India to UK Road Trip : Wanna follow the Story?

India to UK Road Trip : Wanna follow the Story?

Hi everyone,

This blog I have just started, is BIG, VERY BIG … and probably the most ambitious thing I have ever done in my life. Its a 20,000 km family road trip from Delhi to Scotland … On our Hyundai Creta (purchased for the purpose).

Have a look at this picture and what do you think are these guys doing? 🙂

The Service Manager and Stores Manager at Hyundai, Gurgaon – busy with map on my…

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[mikekeshwar]

Exiting Forces : Things No-one Tells You!

Hi, I am Mike (Col Manoj Keshwar) and I am a Veteran, a Bombay Sapper officer of 1990 seniority. I took a voluntary retirement in 2011, and have had an interesting journey outside of military life. There has been a variety, ups and downs, failures and successes of life post military … and some learnings that would benefit anyone who is stepping out of the forces. While everyone goes through this…

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[mikekeshwar]

Benjamin Franklin – How Genius can be Made?

Dear Friends,

Here I am back to my writing assignment and I really look forward to writing and sending it to you regularly. Thanks for all the support and encouragement. This week, I ask the eternal question once more – Are the geniuses born or made?

A genius through Habits and Perseverance

It is widely believed that passion, good habits and perseverancecan make an extraordinary life, if not a…

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[mikekeshwar]

'Never Give Up' : Jack Ma's Journey & Indispensable Advice to Startups (11 Minutes read)

‘Never Give Up’ : Jack Ma’s Journey & Indispensable Advice to Startups (11 Minutes read)

Hey Guys,

I made these notes for my team at Viktorianz. Then realised it would be of great value to entrepreneur and startup community as a whole. Those who may not have time to read the book – but can gain critical advice from my Notes on this Book. Here is the cover of the book i am reviewing here … “NEVER GIVE UP” Jack Ma in his own words (Suk Lee & Bob Song)

Book Review on NEVER GIVE UP –…

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[mikekeshwar]

Two Days in Chiang Mai

Two Days in Chiang Mai

We enter the North Thailand Territory … It has been almost 4 years when Viktorianz set foot in Thailand and we thought of taking up a different destination than typical Bangkok, Phuket types. So we decided to head to Northern hills and Chiang Mai became a natural choice. While our main focus is to explore the North Thailand – but we do spend about a day in passing in Chiang Mai. In my observation…

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[mikekeshwar]

Parents! Are YOU shrinking your Kids?

Parents! Are YOU shrinking your Kids?

Hey Parents, The year is coming to an end! And we will now get into reflecting what ‘got-done’ and what ‘did-not-get-done’ in the year. If i tell you that, we are inadverten…

Source: Parents! Are YOU shrinking your Kids?

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[mikekeshwar]

Parents! Are YOU shrinking your Kids?

Parents! Are YOU shrinking your Kids?

Hey Parents,

The year is coming to an end! And we will now get into reflecting what ‘got-done’ and what ‘did-not-get-done’ in the year. If i tell you that, we are inadvertently  shrinking our kids – how would you react?

This blog is about the physical (and Mental) handicap our children are facing due to lifestyle changes of our society.  We are increasingly getting less physical and more…

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[mikekeshwar]

Are You shrinking your Kids?

Are You shrinking your Kids?

Hey Guys, I wonder if you have seen this 1989 live-action comedy film – Honey, I Shrunk the Kids ! The plot goes like this – an inventor Prof. Wayne Szalinski has been experimenting with an electromagnetic shrinking machine. He leaves the device unattended in his attic; shortly afterward, it is accidentally activated. Alas, the demon machine is aimed at his children. The kids, shrunk to 1/4-inch…

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[mikekeshwar]

Mike's Notes : My Times in Congo

Mike’s Notes : My Times in Congo

These are the musings from one of the most ambitious United Nations Mission. Its a story not many know of …

‘Heart of Darkness’ by Joseph Conrad, the Polish-British novelist was the narrative that came alive in my mind when i got this signal from Army Headquarters. The signal called for an interview to select officers for a deputation with United Nations Mission in Congo – it was a diplomatic…

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[mikekeshwar]

Mike's Notes : 12 Dos in Bhutan

Mike’s Notes : 12 Dos in Bhutan

Hi Friends, Welcome back to my Blog .. this time its Bhutan on the platter … If you are a ‘nature lover’, and looking for an off-beat break from your mundane, hum bugging life, we…

Source: Mike’s Notes : 12 Dos in Bhutan

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[mikekeshwar]

Hi Friends,

Welcome back to my Blog .. this time its Bhutan on the platter …

If you are a ‘nature lover’, and looking for an off-beat break from your mundane, hum bugging life, well go spend some time in most preserved nation in the World – the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan or the Last Shangri-La. Also known to be a kingdom of Happiness, or that of Thunder Dragon, they really focus on GNH – Gross National Happiness index rather than GDP. It is an awesome place to go and spend a laid back family vacation.

No GDP Please, we all finally need HAPPINESS

A lot depends on how much time you could take out for yourself. A one week tour of West Bhutan (most popular) OR a two week tour of whole Bhutan ( my recommendation) would be a HAPPY thing to do. Its nature abound – and can literally be done the whole year around except monsoon months from June to September.

Having done lots and lots of Bhutan, i have some recommendations to make. If you are in Bhutan, I would recommend that you must not miss the 12 things that i am now going to list for you.

1. Taktsang Monastery, Paro – Going to Tigers’ Nest in Bhutan is like going to Taj Mahal in India. It is an amazing wonder how this Monastery got made in the first place – atop a vertical cliff overhang  …the complex was first built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup caves where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours in the 8th century.

Padmasambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan and is the prime deity of the country. Paro Taktsang is best known for the thirteen Taktsang or “tiger lair” caves in which he meditated. Trekking to Tiger’s Nest is a nice half day spent – and a big tick on any travelers’ bucket list.

Taktsang Monastery Paro

2. Great Buddha Dordenma, Thimpu – While at Thimpu, the is a must go and spend some time.  It is a gigantic 169 feet, Shakyamuni Buddha statue.  The construction was completed on September 25th 2015 in the Thimpu, celebrating their 60th anniversary of fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuk. The complex is still being finished with the help of engineers from Japan. It claims to be the 8th wonder of the world – when completed. You also some very good panoramic views of Himalayas and Thimpu valley from here.

Giant Buddha – the 8th Wonder in making!

3. Motithang Takin Preserve, Thimpu – Here is another unique thing – this time a no-where to be found animal – the TAKIN. Its an animal with head of a goat and body of a cow – and is found only in Bhutan. The myth about its creation goes like this – A Tibetan saint also called Mad Lama – Drukpa Kunley, after eating a goat and a cow for a meal – took the head of the goat and fixed it to the bone skeleton of the cow and uttered abracadabra magic words – and this animal came to life – which had the head of a goat and the body of a cow. Well thats what you see only in Bhutan. It sure is the National animal of Bhutan.

National Animal of Bhutan – the Takin

4. Thimphu Chorten. It is a stupa, built in 1974 to honor the third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972). Next to Tigers Nest, it probably is the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan. This stupa is unique as it does not enshrine human remains. Only the Druk Gyalpo’s photo in a ceremonial dress adorns a hall in the ground floor. When he was alive, Jigme Dorji wanted to build “a chorten to represent the mind of the Buddha.

Thimpu Chorten

5. Dochula Pass & 108 Chortens – As we begin the go East we reach Dochula pass that connects Thimphu and Punaka valleys. At the pass, the Druk Wangyal Khang Zhang Chortens are red-band , 108 in numbers, built under the patronage of the Queen Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk. These are called chortens of victory, built as a memorial in honour of the Bhutanese soldiers who were killed in the December 2003 – a battle against Assamese insurgents – ULFA. It  marks the victory of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck who dislodged the rebels from their 30 camps in Bhutanese territory.

108 Memorial Chortens at Dochula Pass

6. Temple of Chimi Lakhang, Punaka – Here is an interesting thing coming up as we enter Punaka valley.  This temple is located on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th Drukpa hierarch, Ngawang Choegyel, after the site was blessed by  the maverick saint Drukpa Kunley – the “Divine Madman”. In founding the site it is said that Lama Kunley subdued a demon of Dochu La and trapped it in a rock at the location close to where the chorten now stands.

Chimi Lakhang Temple – houses of Phallus

7. Legacy of the Divine Madman & Phalluses. Drukpa Kunley – the “Divine Madman” had unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humour and outrageous behaviour, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. He advocated phallus symbols as paintings on walls and flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the eves. You would see them everywhere ..

Traditionally symbols of an erect penis in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.

Phallus everywhere … to ward off evil and gossip

Phallus everywhere …

The Chimi Lakhang monastery has the original wooden Phallus that Kunley brought from Tibet. A 10 inch wooden phallus ornate with a silver handle and used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly women seeking blessings to beget children.

8. Punakha Dzong.  This is the most beautiful of all Dzongs in Bhutan, and is located at the confluence of the Pho Chhu (father) and Mo Chhu (mother) rivers in the Punakha–Wangdue valley. The fortress is also called Pungtang Dechen Photrang Dzong – meaning very awesome dzong – “the palace of great happiness or bliss”.

Punaka Dzong in spring time …

The dzong houses the sacred relics of Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred remains of Ngawang Namgyal. Punakha Dzong was the administrative centre and the seat of the Government of Bhutan until 1955, when the capital was moved to Thimphu.

9. Phobjikha Valley & Gangtey Monastery. The Phobjikha or Gangteng Valley is a large U-shaped glacial valley, named after the impressive Gangtey Monastery of Nyingma Sect in Central Bhutan.  This is one of the very few places in the World where the graceful black necked cranes arrive from from Tibet and visit the valley during the winter season to roost. On arrival in the Phobjikha Valley in the last week of October, the black-necked cranes circle the Gangtey Monastery three times and also repeat the process while returning back to Tibet.

Phobjikha Valley & the Black Necked Cranes … pic from Internet

10. Bumthang Valley and Red Panda Beer Factory. As  we move east we get into a land full of nature and forests. Bumthang valley is a typical deeper Bhutan place where agriculture has been a mainstay since ages – buckwheat, honey, cheese is what they grow. Bumthang has an air strip and there are smaller planes that land here thrice a week from Paro. Bumthang literally means a beautiful field or land of beautiful women.

Jakhar Dzong in Bumthang

Another interesting place to visit is Red Panda micro brewery – owned by a swiss national Mr. Maurer, and they make excellent unfiltered, weiss beer. You would get a good round of the plant and a bottle of beer to sample.

Bumthang Brewery makes Red Panda Weiss Beer …

11. Amazing Waterfall at Namling, Mongar.  As we explore the deeper and Eastern Bhutan – we find ourselves in the midst of nature – far far away from civilisation. The forest, mist and mountains create a silent journey with nature as you take the road from Bumthang to Mongar. One place to stop and see is an amazing waterfall may be more than 300 ft high that vaporises before it hits the ground. It is mesmerising to see this waterfall falling from a cliff and turing into fine micro droplets vanishing in thin air – and never hitting the ground.

Amazing Waterfall at Namling, Monger, East Bhutan

12. Witness One Tsechu Festival.  Finally, if you are fortunate to be on a Bhutan holiday in the times when one of the monastery annual Tsechu is on, Don’t miss it.

Tshechus are large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of Dzonkhongs (regions). The Thimpu, Paro and Bumthang tshechus are popular in terms of participation and audience.

The focal point of the tshechus are Cham Dances. These costumed, masked dances typically are depiction of moral fables based on incidents from the life of the 9th century Saint Padmasambhava and other saints.

Thimphu Tsechu is a grand show, attended by King himself

Padmasambhava organized the first tshechu in Jakhar, Bumthang where the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava were presented through eight forms of dances. These became the traditional Cham dances depicting the glory of Padmasambhava.

Cham Dance at Thimpu Tsechu

These 12 things would normally be good enough to complete the Bhutan for you. Some more very different thing to do in Bhutan are – pristine trekking, bird watching and monastery tours.

Here is another of my Blog if you want to know why Bhutan is Unique- click the link to read more – Bhutan , The Last Shangri-La 

Please feel free to ping if you need any advice … I am just a click or a call away …Until then, signing off ..  Cheers!

Mike [email protected] | [phone] Chief Mentor @ Viktorianz

Mike’s Notes : 12 Dos in Bhutan Hi Friends, Welcome back to my Blog .. this time its Bhutan on the platter ...