Smoking in Bhutan is not banned, smoking without a import receipt issued by the Department of Revenue and Customs is banned. Selling cigarettes in Bhutan is illegal so one must import by paying 100 to 200 percent of taxes.
A lot of debate on cigarettes and smoke has been going on and I personally think that the Tobacco Control Act should be amended. Not because smoking is a free right but because the punishment is a little too harsh. Going to jail three months for smoking is not reasonable at all. But on the second thought I think there should be a strict law if you want to implement things.
The Tenancy Act of Bhutan has still been left as a paper tiger because they do not have harsh penalties. Take a house owner to jail for three years for raising the house rent so high and I confirm that housing problem in Thimphu will be automatically addressed.
Coming back to smoking, the Act states that smoking in public places is prohibited but does not state if chewing tobacco is.
Those of you who chew tobacco are luckier than the smokers. One can easily detect people smoking but once cannot detect people chewing tobacco unless you get into their mouth.
However, a save way to smoke is to smoke in a moving car. Even if the police men see you smoking in a moving car they do not say anything.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Sharchokpa Zamin (my review)
The latest film in town Sharchokpa Zamin is attracting a good crowd, a very good one I must say. I watched it on the second day after it was released at the Luger theater in Thimphu. It was a nigh show which started at 8:30 and I had to go because my little cousins wanted to watch the film. Children love Bhutanese films don't they?
As many other films, I though there would not be much of a crowd because its usually cold during the night but I did not want to take a risk. So I went to get the tickets way earlier and I got it. The tickets were almost over but I managed to get six.
At 8:30 pm, I reached the theater along with my cousins, mother and a friend but people were still waiting outside. The evening film was not over so people had to wait. We waited for more than 30 minutes outside in the cold but it was an interesting sight to watch. I had never seen such a big crowd in front of the Luger Theater to watch a Bhutanese film, I did see such crowds when I was a little girl and the theater screened Bollywood films.
Finally when it was past 9 pm, we could go inside. Imagine the rush at the gate that a little girl lost her shoe. After we got into the hall the tickets did not have seat numbers and we were told that we could sit anywhere we wanted. Anywhere, but where?
We were lucky that we got all the six seats together but there were few others who could not sit together. The theater authorities should have at least given the seat numbers.
After much havoc, things started settling down and the film started.
I was excited being a Sharchokpa myself. At the same time I was expecting a lot from this film because it was directed by Tshering wangyel and the actors were also very good.Every time Tshering Wangyel has a new release, I always expect a lot and at times my expectations are fulfilled.
I liked how the film started and Tshokey Tshomo's acting but I did not like the story line. Small realities had been left out here, which of course will not be a big deal for many but it is for me.
The film is about a simple Sharchokpa girl living in Thimphu going to RTC living a life of a typical villager in Thimphu and dressing that way. In a span of three years she becomes a voluptuous top actor of Bhutan and the sharchokpa zamin is lost.
She speaks dzongkha with sharchokpa influence and makes a joke out of herself. I found that funny but a little over the limit. Come on man, she has been living in Thimphu with that accent?
Now, who would live a life like hers in Thimphu? I mean she goes to RTC college dressed typically like a villager. The setting would have been better if she came to RTC from a remote village, that would have made sense. But she has her family in Thimphu which states that she has been living here for many years.
Her best friend Khor Khor la also goes to RTC with here and he becomes a doctor, an eye specialist within three years. Now wouldn't we all like to become eye specialist three years after graduating if that possible?
The male protagonist becomes blind and turns to rags from riches. Poor him, we don't even know where his best friends are right after he becomes blind but the canteen owner of RTC, who had earlier seen him when he was studying, takes care of him.
The actors have done a good job and the songs of the film are worth listening. One of my favorite songs Gawai Jigme, sung by Tshering Dorji is also used in the film.
People enjoyed the film but I personally was not satisfied. I expected more that this.
As many other films, I though there would not be much of a crowd because its usually cold during the night but I did not want to take a risk. So I went to get the tickets way earlier and I got it. The tickets were almost over but I managed to get six.
At 8:30 pm, I reached the theater along with my cousins, mother and a friend but people were still waiting outside. The evening film was not over so people had to wait. We waited for more than 30 minutes outside in the cold but it was an interesting sight to watch. I had never seen such a big crowd in front of the Luger Theater to watch a Bhutanese film, I did see such crowds when I was a little girl and the theater screened Bollywood films.
Finally when it was past 9 pm, we could go inside. Imagine the rush at the gate that a little girl lost her shoe. After we got into the hall the tickets did not have seat numbers and we were told that we could sit anywhere we wanted. Anywhere, but where?
We were lucky that we got all the six seats together but there were few others who could not sit together. The theater authorities should have at least given the seat numbers.
After much havoc, things started settling down and the film started.
I was excited being a Sharchokpa myself. At the same time I was expecting a lot from this film because it was directed by Tshering wangyel and the actors were also very good.Every time Tshering Wangyel has a new release, I always expect a lot and at times my expectations are fulfilled.
I liked how the film started and Tshokey Tshomo's acting but I did not like the story line. Small realities had been left out here, which of course will not be a big deal for many but it is for me.
The film is about a simple Sharchokpa girl living in Thimphu going to RTC living a life of a typical villager in Thimphu and dressing that way. In a span of three years she becomes a voluptuous top actor of Bhutan and the sharchokpa zamin is lost.
She speaks dzongkha with sharchokpa influence and makes a joke out of herself. I found that funny but a little over the limit. Come on man, she has been living in Thimphu with that accent?
Now, who would live a life like hers in Thimphu? I mean she goes to RTC college dressed typically like a villager. The setting would have been better if she came to RTC from a remote village, that would have made sense. But she has her family in Thimphu which states that she has been living here for many years.
Her best friend Khor Khor la also goes to RTC with here and he becomes a doctor, an eye specialist within three years. Now wouldn't we all like to become eye specialist three years after graduating if that possible?
The male protagonist becomes blind and turns to rags from riches. Poor him, we don't even know where his best friends are right after he becomes blind but the canteen owner of RTC, who had earlier seen him when he was studying, takes care of him.
The actors have done a good job and the songs of the film are worth listening. One of my favorite songs Gawai Jigme, sung by Tshering Dorji is also used in the film.
People enjoyed the film but I personally was not satisfied. I expected more that this.
Convincing you
I know not how to convince you of my love. I have tried yet failed every time I though I had convinced you.
It hurts to know that you still have to be convinced of my love for you.
I try my best and shall try forever till you are convinced.
I try and try again not because I just want to convince you but because I truly love you.
I can't climb a hill top, nor swim in a swimming pool but I can love you in my own simple ways. Isn't that enough?
At times, I break down and I never show you my tears because I do not want you to think I am unhappy being with you.I break down because I can't even keep you happy...
Our bond is different but I always hope for the best ultimately. Wish you could understand my love for you.
Someday you shall realize my love for you and when you do I will still be loving you.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
A song from Sacho Gami Ga
Choe thongtshe nge sem ba macha
Nge sem ge nazu choe mena?
Choe gawai gazum de daa cha
Nge sem de kuu mena bum choe ge?
Nge sem de rawa meb jodo
Den desa tsala baa macha
Lo labi tshe lu ya denda mendu
Nge sem de chew mena len lab na may
Tasha bu cho bum nga laa
Rew cha sem la ke mengo
Tam hembai loo ju she mengo
Choe gawa wai gazum ten mengo
Choe nga lug ga rang ga wa chin
Bum nge ge sem khar baap tshu ga?
Thiku tshu nga ge tsha zha me tshu
Thong che che zom thiku lasha ra
Choe thong tsay nge sem ba macha
Nge sem ge nazhu choe mena
Choe ga wa gazhum de na cha
Sem choe ge kue mena lab na ma X 2
Note: a song from the film Sacho gami ga.. didnot watch the film but loved this song
Nge sem ge nazu choe mena?
Choe gawai gazum de daa cha
Nge sem de kuu mena bum choe ge?
Nge sem de rawa meb jodo
Den desa tsala baa macha
Lo labi tshe lu ya denda mendu
Nge sem de chew mena len lab na may
Tasha bu cho bum nga laa
Rew cha sem la ke mengo
Tam hembai loo ju she mengo
Choe gawa wai gazum ten mengo
Choe nga lug ga rang ga wa chin
Bum nge ge sem khar baap tshu ga?
Thiku tshu nga ge tsha zha me tshu
Thong che che zom thiku lasha ra
Choe thong tsay nge sem ba macha
Nge sem ge nazhu choe mena
Choe ga wa gazhum de na cha
Sem choe ge kue mena lab na ma X 2
Note: a song from the film Sacho gami ga.. didnot watch the film but loved this song
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