Taiwan and Bhutan national park forum inspires many

source: http://www.spnp.gov.tw

Announcement Date：2012-04-24

“An Encounter between Bhutan in Shei-Pa: 2012 Taiwan and Bhutan national park exchange forum” was held at the Cathay Financial Holdings Taipei Conference Center April 13, 2012, as organized by the Shei-Pa National Park Administration.

The event marks the first official exchange between any Taiwan and Bhutan national parks. Discussion topics include the development of national parks around the world, as well as the “national happiness index” of Bhutan. Karma Dukpa, Director of the Department of Forests and Park Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests of the Royal Government of Bhutan, gave a speech on the relations between people’s happiness and environment protection in his country. Karma Tshering, Chief Forestry Officer of the Nature Recreation and Ecotourism Division, shared his managerial experience in Bhutan’s national parks.


Taiwan specialists also shared their experience in recovering endangered species and local ecology, and in establishing ties with the locals. Such include a presentation on Guanwu forests, a speech on partnership between national parks and indigenous residents by author of “Smangus Guided Tours” Lahuy Icyh, and a screening of “Passion of Nature,” best documentary of the 2012 Golden Tassel Awards, along which director Chen Chin-fa shared his observations on the recovery of Guanwu (Formosan) salamanders.

Finally, officer from Bhutan visited five national parks of Taiwan during their stay, including Yangmingshan, Shei-Pa, Kenting, Yushan and Taijiang.

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Bhutan Fever’ in Japan

source: Bhutan Broadcasting service
By Thinley Dorji, Thimphu

One of the Japanese tourists said there is a ‘Bhutan Fever’ in Japan. Going by the number of Japanese visiting the country, it is indeed true. According the Tourism Council of Bhutan, within the last two months the country saw 583 Japanese tourists, surpassing all other 58 countries.

This is Taka Aki and Noah’s first visit to Bhutan. Their visit to Bhutan was planned some three years back. But, due to some domestic problems they couldn’t visit until this time.

“I had no enough budget to come here. It took me three years. I have read a lot about Buddhism and Guru Rinpoche. I want to visit Tharpaling monastery in Bumthang and learn more about Longchen Rabjam,” says Taka Aki.

His wife Noah came to know about Bhutan only after she met Taka. “I want to see and know more about the culture and tradition of Bhutanese people.”

Some Japanese are aware of Bhutan because of Gross National Happiness. Kei Kikuchi is one of them. “I came to know about Bhutan and its development philosophy, Gross National Happiness (GNH), when I was a university student.”

Seiji Kumagai, an assistant professor with the Kyoto University in Japan said Bhutan grabs world attention because of its unique development philosophy, GNH. Dr Kumagai started the Bhutanese Buddhism Research Project (BBRP) in collaboration with the Centre for Bhutan Studies, establishing its head office at Kyoto University. He said more and more Japanese want to learn more about GNH.

He is presenting his research and he says that number will go up further.

Another reason for ‘Bhutan fever’ in Japan was His Majesty and the Gyaltshuen’s visit in November last year. Dr. Kumagai says Japanese were touched by the way Their Majesties expressed condolences for the victims affected by the Tsunami last march.

According to the Officiating Media focal person of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, Phuntsho Gyeltshen, the number of Japanese tourists has gone up drastically, surpassing all other countries. He added that this happened, especially after Their Majesties visit to Japan.

“In order to follow up Their Majesties visit to Japan, TCB and Drukair officials visited Japan to meet with Japan Association of Japanese travel agents and tourism and transport club in Japan. In order to tap the Japan market TCB has initiated to develop the website in Japanese language by the Japanese person. And also Drukair is organising to ply the additional flight to Japan,” says Phuntsho Gyeltshen.

With the number going up there are also many tourist guides and also others, wanting to learn Japanese language. The Tourism Council of Bhutan has outsourced the training to a private institute, The Bhutan Centre for Japanese Studies.

“Actually the primary objective of our institute is to create a skilled and employable and productive Bhutanese who can deliver world class Japanese translation services. Every year thousands of Japanese are visiting Bhutan,” says Ugyen Choda, the Manager of the Institute.

Teaching staff for this institute are invited from Osaka University in Japan for a period of two years.

“We have characters in Japanese, and it’s so difficult for the Bhutanese to remember or get use to that, but all of the students try it very hard and become able to read and write all of that,” says Fukushima Hiromi, one of the instructors.

“They (participants) are really interested because many Japanese tourists are visiting Bhutan,” says another instructor, Fujiwara Yuiko.

More 60 trainees have participated in the last 10 months.

Karma Chopel is a fresh graduate. He says that there are lots of opportunities in tourism. “I feel there is better scope if we learn the Japanese language, so that we can communicate and interact with the Japanese guest in our coming future.”

Sonam Dorji, a Japanese Tourist Guide, says he has developed a lot of interest with Japanese. “So that way I thought I should learn that language. And I could learn more of them and it will give moral satisfaction and at the same time I have my own economic gain. I am happy of that. Lots of Japanese are visiting Bhutan after the visit of our Majesty to their country,” he adds.

The Ambassador of Japan to Bhutan, Akitaka Saika, in one of the interviews with the BBS, said the relations between the two countries is excellent and it only going to grow. And so will the Japanese tourists.

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About Bumthang

Bumthang: The spiritual heartland of Bhutan

Bumthang valley

"Bumthang" directly translates as "beautiful field" – "thang" means field or flat place, and "bum" is said be an abbreviation of either "bumpa" (a vessel for holy water, thus describing the shape and nature of the valley), or simply "bum" ("girl," indicating this is the valley of beautiful girls).

"Bumthang" name came after construction of Jambay Lhakhang, which was constructed in landscape of Bumpa (Vessel)shape. So there after people name the place as "Bumthang"
This region that spans from 2,600-4,500m is the religious heartland of the nation and home to some of its oldest Buddhist temples and monasteries. Tales of Guru Padmasambhava and the tertons (“religious treasure-discoverers”) still linger in this sacred region. The district is sub-divided into the four blocks of Chokhor, Chumey, Tang and Ura. The valleys are broad and gentle carved by the ancient glaciers. The wide and scenic valleys draws a large number of tourists each year.
Jakar Dzong:

Jakar Dzong

The Jakar Dzong or the “Castle of the White Bird” dominates the Chamkhar valley and overlooks the town. Constructed in 1549, by the Tibetan Lam Nagi Wangchuk, the Dzong played an important role as the fortress of defence of the whole eastern Dzongkhags. It also became the seat of the first king of Bhutan. A special feature of the Dzong is the approximately fifty meter high Utse or the Central tower, which is distinct from most other Dzongs in Bhutan. The other unique feature of the Dzong is a sheltered passage, with two parallel walls, interconnected by fortified towers, which gave the population of the fortress access to water in the case of a siege. The protected water supply is still intact to this day.
Jambey Lhakhang: This monastery was built in the 7th century by the Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo. It is one of 108 monasteries which he built to subdue evil spirits in the Himalayan region. Its present architectural appearance dates from the early 20th century.
Kurje Lhakhang:

Kurje Lhakhang, Jakar

Located further along the valley, Kurje Lhakhang comprises three temples. The one on the right was built in 1652 against the rock face where Guru Padmasambhava meditated in the 8th century. The middle temple is built on the site of a cave containing a rock with the imprint of the Guru’s body, and is therefore considered to be the most holy. The temple on the left was built in the 1990s by H.M. Ashi Kesang Wangmo Wangchuck, Grand-Queen Mother. These three temples are surrounded by a 108 chorten wall.
Tamshing Lhakhang:

Located across the river from Kurje Lhakhang, this temple was founded in 1501 by Terton Pema Lingpa, a re-incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava. There are very old religious paintings around the inner walls of the temple, which was restored at the end of the 19th century.
Thangbi Goemba
A walk of about 30 minutes north of Kurje Lhakhang leads one to this monastery, situated in the middle of a wide fertile plateau overlooking the river. Founded in 1470 by Shamar Rinpoche of the Karma Kagyupa religious school, the building comprises two sanctuaries and a temple of terrifying deities. The sanctuary on the ground floor contains statues of the past, present and future Buddhas and three clay statues probably dating to the end of the 15th century. On the upper floor, the vestibule contains two remarkable paintings of Guru Rinpoche’s heaven, and the Buddha Amitabha’s heaven.
Ngang Lhakhang

This temple is a few hours’ walk from Thangbi Gompa, situated about 100m above the valley floor in the small region of Ngang Yule (“Swan Land”). The site was visited by Guru Rinpoche. The present temple was built in the 15th century by Lama Namkha Samdup, a contemporary of Pema Lingpa. A three day festival is held here each winter, with masked dances in honor of the founder of the temple.
Ura valley
From Jakar to Ura is 48 km., about one and a half hours’ drive. To reach here, the road climbs through amazingly open countryside, only occasionally running into forest. Sheep pastures line the road up to 20 km. behind the southern tip of the Tang valley. The road crosses Ura-la pass (3,600m), on the approach to which there is a magnificent view of Mt. Gangkar Puensum. Villages in Ura have clustered houses, which is quite unusual in Bhutan. Above Ura village (3,100m) there is a new temple is dedicated to Guru Rinpoche. Inaugurated in 1986, it contains a huge statue of the Guru and remarkable wall paintings of the cycle of his teachings. Within the last 25 years Ura has been transform

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Cranes land in early

source: kuensel 

 Within the last two weeks, about 43 cranes arrived in Phobjikha

«The Black-necked cranes at Phobjikha (Photo : Bird Sherub, UWICE)
Black-necked cranes have been sighted at Phobjikha and Bumdeling valleys much earlier compared with past years.

Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) officials said the first group of three black-necked cranes including a juvenile was sighted on October 27 at Phobjikha and two adult cranes in Bumdeling on October 30.

“Within the last two weeks, about 43 cranes have arrived in Phobjikha, of which, six are juveniles,” RSPN’s Jigme said. In Bomdeling, Trashiyangtse, only two cranes were spotted so far.

Last year the cranes arrived at Phobjikha, which is about 3,000M above sea level, only around mid-November. The year saw a total of 347 cranes.

Ugyen Wangchuck Institute of Conservation and Environment (UWICE) chief of research and education, Bird Sherub said the reason for the birds showing up early could be because of change in weather conditions up north.

He said the birds flocked to the country when it grew too cold at the Tibetan plateau, their summer roosting ground. The cranes spent about four months in the country before returning to Tibet around mid-march.

The crane population in the country, Bird Sherub said was on the rise, which provided research opportunities for bird lovers and wildlife officials.

Other roosting grounds for cranes in winter were Khotokha in Wangduephodrang, Gyetsa, Chumey and Thangbi in Bumthang and Bumdeling in Trashiyangtse.

Occasionally, a few birds were also sighted in Paro and Lhuentse.

RSPN records show increase in crane population from 225 in 1991-92 to 447 cranes in 2011-12.

Phobjikha saw the highest increase in the number of cranes from 102 in 1991-92 to 248 cranes in 2000-01, which then rose to 326 in 2009-10.

“In a few of the habitats including Bumdeling, however, the population has been decreasing because of habitat loss from flooding since 1994,” Bird Sherub said, adding there was a need for paddy field restoration in Trashiyangtse to provide cranes their foraging habitat.

“We might have lost crane population in Bumthang to grassland encroachment by blue pine,” he said. “Similarly in Phobjikha, habitat quality and carrying capacity could decrease as a result of dwarf bamboo bloom.”

A local ornithologist said they had yet to know and understood the cranes.

“Its feeding ecology is poorly understood,” he said. “We have more of assumptive explanations than actual understanding like knowing what cranes feed on actually.”

Bird Sherub said UWICE began studying the movement of the birds since 2011.

“Through the movement ecology studies, we should be able to understand its home range, daily activity pattern and energetics involved in transboundry migration,” he said. “The movement ecology research is being conducted in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute of Ornithology.”

Meanwhile, flocking of the cranes into the country also heralds the arrival of tourists, meaning a boom time for farmhouses and resorts in Phobjikha.

“With the number of bird watchers on the rise, our resort is fully booked for a month,” Dewachen resort in-charge in Phobjikha, Sonam said.

Farmhouse owners said they were inundated with phone calls for rooms.

“We had to turn down most requests because a majority of the farmhouses here have less than 10 rooms,” one farmhouse owner said.

RSPN and Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC) will be observing the 14th Annual Black-necked Crane Festival on November 11 to celebrate the arrival of the birds.

By Passang Norbu

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Tang Mebar Tsho(Bumthang)

source: Tourism council of Bhutan

Located along the way to the Tang village over the feeder road under Bumthang valley, it takes thirty minutes drive to the Mebar Tsho from the Chamkhar town.
Mebar Tsho is considered one of the most sacred sites in the region as it relates to the renowned treasure reveler, Terton Pema Lingpa-incarnated disciple of Padmasambhava who discovered treasure from the lake somewhere around late 15th century.



It is believed that Terton Pema Lingpa had a vision about hidden treasures to be found at the foot of Tang Valley which was indicated by Guru Rinpoche many centuries before. Since the people of tang and the local ruler was cynical about it, he held a butter lamp in his hand, he jumped into the lake, remained under water for a long time, and he re-emerged holding a chest and a scroll of paper in his hand and the butter lamp held in his hand still burning bright. Thereafter, the lake came to be known as Mebartsho (the burning Lake).

Today this small fresh water lake is a sacred pilgrimage place for Bhutanese with bright multicolored prayer flags surrounding the place and on auspicious days people go and offer butter lamps on the lake. Many tourist visit the site to observe spectacular beauty of the place and it is also an important site for historians.

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Folk Heritage Museum

source: Tourism council of Bhutan

These museums that were established in 2001 in Thimphu provide visitors and tourists with fascinating insights into the Bhutanese material culture and way of life. The Folk Heritage Museum with a three storied, 19th century traditional house provides you a glimpse of the Bhutanese lifestyle, and artifacts from the rural households. One can come across typical household objects, tools and equipments.

Besides, the museum also organizes demonstrations of rural traditions, skills, habits and customs and educational programs for children.



The activities of the museum follow a seasonal rhythm, just like the activities of a true rural household, offering you something new to see, every time you visit it. The rural setting and flavor has been well-preserved and you can see paddy, wheat and millet fields here, a traditional water-mill with mill stones more than 150 years old, traditional style kitchen gardens with vegetables that were grown over the past 100 years and the famous traditional hot stone bath. Native trees and plants that had domestic uses in Bhutanese rural household are being grown here in an effort to keep indigenous knowledge about the use of natural resources alive and have a patch of greenery, right in the heart of the capital city of Thimphu.



Tourists may also avail the special offers of the museum at a nominal fee and advance booking of at least one week. They include demonstrations of the traditional way of extracting oil or Markhu Tsene, brewing ara or Ara Kayne, roasting rice or Zaw Ngowni and pounding rice or Tham Dhungni within the museum premises and organizing an open air buffet lunch and dinner offering a taste of the traditional cuisine at the museum. The menu for such arrangements is available at the Museum and consists of a variety of traditional food items from all parts and regions of the Kingdom of Bhutan. However, lunch and dinner arrangements are only done so for groups with five or more than five members at a time. The museum closes only on government holidays. The museum remains open from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday, from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm on Saturdays and 11:30 am to 3:30 pm on Sundays.

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Black Necked Crane Festival

source: Tourism Council of Bhutan

 The Annual Black-necked Crane festival

Black Necked Crane at Phobjikha Valley

The Annual Black-necked Crane festival will be celebrated in the courtyard of Gangtey Gonpa, in Phobjikha valley on 11thNovember 2011. The festival is an occasion for the locals to rejoice and celebrate the arrival of the heavenly bird which becomes part and parcel of their daily lives during the winter months. However the annual black-necked crane festival is organized with the following objectives:

• Generate awareness and understanding among the local communities and visitors on the importance of conserving the endangered Black‐necked cranes

• Institute economic incentives (payment) for the festival to strengthen the linkages between conservation and economic welfare and sustainable livelihoods

• Provide avenue for the local community to renew their commitment to conservation of the black-necked cranes, and to showcase their cultural heritage and skills.

The festival generally includes cultural programs such as folk songs and dances (some with black-necked crane themes) and mask dances performed by the local people, crane dance and environmental related drama and songs by the school children. The program usually starts by 9:30 am and lasts till late afternoon.

The festival will be organized by Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC), a local group composed of elected local leaders, women, Government representatives, business community representatives, monks and RSPN representative. The festival was first initiated by RSPN in 1998, and it has now become a part of the local culture in Phobjikha valley.

The organizers would like to welcome everyone to experience the festival, visit the Gangtey Gonpa and see the beautiful black-necked cranes. Be a part of the festival and reward the community for their continued conservation stewardship.
Background

Nestled in the inner Himalayas of the Kingdom of Bhutan at about 3000 metres above sea level, is the wide alpine wetland valley of Phobjikha. The wetland is considered the largest and the most significant wetland in the country. Often cited for the harmonious co‐existence of its inhabitants with nature, the valley is also culturally significant. Since time immemorial, the local people’s tradition and respect for sentient beings have ushered the valley into the most significant wintering ground of the rare and endangered Black‐necked cranes in Bhutan. Every year, over 300 of the estimated 500 cranes that migrate to Bhutan spend their winter months in this valley. Additionally, the highly revered Gangtey Monastery that overlooks the wetlands surrounded by subsistence farms and natural forest areas makes Phobjikha a stunningly beautiful and sacred valley. Today, this supposedly glacial valley is an attraction not just to tourists but also pilgrims.

Besides being the home to the cranes, Phobjikha is also the livelihood base for about 5000 subsistence farmers who have aspirations for economic development. Since the early 1990s, the Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN), Bhutan’s only environmental NGO envisaged that unguided pursuit of the local community for economic development could not only severely undermine the ecological significance of the area but also adversely affect the local livelihoods.

Hence, RSPN initiated the integrated conservation and development program with the sole objective of establishing a strong linkage between environment conservation and economic welfare of the local people. Amongst many other components, Ecotourism (now Community based-sustainable tourism) was initiated to promote local economic welfare through nature based tourism programs. The Annual Black-necked Crane festival is one integral part of the ecotourism component.

The Annual Black-necked Crane Festival

The festival is now being organized and managed by the Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC), a local community group composed of elected leaders and development sector representatives in the valley. The committee secures the cooperation and support of the local people and the schools in presenting a variety of cultural programmes including traditional masked and folk dances. The most amusing and entertaining part of the show that attracts the attention of the audience is the crane dance in which the school children enact the social behavior of cranes in the valley.

The success of the festival and its continuity depends entirely on the support and contributions of the visitors and well wishers of conservation. Continued appreciation and corresponding support are quintessential in maintaining strong linkages between conservation and economic welfare of the local people. Be a part of the festival and reward the community for continued conservation stewardship. Funds mobilized through this Black-necked crane festival and other activities of the committee are deposited in a community owned bank account and managed by the committee for activities of common benefit to the community.

Programmes

Generally the Programme for the BNC festival include cultural programs such as folk and masked dances performed by the local people, crane dance and environmental related drama and songs by the school students. The program usually starts by 9:30 am and lasts till 3/4pm.

Depending on the time availability, the following additional programs can also be tailor-made to fit the needs of the concerned Tour agent or an individual up to two days.

1. Visit the Black necked crane information center

2. Visit Gangtey Monastery

3. Gangtey Nature trail hiking (enroute Traditional tea reception and lunch can be arranged at local farm houses)

4. Visit the Khewang Lhakang at the centre of the valley

5. Village walk in Lawog valley (tea at Kingathang)

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