Hello from Bhutan!

Sasha Wakefield, who has had a deep relationship with Bhutan for more than two decades, has written Ascent of the Thunder Dragon (published by Shambala), a book about Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Bhutan's founding father. The book offers both Bhutanese readers and those unfamiliar with the country an accessible introduction to the historical significance and enduring legacy of this extraordinary man.

I found the book personally revelatory, particularly in its three-dimensional portrayal of Zhabdrung, not only as a revered leader, but as a complex human being. Wakefield celebrates Zhabdrung with a good balance of intellectual rigour and spiritual insight, a perspective shaped by her own unusual journey from investment banker to Buddhist practitioner.

Welcome to Bhutan’s first podcast: Hello from Bhutan! This podcast was originally a virtual retreat organized by Bhutan Global Mindfulness & MICE Holdings (https://bhutanmindfulness.com) - a joint venture company between Druk Holding & investments Singapore, and G Nine Investment, also a Singapore-based company. The virtual retreat was  called “Finding Calm in the Chaos.”

H.E Kalu Rinpoche, recognized by H.H. the Dalai Lama, is a renowned yogi and meditation master, celebrated for his profound knowledge of Tibetan yoga and mindful living. Rinpoche's teachings harmonize body, mind, and spirit through a unique blend of ancient practices and modern insights.

In this candid interview, Chencho Gyeltshen, talks about playing internationally – the struggles and the highlights. He shares tips on finding work outside Bhutan and little known details about his life before professional football.

Language: English and Dzongkha

In this podcast, Arun Bhattarai, talks about the "Mountain Man," the first Bhutanese documentary to qualify for the Oscars (2025). The film features Bhutan's first qualified glaciologist Phuntsho Tshering.

He also talks about his latest film "Agent of Happiness" that is the first Bhutanese documentary to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Arun shares what it takes to make documentaries, the process, his journey, and more.

00:00-Intro

1:15-On qualifying for the Oscars 2025

3:12-Filming the Oscars entry Mountain

6:42-Climate Change in Mountain Man

11:15-Journey of filming documentaries 

11:42-The film Agent of Happiness at

13:45-Looking for love

17:35-Studying filmmaking in Europe 

19:14-Funding for independent filmmakers 

20:18-On the film The Next Guardian

25:06-Where to watch the films 

28:31-Queer characters in the films

In this episode, communications scholar, Dorji Wangchuk, talks about his award-winning research: “On Identity, Spirituality, Community and the Sacred Chronotope in Bhutan", the biggest announcement from Bhutan – GeSAR (Gelephu Mindfulness City) - a city like no other, and the unique Bhutanese identity.

00:00-Introduction

01:18-Background to Research

03:03-Types of Bhutanese Communities

04:08-The Bhutanese Identity

05:35-Meaning of Chronotope

07:26-The Sacred Chronotope

10:12-National Day 2023 as a Sacred Chronotope

11:56-What Unites us as Bhutanese

15:39-GeSAR or Gelephu Mindfulness City

23:42-Bhutan as a Collectivist Society

27:25-What should be the Bhutanese story?

29:34-Various interpretations of Dec 17 2023

This conversation takes us through Pawo's journey from being a photographer and writer to a film-maker. Pawo was nominated for an Academy Award for his very first film – Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom. Pawo's second film: The Monk and The Gun, is Bhutan's submission to the 2023 Academy Awards.

Episode 2 of Hello from Bhutan, Season 3, brings you an inside look at IMTRAT's famous Jalebi shop in Thimphu. If anyone should take credit for cultivating a sweet tooth among Bhutanese in the capital, it's the Jalebi shop! Did you know that they never reuse their oil and give the utmost importance to hygiene? All this and more on this podcast.

The first podcast of Hello from Bhutan's third season features Project DANTAK. Here, I find out the incredible history and wonderful connection formed over six decades between Bhutan and India through people, infrastructure, and food! It all began with the inspiring leadership and friendship between His Majesty the Third Druk Gyalpo and India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Fmr. US Ambassador Curtis S. Chin, talks about his two decades long relationship with Bhutan and why the country "defies stereotypes.' This is a candid insight into Bhutan from someone who is in a unique position to talk about the country as both an outsider and insider. This podcast highlights fashion and food as well! Curtis is also the chair of Milken Institute Asia, and on the advisory council of the Bhutan Foundation. 

This episode is brought to you by the Department of Tourism (https://bhutan.travel).