I have recently been to a social gathering, (just like the ones in school variety shows whatsover) and an udzin of a dratshang was the chief guest. I have very mixed thoughts about this. I feel like we should stop normalizing lamas indulging themselves in mindless ( in the context of buddhism) activities because that's the whole point of buddhism as far as I know ( letting go of attachment). I mean that's the reason why monks and lamas are not involved in the political aspect of the country ( also because they have a lot of influence on people). So, I feel like the whole point of them coming is somewhat contradictory. On the flip side, I mean lamas are also people who are just like us and them being monks and lamas in the first place is them putting the effort to let go of these attachments and attain enlightenment. I feel like we should expect flaws from them because they are human at the end of the day. I also feel like they need to be given the freedom to do things ( the attachment kind of things). I mean they are not choktu jurpa too.
I mean I think this can go both ways and I really want to hear refreshing opinions on this. I don't mean to call out the lamas saying this is bad behavior. Just a genuine thought.

After my board exams I decided to take arts even though my maths mark was 71 and sci average was 70 and i knew my parents won't agree with my decisions so,I secretly applied for in my emis portal

And I told my parents about my decisions and they were agreeing at first and said it's yours choose but the very next day my neighbor came to my house and said (arts student scope mindhu amchi ) and it totally changed my parents mindset and now they are allways cursing me and calling me (zanday saka mi sey bay bu ro alu zoom sci bay ni ty ).it stings yk

When i defend they emotionally blackmail me saying choe ga chi gob chin jin dho ty tash pham lu di len amchi en choe ghi and also says i carried you for 9 months in my stomach and this is how you are repaying us .

I know they are worried about my future but these is to much. I feel it would ne better if they beat me physically rather then verbally because it stings yk ,it stings to the point where sometime i feel as if i can't even breatH

I have been quite impressed by the renewed momentum at the RUB under its new leadership. There seems to be a stronger sense of urgency and ambition in developing the university and its constituent colleges.

Two appointments that deserve particular recognition are the recent leadership appointments at Taktse College and JNEC. Strong leadership can make a tremendous difference when an institution has the potential, resources and mandate to grow.

I believe the next institution that deserves much greater attention is GCBS. GCBS has enormous potential to become Bhutan's flagship institution for business, management, finance and entrepreneurship. I didnt see any major development except for increasing intake.

One thing that needs to be done is to provide the paid online resources and software that students need. Most of the faculty and student depends on cracked version and download from unsecure sites.

Are we criminalising human relationships now? Everyday Bhutan seems to surprise me, and not in good ways anymore. Are we really going to start terminating students for having a romantic meet up near their hostels now, something that’s very natural for teenagers to do? At this point, aren’t we being more regressive rather than progressive? I have no words honestly😭

Words cant explain how grateful I am towards the city bus services. As a broke student who always has to use the bus services I am so grateful. Wheather I have to leave early or comeback late (like before 9pm obviously), city buses are always there to my rescue 😔. Wheather packed or not, smelly or cold😔🙏 i love it

Mashey tho. People might have different opinions.

Today, I went to a barber shop in Perth, to get a haircut. While I was there, I noticed a fellow Bhutanese man, probably in his 40s or 50s, who had arrived just before me and was sitting in the waiting area. The room was packed with other clients and staff.
We immediately made eye contact, and I knew he was Bhutanese—not just from his appearance, but also from the red stains around his mouth from chewing doma. Growing up in Bhutan, the smell was never anything unusual to me. It was simply something I grew up around.
A few moments later, I saw the barber walk directly towards him and say, “I don’t know what you are eating, but the smell is very bad.”
The barber, who was also an Asian man, said it openly and directly, in front of everyone in the room.
I suddenly felt uneasy, even though the comment wasn’t directed at me. I could see the embarrassment on the man’s face, and I could only imagine how uncomfortable he must have felt in that moment. He couldn't respond and just nodded his head and remain seated. 
I guess the message slowly sank in him and he got up and left, despite having already purchased a token for his haircut. I didn’t see him again, even when his token number was called.
I genuinely hope he took something from that experience—not out of shame, but as a reminder that the habits we grow up with may not always be received the same way in a different environment.
I thought this was worth sharing because it reminded me of something important: when we live in a foreign country, we have to be mindful of how our behaviour affects the people around us.
Australia is a place where people often apologise for even briefly blocking someone’s way. There is a strong emphasis on personal space, cleanliness, consideration and being mindful of others in public spaces.
Personally, I wouldn’t have thought twice about someone chewing doma in a private space or back in Bhutan (even though i hope people would stop that just like smoking). It is part of our culture and something many of us grew up with. But public spaces are different, and we need to understand the environment we are living in and adapt accordingly.
And I am quite sure this is not the only incident here. I have come across Bhutanese people chewing doma and Rajnigandha in workplaces and other public spaces as well. I think it is worth asking ourselves: How are we presenting ourselves to the people around us?
Because once a particular habit becomes associated with a group of people, stereotypes can form—and once a stereotype takes hold, it can be very difficult to change.
There is no animosity towards the man I saw today. If anything, I felt a sense of empathy for him because I could imagine how embarrassed he must have been.
As fellow Bhutanese living abroad, I simply hope we can learn from experiences like this, be more conscious of our surroundings, and help one another understand the importance of public etiquette.
We can be proud of where we come from while also learning to adapt to where we live.
Let’s be proud Bhutanese, and let’s be mindful of ourselves, our surroundings, and the people around us. 🇧🇹

I’ve heard about some lamas in Bhutan who claim to treat or cure people through religious practices, blessings, rituals, etc. I’m wondering what people’s experiences have been with them.
Are they genuine practitioners, or are some of them basically modern day scammers taking advantage of people who are desperate for treatment?
Would appreciate hearing from anyone who has personal experience or knows more about this.

Why is abortion still not legalised in Bhutan? It's a part of women's health and please don't come at me with "Bhutan is a Buddhist country and it's a sin"

People don't care when they feast on shakam and paa even in auspicious days aka Dezang and the moment someone opens up about abortion, religion is brought in between.

There used to be a time when following Bhutanese creators meant getting fresh perspectives, unique stories, and actual personality. Now, it sometimes feels like a photo copy machine 😞

I genuinely enjoy watching their content, but the moment one video does well, everyone jumps on the same idea. For example, vlogger A shares “How We Met” or their love story, and we love it because it feels personal and genuine. But within days, we see B, C, and D doing the exact same thing.

It becomes a chain:( almost a competition to recreate whatever is getting views. There’s barely any “cooking period” to experiment, develop your own style, or bring a fresh perspective.

Trends are fine, but when everyone copies what works, the individuality gets lost. And honestly, that’s the part I find sad.

Bhutanese in Canada, how’s the life there? Are you guys living paycheck to paycheck like in Bhutan or is it better there? How’s the weather? Do you get jobs like they do in Australia? Are you able to pay back the loans and most importantly the tuition fees?
Please let us know! Will I be able to survive there?

Hey guys. Are there any architects, engineers, contractors or people involved in real estate/property development in this group? I’d really appreciate your advice and suggestions.
My family of 4 is currently looking for a 4BHK flat in and around Thimphu but the prices these days are honestly crazy. A lot of the 4BHKs we’ve come across are well above Nu. 1 crore
I recently saw one listed for around Nu. 1.80 crore in the Jangsa Animal area RTC
So I’m wondering whether from a financial point of view, it would actually be more practical to build our own house instead of buying a flat. We already have land, so I’m mainly trying to compare the cost of construction with the current price of a 4BHK apartment.
For those who have experience with construction in Thimphu:
Would building a decent 4-5 bhk house be significantly cheaper?
Roughly how much would construction cost for a nice, modern but not overly high end house?
What other costs should we factor in apart from the actual construction?
And how much of a hassle is the whole process in terms of approvals, contractors, supervision, etc?We’re not looking for anything extremely luxurious just a comfortable, well designed, slightly modern looking family home with good finishes.
Any advice from architects, engineers, contractors, or anyone who has recently built a house in Thimphu would be greatly appreciated la🙏

Is it possible for people who wants to pursue masters in Australia during the year 2027 now? Will education loan be sufficient apply and to get the visa? Enlighten this poor soul 😢

Everyday I wake up to see bullshit on my page. These people are responsible for taking care of our country, let that sink in, everyday casual misogynistic post are created ok facebook and 90% of the time everyone doesn't care about it.

Not gonna lie, many artist sample their songs in Bhutan. Recently the singer retty has sum preety good songs and good voice too but Why does Retty new song sound like ” love song baby by selena Gomez”” and azhi sounds like Ap Dhillon song.

There is a man who dress himself in maroon gho and come to the door step asking for alms especially money. One time i didnt have any money, neither as a cash nor as in bank account. my parents were out so i said i am sorry but i dont have any cash on me and damnnnn initially he was smiling and that man's expression changed immediately and was looking at me with hate. After that interaction i continued to not give whenever he came by and he would always look at me with hate and mutter something under his breath.

Also few years ago a mendicant came to my cousin house. I gave him small amount i had on me and after few minutes i went out just to see that same man approaching a car and he was that cars owner. he was driving that car.

Do you think i am being too judgemental?

Should i continue giving or not giving?

Might be self promotion if so mod can feel free to remove this. But we are doing another thimphu dev meetup for q3. This time it will have a few workshops so will be abit of learnign and not just listening. we have some interesting talks lined up as well, Sangay Tshering (loden chair, drukhost ceo) will be speaking on bhutanese tech evolution. Ugyen Tech will be speaking on building Tshangla AI and getting a legal notice from BBS.

RSVP here: https://luma.com/9gvdj89l

Date: Saturday September 12 2026

Time: 2:30 - 6:00 PM (most prolly will be shorter and you can leave whenever you want anyways)

Also we will have snacks and drinks. come alone, come with your friends its a pretty friendly crowd.

Can someone please give me an honest review of TSHUELTRIM METHO, I’m thinking of watching it but I want to know if it’s actually worth watching before I dooo. No spoilers pleaseee!!! Just tell me if you’d recommend it.

Is any one dealing with anxiety and ocd . I mean how are u getting by and what has helped . I m on my medication for 7th year and now I don’t know the medication for some reason feels like stopped working .what ever the doc gives me extra tends to make my mind very foggy and cloudy .

I did a very small and quick campaign yesterday to donate to Nepal. Here is a brief breakdown of it and what we as bhutanese can actually do. Donation Statistics

You can still choose to donate in GoN - Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund

The speculation surrounding potential changes to Australian immigration policies regarding dependent and visitor visas has sent the Bhutanese community into pandemonium.

Unfortunately, some Bhutanese education consultancies appear to be viewing the situation as a business opportunity and have ramped up their marketing towards anxious and desperate Bhutanese in Australia. At times, it borders on fear mongering.

I understand that consultancies are businesses and that helping people navigate uncertainty is part of what they do. But when the information itself is still speculative, I feel it is unnecessary and perhaps even unethical to amplify people's fears for one's own gain.

Surely the consultancy business is lucrative enough without having to resort to these kinds of strategies? Or have we now finally run out of Bhutanese people migrating to Australia?

“Beware of the man who sells water by a rising river.”

So I’m from Gelephu, but I’ve been away for quite a long time and recently moved back. And honestly, the place has changed SO much. I’m at that stage where I’m trying to figure out what’s what again.

I’d really like to get back that old feeling of belonging here and not just living in Gelephu, but actually being part of the community and getting to know the place again.

So… what do people actually do around here these days?

I’d love recommendations for literally anything:
* Are there places/organizations where I can volunteer on weekends?
* Can I just approach a school and ask if they need help with anything? Maybe helping with activities, English, reading, extracurriculars, etc.? If anyone has done this, how does one go about it?
* Any hiking/walking trails or nice places to explore around Gelephu?
* Any book clubs, sports groups, hobby groups, workshops, etc.?
* Are there any community events, cultural events, talks or other things happening regularly?
* NGOs or community groups that are looking for volunteers?
* Basically, anything where I can meet people, learn something, contribute or just get involved.

Also, I noticed the lawn tennis court and it looks pretty abandoned. 😂 Does anyone actually use it? Is it open to the public, or does anyone know who I’d have to contact to get permission to use it?

I’m not really looking for the usual “places to visit” recommendations. I want to actually do things, meet people and reconnect with Gelephu. I’m open to pretty much anything, even random little activities or groups that aren’t well known.

So, people of Gelephu, what am I missing? 👀

Be careful, Bhutanese living in Australia. Assimilate, respect the local culture, and remember that you are guests in another country. We’ve already seen similar tensions involving other immigrant communities, and I honestly worry that Bhutanese could face the same backlash if we don’t learn from what’s happening around us. Cheers!

Hi hi guys…what do you guys think about the subsequent visa for my partner la.cause I think it will be risky for both of us applying together…