Lawn Darts

This is lawn darts, Bhutanese style. The sport enjoys the status of a national sport, but was beaten out by archery for the official title. Pictured here is a tournament which took place last weekend inside the city's Olympic stadium.

The Olympics have never been held here but some supporters of sports development programs hope to become competitive in the future and this facility was built to help promote such efforts. Back to darts. It's not called that here but I don't remember the actual name.

The players were dressed in fine, silk gho's along the lines of what would be worn for very formal occasions. Only this time they were playing in the dirt. The game is played something like this. There are two opposing teams. They both stand together at one end of the "range." The range is a strip of turf about 10 or 12 feet wide and I estimate about 35-40 yards long. It is surrounded by spectators and some would say cheerleaders.

Each member of the team has I believe 3 darts to throw. The teams alternate throwing, one dart for each player and the sequence repeats until all darts are thrown. At that point, everyone goes to the other end and does it again, this time in the other direction. The target is a quite small, rectangular piece of hard foam stood upright in the dirt.

Here's the interesting part. Each time a player throws his dart, two of his teammates are standing adjacent to the target at which he aims. They are presenting the target to him, helping him aim accurately and possibly recruiting the assistance of greater beings or the wind to guide the dart to success.

Look at the pictures and note the size of the darts. They are steel tipped, weighted with wood and are hurled full speed at the target. I couldn't help but think that this must be good for generating some practice in penetrating trauma injuries for the emergency on call ophthalmologist.

Now, when one player actually hits the target, which does happen occasionally, two to four members of his team break out in song and dance to celebrate the successful throw. It's hard to tell but these guys are indeed singing and dancing. Unfortunately, I have no idea what they were singing about.

This was one spectator, too cute to pass up.

Now this is my kind of barbershop! What better way to assure the clean cut look of the local male population than to invite them in for a "shot and shave," a "beer and buzz," or a "tequila trim?" Now I know what you're saying, "that's just a typo, look at the misspelled name of the city." Correct, the proper spelling is Thumphu, not Thimpu. 

However, check down the street at this place. 

How about this one? More than coincidental misspellings I would think. It's about time for me to go give one of these places a try. I'll let you know how it goes. 

This is a tribute to my grandmother who, from the time I can remember, always called me Joshi. 

Coffee is available but probably only because the foreigners demand it. Tea is the preferred beverage, cost likely being a major factor. I've found one cafe which makes a reputable latte and has a good selection of Western food. It is well known to the tourists and ex-pats who frequent the place, making it something other than an authentic Bhutanese experience. None the less, the wireless service is good and it provides an opportunity to relax and write something in a blog for those interested. This jacaranda tree is one of many surrounding the Punakha Dzong is is one of the brightest colored ones I have ever come across. It was almost luminescent in the sunlight. There are also others of various colors but they were not in full bloom this time of year. Apparently in the Spring, the show is quite spectacular.

OK. Here's something to raise some eyebrows. Maybe not strictly orthopaedic, nor even medical, but bound to capture the attention of the Western mind. Bhutan, being a very religious nation, has a long and colorful history, filled with stories, myths and the supernatural. Many religious figures are immortalized in paintings, writings, stories, sculptures and carvings, being considered important by having advanced the Buddhist faith and maybe more significantly, by subduing harmful, evil or destructive demons. For reasons unclear to me, the phallus has become a symbol considered capable of protecting oneself, one's home and family from harmful spirits. Carved specimens are readily available in any handicrafts store and paintings such as the one here are not uncommonly seen decorating the front entrance of stores and homes. There you have it.

I went for a short hike up to the only rock climbing area developed in Bhutan. There are several bolted routes put up but it doesn't look too frequently used based on the amount of moss remaining on the rock surfaces. On the way back I stopped to take a photograph of a child sitting by the roadside.

This was in a neighborhood of extreme poverty, the homes no more than shacks with mud walls and scrap metal roofs. Surprising was how immaculately clean they were.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by more than a dozen children, screaming with excitement demanding that more and more pictures be taken of them.

They marveled with amusement over the LCD images of them. Unfortunately it was getting dark so I promised them I would return during daylight for another session.

Popularity

The stats on my blog have revealed page views in the hundreds. I'm famous! More than one person has looked at it and some more than once. Woo-Hoo! I even have a follower or two.

I've been requested to provide information about medical care, more specifically, orthopaedics in this country. After all, that is why I'm here. Bhutan is still considered as a third world country although no longer in the bottom tier of world poverty. Medicine is up and coming as one of many priorities as the new King and democracy gains control. There must be dozens of government development programs either already in place, scheduled to start or in the planning stages currently. All kinds of ministries representing all walks of life, from road planning and building, to youth development, to international relations, to upholding religious standards and culture, to drug and narcotic prevention, sports development, tourism, etc. It's obvious that the country is in the midst of a fairly major reform.

The hospital itself is new, although when seen through a Westerner's eye, it looks primitive. Many services are available and many are not. Example: MRI, CT and plain x-rays are fairly easily done and of acceptable quality. There is, however no nuclear medicine or good ultrasound (OB excepted). There is no cardiac cath lab. The laboratory offers a solid base of testing but unfortunately, many reagents for the testing are out of stock. Therefore things like plasmapheresis gels cannot be run, and liver function tests are on hold. There is a limited amount and choice of antibiotics.

Orthopaedics is plagued by being heavily dependent on expensive equipment. There are three orthopaedic surgeons here, knowledgeable and capable but limited in what they are able to do for a large population. Most fractures can be adequately treated with very basic equipment, common sense and a dash of creativity. Infections are common and often times present late and well established making prolonged treatment necessary. Fancy surgery taken for granted in developed countries are hardly attempted here. Even basic arthroscopy has yet to take hold despite willingness by the staff and the presence of equipment. Total joint replacements are not done here. A set of instruments was purchased but no implants are available to use. People with advanced arthritis are necessarily referred out of the country for joint replacement, usually to India. Since medical care is free here, this is all done at the government's expense. Fortunately, India is very close (physically, politically and culturally) and on good terms with Bhutan, so negotiated discounted rates are given.

That's all folks.

Inquiring Minds

 For all of you who are wondering, here is what a gho looks like on a "chilip" (foreigner). It's airy and breezy from below like I imagine a skirt must be. This one is a luxury model made of silk and meant for special occasions. And before someone asks, it is not worn with the same undergarments as its Scottish counterpart.

 It is quite the challenge to put on. It starts out resembling a large, unruly gunny sack with sleeves. The white cuffs are decorative pieces pinned into place and folded back on themselves. One folds the right side underneath the left and aligns the seams. Holding it in place with the left hand, the right then somehow simultaneously hikes the thing up to knee level while creating perfect pleats in the back, one fold over each cheek. The excess is gathered into a pouch in front supported by a tightly placed belt. Everything is folded down neatly, covering the belt and a single tie holds the chest flap closed. The pouch in front is used as a large pocket to hold wallets, cell phones and snacks.

 I've watched others don this outfit and it resembles an acrobatic version of some sort of modern swan dance combined with Batman theatrics. I imagine women would understand better how this works because they can do things with clothing that defy the fundamental laws of Newtonian physics and basic mechanical principles. It took two other men to dress me that day. I don't remember the last time I was dressed by a man but I believe it was at Macy's in San Francisco when I needed some formal wear in a hurry. And I'm not convinced he was really a man. Before that it must have been my father prior to my 4th birthday.

Drugyel

Drugyeldzong is the ruins of a once critically important fortress located at the bottom of a valley accessing a pass into China. This place was responsible for defending the country against multiple attacks from Tibet. Some minor attempts have been made at restoration but the government so far has not endorsed such efforts. 

Some mountains in the upper Paro valley

 Cantilever bridge over a river in Punakha. I'm not entirely sure how these bridges are anchored but they have stood the test of time and certainly are beautiful.

 Considered one of the more beautiful "dzongs" in the country, this place is enormous, gorgeous and impossible to portray adequately photographically. The king spends Winter's here and Summer's in Thimphu. I visited on the anniversary of the second Buddha's birthday (Guru Rinpoche). A special day and the dzong was active with ceremonies. Monks were chanting and praying, playing traditional horns and delivering holy water. One is expected to make donations at the alters. Interesting, next to the bowl filled with money were piles of junk food. Dozens of bags of various varieties of chips, candy bars and chocolates. Who eats this stuff? The monks would all be sick and edentulous. I was allowed in to all places but one which apparently houses some particulary special statue and no foreigners are allowed. I guess dressing in the Bhutanese national outfit didn't fool the guards. Just because my skin is a little lighter than theirs. Oh well, on to the next attraction.

Monk's

Here are some monk's (except for the drunk on the left) watching the archery tournament. It's funny to see them wearing flip-flops, talking on cell phones, using laptop computers and listening to their ipods. Around town, they act like anyone else, identified only by their dress. There are shops that specialize in "monk attire."