Days 14 & 15

Days 14 & 15

I finally got a chance to explore the city instead of working on Sunday. Chen and I decided to hiking. Tango Monastery is near by, my friend Jamyang gave us a ride also sent her sister and niece to go with us.

On our way to the hiking trail, I stopped at a Tofu shop, this is the only place make Tofu in Thimphu. The owner is Yeshey's cousin, also both of her children are my patients. I had no idea how many cousins Yeshey has, probably you walk on any street of Thimphu, you will meet one of his cousins.

Yeshey's cousin Damchoe was very happy to see me. It was great Jamyang came with me since she works at department of education. Lots of kids have low protein diet, most of them I saw in the hospital have rice and vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner with occasionally meat and lentil soup. I asked Jamyang to help me to give the information to the teachers and parents. some of my patients buy soy milk import from Thailand.  Kuenleg Choeki( Damchoe's daughter) told me that her mom use locally grown, organic soy bean to make soy milk and tofu. It would be much better for people buy it  from her. Tofu and soy milk are more in Chinese diet, but I hope people have more information about how to have a balance diet and where to get good food locally.

I happily accepted the Tofu,soy milk and mushroom Damecho gave to me.

It was not good weather to hike. It rained whole day,but the rain gave the mountain more mystic look. The road was quite, it was surreal to see people passing by with traditional Bhutanese dress, feel myself was in a different time period.

To my surprise, lot of Bhutanese think Chen is one of them, including the monk in the Monastery. He explained all the Buddha status for us, this Monastery worship
" Passion Buddha" , I told him that is
" Kuanyin " in China, he disagree, because
"Passion Buddha" suppose to be a male. When I got back to check, they are the same, it's just another form of " Kuanyin" .

We enjoyed the tea he offered, the warm tea just made you feel great in a raining day.

Monday was my last day to work, after that would be 3 days of big festival in Thimphu, also it's a big holiday for everybody. Instead of seeing patients, I mad sure all of my colleagues know how to use the electric machine I brought, shared the cases we had, also watched them treat the patients and gave my suggestions. BBS( Bhutan Broadcaster Service) gave me a interview, I caught the chance to share my concerns about the diet, woman's health to the people here.

The Rotary club which Yeshey belong to invited me for dinner, there is a little shop next to the restaurant, I met Pema there. he used his feet happily to say Hi to me when I walked in, then went back to do his wood work.  He was disabled since birth,  lived with his grandparents but abandoned by his parents.

One day when he Heard the Queen her Majesty ( 4th King's wife) was in the area, he waited whole day at the place she would stay, when he got the chance to see her, he used his feet to brush teeth, wash his face to show her that he could do anything, she was amazed at the same time was very impressed. At the end, he hope the Queen could help him to fulfill his dream to learn wood curving and painting. She did, not just that, she also rent this little place for him to work so he could be self sustain. Chen and I bought a piece of work from him.

I told Pema he could have massage and acupuncture in the hospital to release some muscle tension.

I admire him a lot, instead of be miserable, complaining, he made the opportunity for himself by working hard. CNN new anchor visited him, I saw a picture on the wall. He made me to exam my life and thoughts.