George Clooney in Bhutan

I found this wonderful product on the shelf of a drugstore in Thimphu. Celebrity endorsement is powerful, so I'm kind of tempted to give a try. If it has worked for George... 

Although I'm a bit confused after careful examination of the two products. Was he bald before  or simply grey? Most probably, first he was grey then he lost his hair. In both devastating cases, the product helped. 

He must have a great PR team so that these dirty secrets have remained uncovered until now. 

Yes, it's him. No doubt.

Before and after. In which order?

Good advice for consumers who don't like fake stuff.

So the French not only gave the Statue of Liberty, but they also secretly did other great services to the US. 

Big MERCI.

George is depressed, because his hair is grey again. And he seems to suffer from Extensive Beard Disorder, at least on the right side of his face. Please don't give up. I'm sure there is a great new product in the pipeline to help.

Popular games played at Tsechus

Last year, I visited Paro Tsechu. This year I was in Haa and Thimphu to enjoy the local versions of these religious festivals which tend to be real festivities with people dressed in their best, picnicking, chatting, watching mask dancers, shopping and playing. They play one of the country's traditional games such as khuru (dart), digor (throwing stones), and the most popular archery. 

But they also play other games as you can see in the pictures. And they involve monks, too. 

This is roulette where you can win different things from the shelf. I played with the no13, no surprise I lost my 20 Ngultrum.

It requires full mental concentration to pick up the full beer bottle, so this monk has some advantage. 

This game is universal, also played in Hungary. 

This combines dart with roulette.  You put your money on numbers, throw your dart towards the target, and the referee loudly announces the number you hit. 

This is an advanced version of a game, caramboard, played across the country. You pick a numbered bottle cap  (see DVD box on the right) and try to put as many numbered disks as necessary in the corner holes by hitting them with another disk to reach a total figure of 20 - adding up the numbers you put in the holes + your bottle cap number.  If you pick the bottle cap numbered 20, you immediately win.

Visiting a film crew next to the Chinese border

In a small traditional village located in the Haa valley, western Bhutan, not far from the Chinese border, a new Bhutanese movie is being made. The director is Karma Tshering who was the first professional movie maker in Bhutan. With substantial international experience, he's now back to making fiction movies after a 7-year period of documentary film making. One of the leading roles is played by popular actress Kezang D Wangmo. 

I got invited to the first day of the shooting and I was impressed by the humble and welcoming crew. I had a great time and look forward to the premiere. 

In good company with Kezang D Wangmo and Karma Tshering

The crew in action