If you are a regular
visitor here, then you would know that this blogger is a walker too. As much as
I love walking, I choose to write about it here on my blog.
I don’t know precisely how I picked this habit, but I have been walking considerably since long time ago. From home to office and back, to the town besides my planned evening walks. But as far as I know, I started walking when I couldn’t afford car.
Often my friends and
colleagues asked me, “When are you going to buy car?"
I responded, unsure, “After
I get married.”
Now I am married and I have
come up with another excuse, “After I get a kid, I will.”
In Thimphu, you are
expected to own a car as soon as you start working. It is supposedly to do with
maintaining our social status. For those office goers and family person, it is
to do with their convenience.
Simply put, without car, I struggled in Thimphu. Taxis were expensive. My bosses would give me works assuming I have car. Often the summer’s monsoon rain was thwarting, and the winter’s cold harsh. Moreover, attending a meeting or workshop was always a problem when I have to travel far away from my office.
A few years ago, I was
sharing these concerns to a foreigner friend of mine. And in the meantime, I uttered
that I was planning to buy a car.
My friend looked at me
wide-eyed and surprised and then reacted, “Bhutan is such a beautiful country:
magnificent landscape around you, fresh air, green plants all over and friendly
people. Riku, you are very lucky to be born in Bhutan. Why do you want to buy
car and cover yourself in a metal box?”
It hit me hard, for that
matter. After that I dropped the idea of owning a car. Instead, I started
walking more and many times I declined when others have offered me lift.
It helps maintaining my
good health, but much of my walking I just stop by and enjoy the nature. More than
I could tell, it marvelously brings me closer to the Mother Nature. I become a
part of it, part of beauty. The myriad colours of plants, the fragrance of
flowers and the mystery of mountains always leave me astounded, brighter and
happier.
Last week, I was hosting
dinner to my close friend who just returned from his studies in India. He told
me, “Bhutan itself is a five-star facility.” He explained that all that we have
- fresh air, pristine forests and rivers, magnificent monasteries, stunning rural farms and undisturbed
environment - are rare and precious.
“One can find these facilities
only in a five-star hotel elsewhere. You have to pay for them - that too very expensive, artificial,”
he continued adding, “But we (Bhutanese) don’t understand it unless we travel
outside.”
I don’t know how far I can maintain this attitude and habit. But as far as I am concerned I will try to avoid dragging myself cocooned in the metal box. Out in the open, wide and free, I will enjoy the five-star facilities walking. Like this, I will try to live my life rich with more intentions in a humble way.
I don’t know how far I can maintain this attitude and habit. But as far as I am concerned I will try to avoid dragging myself cocooned in the metal box. Out in the open, wide and free, I will enjoy the five-star facilities walking. Like this, I will try to live my life rich with more intentions in a humble way.