Bhutan Trip Day 5 - 27 June 2015 Learning how to make Sel Roti :)

As Neela had to go to work on Saturday morning, Devi was afraid that I'd get bored that morning at home. So she suggested me to learn on how to make Sel Roti.

Devi and her handmade Sel Roti :)

"Sel Roti (Nepali: सेल रोटी) is a Nepali traditional home-made, sweet, ring-shaped rice bread/doughnut. It is mostly prepared during Tihar, a widely celebrated Hindu festival in Nepal. It is made of rice flour with adding customized flavors. A semi liquid rice flour dough is usually prepared by adding milk, water, cooking oil, sugar, butter, cardamom, cloves, bananas and other flavors of personal choice."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sel_roti

Flour required to make Sel Roti dough :)

So, the above picture showed the ingredients required for the dough mixing. The details were as per follow:
1. Wheat sooji or rice flour - 500g
2. Maida flour - 500g
3. Atta flour - 500g
4. Baking powder - pinch
5. Sugar - 200g 

Devi mixed the dough and water to make Sel Roti

Mix the above flours into a pot and add hot water little by little. Keep mixing it up so the texture won't get lumpy (smooth) and thick.

Spices used for Sel Roti

Spices she used were as per follow:
1. Cardamom seed or elachi - few pieces and remove the seed
2. Clove - few pieces

Stir fry both ingredients in a low heat pan. Crush it until it becomes powdery form. Add the spices into the dough mixtures and mix it well.

See the short clip above. The texture was something like that so that you could shape the Sel Roti in anti clockwise direction as above. It looked easy on her but when I tried myself, yalamaaa....., instead of becoming round shape, mine was becoming heart shape or not even making any known shape hahaha.... But that's the fun of it!!! :)

Later on, Neela suggested me to put the dough mixture into the small plastic water jug where I could pour the dough mixture using the edge of the jug into the hot oil. It could prevent the oil splash on my hands too.

Pour oil into the pan and heat it in low medium heat. As the video shown above, you could see how Devi shaped the Sel Roti onto the hot pan. Using the long stick, she did multiple job turning the Sel Roti around once it became dark brown, lift it out and transferred it into the plate, ready to serve.

Sel Roti - Perfect accompany for my afternoon tea break :)

Dadadada....... Here were my delicious Sel Roti, perfect accompany with my tea for the afternoon tea break. It tasted sweet and had spices flavor in it too. Hhmmm.....

She purposely made the Sel Roti for me as she said that the shape of this dish (round shape) symbolized the reunion again next time (special gifts for family members living away from home), that no matter how far I go, one day eventually I would go back to meet them again, preferably next time at her hometown in southern Bhutan, and during winter time :) That's very sweet of her la!!! ^^

This dish too, was usually made only during big days or Hindu festival, like Deepavali (or Diwali), Dasain, wedding parties, and so on. I considered myself very grateful being able to taste the fresh Sel Roti not waiting until the big days arrived, but as a gifts and inclusion of me as their sister or family members. Thank you Devi for teaching me this. Let's see if I would make it myself one day, here, in Singapore. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!!! :)

Summer in Thimphu

Gloom rainy day in Buddha Point - Thimphu, Bhutan (Summer 2015) 

Hissss.......... Sound of rain drop was buzzing incessantly on my ears this afternoon, even in my sleep. I pulled the blanket up from my toe to head fully, to ensure the cold air wouldn't enter. The coldness was hardly to bear. I couldn't imagine that it was summer here now in Thimphu, the season that I thought was going to be warm in the afternoon.

Raining made me lazy to go anywhere. Bed and home seemed to be the best places to be during this time, with hot tea held with both hands. The cough syrup and the flu tablet made me feeling drowsy, my head was heavy and easily dozing off.

All my shirts were short sleeves, none of them was a long one. I brought only one sweater and one waterproof jacket to shield me from the rain. Two long pants had to be washed one after another while the rest of the three-quarter and short pants were lying idle inside my suitcase. That too, needed days to make it dry!!! Oh, how I wished I could bring more long sleeve shirts and sweater here to keep my body warm from this torturing cold weather.

Umbrella was a must-have thing in your bag at anytime, wherever you go. It would be useful under the morning scorching sun, and followed with a sudden downpour in the afternoon time. Sometimes, it would just a drizzling rain that made you confused whether to open your umbrella or stick it inside your bag. At the end, these tiny drops of rain on your head, made you sick unknowingly. And here, I was one of the victim of this ever changing weather.

This would be my first time traveling in Bhutan during summer time (June to July). And now I believed on what people said, not to choose this season to travel. Other than ever changing hot and rain weather in a day, the condition of the road was another thing that made people travel inconveniently. Muddy and slippery road was common here and made you difficult even only to get out from your house. Nevertheless, this trip had all been worth it for me as I was able to meet most people I'd planned to meet and go to places I'd planned to see. And all this wouldn't be achieved without the help of all my Bhutanese friends who had been so friendly, care, nice, and helpful to me. Thank you, thank you, and thank you everyone of you, who had made all my dreams coming true... :)

Update on my journey in Bhutan - Day 17 - 9th July 2015

Ohhh... time flies... Unknowingly, I've spent 17 days all over Bhutan and met with many many people!!! It's summer time here. Weather was a mixture of cooling morning, hot afternoon, and drizzling evening. Luckily we have had safe journey all this while. It's not all without hiccups though.

Source: Google.com

Things happened such as: the tyre was punctured on raining day, happened in evening time when we tried rushing down to Mongar from Trashiyangtse; moreover, the fuel was almost finished. There was another occasion too where the landslide caused the narrow road becoming so muddy and my heart was racing hard as the car might skid and fell to the cliff right next to us. However, thank Buddha that so far our journey is so good.

Luzee's chanting in every start of the journey calmed my heart and mind. I too, said all those prayers inside my heart, wishing that our journey will all be safe, smooth and well.

It's just a short update from here as my phone was put at rest at the moment, therefore I couldn't click and update nice pictures immediately. But again, luckily and thankfully, Luzee has kindheartedly lent her phone to me as temporary measure. Thank you, thank you, and thank you Luzee for everything you have done for me.

Again, impermanence was there to remind me for all the good and bad times we had, that nothing lasts forever. Every moments I spent, every persons whom I met - when there is 'hi', there will be 'bye'. At the mean time, let me enjoy the rest of my time here in Bhutan. Tashi delek! :)

Bhutan Trip Day 4 - 26 June 2015 Nimalung Tshechu, Yathra Shop and Kurjey Lhakhang

Friday, 26 June 2015

Nimalung Tshechu in Bumthang, Bhutan - 26 June 2015

Traditional Bhutanese Dance during Nimalung Tshechu in Bumthang, Bhutan - 26 June 2015

My first day in Bumthang spent on Nimalung Tshechu (festival). Actually there was another Tshechu going on Kurjey Lhakhang. But we decided to go to Nimalung as all of us had never been there before and this Tshechu was celebrated to bring happiness, better harvest, and prosperity of the village and the country as a whole. 

With Atsara on Nimalung Tshechu -Bhutan

We reached there at 11.30am. Once we sat down, they announced that it's time for lunch and the Tshechu would only be started again at 1.30pm.

Nimalung Tshechu - Bhutan

We walked back to where we parked the car and had picnic lunch at nearby area. While walked back passing through the bazaar, I met up with Kuenza Karma (known as KK Wangdi), a blogger by passion and a teacher by profession at Jakar Higher Secondary School. He had just come from Kurjey Lhakhang and did his duty as Desuup there. Glad being able to meet him there. He came with his colleagues and also went to have their lunch picnic somewhere on the area.

Picnic lunch during Nimalung Tshechu :)

My friends and I gathered under the trees and made a big circle. There were few families joining together. Each family brought their own food and drink. I loved having this kind of picnic. It's something that we seldom had back in Singapore. Usually people just headed to the restaurant nearby to have their lunch. But here, in Bhutan, they commonly had picnic lunch like this. And I loved the togetherness and the sharing spirit that they implemented. They shared not only food, but also tea, beer, wine, whatever things they brought there for lunch.

Procession at Nimalung Tshechu

After lunch we went back to the Lhakhang and found our seats at front row, sitting on the floor. The procession above was started. One by one they came out and after walking around few times, monks who were wearing masks, were seated in the seats provided looking to the audience. The prayer was done, the folk dance, the drama, and finally to receive "wang" - good luck or blessings.

Nimalung Tshechu - Bhutan

The priority was given to the VIPs, followed by tourists, then by citizens. However, the crowd control wasn't done properly, nor enough manpower provided to guard the area. Many people were cutting queue, and many children were seen to be suffocated in the middle of the crowd. Many had chosen to leave the queue as to avoid casualty. Pushing here and there was done continuously.

Among the crowds - queuing for "wang" at Nimalung Tshechu

My friends and I tried being among the queue twice. However, since it was too crowded and the queue was getting uncontrolled, they were fastened up the timing for the "wang" and they left their posts and formed procession again before the whole festival was over. Again, we failed to receive the "wang" there. But in between, I managed to start from the middle and continued to the right. So at least I received 60% of the "wang", if not full :P

Among the crowds at Nimalung Tshechu in Bumthang, Bhutan

It's a very great experience for me though as this was one of the Tshechus available during this period only that I would be able to attend. Thank you Neela and Devi who brought me there and experiencing their religious event and culture! Also for Bungay Bhai and Yeshey who came for the festival too. It felt great to have your accompany :)

Yathra shops in Chumey, Bumthang

After that we departed and drove towards Kurjey Lhakhang. On our way, we passed by the shop selling local products - Yathra or woolen textiles products - traditionally weaved by ladies who stayed there in Chumey, Bumthang.

Samples of Yathra products from Chumey, Bumthang

There you could get nice souvenirs with pretty reasonable prices back home (compared when you bought it in Thimphu). Laptop bag, backpack, casual bag, toiletries bag, diaries, etc. They all came in great combination of colors.

Rainbow over the sky :)

We continued our journey and how lucky we were when we spotted the rainbow over the sky!!! We felt blessed instantaneously, on this auspicious day!!! :)

Our visit to Kurjey Lhakhang - Bumthang, Bhutan

So, there we were!!! We went up to get the holy water first before going to pray inside the Lhakhang. That, also after we begged the caretaker to open the door up for us, since we reached there quite late. It's my second visit there. Read my first visit to the Kurjey Lhakhang here. I felt blessed once again. Thank you again Neela and Devi for bringing me there!!! :)

Changpa for the day :D

That night, after a long day, both of them treated me delicious handmade fried pastry plus fried egg as Changpa, accompanied with my favorite Druk 11000, before serving me with real dinner :) They both knew best what I loved most hehe... My day was complete and ready for the next encounter!!! ^^

Bhutan Trip Day 2 and 3 - 24 and 25 June 2015 - Thimphu and Journey to Bumthang

Read the Bhutan trip day 1 and 2 here

Wed, 24 June 2015

After done with packing, it's almost lunch time. Aue Sonam Pelden, Luzee's boss, whom I met few months back in Singapore, invited me for lunch at Folk Heritage.

Bhutanese food lunch at Folk Heritage, Thimphu

Tourists or foreigners were usually brought to this restaurant as to introduce them how the Bhutan food culture looked like.

Taengme, zaw and suja - Folk Heritage, Thimphu

For example: Once you were seated they would bring suja (butter tea) accompanied with zaw (rice crackers) and taengma (cereal maize) served in a traditional woven bamboo plate.

Array of Bhutanese dishes

Then main course was served using the traditional wooden plates. Array of Bhutanese food, such as: kewa datshi (potato with cheese), phaksha-pha (spicy dried pork), chicken curry, broccoli, ema datshi (chilli with cheese) with Bhutanese red rice.

The weather was very nice that afternoon.  It wasn't raining and there wasn't much sunlight too. We had it outdoor under the apple trees as the other tables were fully booked. Many Bhutanese were also seen there. Overall the lunch experience was great. Only that the phaksha-pha filled your mouth with too much oil :P *sinful.

Nice meeting you in person Yangchen and Jigme :)

After lunch I visited my friend's house, Yangchen, at Upper Mothithang. We had known each other for about two years but only through online. She was studying Law school in New Delhi. So since I had some time, I decided to visit her and her son, Jigme, (her hubby, Pema, was working night shift. Therefore, I couldn't meet him). We had a chit chat and tea. In a while I had to go back home to take some rest then prepare for the bloggers meeting.

Thurs, 25 June 2015

I woke up at 5.30am and prepared my stuffs. Rekha had kindly prepared breakfast for me and sent me to the bus station. I was traveling alone by public bus to Bumthang.

Passing by Dochula Pass 108 Chortens

It's my first time traveling during monsoon season (June-July). I often heard people saying that it's not advisable to visit Bhutan during this season as the road would be muddy, there would be road block, sometimes landslide, and so on.

Muddy and slippery road

However, plan had already been made and I just had to proceed with it. And throughout the journey, I witnessed it myself that the road conditions were really bad especially on our way from Thimphu to Wangdue. We passed by many muddy road. For big bus like what I took, the problem was slightly lesser as it had bigger wheels. I was wondering about the small little cars that many Bhutanese usually drove.

Chorten (stupa) in the middle of the road

I was praying all throughout the journey that we would have a safe and smooth journey. Our driver played a very big part too in saving our lives. He always made a turn over the Chorten (stupa) for one round as a respect and wishing for a safe and smooth journey.

Road block in Wangdue 

There was one road block and we had to wait for about one hour. They said it's necessary as there was road repair. While waiting, all passengers could go down stretching their legs and walk around. Many street sellers came approaching each vehicles that stopped and offered their goods like momo, samosa, chilli chops, ngaja, even doma, and so on.

Thank Buddha our journey was smooth. We reached Bumthang station at 6.45pm. My friend, Neela, had already been there looking for me. So we went to his house and Devi served me fried rice and coffee as a snack :D

Wonderful hospitality from Neela and Devi family :)

Again at 8pm we started drinking Druk 11000 plus Chang pa (food accompany for beer), then continued with dinner. We chit chatted so much and went to bedroom at midnight.

Read the next day trip - Nimalung Tshechu - here.