I don’t chew doma (betel nut) but in the freezing temperature of Thimphu dawn, I drove past an elderly woman who was selling it. She said she was feeding her family by doing this. I bought her whole stock.

So, what did I do with all the doma?

Many years back I called my lama, Dorje Phagmo, and asked her to protect me as I undertook one of my endless road trips across the country.

“Do you ever notice the road workers and their children along the highway?” She said. “Take some doma, and juice and biscuits for them. Their gratitude and happiness will be greater than my prayers. You will have a safe journey”.

Now, every time I hit the road, I buy a few cartoon of packaged juice, biscuits, candies and doma (betel nuts) and I stop and say hello to those people who are making my trips safe and successful.

This is where the whole stock of doma I bought yesterday from the elderly lady went – to the people working on the road.

You can’t hit two birds with one stone. You can hit many 🥰🥰🥰