Caribbean American + Juneteenth + PM Modi State Visit + Wellness After Party + PATA Chapter Congress + Nepal-Bhutan + Dragon Boat Festival

Issue 92, June 20, 2023

Sarawak, Melaysia

Caribbean American Heritage Month

“Honoring Our Journey, Shaping our Future” is the theme for the June 2023 Caribbean American Heritage Month, being celebrated across the United States in recognition of the contribution of the Caribbean Peoples to the culture and economy of the nation.

Caribbean heritage is celebrated every June across the US, honoring those who trace their origins to the many islands across the Caribbean. New York City has one of the largest Caribbean American populations in the country, and the community’s energy vibrates throughout the five boroughs, particularly in neighborhoods such as Flatbush, Brooklyn (known as “Little Caribbean”), and Jamaica, Queens.

The month is dedicated to bringing awareness about Caribbean culture, highlighting each island’s nuances while amplifying common threads that unite the region.

Juneteenth

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states.

Juneteenth is a new federal holiday but has long been celebrated as a date commemorating the fall of slavery in the United States. While it’s a new federal holiday, it’s been celebrated since the 1860s. Happy Juneteenth.

Historic State Visit of Prime Minister Modi

Organic Spa Media invites NY PATA Travel Advisors

Friday, June 23, 2023

Organic Spa Media invites NY PATA Travel Advisors

to join the livestream of the Wellness Around the Globe symposium from 10:00am – 4:00pm ET — Registration can be found at the link here:

Wellness Around the Globe Symposium Link

Wellness After-Party from 4 pm to 6 pm at The Pierre

Travel advisors can RSVP for the Wellness After-Party at this link: 

Wellness After-Party RSVP Link

The PATA Annual Summit and Adventure Mart 2023 (PASM 2023), under the theme “Sustainability through Tourism”, commenced in Pokhara, Nepal on Tuesday, May 30 with 222 delegates from 115 organizations and 22 destinations attending the four-day event. Boris Juraj Miketic, NY PATA board member, represented PATA New York Chapter. He was also on the Chapters’ Q & A panel.

The outlook for the global economy is expected to grow by 2.2%, with Asia delivering 70% of all global economic growth – India, China, Philippines, and Japan leading the way. Though not out of the woods yet, inflation has peaked and will slowly come down in the second half of 2023 with many currencies in the region strengthening. The global economy, though not at its best, is picking up and the outlook has upgraded – thanks to the reopening of China. Global Outlook is by Andrew Staples, Regional Head, (APAC), Policy & Insights, Economist Impact.

Nepal and Bhutan

NEPAL & BHUTAN

MY TRIP TO THE TWO HIMALAYAN COUNTRIES, NEPAL & BHUTAN, WILL LONG BE CHERISHED.

This is the first post am doing since I left New York, 31May.

I did not post any pictures nor experiences since I wanted the first post I would be doing will be “special”

KARMA IS REAL.

I stayed in luxury resort, the Spirit Sanctuary Paro, and had a room facing the Monastery. Why? I could have stayed in another resort. I could have visited another Monastery in Thimphu and Punakha, but why in Paro?

The Monastery visit was not in my itinerary but last minute, I requested my guide, Kuenga, to take me to one.

We were welcomed by a young Monk (around 12yo) and informed us that we have to wait as the Monks were having dinner.

We were ushered to a room where we were served tea and biscuits while waiting for the Monks to finish their dinner. I asked a Monk attending to us how old was he when he entered the Monastery .. he replied, 3yo and now he is 16yo. Another Monk entered the Monastery when he was 7yo and now he is 18yo. I was so touched when I saw the rest of the Monks. At the suggestion of the Guide and Driver (Passang), we brought offerings consisting of betel nuts and betel leaves.

THIS VISIT TO THE YUETOK GOENPA MONASTERY IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY 16DAY TRIP TO THE HIMALAYAN COUNTRIES

The Yuetok Goenpa Monastery was stablished by Terton Rigzin Jatson Nyingpo in the 15th century and is located in Shaba, Paro Dzongkhag around 3 kms from the Paro Thimphu highway, above the Shaba Primary School. On the right of Eutok Goenpa is the Hephu Thekchen Choeling, Terton Tshering Dorji’s abode and on the left is the Dra Karpo monastery, the holy site of Guru Rimpoche.

According to local folklore, it is said that the lama saw a vision of a lake with a gold pillar in the centre adorned with a mandala of turquoise on top and decided to make this place his abode and named it Eutok Goenpa.

It has its annual prayer ceremony Yutok Mani every year from the 10 – 18th of the 3rd month accompanied by dances of the Dharma protectors. This ceremony is to mark the consecration of the Goenpa by the patron Lama. Eutok Goenpa holds the last of the Tshechus in Paro Dzongkhag. Background

In 2003 the Eutok Goenpa was handed over to the Central Monk body by the community as it was suffering from poor administration and lack of patronage. The earthquake of 2011 further damaged the monastery. In 2012, the current Lama Lam Tshewang Paljor was appointed to the Goenpa. Lam Tshewang garnered the support of the locals and also got the patronage and support from the Royal Grand Mother. He set up a committee comprising of the village headman and influential local people and started the restoration work on the three storied monastery.

Current situation There are close to 50 monks studying and staying in the Goenpa from 6 – 20 years old sponsored by the Royal Grandmother. Lam Tshering has set up a small library for the monks to learn English and has been requesting for assistance to teach the monks the English language.

(CTTO) Joebert Opulencia

Dragon Boat Festival

At this time of the year, flavorful parcels of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings, wrapped in bamboo leaves, commonly known as zongzi or zong, are eaten to commemorate the Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month.

We wish all a Happy Dragon Boat Festival!

Elizabeth Chin
Executive Director
New York PATA
Pacific Asia Travel Association,
Email: newyorkpata@gmail.com