for finer things in life

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RS. 20 | ISSUE 1 | jan 28-feb 3, 2010
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www.fridayweekly.com.np
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ECS MEDIA PUBLICATION
EVERYTHURSDAY
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PAGE3
PEOPLE
METROPOLIS
HALFWAY
TIMEOFF
GIZMO
Just Asking...
Spotlight
Window Shopping
Love em’ Shoes!
Undercover
Gourmet
Pimp My Ride
They are coming out
of their closets, almost
literally!
A talk with a young banker
who sees the brighter side
of things.
Smart casuals are your safest
bet in a wadrobe dillemma.
we give you the options.
Diamonds be damned,
shoes are a woman’s best
friend.
our undercover agent rates
eateries around town.
Check out the various
options available for the
modification of your car.
CHOCOLAT
With the advent of Valentine’s Day, as lovebirds
around the globe prepare to celebrate their love,
Annabelle Ray gives you an insight on the aphrodisiac
properties of lovers’ favorite indulgence - Chocolate.
S
hrawan Shrestha,
32, is a banker by
profession who tied
the nuptial knot only
recently. His profession sometimes demands irregular working hours,
which upsets his new bride who
has to wait alone at home. However, he has sought resort to the
mighty chocolates and, whenever possible, drowns his damsel
in distress in its tempting glory.
And especially now, after
Friday informed him about the
positive impact of chocolate on
sex life, he is planning to please
his wife with loads of chocolates even on days he gets home
on time. “I have always used
chocolates to make my near and
dear ones happy. And now, after
coming to know about this insightful info, I might as well end
up making my wife and myself
chocoholics,” Shrawan said with
the wry smile on his face.
According to a recent study
conducted by Italian researchers, women who ate chocolate
regularly had a better sex life
X
E
S
&
than those who abstain from the
treat.
The study, which was presented at the European Society
for Sexual Medicine in London
recently found: “Women who
have a daily intake of chocolate
showed higher levels of desire
than women who did not have
this habit. Chocolate can have a
positive physiological impact on
a woman’s sexuality.”
Even women who have a low
libido could become more amorous after eating chocolate.
Contradicting the idea, however, Dr. Subodh Pokhrel, a
Senior Sexotherapist, opines,
“There is no direct relation between eating chocolates and sex.
But if you’re referring to those
chocolates that are prepared
with sexual-enhancing components nowadays, then there’s no
denying the fact. These chocolates are taking up a huge market in major cities around the
world and it could soon hit the
Nepali market too.”
Although, today, studies are
being carried out to justify, prove
ECS Media
turn to page 2 for more of it!
2
or challenge whether chocolate
is in fact related to sexual enhancement, many civilizations,
since a long time back, have embraced chocolate as a powerful
aphrodisiac of some sort.
Ever since the time the first
cocoa beans were harvested by
the Mayans, people have believed chocolate to have a euphoric impact on the body’s
senses. The Spanish invaders
saw the Emperor Montezuma
of the Aztecs consuming a large
quantity of cocoa in the form
of a beverage called “chocolatl”
before entering his harem. The
conquistadores later carried the
emperor’s belief of chocolate
being a sex booster all the way
to Europe. This belief was also
shared by one of history’s most
famous lovers, popularly known
as Giacomo Casanova.
So what exactly makes chocolate a sex food that the legendary lovers embedded in history
so strongly swear by? On exploring its properties, scientists
have found chocolate to contain a chemical called typtophan,
which works as a serotonin precursor in the brain. Serotonin,
popularly referred to as the
cover
Issue 1 Jan 28 -Feb 3, 2010
When Choosing a Chocolate…
Not all types of manufactured
chocolates offer good health
benefits. Here’s how to make
sure you’re getting your
money’s worth when you
shop for a chocolate bar.
Concentration Counts: To
get the most health benefits from
a chocolate, choose the darker
varieties.The compounds that
benefit your health (antioxidants
and phenols) are in the cocoa
solids.Then again any chocolate
can be labeled dark.Therefore,
choose a product that contains at
least 70% cocoa.
“happy hormone”, is a naturally
produced chemical by the brain,
and which is known to reduce
anxiety and uplift one’s mood.
Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine that induces euphoria and excitation during
sexual prelude by turning on the
brain’s pleasure nucleus. This
chemical increases one’s feeling
of excitement, causes giddiness
and boosts sexual drive, consequently giving more or less the
same high as alcohol, but without the secondary effects of the
latter.
Or it is, perhaps, the rush of
endorphins produced by eating
chocolates (particularly dark
chocolates) that human beings,
especially women, most identify with heightened sexual
pleasure?
Although studies have consistently suggested that women
who consume large amounts of
chocolate enjoy satisfying sexual lives, the opposite, where
women with satisfying sex lives
tend to eat more chocolate, may
also hold true.
Regardless of which one
may be closer to the truth,
however, chocolate and sex
have long been associated to
Avoid the Milky Way: Most
varieties of mass-marketed
chocolate bars are made with
milk, which unfortunately inhibits
the absorption of the beneficial
compounds in cocoa (as does
drinking milk along with the
chocolate). If it contains milk
(milk fat, lactose, whey and other
mild derivatives), the chocolate
no longer retains its healthenhancing benefits.
Go natural: Choose a
chocolate that is free of
unnecessary additives for a
better, healthier product.
be a powerful twosome. Women
especially stand to benefit from
the sex-enhancing properties of
chocolates to up their libido in a
bid to match up with that of their
male counterparts who are biologically and, by default, designed
to have a higher sex drive.
So for couples seeking to
reignite their passion in bed, it
seems like consuming chocolates
is the way to go about it. Having said that though, it’s not like
chocolate cannot be eaten just
for the heck of it like in the old
days when you popped one simply to melt away in its heavenly
sensation without having to feel
guilty later (see box above).
After all, this is only an attempt to show what a commonly
available and often taken-forgranted food (experts argue it’s a
drug) such as chocolate can be an
endless abyss of pleasure for both
the mind and the body if rightly
consumed with full knowledge of
its useful properties.
And now you know what to
do the next time you’re not quite
all in the mood for some fun-inthe-sack right? Yes! It should be
chocolate and chocolate all the
way for you. n
Five reasons
why chocolate
is good for your
health
n Chocolate reduces blood
pressure. The flavonoids found
in cocoa help in the control of
arterial tension by increasing
the amount of nitric oxide in
the blood.
n Dark chocolate can decrease
the risk of a heart attack by
50%, coronary disease by 10%
and premature death by 8%.
And it also helps reduce the risk
of developing diabetes.
n Chocolate improves blood
circulation in the brain, which
lasts for about two to three
hours after you’ve eaten one.
This way, the brain fights off
exhaustion, chronic fatigue,
insomnia and aging, improving
memory and learning. Improved
circulation also boosts erection
in men.
n Chocolate increases “good”
cholesterol and lowers the
“bad” one due to the antioxidants present in it similar to
those found in fruits, vegetables,
tea and wine.
n Studies have shown that
chocolate impedes cell deterioration and cancer. Research has
also shown that chocolate eaters live almost one year more
than those who do not.
page3
page
just asking…
“How many pAIRS of
SuITS do you own?”
hall of frame
Saurav Jyoti ROUP
DIRECTOR,
Not impressed at all
JYOTI G
asking this
You see, you’re
ro
w ng person.
question to the its. I am all
I hate wearing su ut yes, I
.B
for casual wears 15 suits
to
10
t
ou
ab
do have
wear them
I
d
an
et
os
cl
y
in m
solutely
ab
am
I
only when
.
required to do so
She’s definitely got
the looks
Rajendra Khetan
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KHETAN GROUP
(laughs) I think I have about eight
to 12 suits.Yes, a dozen suits.The
striped navy blue suit from Yves
Saint Laurent is my favorite.
irola
SubashDN
IRECTOR,
SENIOR
ISM BOARD
NEPAL TOUR
ell I
Now suits….wearing
w
er
ef
pr
y
tl
mos
work
daura suruwal toal occaand other form t I am
sions. Err… buve about
pretty sure I hasuits
five to six
with me.
Bhushan Dahal
Is it surprising
or what?
Spa me up
With wine, cheese and spa-licious relaxation, the
crème of Kathmandu sure knows how to unwind!
Anybody got a
different opinion?
Kailash Sirohiya
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
PRODUCER, KANTIPUR TV
MD, KANTIPUR MEDIA
It’s pointless to make suits of
the same color over and over again.
And there are only five to seven shades
a man can wear. So, yeah, I have
that many shades of suits with me.
It has to be about eight to nine.
you have to know I am not
much of a suit person, I like to
mix casual with formal coats
for my daily wear. but I have a
black suit with golden stripes.
I don’t know what brand it is,
but I like that the best.
e
Can you be mor
precise please?
Binod Ratna Tuladhar
MANAGING DIRECTOR, BLUEBIRD COMPLEX
About 4o pairs. I wear it everyday to my
office, which I think sets an example to my
employees to dress smart. I have my own
tailor who custom makes my suits because
honestly, branded and readymade apparels
don’t fit me. In parties, however, it’s the other way round. unlike most people I prefer
wearing casuals. The very rotund person.
Things can get
serious...
sometimes
flaunting thoses
er
nt
de al make-ov
Basanta Chaudhary
CHAIRMAN, CHAUDHARY
GROUP OF COMPANIES
I have never really counted the number of
suits in my possession. This question actually makes me want to raid my closet and see
how many suits I have. but to make a guess,
I say about 60 to 70? The black-striped Austin Reed woolen suit is my favorite, which I
especially adore during winters.
A tip or two on
the fashion trend
4
people
Issue 1 Jan 28 -Feb 3, 2010
spot light
The Brighter
side of things
SHIVANTH B. PANDE
Head of Research &
Development at Nepal
Investment Bank
H
ead of Research & Development at Nepal
Investment Bank, Shivanth B. Pande, after
completing his studies from
the University of St. Andrews
in Scotland followed by a twoand-half-year working stint in
London, decided to come back
to Nepal for good. Son of two
prominent figures in Nepal’s social circle, Pande talks, among
others, about bringing in new
technologies and professionalism in his work place. Excerpts:
Having the background that
you have, you could probably
have worked anywhere you
wanted. What made you come
back?
Having worked for Deloitte Touche, one of the best accounting
and consulting firms as a Consultant, I felt that my knowledge on
development consultancy could
While the rest are worried about the possible changes in
Nepal’s banking sector, this optimistic young banker sees
the long term benefits and has good things to say instead.
— Ayusha Nirola
be best put to use back home. So
I decided to come back. Also given the opportunity, I think a lot
of other people would want to
come back as well since it’s quite
challenging to live abroad and
adjust, settle down and enjoy the
lifestyle that you can have here.
The public seems pleased with
the banking sector. But as an
insider, do you really think we
have made progress?
There are many countries which
have higher GDP than us but
lack the services we provide. So
we are lucky in that sense. But
difficulties in infrastructure and
technology, along with regular
bandhs and power cuts, hinder us
from making real progress.
Is Nepal Rastra Bank’s recent
announcement that money
from international donors be
transferred to government
banks a good idea?
If different INGOs and NGOs
have local banking partners,
then that is good news for Nepal’s economy. At the moment,
a majority of these agencies are
putting money into one single
bank, which doesn’t contribute
much to the nation’s economic
growth.
With the recent bad press that
the banks are getting, should
we be worried?
I think the central bank has come
to the rescue so far. But that, in
turn, has encouraged certain banks
to take more risks. So, I would do
my research properly before investing anywhere. I would advise
people to put their money in two
banks - one which gives a decent
interest rate and another that provides good service.
Where do you see yourself
with NIBL in the future?
If I were to invest, where
would you advise I put my
money in?
I have been very busy to
contribute any decent article.
Hopefully, I can go back to
writing very soon.
Buy shares that are undervalued
in the stock market and then
hold them for about five years because I look at the stock market
as a long term investment.Then
put some money into bonds and
then into gold and other commodities. Real estate is also a
good option but I wouldn’t advise it at the moment.
“I woulD ADvISe people To puT THeIR MoNey IN Two
bANkS - oNe wHICH gIveS A DeCeNT INTeReST RATe
AND ANoTHeR THAT pRovIDeS gooD SeRvICe”
I see myself introducing new
customer-friendly technologies
and services.
You have published a lot of articles in the past, where is that
heading?
Art plays a vital role in your
family. How much of an
influence does that have on
you?
Huge! I find Thangka paintings
very fascinating. I am fortunate
to be surrounded by art.
Are you a party animal?
Not really. I like going to places
that I find safe and are not too
crowded. n
in focus
On a
people
Different Path
At a time when new night clubs are mushrooming all over town,
the proprietors of Bourbon Room have made a move away from
promoting nightlife to more sober get-togethers and cocktails
I
f you are meeting Navin Tuladhar and Suresh Manandhar, proprietors of Bourbon
Room Restro-Bar, for the
first time, their down-to-earth
attitude makes you feel at ease in
no time. As we start to talk about
the emergence of lounges and
clubs in Kathmandu, Manandhar has a quick laugh before saying, “We were probably the first
ones to introduce the ‘lounge’
concept in Kathmandu.” Indeed,
as they were the brains behind
Liquid Lounge, one of the most
popular places for Kathmandu
nightlife, a few years ago. “We
wanted to continue the lounge,
but we could not find a proper
place for it,” says Manandhar.
With plans of opening the
lounge at a later date, they introduced Bourbon Room instead. “The purpose of the place
was to provide a safe and comfortable environment for people
— Ayusha Nirola
“we pRefeR To
lAy low AND
go STeADy
RATHeR THAN be
THe ‘Hype’ oNe
MoNTH AND
pHASe ouT THe
oTHeR”
who do not prefer the ‘clubbing’
scene. We wanted it to be a place
where even families could come
for an enjoyable evening,” says
Tuladhar.
When asked about their secret of success, Manandhar says,
“In this business, it’s necessary
to know people.” So does having
a good PR translate to success?
“Not necessarily,” says Tuladhar, “We have been successful
so far not just because of our
patrons but also because of the
environment and the service
we provide.”
Having had their share of
experience with the restaurant
and clubbing scene in Kathmandu, Navin Tuladhar says, “The
night life in Kathmandu has
received bad reviews because
of that small percentage of
the rowdy crowd. Also, people
want the flavor of the month.
It’s human nature I guess. But
we prefer to lay low and go
steady rather than be the ‘hype’
one month and phase out the
other,” says Manandhar.
So make your way into the
Bourbon Room for a wonderful night with your friends for
its exquisite cocktails and soulful Sufi. And while you’re at it,
sing along with Ciney Gurung
on one of their “open mic”
nights. n
6
metropolis
bazaar buzz
New Year, New
Dreams
Spice Nepal has made public
its intent to reach out to
more Nepalis. It plans to
double its market base and
even target rural Nepal in the
near future.
event highlights
Kutumba Goes Cross-Country
kathmandu-based folk band kutumba is touring
Nepal from Dadeldhura in the far west to phidim
in the east. The tour kicked off on 5th january and
will culminate on 20th february.
Called “Celebrating Cultural Diversity: A Musical
Caravan”, the band and janakpur-based theatre
troupe MINAp (Mithila Natyakala parishad) have
visited five locations around the country: Dadeldhura, kapilvastu, kalaiya, lahan and phidim.
Spearheaded by leAD International, the tour was
aimed at celebrating the unique cultural and ethnic
groups of Nepal by playing to various audiences in
different parts of the country.
McDonalds heading
to Kathmandu
The success of kfC in the
Nepali market might have
propelled more MNCs to
invest in Nepal. everything
is set and we can expect to
see McDonalds in town by
the end of 2010.
“we have a common identity which is ‘being
Nepali’, and the best way to reflect this would
be through music,” said Robin Sitoula, executive
Director of leAD International.
Speaking after the phidim leg of the tour, kutumba
percussionist pavit Maharjan felt proud of the
band’s cross-country journey.
The first telecom to introduce the 3g service in South
Asia, Nepal Telecom is all set
to fulfill customer dreams
by expanding its 3g service
in the kathmandu valley and
pokhara. It costs Rs. 4,195 to
acquire this service in which
the user will get a talk time
worth Rs. 3,500.
women in Concert (wIC), an annual musical event,
will soon make waves in the city once again as the
organizers are back with its 7th edition this year.
wIC part I was first held in September 2003 at the
Dechenling gardens, kathmandu.what began as an
Investment awareness campaign
Sb Company pvt. ltd. organized an investment awareness campaign in kathmandu
on 23rd january. This campaign
mainly focused on making the
people aware about investment benefits and risks.
This year’s event will be held on 30th March, 2010
at the garden of Dreams and will be dedicated in
memory of one of wIC’s core members and foremost supporters vidhea Shrestha. Also, a part of
this year’s proceeds will be donated towards the
“vidhea Shrestha Music Scholarship” for women
who wish to pursue an education in music at the
kathmandu jazz Conservatory.
around the globe
Chocolate
YouTube’s New
Fashion Show Video-Viewing Page
youTube has unveiled its new and improved video viewing page
so that customers can derive the best possible video experience.
but that’s not all. beginning january 22nd, the video-sharing site has
dipped its toe into the movie-rental business, starting with five films
from the past two Sundance film festivals. by paying a rental fee
of a few dollars, users will have 24 to 72 hours (depending on the
length of the film) to watch the movies as many times as they want.
Two new branches of Nabil
bank were opened in Satdobato and kuleshwor. These
branches were inaugurated
by Satyendra prasad Shrestha,
former governor of Nepal
Rastra bank.
Chitwan jungle lodge,Temple
Tiger, Island jungle Resort and
Narayani Safari have resumed
services after the government
extended their operating licenses till the end of 2011. However,
three other resorts were not
granted the licenses as they did
not clear their taxes.
Concluding the tour will be a double-header in
kathmandu - on february 19th at the garden
of Dreams, and on february 20th at basantapur
Durbar Square.
wIC is a one-of-a-kind event with the aim of providing a platform for young aspiring female Nepali
musicians to sing and perform in public, and,
perhaps, even make a career of it. This yearly musical extravaganza, however, is more than a mere
concert as wIC contributes a certain percentage
of the proceeds towards a deserving social cause.
Nabil Bank Opens
New Branches
Four Resorts In
Chitwan National
Park Reopen
“The band has gained a lot, musically and culturally. we worked with more than 100 local artists
and we’re the first ever instrumental band to have
toured Nepal.”
idea among friends, proved to be a highly successful
evening. Since then, there has been no looking back.
besides being a 35-year-old
stationary company based
in India, DoMS is also a
philanthropic organization
as it promotes education. It
plans to contribute a part of
its sales to those children in
Nepal who are deprived of
education.
Sundance Film
Festival TwentyTen
The Chinese version of Salon du
Chocolat at Shanghai was held
recently where models walked
down the ramp in lip-smacking
creations made from chocolates.
The chocolate fashion show not
only saw chocolate dresses, skirts
and shirts, but the models even
sizzled down the ramp flaunting
delicious chocolate handbags,
masks and shoes.
the week that was
Classical Music
on 21st january, the Indian
Cultural Centre organized a
classical music performance
- Antarang: from the Heart.
The event featured a variety
of performances within the
genre.
Book-a-Bee
wIC - In memory of vidhea
DOMS - Now In
Nepal
Nepal Telecom All
Set To Establish Its
3G Service
Issue 1 Jan 28 -Feb 3, 2010
One of the largest independent cinema festivals in the
US, Sundance Film Festival,
is taking place from January 21st to 31st at Park City,
Utah. The annual festival is
held every January where
new work from American and
international independent
filmmakers is showcased.
Harley Davidson’s new
addition to the Dark Custom Line
Harley Davidson (HD) has just announced
a new addition to its entry-level Sporster
family. Called the Forty-Eight, the new
machine is the latest motorcycle to slot
into HD’s Dark Custom series, which also
includes the Nightster 1200, Iron 883, Cross
Bones, Fat Bob and Street Bob.
educating while entertaining
was the main theme of the
event ‘book-a-bee’, which
was held in Moksh, jhamsikhel on 23rd january. Around
60 children from various
schools, accompanied by
their teachers, participated
in the event. The bookshop,
Quixote’s Cove, was the
organizer of the event where
children’s book author
Simon Arthy also shared his
thoughts with the children
and teachers present. The
event was a fundraiser for
the esther benjamins Memorial Trust.
The Mahabharata
at Siddhartha Art
Gallery
Siddhartha Art gallery
organized a solo exhibition
of an Indian artist kurchi
Dasgupta from India on 23rd
january. The exhibition was
called ‘The Mahabharata: An
Impression’ where the Hindu
epic - The Mahabharata - was
depicted in the paintings.
Art Competition
in Chelsea
The Second Chelsea junior
Art Competition was held on
23rd january at the Chelsea
International Academy. The
competition was intended for
children aged between three
to eight years in order to
encourage them to embrace
their creative side.
Award-Winning
Film Screened
vintuna, a 100-minute-long
Newari movie was screened
at the Rastriya Nach ghar
on 23rd january. The film was
such a big hit that it even
won the critics’ choice for
The best film 2008 at the
Nepal International Indigenous film festival ’08. The
Shakya brothers - Sabin on
the flute and Niroj on the
tabala - gave added flavor to
the event.
Lekhnath Mahotsav
Kicks Off
The lekhnath Mahotsav
started on 22nd january and
will continue for 10 days. The
main purpose of the festival
is to promote tourism, trade
and local products.
metropolis
offers
window shopping
Smart Casuals
Get a Picanto for
Rs. 1,699,000 only
As part of their New year
offer, kIA Motors is giving picanto lovers a hefty discount
on its purchase. get a kIA
picanto worth Rs. 1,899,000
for just Rs. 1,699,000. offer
is valid for limited units only.
Whenever you’re caught up in a wadrobe dilemma as to
what to wear for the day, smart casuals is the way to go. It
doubles up for both an office setting and outdoor events, be
it day or night. In this edition,Window Shopping cruises you
through in an array of smart casuals to choose from.
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8
Love
em’
shoes!
It gives us confidence and makes us feel like a million
dollars. Forget diamonds. Be it stiletto heels or just
pumps, shoes are a girl’s best friend.
— Ayusha Nirola
halfway
Issue 1 Jan 28 -Feb 3, 2010
w
ant to make a girl happy? Then gift her
5-inch stilettos that will make everyone’s head turn. For a girl, her shoes
reflect her personality. While the more
sassy and trend-diva might go for colorful and runway-ready statement
shoes, an elegant pump should do the
trick for a fashion conscious working
woman. Heels are a favorite for every buyer, but with almost
every big fashion house from Prada to Marc Jacobs shifting from sky-high heels to lower ones this runway season,
there is bound to be a big shift in the fall footwear fashion
in 2010.
But what do our own fashionistas around K-town look
for while investing in a pair? In a survey of over 20 girls,
a majority rated comfort as the prime factor while buying
shoes. These girls are also ready to spend, on average, 1,500
to 2,500 rupees on one pair. And more than 60% stated high
heels as the style of choice. “I love stilettos because they are
sexy. It’s as simple as that,” says Trishna Lama, who currently works at an international humanitarian organization
in the city. A trend-setter herself, she adds, “Stilettos never
fail to add oomph to any ensemble. They are not always the
most comfortable shoes and they surely are not for everyone.
“Stilettos never fail to add
oomph to any ensemble….
you just have to match
the sky-high heels with a
truculent attitude and
panache to do justice to
these sexy creations”
You just have to match the sky-high heels with truculent attitude and panache to do justice to these sexy creations.” Amen
to that!
Winter, however, gets a little tricky for a shoe freak. A
diva doesn’t want to freeze her toes wearing adorable summer heels but, at the same time, wants to look stylish. So
during winter, boots become the savior for a glam goddess.
Be it Ugg boots, the slouchy boots, the flat boots, the overthe-knee boots or that one boot that can make you want to
rob a bank and you wouldn’t regret it later on; we love it all.
Although it has been around for a while, Booties, the chic
and adorable ankle-length boots, are what everyone is talking about this season. You can find them in leather and suede,
and also in many different styles that can make you go gaga
over them. It’s the perfect piece for a girl who wants to look
stylish this winter but is not a fan of the knee-high boots.
But if you just cannot do without strappy heels even in this
chilly weather, then make sure you buy shoes made of suede
or leather with a firm strap that not only keep your legs in
place but also warm. Platform heels and pumps can also be
worn this winter, and pairing it with classic black stockings
would be classy and diva-like.
For those who find high heels unimpressive, going for
equally stylish and comfortable footwear like ballet sandals
and colorful sneakers - looks that anyone can carry out well
– is a great option.
So girls, hurry up and invest in a pair of “to-die–for” shoes
because in Kathmandu’s shops these elegant footwear are
selling like hot cakes! n
ECS M
edia
10
timeoff
Undercover
Issue 1 Jan 28 -Feb 3, 2010
gourmet
We’re sending out our most refined pallets - to see, sniff, eat,
drink and report on the good, the bad and the ugly of restaurants in Kathmandu. No holds barred.Their undercover eye for
detail will miss nothing. Nothing will be swept under the table,
giving you the most realistic picture of the restaurants they
visit. Check out this space every fortnight.
book preview
YALTA
Writer: S.M. plokhy
Release date: february 4, 2010
Pages: 448
yalta by S.M. plokhy is a revisionist look
at history from a prominent Harvard
scholar. plohky looks at Russian sources
and other accounts to challenge the notion that fDR gave away too much at the
historic meeting at yalta.
photography
LANDSCAPE
SlR cameras are ideal for
landscape photography since
they have changeable lenses,
shutter speeds, aperture adjustments, white balance and ISo
settings. using a wide lens of 18
mm or less would be the best
option to take any landscape
photograph. good composition
and proper knowledge on the
subject is also essential. It is not
necessary that good photos
can only be taken on a sunny
CAUTION: Read well before you dine.
day. If you know how to play
with the white balance setting
and the shutter speed, then you
can get the best shots even on
a gloomy day. worried about
where to find the best place
to take the photographs? “The
kathmandu valley has plenty
of places for good landscape
photography. Taudaha, Nagdaha,
Kakani, Shivapuri and Halchowk
are the best ones,” suggests a
veteran Nepali photographer.
rejuvenation
T
he Red Dingo, located
at Jawalakhel behind the
Standard Chartered Bank
premises, is a quaint little
café boasting a quiet neighborhood, with wrought iron chairs
and cold marble top tables on
the patio. The interiors are
much warmer but the noises of
the servers and bartender made
sitting outside a lot more comforting. The menu was a rather
unique offering of light lunchtime food with soups, salads,
pastas (including home made
ravioli) and a small selection of
main courses.
As food critiques, we love
short menus, which usually denotes that the chef is constantly
looking for the freshest seasonal ingredients to make up his
menu. But sadly not in this case;
the menu has remained the same
for a very long time… So seated
down on a freezing winter afternoon and eating a chilled salad
of smoked chicken and avocado
(sparingly introduced) was not
exactly a heartwarming meal.
There would not be any special time to visit the Red Dingo.
With no views and no scenery,
oNe SHoulD,
HoweveR,
NoT be Too
ADveNTuRouS
wHIle oRDeRINg
fRoM THe MeNu.
the restaurant located behind a
tall luxury apartment building
has nothing special to offer in
the external ambience department.
After a short confusion with
the service guy over house wine
- where he offered an Australian
sherry in place of house white -
we decided to just order beer and
headed straight for the food.
We ordered a smoked chicken
salad and requested the server
to recommend a main course,
but to no avail, we had to choose
for ourselves. Vegetarian ravioli,
which was meant to be cottage
cheese, mushroom and spinach,
had all the ingredients but for
the cottage cheese which made
a mere guest appearance. But
I must admit that the tomato
sauce served with it was rich
and I would rate it exquisite…
full marks for that. However, I
would have enjoyed it a lot more
if the ravioli itself was heated
as much as the sauce. We also
ordered a meat pie, which the
server said was great. UNFORTUNATELY it was nowhere close to
fresh and seemed like it had been
made earlier and reheated; the
flakiness of puff pastry was replaced by tough leathery dough.
The meat filling, however, was
DETOX WITH A BODY WRAP
into your dress perfectly, then
we definitely recommend the
body wrap. It easily takes away
two to three kg and keeps it
that way for at least a week,”
says Sadhna Tuladhar, Spa
Manager at Spa Prana, Durbar
Marg where this service is
available. body wraps that use
In need of some rejuvenaalgae, seaweed, mud or clay
tion? And while you’re at it
are detox treatments that help
do you want to lose a couple rid the body of toxins through
of pounds? body wrap might metabolic stimulation. but do
just be the right option for
not expect a body wrap to be
you. with the introduction of a massage.you can, however,
spa services around the city,
get both treatments – body
these “slimming” body wraps
wrap and massage, or look
that lead to temporary loss of for signature treatments that
weight and extra inches, are
include scrub, body wrap and
the latest hype. “If you have a
massage. So anybody up for
party to attend and want to fit some easy slimming?
interestingly seasoned, but we
did find a hint of ketchup in the
mix. It was served with fries
and a raw vegetable salad on
the side. And, oh, not to forget
the swirl of ketchup on yop that
we tried hard to remove before
we began our meal. All said the
desserts were wonderful. Meal
done, bill paid, but why was the
server hovering around later?
Waiting for his tip I guess.
A wonderful place
to hang around with a book or
VERDICT:
some pending work over coffee
and cake maybe - or even good
for a quiet date. One should,
however, not be too adventurous
while ordering from the menu. n
MeAl foR 2 peRSoNS: Rs. 1,500-2,000
CReDIT CARD/DebIT CARD accepted
food
beverage
Hygiene
Ambience
Service
value for money
timeoff
the weekender
n Four Seasons
Restaurant and Bar,
Thamel. Chicken with
Cashew Nuts: Rs. 270/-.
4701715
eATeRIeS
KATHMANDU
n Arniko RoomHotel Annapurna,
Durbar Marg. Spicy
ginger prawn: Rs 1,200/-.
4222190
n Bhumi Restro
Lounge, Lazimpat.
Mixed Chatamari: Rs.
90/-. 4412193
n Garlic Café and Bar,
United World Trade
Centre,Tripureshwor.
Chicken a la kiev: Rs.
180/-. 4117010
n Gazebo Restro
Lounge, Durbar
Marg. kitchen Alakeb:
Rs. 340/-. 9841397603
n Hot Breads, Food
Court @ Bluebird
Mall, Bluestar Complex,Tripureshwor.
Spaghetti Napolitano:
Rs. 135/-. 4228833
Hungry Sam. Durbar Marg.
Nasi grorery (Malaysian fried Rice): Rs.
125/-. 4720895
n Café Olla Restaurant and Bar, Kantipath, Jamal. golden
fried prawn: Rs. 320/-.
4232673
n Chez Caroline Restaurant, Babar Mahal
Revisited. pepper Steak,
french fries, Salad: Rs.
700/-. 4263070, 4264187
n Coffee Shop, Durbar Marg. Chicken kathi
Roll: Rs. 250/-. 4221711
n Cosmopolitan Café,
Basantpur. Tuna egg
Salad: Rs. 115/-. 4225246
n Courtyard Restaurant, Kamaladi. Mix
pizza: Rs. 220/-. 4253056
n Dechenling Garden,
Thamel. gyakok Tibetan Hot pot: Rs. 700/-.
4412158
n Delicatessen
Centre Café, Durbar
Marg. oven baked
Roast Chicken: Rs. 180/-.
5525903
n De Mask, Khichapokhari. jhinge
Machha: Rs.100/-.
4215675
1905 Restaurant,
Kantipath.
Chicken pansrde:
Rs.650/-.
4215068
n Jeans Café, Basantpur. Reshmi kabab:
Rs.225/-. 4221324
n Lobsters’, Sherpa
Mall. Durbar Marg.
Thad Thai: Rs.300/-.
4231323, 4231437
n Mughal Kitchen
Restaurant & Bar
Pvt. Ltd., New
Baneshwor. Mughal
Smooch: Rs. 80/n OR2K,Thamel.
Stuffed vegetables
Combination: Rs. 290/-.
4422097
n Club Platinum,
Yak & Yeti. Salsa
night with jimmy
and Masha. every
wednesday, free
workshop, 8 pm
onwards. 4248999
n Himalatte Café,
Thamel. Cloud
walkers playing
live. Tuesdays, 7:30
pm. 4256738. U2
and the Police
from the Eternity.
every friday, 7:30 pm
onwards. 4256738
n Rynibs Food Corner,
Lazimpat. Chicken Sautee: Rs. 75/-. 4419832
n Silver Wok Chinese
Cuisine, Panipokhari,
Lazimpat. pork Chivi: Rs.
185/-. 4438728
n TFC, Radisson
Hotel, Lazimpat. Sesame
Chicken: Rs. 500/-. 4411818,
4788888
PATAN
n Bakery Café, Pulchowk. buffet Set lunch:
Rs.310/-. 5010110
n Panas Restaurant And Café,
Khichapokhari. buigal
Set: Rs.210/-. 4212593
n Café de Patan, Mangalbazar. Newari Samay
with Chicken: Rs.175/-.
5537599
n Red Roof Café,
Sankhamul Road.
Choyela (duck): Rs.
130/-. 4784786
n Chopstix, Kumaripati, Patan. golden fried
prawns: Rs. 325/-. 5551118
n Rice & Bowl,
Tripureswor.
Hakka prawn: Rs.550/-.
4251678
n Road House Café,
Thamel. Toasted goat
Cheese Salad: Rs. 205/-.
4260187
n Rox Restaurant,
Hyatt Regency,
ALJAZEERA ENGLISH
Counting the Cost
Counting the Cost
provides background to
the economic stories that
shape our world and their
impact on the lives of
ordinary people.
8:15 pm, Friday 29th
January, 2010
Cambodia Surgical
Ward
The film is a gritty, fly-onthe-wall profile of a small
Anglo-American-khmer
surgical team trying to
save lives among Cambodia’s poorest and most
desperate in phnom penh
1:55 pm, Saturday 30th
January, 2010
n Brunchilli - The
Acoustic Lounge,
Thamel. live music.
Sundays and Thursdays, 7:30 pm onwards. 9851035437
Bouddha. Char grilled
prawns: Rs. 1450/-. 4491234
worth a watch
BBC
NIGHT OUT
n Dhokaima Café,
Patan Dhoka. grilled
Rainbow Trout: Rs.399/-.
5522113
n Ezer Book Café,
Sanepa. kim bob: Rs.
200/-. 5546578
n Haddock Dining and
Bar, Pulchowk. Chicken
wings Momo: Rs. 120/-.
5554631, 4232673
ANIMAL PLANET
n Irish Pub, Lazimpat.
ladies Night. every
Tuesday, 7 pm onwards.
4416027
n Kakori, Soaltee
Crowne Plaza. experience the varieties of
biryanis, Curries and
mouth watering kebabs.
for Dinners only, 7 pm
-10:45 pm. 4273999
n Lhasa Restaurant
& Bar,Thamel. live
band. every wednesday,
friday and Saturday, 7 pm
onwards. 9851010431
n Porch Bar, Soaltee
Crown Plaza, Soaltee
Mode Relax and enjoy
some of the finest drinks.
every day, 6 pm - 10 pm.
4273999
n Jazzabel Café,
Chakupat, Lalitpur,
African whole fried/grilled
Snapper with plain Rice: Rs.
400/-. 2114075
n Patan Museum Café,
Patan Durbar Square.
grilled Chicken served
with french fries, Seasonal vegetable: Rs. 260/-.
5524694
n The Ambience
Restaurant & Bar,
Mangalbazar. Newari Set:
Rs.250/-. 5538980
n Vesper Café, Pulchowk. Stuffed barbeque
Chicken: Rs.230/-. 5548179
n Shambala Garden,
Shangrila Hotel.
Starry Night barbeque
with live performance by
Ciney gurung, inclusive
of a can beer or bottle
of Soft Drink. every
friday, 7 pm onwards.
4412999
n The Café, Hyatt
Regency. Taste the culinary delights from the
Mediterranean region
of greece, Italy and the
Middle east. fridays,
6:30pm. 4491234
n Bamboo Club Restaurant,Thamel. Robin
and The New Revolution
playing live. every Tuesday 7
pm onwards. 4701547
n Bottles ‘n’ Chimney,
Thamel. Dharmendra
HAVE YOUR SAY
banning vehicles inside Thamel area
has forever been a matter of DebATe.
Do you think Thamel should be turned
into a complete pedestrian locale?
For Yes type Y space poll, for No type
N space poll and send it to 3276.
n Upstairs Jazz Bar,
Lazimpat. jSC QuARTeT
and group playing live.
every Saturday, 8 pm
onwards. 9851040276
geTAwAyS
KATHMANDU
(Nepali Tara) playing
unplugged. fridays,
7 pm onwards.
2123135
n Bourbon Room,
Lal Durbar Marg.
Chill out lounge,
Music by Dj Miriam.
every friday. 4441703
n Brunchilli,The
Acoustic Lounge,
Naxal. blues with
Nekhvam. Mondays,
7 pm onwards.
2123135, 9851046604
n Celebrations
Restaurant and
Bar,Thamel. live
music by Robin and
The New Revolution.
every friday 7 pm
onwards. 9841347613
n Jatra Café and
Bar,Thamel. ladies
night with live Sufi
and Indian Contemporary music. every
wednesday. 4256622
n Kausi Restaurant, Hotel Wood-
n Godavari Village
Resort, Godavari. Special packages available for
Nepalese and expatriates.
1 night, 2 days package.
for couple: Rs 3,500/plus taxes, which includes
bed and breakfast.
5560675
n Hyatt Regency,
Bouddha. Relax package for two, including
breakfast at the Café.1
night package, maximum
for 3 nights, for Nepali
citizens only. for couple:
Rs. 7,700/- inclusive of all
taxes. 4491234, 4489800
n Park Village, Budhanilkantha. weekend
package with accommodation on half board
basis. Couple: Rs. 4,900/plus tax. 9851070936,
9851057642
17 Januuary16 February
An exhibition of paintings by birendra pratap
Singh. Time: 11 am - 6
pm.venue: kathmandu
Contemporary Art
Centre: jhamsikhel,
lalitpur. 5521120
DHULIKHEL
n Dhulikhel Mountain
Resort, Dhulikhel.
palanchowk bhagwati
Darshan package. 1 night,
2 days. for Single: Rs.
4,500/-, which includes
accommodation, transportation and three meals.
4420774
n The Dwarika’s
Himalayan Shangri-La
Village Resort, Dhulikhel. overnight package.
1 night, 2 days. Single:
Rs. 3,500/- plus 10% tax.
Double: Rs. 5,000/- plus
10% tax. great escape
package. 2 nights, 3days.
Couple: Rs. 12,666/- plus
10% tax. 4479488
NAGARKOT
n Club Himalaya,
Nagarkot. Chiso Chiso
Hawa Ma Special package. 1 night, 2 days. for
Single: Rs. 3,200/- plus tax
inclusive of dinner and
breakfast. for Couple: Rs.
4,000/- plus tax inclusive
of dinner and breakfast.
4410432
POKHARA
n Fulbari Resort,
Pokhara. Sense and Serenity package. 2 nights, 3 days.
per person on twin sharing
basis. Single supplement
room: Rs. 4,999/- plus 10%
service charge and 13%
vat. package includes buffet
breakfast, buffet dinner, boating, gorge walks, 30 minutes
foot massage 25% discount
on golf, Health farm, Spa,
and Tennis. 4461918
uS
MISCellANeo
n Big Pagoda Hall,
Hotel Vajra, Chhauni.
Tantric Dance, The god
Dance of Nepal.Tuesdays, 7
pm onwards. 4271545
n Bottles ‘n’ Chimney,
Thamel. watch Soccer live
on big projected Screen,
Saturdays & Sundays.
9851046604
n Comfort Zone Bar
& Grill,Thamel. Movie
Night. Mondays, 8 pm.
4700080
n Cozy Café and Restaurant,Thamel. exciting
Adventure Movie show.
every day, 5:30 pm - 7:30
pm. 4259367
n Eden Lounge Bar,
Kathmandu Mall. enjoy
every Day Happy Hour. 3
pm – 7 pm. 4150062
n Himalayan Buddhist
Meditation Centre, Keshar Mahal,Thamel. Tai
Chi,yoga and Meditation.
weekdays, 10 am - 6 pm.
4410402
n Pathibara Art Gallery, Arcadia Apartment
Hotel, Chaksi Bari
Marga,Thamel. exhibition on Authentic Traditional Tibetan Thangkas by
prominent artists Nabin
krishna Chitrakar, gyalze
Sherpa, urgen Tensing, Amir
lama to promote real Tibetan Thangka and Newari
paubha Art. 9:30 am - 7:00
pm. 4256004, 9841418871,
9851026064
n Rock Climbing. NexgeN Adventure program,
Daily departure. 6914541,
9841283385
The details provided in
the listings are tentative and are subject to
change. for classifieds &
advertisements contact:
[email protected]. Tel: 5011571
friday picks
It’s Me or the Dog:
The Fickle Five
ElectroCardiogram:
Internal Stories
n The Green Valley,
Tokha. far away from the
maddening crowd. A holiday package for 1 night
and 2 days with a meal
and transportation. per
person: Rs. 2,500/- plus
taxes. 4220245, 4228288
n Grand Norling
Hotel’s Resorts
Country Club and Spa,
Gokarna. Country side
weekend package.1 night,
2 days package. for single:
Hotel Space
Rs. 3,500/- inclusive of
Mountain, Nagarkot
tax. for couple: Rs.
exclusive package Rates for
4,500/- inclusive of
expatriates and Nepalis. for
tax. 2 Night, 3 days
Single: Rs. 1,700/- plus tax
package. for single:
inclusive of dinner, breakfast
Rs.5, 500/- inclusive of
and room. for Couple: Rs.
tax. for couple: Rs.7,
2,500/- plus tax inclusive of
000/- inclusive of tax.
dinner, breakfast and room.
4910193, 4910296
4430812, 6680071
HISTORY CHANNEL
Hitler’s Bodyguard: Jewish and Émigré attempt
to kill Hitler
HBO
Hitler’s enemies were large
Eagle Eye
in number and his bodyguard
jerry Shaw and Rachel
feared revenge attacks from
Holloman are two
all of them. As determined
strangers thrown
individuals killed Nazi officers
together by a mysteriand sympathizers, an extraorous phone call from a
dinary plan was prepared to
woman they have never
send an aircraft to bomb Hitmet. Threatening their
ler during a military parade.
lives and family, she pushbut his security proved equal
es them into a series of world renowned british dog trainer victoria
to the task of keeping the
increasingly dangerous
Stilwell arrives at an
fuehrer alive.
situations. As the situation escalates, these two engaged couple’s house 9:15 pm, Monday 1st
ordinary people become with the hope of bringing February, 2010
into control their five
the country’s most
ESPN
emotionally distressed,
wanted fugitives who
Barclays Premier
must work together to poop-eating pugs who
League 2009/10
are putting a strain on
discover what is really
the couple’s pre-marital Match: liverpool vs. bolton
happening and, more
wanderers
relationship.
importantly, why.
6:45 pm, Sunday 31st 8:45 pm, Sunday 31st 12:15 pm, Monday 1st
February, 2010
January, 2010
January, 2010
poll-o -meter
n Nanglo Café and Pub,
Durbar Marg. Crossfire
playing live. every friday.
4222636
n The Corner Bar,
Radisson Hotel,
Lazimpat. offering
an array of sumptuous
snacks, exotic drinks and
cocktails. 3 pm - 11pm.
4411818
n D’Lounge,
Beijing Roast Duck
Restaurant, New
Baneshwor. Melodious Nepali gazals
and Songs. Thursdays,
6:30 pm onwards.
4468589
MuSIC
land Complex, Durbar
Marg. Acoustic Session by
forth face . wednesdays.
9851038275
The Edge of Darkness,
(Drama/Thriller)
TRAVEL &
LIVING
World Café: Asia
– Kuala Lumpur
A stretch of weird
and wonderful
street food awaits
Chef bobby Chinn
in kuala lumpur,
including satay,
chicken rendang
and Queen of
Nonya cuisine.
7:15 pm,Tuesday
2nd February,
2010
As homicide detective, Thomas
Craven (Mel gibson) investigates
the death of his activist daughter.
He uncovers not only her secret
life, but a corporate cover-up
and government collusion that
attracts an agent (Danny Huston)
assigned to clean up the evidence.
When In Rome,
(Romantic Comedy)
beth is a young, ambitious New
yorker who is completely unlucky in
love. However, on a whirlwind trip
to Rome, she impulsively steals some
coins from
a reputed
fountain
of love,
and is then
aggressively
pursued by
a band of
suitors.
RELEASING ON:
RELEASING ON:
january 29, 2010
DURATION: 1 hr 48 mins
DIRECTOR: Martin Campbell
STARRING: Mel gibson,
Danny Huston
DURATION: 1hr 31mins
DIRECTOR: Mark Steven johnson
STARRING: kristen bell, josh Du-
january 29, 2010
hamel , Anjelica Huston
mark your calendar
The Mahabharata:
An Impression
23 January-11 February
A Solo exhibition of paintings by kurchi
Dasgupta. Time:
4 pm.venue:
Siddhartha Art
gallery, babarmahal Revisited.
4218048
Travellers and
Magicians
1 February
Movie Screening
Time: 5:30 pm
venue: lazimpat gallery Café. 4428549
Dumji Festival
2010
9-11 February
location: Tengboche,
everest base Camp
The Dumji festival celebrates the anniversary
of guru Rinpoche’s
birth on the lotus
flower. There is much
dancing, drinking and
merry making in addition to the more serious rituals performed
by buddhist monks.
for more information, contact: Sahara
Holidays Nepal Treks
& expedition, Thamel.
4444196
Maha Shivaratri
12 February
location: pashupatinath Temple
Time: Throughout the day
one of the key Hindu festivals,
Maha Shivaratri is dedicated to
lord Shiva. Thousands of devotees
throng the pashupatinath temple
to celebrate the festival.
gizmo
PimpMyRide
ALLOY WHEELS: Light-
er in weight but having
the same strength as
steel, alloy wheels have
improved cosmetic appearance and are better conductors of heat.
Friday gives you a glimpse of modification accessories for your car offered
in the stores of Kathmandu.
— Samriddhi Rai
A
re you unhappy with the
way your beloved oldie
looks like? Maybe its time
you give it a little sprucing
up; the term rightly called “Cosmetic Modification”.
Not that the procedure only applies to old cars. You can even give
your ordinary car the cosmetic
touch to add that extra flair. Simply cruising through the lane of
Kuleshwor alone will give you at
least 40 to 50 stores that will cater
to your needs.
“We can give your vehicle the
kind of makeover depending on
your budget. It can start as low
as Rs. 20,000, but there have been
customers who have gone overboard spending lakhs on it,” puts
one such store owner diplomatically on our query about the possible
cost for modification.
Momo handle (steering): It has
nothing to do with Nepal’s favorite
delicacy. It’s simply the name of the
company that pioneered this “designer” steering wheel.
BOOSTER SILENCER: Also
Full body Stickers (vinyl): Car
paints are exciting but what’s more
hassle-free is the full body stickers
for your vehicle. The sticker comes
in a thick aluminum-like sheet called
vinyl, which is as tough as it is appealing.
called mufflers, these are added to cars to give it a sporty
sound - that loud “vroomvroom” sound you might
have heard, to be precise.
Side Skirtings: Enhance the “sexy
zing” of your automobile by installing side skirtings. These add
volumes to the sidelines of your
car, giving it a curvaceous shape.
Emblem: Jaguar, Lamborghini,
Mercedes... you name it. You can
now proudly show off an emblem
of some of the most expensive of
cars on your bonnet.
Here’s a list of some of Friday’s
exciting finds
LCD, DVD: Install an LCD, DVD
inside your car and get relaxingly
Sporty Spoilers: Installed in the bum- entertained as the rest fume with
per of the car, sporty spoilers, as the anger in the constantly jammed
name suggests, gives your ordinary streets of Kathmandu.
car that “sporty” look.
NEON LIGHTS: These neon
hued lights are placed below
your seats or on the underside of the car. With these
installed, you’re sure to turn
a lot of heads as you zoom
around in your car at night.
BUCKET SEATS: You may not
ANTI-THEFT (GSM): Installing an antitheft (GSM) is more of a necessity than
a modification.This system comes with a
mobile phone where you install a regular
sim card. In case your vehicle gets lost,
you can lock the car from anywhere, provided you’re within its network.
be able to afford a Formula
1 car, but you sure can get
yourself its prototype seat
for your automobile.
PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS: Are
customized headlights that replace
your boring, original lights, giving
your car that one-of-a-kind look.
Big pictures
Barely the size of a handphone, Pico Projectors are the new
darlings of the tech world. LIM YAN LIANG takes a look at
why you should care about these diminutive boxes of light.
I
magine being able to share
with friends the latest photographs of your holiday
not on your puny camera
display or mobile phone, but
as a blown up picture wider
than your arm span. Now,
imagine being able to do
that anywhere you are, unfettered to cumbersome computers or power sockets.
The technology of pico projection promises this and more, including being able to watch movies and play videogames on-the-go
without being limited by the
size of your device’s screen.
As mobile phones and
portable media players become
ever more powerful yet compact,
the challenge facing device
makers is how to increase the
size of the display without sacrificing mobility. Enter pico projection. By using DLP technology
(millions of microscopic mirrors
with is each measuring less than
one-fifth the width of a human
hair) and lasers instead of cumbersome bulbs found in conventional projectors, manufacturers
are bringing to consumers projectors as small as a pack of playing
cards.
Pocket projectors that have
hit the market in recent months
run the entire gamut, from the
candybar Samsung MBP200,
which comes with a microSD
slot to pull media right off your
memory card, to
the one pound Dell
M109S, which outputs a
best-in-class 50 lumens of light
enough to rival some desktop
projectors. With Sanwa’s newly
released PRJ-001, a shirt-pocket
friendly projector of just 85g that
is available now for just US$119,
such technology has never been
more affordable.
The start of 2010 also
marked the start of Pico projection technology being integrated
into other mobile devices. Texas
Instruments showcased an attachment that empowered the
user to project videos anywhere
directly off a camcorder at the
Consumer Electronics Show
2010, while both Samsung and
LG released handphones with
pocket projection capability, the
W9600 and Expo respectively.
However, as with any first-generation technology, pico projection is not without problems. Such
projectors are unable to output
as much light as their deskbound
brethren, meaning they work best
only in pitch black environments.
Because they are meant to be mobile, manufacturers are also grappling with ways to improve battery life beyond a couple of hours.
So look out, readers, we may
someday soon have HD-capable
projectors in our pockets, making squinting at a tiny screen a
thing of the past. n
14
yourmoney
Issue 1 Jan 28 -Feb 3, 2010
GADGETS
HOW
MEN
WASTE
MONEY
Friday is here to stop you
from throwing away your
precious rupees on things
you don’t really need
— NK
A
ccording to one study, humans have carried with them some
of their ancient, gendered instincts when it comes to shopping, Men Buy, Women Shop. And while women tend to
browse around, “gathering” up the best from various sources, men tend go straight for the “kill”. It’s not that either sex is
better or worse: they’re just different. However, there certainly are
things that guys spend more on and more ways men waste money.
So, here we are in an attempt to prevent you from throwing away
your precious earnings on things you don’t really need.
Spend Wisely
Gender wars aside, the moral of this story is to spend wisely and
to know what it is that you spend on - and what businesses and
advertisers want you to spend on - so that you can live more of the
good life down the road.
CARS
It is unfortunate but true: Men do the majority of the car
buying and they tend to purchase the less energy efficient
models. At a time when we most certainly know that our
choice of cars affects not only our pockets but our environment as well, it’s better to let the head rule over the heart
Men tend to spend a substantial amount on “audio and
visual equipment”. (Yes, we all spend more on such
equipment rather than on drinking, thankfully.) There’s
enormous evidence that this is changing as all of our lives
are becoming become more digital as everyone relies on
technology to navigate life and do business, but men still
seem more willing to spend on high-end “guy gears”.
Instead of always having to acquire the latest, go shopping
for secondhand electronics. We met up with a guy at an
event, and he was singing praises about some incredible
deals found by just enquiring among friends about cameras, phones and laptops that have barely been used.
DRINKING
Men spend almost twice as much per year on
alcohol than women.we can just hear the bad jokes
now: Men drink to counter women’s shopping,
right? Since the price of a drink is usually marked
up at least 50% if you’re out in a bar, a night out can
get seriously expensive as many people are probably aware of. Instead, check out some awesome
drinks database for inspiration on making your own
coktail. or, plan a “house crawl” with your friends,
where each person prepares a special cocktail and
appetizer and you migrate from house to house
(responsibly, of course), instead of bar to bar.
EATING OUT
According to a recent poll, men
spend more than women while
eating out. Is the significant difference because so many men
are treating ladies to dinner?
Possibly! We find that cooking at
home and taking the leftovers
to work for lunch helps us save
quite a lot every month.
yourmoney
different strokes
Of Bikes And Butts
— Samriddhi Rai
Budgeting Blues
To get some fresh insight on ways to manage your financial
life, it helps to dig below the surface of conventional wisdom.
Friday looks at a few to set things straight.
— NK
M
ost of us can
repeat
some
of
the mantras that finance
gurus advocate in our sleep.
“Pay off your credit card debts.”
“Make a budget and stick to it.”
Sure, most of what they say is
true, it’s also common sense. To
get some fresh insight on ways to
manage your financial life, it helps
to dig below the surface of conventional wisdom. Friday looks at
a few to set things straight.
Exercise discipline while
budgeting
Budgeting is all about spending
less than you earn: This means
you shouldn’t go around buying
stuff you don’t need while, at the
same time, spending less on the
stuff you do need. However, not
all stuff. Often, it is better to pay
more for quality stuff because
they last longer and perform
buDgeTINg IS All AbouT SpeNDINg
leSS THAN you eARN:THAT MeANS
you SHoulDN’T go ARouND
buyINg STuff you DoN’T NeeD
wHIle, AT THe SAMe TIMe, SpeND leSS
oN THe STuff you Do NeeD.
better than cheaper ones. For example, a cheap rice cooker costs
Rs. 1,500; a more expensive one
might cost Rs.4,000. But the Rs.
1,500 one will go kaput in a year
while the Rs.4,000 cooker might
last for 10 years or even more,
that is if handled carefully. So,
which purchase is more cost-efficient? The more expensive one
looks better and probably makes
the rice tastier as well.
It’s Not The Same
For Everybody
“Cut down on fast food lunches,” is one of the rallying cries
of financial gurus who want
you to budget like a freak.
If you’re struggling financially, then you do need to cut
down on most of the unnecessary expenses. But if momos from Nanglo’s is one of
life’s little pleasures that get
you through the day, then go
ahead. After all, if you have a
high performance car it makes
sense to spend on the higher
performance fuel.
So making your own momos at home and bringing
that to work in a box sound
more sensible. Say what? n
financial pointers
— Rahul Shakya
Although spending
your money might
bring momentary bliss,
it won’t do you much
good in the long run.
ever thought that this
money can double and
how? Invest. “It doesn’t
really matter how
much money you have
to invest.The trick is
to get into the game”
is a popular phrase,
rather an inspirational
quote for many aspiring
investors.
Mr. Subash b. Shrestha,
who looks after the
Credit Marketing
Department for Hima-
layan bank in Maharajgunj, recommends:
n Do some research
on where you want to
invest. Teens, who get
into the habit of investing at an early age, are
more likely to become
financially responsible
adults.
n build a circle of
friends for investing.
More friends is equal to
more money. Investing
like this is also a safer
option.
Invest in gold. It is
easily accessible, and
investing in it has long
term benefits.
n
When I got myself a scooty for the very first time, besides
that feeling of finally having a prized possession of my own, I
was excited about how my commute was going to be so much
easier. Little did I know that I was setting out on an adventure
so unpredictable, it would have me fuming most of the time
and silently smiling to myself a few others, witnessing the
“show” humanity offered.
The ill-managed traffic, the broken roads and the rowdy riders; there’s a reason why the streets of Kathmandu have been
named one of the deadliest in the world. However, scooting
around the city, no matter how agitating, sometimes brings
little surprises along your way. Like those times when, out of
nowhere, a butt crack is sort of like shoved right on your face
for display! And if you’ve been a K-town rider long enough,
it’s highly likely that you’ve fallen victim to it already.
It’s funny how the butt parade, however exceedingly prevalent in our society, has been a hush-hush matter when it comes
to talking about it openly. Not until I posted a facebook status that read: “What’s up with the pillion riders showing off
their butts in the middle of the street?”, which, incidentally,
received a dozen thumbs-up and a series of comments, did I
realize that there are many people who relate with it. Which
meant, there are as many butts out there putting up a show
for everybody, everyday.
So how can we break what seems to be a very unbreakable
relationship between bikes and butts? Here are a few suggestions.
n FOR THE LADIES: I know wearing low-cut jeans is all the
rage right now, but always team up your pants with a long
tee, to avert, well you know what.
n FOR THE GUYS: Kindly ask your woman pillion rider to
check if she is showing. You’re making an honest suggestion and she will take it that you care about her.
n FOR THE SLEAZE BALLS: Stop drooling over some poor
woman’s negligence. Get a life!
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ECS Media Pvt. Ltd, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal, 5011571
No. 1 n 28 JAN- 3 Feb 2010
Publisher: ECS MEDIA PVT. LTD.
Managing Editor: SUNIL SHRESTHA
Director, Editorial & Marketing: NRIPENDRA KARMACHARYA
Sr. Manager, Editorial & Marketing: SUDEEP SHAKYA
Manager, Editorial & Marketing: NEERAZ KOIRALA
Consulting Editor: VIVIAN YONZON
Editorial Assistant: SAMRIDDHI RAI
InhouseEditor:
Writers:
AYUSHA
NIROLA, AYUSHMA BASNET
Assistant
UJEENA
RANA,
NANDITA
ELIZExecutive:
MANANDHAR
Design &RANA,
Production
SANJEEV SHRESTHA
Editorial Enquiries:[email protected]
Photographer: DASH B. MAHARJAN
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ANGIRAS MANANDHAR
Asst. Manager, Business Development: SWETA BUDATHOKI
Ad Enquiries: [email protected]
Color Separation: CTP Nepal Pvt. Ltd, HATTIBAN, 525.0466, 525.0468
Printing: Jagadamba Press, Hattiban, 525.0017/18/19 Distributor: Kasthamandap Distribution Pvt. Ltd. 201.0821, 01.622.0785