for finer things in life

Transcription

february 18-24, 2010
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PAGE3
4
PEOPLE
Talk Of The Town
statements, declarations,
confessions, accusations.
people deluge us with their
uninhibited comments.
One Question
so what can we really do
to kick the power-cut blues
out of our country? We
report people’s opinions.
10
13
17
GIZMO
CORPORATELIFE
Sound Of Music
Sexy Gadgets
Cherry Picking
cheaponomics
get a brief history of the
traditional instruments that
everyone has heard in songs,
but few know anything about.
Believe it or not, numbers play a significant role
in shaping our lives - for better or for worse.
— Friday Correspondent
known today as numerology –
in our lives.
Even then, the real credit
of organizing this branch of
occultism along user-friendly
lines, as Damaru Lal Bhandari
– editor of reportersnepal.com,
a bilingual Nepali news portal – says, goes to Count Louis
Hamon ‘Cheiro’, a Scottish seer.
The latter, who passed away on
October 8, 1936, has contributed a lot in what is also known
as chiromancy. For all practical
purposes, the knowledge, which
Cheiro left behind, will certainly
keep on guiding and influencing
all human lives.
One may ask here: How do
numbers guide at all? Well they
do; right from the moment you
are born!
Put differently, one is going
to be born on any day of any
moth of the Gregorian calendar
(which, of course, is nothing
but numbers and their repetition) depending on one’s karmic
development over incarnations
or karmas worked out, or not
yet worked out, in past incarnations.
turn to page 2 for more of it!
MeDiA
PuBLiCAtioN
18
METROPOLIS
sleek, slim and shiny techno
toys are so in. Window
shopping gives you options
to befriend one, and soon.
if you are a social animal
here are i phone / i touch
applications that will keep
you close to the grapevine.
NUMBERED
D
eVery thurSDAy
HALFWAY
YOUR DAYS ARE
o you believe in
numbers? Or, if that
is not clear, do you
know that the Arabic ordinal numbers
could have any significance at all? No? Yes? Well,
whatever you think, the reality
is numbers dominate every aspect of our lives.
And with life getting increasingly complex, more and more
people are turning to occult science to throw up solutions for
them. The good news is that
numbers, or numerology, have
answers for every problem that
we are faced with.
Numerology has explanations for everyone – from the
romantically challenged to
someone who is finding success
elusive. It can tell whether you
will make a politician or a socialite or a poor soul for whom life
is a hellhole.
Of course, astrologers have
been around ever since numbers
were discovered. However, it
was the Chaldeans (many millennia ago) who put together
the significance of numbers –
|
money may get you a beautiful house but it takes a loving
heart to create a beautiful
home.We tell you how.
2
Someone who landed Cheiro’s
Numerology & Astrology and You
& Your Star – two books which
help you change your troubled
life – while passing through a
lean phase of in his own career
back in 1995, Bhandari has come
a long way in achieving a ‘rescue
act’ and has been able to achieve
some semblance of ‘restoration’,
to say the very least.
He marvels at how numbers
take a negative toll on human life
and, at the same time, how they
also often take many to ‘dizzy
heights’. Looked at from the view
point of numbers, life is no longer a mystery if anyone considers life to be a mystery at times,
and especially through phases
when success is elusive while appearing to be within one’s grasp.
“I used to take (my) life to be a
mystery. I knew I had just enough
good qualities to reach just about
anywhere given the qualities of
others around me. But the struggle was over when it all simplified itself the day I got my hands
on the books,” Bhandari says in a
matter-of-fact way.
First, of course, what do numbers represent? Here is a tour:
Number 1 stands for the
Sun and all that is creative, and
persons born on the 1st, 10th,
19th and 28th (1+0=1, 1+9=10
which is 1, 2 and 8=10 which is
again 1) are creative, individualist and inventive by nature. Of
course, finer details can be arrived at only after taking note
of the month they are born in.
Number 2 stands for the Moon
and persons born under it are
Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010
imaginative, artistic and romantic
but not as forceful as those born
under number 1. The ‘number 2’
persons are those born on the 2nd,
11th, 20th, and 29th (please note
the numbers, when boiled down to
a single digit, add up to 2).
Number 3 stands for the
planet Jupiter. The point to be
noted is that those born under
this number are never satisfied
and often occupy high positions.
Moreover, they are dictatorial
too. Those born on the 3rd, 12th,
21st and 30th are the ‘number 3’
people (all numbers boil down
to 3 after natural addition).
Take a breath! The number
4 stands for the planet Uranus
and those born under this number have a distinct character of
their own. They are born rebels
and do not make friends easily.
Next is number 5, which
stands for the planet Mercury. It
goes without saying that those
born under this number such as
the 5th, 14th and 23rd are highly
mercurial in nature. The high
point is they make friends easily.
Number 6 represents the
planet Venus. And with Venus,
the presiding planet, chances
are those born under this number such as the 6th, 15th and
24th are highly magnetic (they
attract people).
Similarly, number 7 represents the planet Neptune and
are, thus very independent and
original, and possess a marked
personality. Hence, those born
on the 7th, 16th and 25th are
likely to be leaders no matter
which sphere of life.
What Their Numbers Say...
B. P. Koirala, who was born
in september, has this in his
entry:you will have many
restricting influences until the
age of 35 but, later on, you
will meet your ambitions. secret enemies and underhand
attack will be the hallmark.
prime minister Madhav
Kumar Nepal, born on 6th
march, has this:you will have
many friends who will show
high devotion to you.you are
also likely to have many romances and love affairs.trouble
with marriage is also in order.
Prachanda, born on 2nd
december, has this:you will
have mental gifts of very high
order and will rise to a very
high position. incidentally, W. e.
gladstone, an english statesman, too, was born on the
same day.
entry related to the late prince
Dipendra, who was born under
number 2 in may, has this: strong
enemies, great opposition and a
hasty temper will hardly get you
through the full span of your life
without facing violent death.add
to it intemperance.
Take another breath. The
number 8 stands for the planet
Saturn, which means that those
born on the 8th, 17th and 26th
(they all boil down to 8) are
prone to be misunderstood and
likely to be lonely at heart. It is
a dreaded number for sure.
Finally, number 9 stands for
the planet Mars. The good news
for those born on the 9th, 18th
and 27th of the month is that
they are born fighters. Expect
them to fight it out anywhere.
But the tour is by no means
over. The way things stand, people born under the same number
across different months differ.
Meanwhile, distinct achievements gained by those born under any number is attributed to
higher numerology, something
that has not been explored yet.
This sums up the bare minimum from a vast body of knowledge.
And now a brief tour of 365
days of the year and what is in
store for those who are born
under highly favorable influence of the planets. The reading
of those born under number 1
in January, for example, goes:
“Success, unless brought about
by exceptional circumstances,
is likely to be delayed until later
years.”
The reading for those born
under number 2 in February
goes: “You will have many restrictions in the early part of
life” with those born on the 29th
enjoying “less restrictions”.
Those born under number 3
in March are “Fortunate in large
concerns”, but more so if born
on the 30th. There is a likelihood of becoming wealthy.
in April are likely to be successful but only “if they keep their
head”.
Similarly, those born under
number 5 in May are those who
will be either hated or loved.
The good news is that they will
be lucky in finances.
in June stand the chance of being cheated as far as money is
concerned. Worse, finances will
be uncertain.
Persons born under number 7
in July are ‘children of fate” and,
talking about their financial success, they can expect to be successful in this regard as long as
they keep away from speculation.
Those born under number 8 in
August can expect many unusual
circumstances and danger to their
lives from violence and accidents.
Not a very good number, this.
Given below are a few more
random examples:
Look up under number 3 in
November and it is likely to read:
“If you are a woman, you might
have taken a very similar course
(as that of a man born under it),
or the demands on your time may
have forced you to take care of
children (a state of widowhood).
Here is a traveling lover. That
is to say that those born under
number 6 in December are prone
to attract women into their lives
and likely to lose money in the
latter part of their lives.
Meanwhile, Bhandari says,
“Occultism is as popular today
as ever before given the brisk
sale of books on the theme in
Kathmandu’s bookstores. It
indeed is a productive hobby,
one that can help in affecting a
change in one’s life.” !
page3
talk of the town
“i have taken up durbar school as my newest challenge now. it’s sad to see how once a grand school,
the first in the country, has been badly polluted by unnecessary politics. i am working on changing the entire
administration of the school, from hiring new people
to firing unproductive employees. i will turn this school
around from which nepali children can fully benefit.”
umesh Shrestha, president, pabson,
on his most recent undertakings.
“i believe
tion
i am in connec e.”
with the univers
Milan rai,
t
Artist, on wha.
inspires him
hem Raj chhetri
sarad singh
bhandari
gurvesh singh
Rajiv Rajbhandari
“We prefer to lay
low and go steady
rather than be the ‘hype’ one
month and phase out the other.”
Navin tuladhar, proprietor of bourbon Room, on the emergence of clubs
and lounges in kathmandu.
“I create clothes which are
stylish, beautiful and very different.
What is the point of dressing
sunaina shah,
cabinat and
susan shrestha
up if you are not a head turner?”
hall of frame
Capturing Moods
ViVeK uPADhAyA, creative
director, beatification boutique, on what style means to
him and on his designs.
some chilled, some thrilled, a
few camera shy. no, our pictures
don’t lie! our snooping Friday
lens went around capturing
people and personalities in all
kinds of moods.
“a guitar is always better than a woman. tell you
why? because you can have and play as many
guitars as you want to in your lifetime. but you
can’t do the same with women my friend.”
Manoj Kumar KC, musician
and lead guitarist, 1974 ad, on
his love for his guitars.
binay bdr. maharjan
“its unique and it’s one piece because
people cannot afford it.”
SAiSAB ShreSthA, ceo, leon motors,
talking on his prized possession, the mitsubishi gt3000, the only existent sports car in
the country.
sanjay golchha, nima
Rumba with dell team
kanak mani dixit
manose singh
4
people
one question
What is the way out of this mess?
Power cuts - there has got to be a solution. Friday went around
fishing for people who might have an idea or two…
— Ayushma Basnyat
reStA JhA, Ceo, PriMe
Life iNSurANCe
SuBASh NiroLA, SeNior DireCtor,
NePAL touriSM BoArD
for me, the obvious solution would be to resolve the political problems. there are a lot of political problems that arise out of mismanagement of hydroelectricity. another thing that is very essential is to
have social entrepreneurship for hydroelectricity. the technical part
is there, yes, but vis-à-vis the technical aspects, we should also look
into social entrepreneurship whereby the hydro projects themselves
could establish ngos and cooperatives.
the solution would be more hydro
power, more electricity – that’s what
we need. but i have rather extreme
views on this; i think establishing
a nuclear plant is the best alternative. hydro power should be left for
drinking water and irrigation. nuclear
plant, on the other hand, would help
ease the power cut problems that
we have been facing; and although the
investment is more than in hydro power, i think a one-time heavy investment would prove more fruitful in the long run than hydro power
projects, which would take around 10 years to build.
SAJAN SAKyA, fiNANCe DireCtor, MArCoPoLo trAVeLS
since i am to give an impromptu answer, i think the best
solution for now would be to give a quota to each electricity meter. people will choose how best to use their
supplied electricity during the 24 hours. i think a “think
tank team” should be deployed by the government to
solve this crisis. also, this team should be unbiased and
should be backed up by all necessary finance and security.
rAJAN SAKyA, Ceo, Kgh grouP
the load shedding problems can possibly come
to an end if we use cfls
and leds. using these
would reduce electricity consumption by
around 70-80%.this will
definitely make it easier
to sustain electricity.
DiLiP AgrAWAL,
Ceo, WorLDLiNK
the best
way is to
make rain
(laughs).
Jokes apart,
i think we
need to
start taking some
serious
action now.
but more
importantly,
for the
short run, we need to increase the use
of cfls and try to focus on getting
more power from india. in the long
run, however, i see constructing hydro
power as the best solution.
CABiNet ShreSthA, MANAgiNg
DireCtor, AgNi iNCorPorAteD
Power cuts – the solution has to be more rain. But since
that’s not in our control, better planning is the definite solution, both for the short and the long run, the way i see it.
SANDiP ShAh, PreSiDeNt, iNDePeNDeNt PoWer ProDuCerS
ASSoCiAtioN NePAL
if we are looking at the immediate future, within the next
three or four years, i see the transmission line that the government is planning to build as the best possible solution. if that
comes up, then i think that we have a ray of hope. besides this,
the government is also looking into a few more projects that
can help us sustain energy.
people
Simmering Aggression
in focus
“A man of few words, Asha Dangol, somewhat resembling Van gogh in appearance,
expresses his innermost thoughts and feelings through his paintings, and how...”
— Amar B. Shrestha
O
ne cannot escape
the gnawing feeling that beneath
the cool exterior
lies a simmering aggression.
This aggression, which may be
evident only to a keen observer,
demonstrates itself in his veiled
response to external stimuli, as
also in the manner of his artistic
progression through the years,
which, by the way, has been
quite dramatic. Asha Dangol,
36, is well known not only as a
founder member of Kasthamandap Art Group (KAG), but also
individually, as a contemporary
artist with élan.
“What the Nepali art world
needs today is savvy marketing,”
says Asha. He doesn’t elaborate
on this. He is a quiet man. Really, the phrase, ‘still waters run
deep’, could have been written
about him. The neatly bearded
artist resembles Van Gogh to
some extent and, like the legend, is striving earnestly to
blaze his own trail. In his studio
in Kupondole, a large canvas
depicting a dozen couples in different erotic postures makes for
an arresting sight. I doubt if it
has ever been publicly exhibited.
band), and they tied the knot. As
expected, marriage had an influence on Asha who began focusing more on the female form and
who also noticed a change in his
lines. “The freedom of my lines
was reflective of my new excitement and feelings,” he admits.
Asha also credits a 2004 workshop at the Osho Tapoban in Nagarjuna forest for bringing about
later changes in his style. His second solo exhibition, ‘Inside the
Words’, based on Poet Manjul’s
stanzas from his ‘Death Poem’ series, was held at the Gallery Moksh
in March 2004. In 2005, his third
“foR him, picasso is god and the influence of
the masteR is all too appaRent in his WoRks. ”
The artist is a shy man. “Well,
I was painfully shy as a kid,” he
admits.
Two nearby houses in Kupondole have studios of all seven
members of the KAG. A room
below Asha’s studio houses a row
of computers. “We do graphic
design work,” says Asha. An adjoining room is where they conduct art classes. Asha explains,
“Art alone is not sustaining,” adding, “but I really wish to devote
myself totally to art.” For him,
Picasso is God and the influence
of the Master is all too apparent
in his works. Asha first exhibited
two figurative works in 1992 at
the Srijana Art Gallery. ‘Folk Images of Nepal’, held at the Siddhartha Art Gallery in January
2002, was his first solo exhibition. It was during this time that
Asha fell in love with another
KAG member, Erina Tamrakar
(who is as well known as her hus-
solo, ‘Folk Fusion’, was held at the
Siddhartha Art Gallery. In 2006,
his painting, ‘Tantrik Prem’, won
the first prize in the contemporary art section at the prestigious
National Art Exhibition. In June
2007, ‘The Scream’ was exhibited
at The Art Shop.
Although Asha doesn’t have
too many solos to his credit, he
has been a part of many group
exhibitions in and outside Nepal.
‘Reflections of Reality’ in San
Francisco in April 2007 was one
such. He confesses, “There are almost 8,000 artists in this city and
it’s not easy to make one’s mark.”
Besides the US, his works have
also been displayed in Belgium,
Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and
India. About the San Francisco
trip he mentions, “I was thrilled
to view Picasso’s original works
at the Picasso Gallery.” Obviously. Asha is now also into ceramic
painting, and he has also exhibited some of these works.
His ‘Black Series’ has never
been exhibited, though. Now, one
would likely say, “So what?” Well,
this question wouldn’t arise if one
were to know that his first prizewinning work, ‘Tantrik Prem,’
was from this particular series.
Perhaps the reason lies in this
statement by the artist, “Many
of my works have been bought
by collectors before they could
be collected for an exhibition.”
Which is a far cry from the time
when for three years after graduating from the Fine Art Campus,
he, along with some friends (later,
members of KAG), painted and
sold postcards. “We sold them
from shop to shop in the tourist
areas,” he remembers. !
6
feature
Nepali Architecture:
Past, Present and Future
In Conversation with Kai Weise
Kai Weise gets candid with Friday: from his recent projects designing Annapurna Arcade
and Coffee Shop to sharing his views on the evolution of Nepali architecture.
—Veneeta Singha
A
definitive account of
Nepali architecture is a
complex task to put together with its plethora
of historical influences, materials, conceptual perspectives
and design logic. To quote Kai
Weise, a well-known architect
from Kathmandu, on his recent
work here, “Each and every project is unique. However, it is difficult to get the projects implemented as conceptualized since
there are so many external influences – the greatest influence
being the client. My most recent
projects have been the Annapurna Arcade and Coffee Shop. Here
I had to take my father’s designs
from the 1960s-1980s of the Annapurna Hotel and reinterpret
them. Such restrictions are also
the motivation for designing. I
believe it was possible to come up
with a design that was modern,
however, with appropriate scale
and proportions.”
What is Nepali architecture? Kai posed this question
somewhat vociferously at our
rendezvous at the Moksh Restaurant under a warm December sun. Fittingly, the place and
space gave me an added boost to
pursue this topic further. After
a definitive account of his partnership with UNESCO Nepal
and its admixture of work on
pertinent Nepali themes, we embarked on an enlightening conversation about the evolution
of architecture in Nepal. The
term “Nepali” is popularly used
to denote a political rather than
a cultural identity. In Nepal, we
find distinct forms of vernacular architecture that are closely
linked to the varied ethnic cultures and the local context. We
are as yet to develop a form of
architecture that can truly be
called ‘Nepali’.
The socio-historical evolution
of Newari architecture, owes its
origin and subsequent development to the rich, fertile and clay
soil of Kathmandu. Home to
myriad indigenous belief systems
rooted in socio-religious practices, this form of architecture
drew inspiration and tradition
geographic and social dynamics
began to take shape within the
larger structural functions.
Until recently, much of the
focus of the architectural discourse in Kathmandu has been on
monuments – the architecture of
the elite. True to form, the reigning dynasties of the past ap-
The unification of Nepal by
King Prithvi Narayan Shah and
his vision led to the utilization
of Newari artisans, builders and
technology for impressive structures such as the Nau-talle Durbar at Hanuman Dhoka. By the
time Bhimsen Thapa came to
power, he dabbled with various
interpretations of Mogul architecture, which can be noted in the
Dhararaha. When the Ranas took
power, they traveled to the West
and returned with grand ideas,
which translated into the use of
a blend of European architectural
forms to symbolize their authority. Power was projected through
the white washed stucco facades.
In the 1960s, King Mahendra began to develop the concept of a
“When the
Ranas took
power, they
traveled to
the West and
returned with
grand ideas.”
from a unique ‘sense of place’. As
the overall design and functional
systems matured, they began to
incorporate elements of the diverse nature of the geo-cultural
spectrum. Additionally, adaptation to prevalent environmental,
proached architectural developments through the lens of power
and prestige. With each reign
came more sophisticated shows
of rule and power and, interestingly enough, the formation and
presentation of identity.
Nepali national identity following
which a new palace design was
commissioned. Whether the iconic Narayanhiti Palace stood up to
this grand task is open to debate.
There emerged a clear break
from the symbolic architecture
of power introduced by the Ranas. Kai wryly opines, however,
that we are still struggling with
the concept of developing a
‘Nepali’ architecture. This can
be explicitly seen when one observes the Bahadur Bhawan, the
Election Commission building,
with its little tiered temple roofs
placed atop a Rana palace.
Kai’s own work experiences
also point to a spirit and influ-
ence of collaboration that was to
continue well beyond the abovementioned periods. He elaborates,
“I worked for Madyapur Thimi
Municipality from 1997 to about
2003 and prepared the zoning
plan and bylaws. I also started
some more specific planning
projects. However, these became
rather politicized. Taking this
experience and projecting it to
the situation in the entire valley, I
would stress a few critical issues.
In Thimi, we developed a ‘reserve
zone’ consisting of agricultural
land, which needs to be preserved
as far as possible. We also tried
to initiate an Urban Agriculture
Support Program. The conservation of the traditional settlements was the other major task.
I am dealing with the same issues
in the Monument Zones of the
Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites. There is much to do in
respect to services and infrastructure. There is much to be learnt
from the traditional systems of
recycling and composting. We
must save our rivers!”
As a final note, Kai gives us
some food for thought: “If we
talk about architecture in Nepal,
we must consider the cultural
and geographical diversity of the
country. The term ‘sustainable’
means appropriate in respect to
economy, environment and the
social and cultural settings. Architecture must respond to the
given context. Nepal has shown
great innovation in various fields
such as nature conservation, community forestry and ecotourism.
We need to build up on local initiatives. This would be a great
time to focus on heritage conservation – both cultural and natural
– especially since (with the discussions on the new constitution)
heritage has taken centre stage in
defining the new state.” !
feature
The meaning
of the festival
itself is
somewhat
confusing,
especially for
a foreigner
unfamiliar
with the
intricacies
and parallel
narratives that
run through
Hinduism.
Shivaratri
Two Sides Of The Festival
Babajis and devotees come
together on Maha Shivaratri in
a chaotic mix of colors, smells,
and, of course, smoke.
— Text and photograph by Yusuf Abdol Hamid
P
ashupatinath temple,
on the banks of the
sacred Bagmati River,
was aflame; voluminous clouds of smoke were rising above its majestic grounds.
This arresting scene was
not a result of reckless arson,
but the numerous bonfires lit in
and around the temple grounds
on Maha Shivaratri, an annual
Hindu festival celebrated on the
14th day of the Krishna Paksha in
Falgun in honor of Lord Shiva.
The meaning of the festival itself is somewhat confusing, especially for a foreigner
unfamiliar with the intricacies
and parallel narratives that run
through Hinduism. Some locals
I spoke to claim the festival honors Lord Shiva’s birthday whilst
others say it was the day He
created Himself. Whatever the
real reason, of which there are
numerous, thousands of Hindus
visit temples to perform Puja,
paying respect and homage to
Lord Shiva.
On my way to Pashupatinath
temple, one of the holiest Hindu
shrines in the country, the taxi
I was in collided with a motorcyclist. The biker was flung off
his ride, and suffered a nasty cut
below his right eye. However,
he just brushed himself off and
was driven off by someone on
the street almost immediately.
“He must have been smoking
‘shambho’ at Pashupati; very dangerous,” chided the taxi driver,
who dropped me about a kilometer from the temple grounds as
the roads were closed for the day.
It was much later, after
squeezing through the crowds,
that I realized Shivaratri had
two distinctly different sides to
it.
Approaching the temple
grounds, queues snaked into the
distance as devotees patiently
waited their turn to enter the
courtyard where they could do
the puja. This was the religious
aspect, and unlike the rest of the
country, the queue was calm and
orderly. Non-Hindus were not
permitted to enter the courtyard.
Going up the stairs across
the Bagmati, a carnival seemed
to be in full swing. Sadhus,
more commonly known as Babas, were dotting the landscape
and throngs of young men
crowded around them. I mistakenly thought they were seeking
words of wisdom, but discovered that the wisdom they were
after was in the form of crushed
up Marijuana buds.
The unmistakable odor was
in the air, slightly pungent and
grassy, and all around, young
men were toking up with abandon. The scene would be bizarre
any other day of the year: Babas openly selling joints while
policemen walked by with their
truncheons.
At Rs. 10 a joint, sales were
brisk for these ‘Business Babas’.
Apparently, the consumption of
marijuana is legal on Shivaratri,
and thousands flock to Pashupatinath to enjoy this privilege.
Lord Shiva is said to be fond
of Marijuana, and intoxicating
oneself with it is considered a
form of reverence. With that in
mind, I pushed my way through
a mass of ‘reverential devotees’
to seek out a Baba I could sit
with, and make sense of this
multi-faceted festival.
On a slope, two Babas sat
cross-legged under a tent, scraggly beards and unruly dreadlocks framing their well-worn
faces. For some reason, packs of
young men had gathered around
them, and on the hillside behind.
There were occasional taunts
directed at the Baba, and later,
small stones.
In a flash, the Baba stormed
out of his tent and waved his
stick threateningly, his face a
mask of rage. It was no empty
threat as he grabbed a fist-sized
stone and hurled it at the men
who retreated hastily.
He seemed in no mood to chat.
So I returned the next day and
he waved me in to sit with him.
Unfortunately, he spoke only a
smattering of English, and he
claimed to live in Thamel. Puzzling as that was, I was unable
to find out more. So instead, we
sat back and he made me black
tea in a rudimentary tin, tossed
into his charcoal pit.
If there were any gems of
wisdom I was hoping to receive,
I heard none. Almost in silence,
I watched them roll a few joints
and take hearty puffs out of
their chillum. Locals who wished
to sit with us were waved away:
clearly as a foreigner, I would be
more likely to ‘donate’ a handsome sum to support the Babas.
Knowing that this was a
transaction diminished the experience significantly, but sharing a dusty mat with a Baba
was a soothing, calming experience. Or maybe that was just the
weed. !
One of life’s necessities
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8
events
in short
Charyaleisure
Dance Show
following the 11th february
show, manjushree received yet
another round of appreciation in
the Charya dance show, The Glory
of the Himalayas, organized by
alliance française in kathmandu
at the Russian cultural center on
12th february. everything about
the Charya dance show speaks of
the evolution of kathmandu valley.
later, the band ‘Rock sitar’ also
performed.
Bhajans and Shivaratri
on 11th february, the pashupati area development trust
and nepal mahadharma sewa,
in association with the embassy
of india, organized Shiv Stuti. the
prayer through bhajans, dedicated
to lord shiva, was held at the
hans sabha mandap at pashupati a
day before shivaratri.
the week that was
Home Accesories Redeﬁned
for all who love to beautify their homes, Casa – a new
interior decoration shop – has
opened up in k-town. located
in anamnagar, opposite the east
gate of singha durbar, casa saw
it’s opening amidst a mediafrenzy crowd on 11th february.
the owners of the enterprise, Rishi
and sunaina saraf, said,“this exclusive store is a ‘must-visit’ and is
committed to providing top quality
(interior decoration accessories)
and a unique shopping experience
for all. our customers will discover
that re-doing or adding to their
interiors has never been so affordable or so much fun.”
located on the ground floor
of the building, the casa
showroom has on display a
wide range of tasteful accessories, suitable for both home
and office use, that have been
personally handpicked from
all over asia. cushions, linen,
throws, rugs, photo frames,
mirrors, glassware, lights,
funky chairs and tables, among
others, are some of its major
attractions.
casa was launched with the
tagline: ‘uber cool and stylish
accessories marry modern
contemporary design with a
twist of classic.’
Samjhana’s Expression of Trees
on 10th february, artist samjhana
Rajbhandari’s third solo exhibition
called Expression of Trees was held
at the imago dei gallery. the 22
acrylic paintings on display had a
similar theme and was an expression of the same subject matter.
the exhibition is set to continue
till 15th february.
St. Xavier’s Fair
on 13th february, st. Xavier’s
college was abuzz with life with
some one thousand people attending the event. there were
around 70 stalls, each with its own
unique attraction, at the fair. among
the ones that stood out were the
blood-group-testing stall, a signature
collecting booth against bandhs and
sexual harassment towards women,
and a stall which displayed an ideal
home for senior citizens.
UK College Fair
the uk education exhibition was
held on 14th and 15th february. the
exhibition provided an opportunity for students to meet and
interact with the representatives
of over 20 uk institutions and
learn about the scholarship opportunities as well.
at an event jointly organized by alliance française in kathmandu
and the indian culture centre on 11th february, manjushree pradhan wowed the audience as she skillfully executed various abhinayas.
manjushree, originally the french artist maude glasmuck, has been
learning eastern classical dance for 12 years now. pradhan depicted
the romantic scenes of Radha and krishna on the banks of yamuna
River through various expressions and postures.
Kutumba Extends Helping Hand To Haitians
to show support for the haiti
earthquake victims, the music
band, kutumba, performed at 1905
Restaurant and bar on 13th february. the band played free of charge
for the noble cause. With a haitian
theme, in addition to food and
music, people were seen enjoying
haitian dance floor grooves. all the
proceeds from the event went to
Red cross to provide assistance
to the neediest haitians.
A Lazy Valentine’s Evening
Artists without Barriers
art is a form of expression; there are no barriers to who can and
who can’t be a part of the arts. it is precisely this kind of message the bakery café, pulchowk was trying to convey when they
recently organized an art exhibition which had on display mosaic
art and paintings by physically-challenged artists. besides them, the
event also included paintings by students from shuvatara and gems
schools. The artists came from two organizations – Esther Benjamin
trust and sindhu bahira vidya school, community action nepal.
the main objective of the two organizations was to teach the
physically-challenged kids skills that would enable them to become
independent.
Good News For Nepathya Fans!
When It’s 3, Stop
‘flashmob kathmandu v-day
freeze’ was an event that took
place on valentine’s day at 3:00
pm at the kathmandu durbar
square. the event was coordinated via facebook, but was organized locally by sirish pokharel,
ujwal thapa and samin Rijal with
the objective of giving single
people an opportunity to meet.
Manjushree’s Magic
tucked into a small lane just off
pulchowk, lovers and friends
alike celebrated the day of love
by enjoying an evening of easy
revelry at moksh live Restaurant
bar, where a live band serenaded
the crowd while it partook of
the extensive menu available,
away from the manic parties and
crowded restaurants.
Movies and More
the nlic city centre has
fast become one of the coolest hangouts, providing the best
quality products in nepal. but
that’s not all. on 11th february, the
centre saw the opening of a new
multiplex, under the big cinemas
banner. there are a total of three
halls inside the cineplex. after a
press meet on the very day, the
movie, My Name is Khan, was
screened. however, it opened to
the general public only from 12th
february onwards.
nepathya is set to release four
music videos that contain songs
from its album Mero Desh. a
special press show of the videos
was organized on thursday, 11th
february at nepa~laya’s ‘r’ sala.
the album and the videos have
been produced by nepa~laya and
directed by bhusan dahal. Mero
Desh consists of songs that are
all social in nature and the video
released thus, too, echos the
theme of the album.
among the songs visualized so
far are Mero Desh, Juna Jhain,
Kasaile Sodhe and Aama. “our
album, Mero Desh, is our musical interpretation of the time
we are living in. We wanted
to produce a fun-filled album
this time, but the time guided
us otherwise,” said amrit
gurung, the front man of
nepathya, hinting towards the
contents of the album. “i am
glad bhusan found the songs
sensible enough to be visualized,” he added. the music
videos, which were shown to
a select gathering of media
persons on thursday, will be
released on tvs starting friday,
19th february. one song will be
released every friday (19th and
26th february, and 5th and 12th
march).
9841713189, 9841332102
e-mail: [email protected]
kicking off the night with their
take on kool & the gang’s
“ladies night”, the band made
everyone present comfortable
with their renditions of crowd
pleasers, moving from blues to
a motown sound with effortless ease. no doubt the highlight
of the night, the 5-piece outfit
included a saxophonist, which
added an extra dimension to the
tunes.
the opening beat of elvis’ “blue
suede shoes” elicited cheers
across the room, which went up
a notch with the lead singer’s
gravelly baritone voice, a wonderful imitation of the king.
later in the set, the beatles’
“yesterday” helped to slow
things down, and the crowd of
mostly 30- and 40-somethings
were content to sway along to
the mellow music.
the soft mood lighting and laidback atmosphere encouraged
the individual parties – and couples, of course – to slink back
and take in the music, cocktail in
hand and piping hot pizza on the
table. it might have been the lack
of space in the intimate little
room, or the too-full tummies,
no one took up the band’s offer
to get footloose, instead opting
to soak in the lazy vibe from the
comfort of their seats.
a delightful mix of good food
and great music, moksh proved
to be a hit with the audience,
whether it was families, friends,
or lovers. (lim)
what’s on
events
tional to celebrate the unique cultures
in each location through collaborations
with local artists and organizers.
for the kathmandu gigs, audiences will
be treated to voices singing in doteli,
awadhi, bhojpuri, maithili and limbu.
the “by-invitation-only”, set for february 19th, will be host to the president
and prime minister of nepal, and a
whole list of ministers and celebrities.
1974 AD Unleashed
Day: friday. Date: 19th february
Venue: house of music, gaa,
thamel. time: 7:30 pm
entry: Rs.199.
9849243807, 6922647
playing live are alt f4 and 1974 ad.
the latter will be performing unreleased
songs from its upcoming album and, of
course, an array of its all time hits.
Culmination of a musical journey
Venue: garden of dreams (by invitation only). time: 5pm onwards
Day: saturday. Date: 20th february
Venue: basantapur durbar square
(free for all) time: 5pm onwards
this friday and saturday, the historic
garden of dreams and basantapur
durbar square will play host to the
soothing sounds of kathmandubased folk band kutumba, theatretroupe minap, and a selection of
musicians from around nepal.
the performances culminate a
month-long tour across the span of
nepal, from dadeldhura in the far
west to phidim in the east.
kutumba and minap visited 5 towns
under the direction of lead interna-
manish Jha, director of marketing and
relations at lead international says that
the organization hopes to attract around
10,000 people to the basantapur durbar
square performance on february 20th.
Spicy Salsa VIII
Venue: tamas spa lounge, thamel
time: 6:35 pm till midnight
9841277893
spicy salsa, a monthly event organized
by salsa dance academy (sda) every
third friday of the month, is a salsa
party where students of the academy
along with outsiders come and join the
salsa crowd and move their feet to the
beats of some great latin music. With
‘shirt and jeans’ as the dress code for
this month, this event is not only for
the sda students but can be attended
by all. the entrance to the party is free.
moments with instances and narratives
that bind the author and the nation
into a meaningful story. as with all
tavern tales at the bookshop, Aila and
tidbits will be on offer.
2nd Class Room Show
opening Date: sunday, 14th february
Closing Date: sunday, 21st february
Venue: park gallery, pulchowk
time: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm
5522307
An exhibition of water color
paintings by amateur artists
presented by Studio Petals
Rescue For Street Animals
Day: tuesday. Date: 23rd february
Contact: kat centre, chapali gaon,
4373169
if you’ve wanted to play a part in
improving the sorry state of stray
animals, dogs and cats to be precise,
roaming around the streets of k-town,
kathmandu animal treatment centre
(kat)’s “spay day” campaign might be
of help in making your wish come true.
“spay day that falls on 23rd february will
last until 3rd march where the in-house
vets of kat centre, dr. bidur piya and dr.
prabin thapa, will provide their expertise
in spaying female animals under the weeklong ‘animal birth control program’,” says
prerna thami, communication officer, kat.
spaying, also called ovariohysterectomy,
removes the uterus and ovaries of a female
animal, preventing estrus entirely.“kat believes that spaying is a proven way to reduce
pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet
has a family to love them” adds prerna.
you can take your female cat or dog
for spaying at a discounted price to the
following clinics: kathmandu veterinary
clinic, maharajgunj; pet clinicare ‘n’ vet
consultancy, baluwatar; animal care
clinic, golfutaar; animal hospital and
Research centre, baneshwor; and capital mobile vet clinic, chandol.
“Literally Figurative” –
An International Art
Exhibition
by kapil mani dixit and a group of
aspiring american artists from north
lake college, irving, texas, usa
opening Date: Wednesday, 17th
february at 4:00 pm
Closing Date: friday, 26th february
Venue: imago dei gallery, nagpokhari
time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
4350836, 9851061968
Tavern Tales:
Dekheko Muluk
Day: sunday. Date: 21st february
Venue: Quixote’s cove, Jawalakhel
time: 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
entry: Rs. 50. contact: 5536974
Quixote’s cove presents tavern tales,
featuring a reading by renowned editor,
writer and intellectual kanak mani dixit
from his new book, Dekheko Muluk.
the book is an autobiographical memoir
that captures various facets of dixit’s
life throughout the past three decades
of nepal’s turbulent but transformative history. it combines critical insight
into some of nepal’s most poignant
Poet’s Corner
opening Date: sunday, 21 february
Closing Date: sunday, 28th february
Venue: lazimpat gallery café.
st
come along to write, read and vote
for your favorite poem. entries accepted until 20th february.
4428549
Screening of the Film:
‘Dil Bhusan Pathak’
Day: thursday. Date: 25th february
Venue: durbar hall, bal mandir,
naxal.
time: 5:00 pm. 4410844
the film was screened at the ‘himalayan film festival’ in the netherlands
(2005); the ‘himalayan experience’,
paris (2005); the independent south
Asian Film Festival – Seattle, USA
(2006); and also at John hopkins
university, baltimore (2007); and tufts
university, boston (2007).
it is widely used for literacy programs
nationally and internationally. pathak
believes that the movie is meant for
people of all generations. and he suggests that both the young and the old
should go and watch this movie.
A Print Maker’s Feelings
An exhibition of prints by Saurganga Darshandhari
opening Date: sunday, 21st february
Closing date: Wednesday, 10th march
Venue: kathmandu contemporary
art centre, Jhamsikhel, lalitpur
time: 1:00 am - 5:00 pm. 5521120
Arthalaya: The School
of Entrepreneurship and
Economics
five-Day residential Workshop
opening Date: monday, 22nd february. Closing Date: saturday, 27th
february. Venue: dhulikhel village
Resort, dhulikhel. Contact: samriddhi, the prosperity foundation
4464616, 4484016
Utsav – A Pre-Holi Festival by Kutumba
Day: thursday. Date: 18th february
Venue: bal mandir, icc, naxal
time: 4:30 pm
the musical group kutumba is well
known for their fusion folk music. With
traditional instruments, including flute,
sarangi, dhimi and percussion, the group
of six musicians has created unique
compositions and also plays folk songs
in maithili, bhojpuri and awadhi.
mark your calendar
Momo Mania
Day: saturday. Date: 27th february. Venue/time: the bakery
café, bouddha (11:00 am to
2:00 pm) and the bakery café,
sundhara (5:30 pm to 9:00 pm).
ticket prices: Rs. 495 for adults
and Rs. 295 for children
celebrate your love for momos
at ‘momo mania’, an annual event
organized by the bakery café,
which is back again this year to fulfill the momo craze of the people
around town.this year around, like
every year, the organizers have put
forth some astounding varieties of
momos. from gudpak momo to
fresh fruit momo, get ready for
a totally new experience in your
momo-eating experience.the
attractions at the event include
more than 20 varieties of momos
at one place, momo-making and
momo-eating competitions, and
coke and beer drinking competitions. live performance by the
‘2010 sprite band challenge’ Winner – Sound Cuddles.
With so much to look forward
to, join in this fiesta of savoring
the nepali people’s unofficial ‘national’ food. tickets are available
at all the bakery café outlets.
Women In Concert
Day: saturday
Date: 3rd april
Venue: garden of dreams
the organizers of Women in
concert, an annual musical
event, have just announced that
they have postponed this year’s
event scheduled to have been
held from march 20th to april
1st. “last moment auditions are
still taking place, but we will finalize everything by next week,”
said Rachana gurung sharma,
a member of the organizing
committee. Watch this space for
more on the event next week.
TASAFU – Kathmandu
scrolls by Julien Solé
MUSIC BY THE
MUSEUM – II
Day: friday
Date: 26th february
Venue: siddhartha art gallery,
baber mahal Revisited
time: 5:00 pm
Day: friday
Date: 12th march
Venue: patan museum
alliance française in kathmandu
presents TASAFU – Kathmandu
scrolls, an exhibition by Julien
solé, who has been painting while
traveling for the last 10 years.
among other countries, solé has
worked and exhibited his works
in egypt, morocco and ethiopia.
in the spring of 2009, he found in
nepal an unexpected and inexhaustible source for his work. in
this exhibition, long sketches and
water colors on scrolls of paper
will be showcased.the sketches
will be sometimes framed and
sometimes shown on handle
machines.there will also be texts
and extracts from the folded
book “tasafu”, a project which
is supported by the french alliance in kathmandu.the exhibition will continue till 19th march,
2010. for more information, visit
his website: http://juliensole.free.fr
Kailash Shrestha and Sushma Sakya’s Exhibition
Date: sunday, 4th april to Wednesday, 21st april
Venue: siddhartha art gallery, baber mahal Revisited
artists kailash shrestha and sushma sakya will be presenting works
prepared during the one-year residency program sponsored by australian himalayan art foundation. the exhibition will be inaugurated
by h.e. susan grace, the australian ambassador to nepal
gear up for some good music
this spring for musicology and
hits fm 91.2 bring to you
‘Music by The Museum – II’.
With the main objective of
promoting nepali music, the
event will feature manose singh
with 1974 ad making a guest
appearance. the plan is to have
the first half of the concert
filled with manose singh’s music
and the second with a blend
of manose’s eastern classical
Sojourn In Bangladesh
Date: friday, 23rd april to
thursday, 13th may
Venue: siddhartha art gallery,
baber mahal Revisited
Jupiter pradhan, an mfa
graduate in painting from the
university of development
alternative, presents “sojourn
in bangladesh”. this very exciting exhibition will showcase
mixed media works that the
artist has painted while he was
a student and during the various international art residency
programs in bangladesh. his
most recent kathmandu-based
works will also be included in
the show.
renditions and 1974 ad’s rock
music.
for those of you who enjoyed
the first edition of music by the
museum, organized on 8th may,
2009, you might remember how
spectacular it was. but for those
of you who missed out on the
first one, don’t fret about it as,
this time, the event is set to
blow the audience away with
something even better… something even bigger. With manose
singh and the much-loved 1974
ad lined up for you, music by
the museum ii promises to be a
one-of-a-kind evening. so don’t
forget to mark your calendar
right now as patan museum is
the place to be in on 12th march.
POST US
Do let us know if events
need to be listed. Listings
must arrive in writing by
Sunday. Please include
day, date, time, admission price, contact phone
number(s) and if possible, a contact person
as well. Listings can be
sent by email – events@
fridayweekly.com.np
or [email protected]. Listings
are free, but inclusion is
not guaranteed due to
limited space.
The sound
of Music
Khi
The bigger brother of the Khocha Khi,
the Khi is a big Madal that is central
to religious dances like the Mahakali
dance and the Manjushree dance.
The Khi still has relevance in modern
Nepali songs and costs between Rs.
5,000 to 15,000.
Nepal has a long history of music and the craft of
unique instruments, but not many know their history,
or even their names.
—Yusuf Abdol Hamid
M
usicians and their instruments have been
part of Nepali culture
for countless generations, with some
claiming to hark back
to the days of the legendary Mahabharata.
The now popular lead guitar, bass and
drum ensemble are comparatively young
set against the humble-looking tools of traditional musicians, or Gandarbhas, as they
were once known since the days of the early
monarchs of Nepal.
As international influences flow into the
country, some fear the place these instruments have in our culture will eventually be
lost. A tragedy, considering the historical
value and importance that Gandarbhas had
in Nepali society in centuries past.
Living in this age where information is
rapidly transmitted through a myriad of instantaneous networks like television, radio
and the Internet, it’s easy to forget that in the
past, getting information from one village to
another was an arduous and lengthy task.
“The Gandarbhas were the ones who
spread information to different villages
through music. In some legends, there are
even stories of them stopping wars
through their songs,” explained Shyam Nepali, a Sarangi instructor
at the Nepal Music Centre (NMC) in Kathmandu.
Historically, the art of music was also revered in the Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata.
Mythical hero Arjuna was instructed in song
and dance by the Gandarbhas, but eventually
lost due to his insufficient skill.
Lochan Rijal, principal of the NMC,
oversees a large faculty that actively trains
students of all ages in the art of traditional
Nepali instruments. Of the many instruments still played, Rijal identified the Khi,
Taa, Bhusya, Dan, Bansuri and Ba as thriving and popular within the Newar community in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.
“These days, I find academicians, some
popular musicians and ethnomusicologists
are getting more conscious about promoting
such traditional instruments,” he said.
However, younger players are becoming
a rarity, partly due to the limited number of gurus to pass their
knowledge on.
The Gandarbhas
were the ones who
spread information
to different villages
through music. In
some legends, there
are even stories of
them stopping wars
through their songs
“The teaching methodology is based on
an oral form of transmission. So, over time,
there may be some loss of musical values,”
Rijal explained.
Accentuating the importance of musical
values and unique stylings is the apparent
unwillingness of gurus to hand them down
to a student unless his loyalty and dedication
is demonstrated.
Sharing an interesting anecdote was renowned Khocha Khi artist Nuchhe Bahadur
Dongol, who was once under the tutelage of
a guru. “In the past, there had to be a special
bond between a teacher and student, especially when learning special musical techniques.”
“To show my loyalty, I had to steal a goat,
sacrifice it and give all the parts like the eyes
and tongue to my guru as an offering,” he
recalled, chuckling at the memory. !
halfway
Khocha Khi (not in the picture)
This percussive instrument appears like two small drums
side by side. But despite its deceptively small size, the instrument is surprisingly sonorous and can easily fill a large
room with the sound of finger rolls and smacks.
Popular amongst the Newars, the Khocha Khi is typically played for marriage processions and during the
Nine Nights’ festival.
If the stories are true, you might want to keep this
instrument away from your house dog. Khocha Khi
made from tiger skin will apparently send canines
weeping with fear when played at night.
The small drum was devised by cutting the larger
tabla in two, and is usually played in Kathmandu.
Bansuri/Ba (Long flute/
Short flute)
Belonging originally to the Jyapu caste of the
Kathmandu Valley, these delightful-sounding
instruments are made of the Sattisaal wood.
The sound these flutes may often soar above the
rest of the ensemble, taking the lead with their
high notes and instantly pricking up the ears of
those nearby.
Sarangi
This beautifully-crafted instrument is derived from a
combination of two Hindi words: sau (hundred) and
rang (color), because the sound of the Sarangi is said
to be as expressive as a hundred colors.
For aspiring flutists, these instruments cost
between Rs. 3,000 to 5,000.
The violin-like wooden instrument is mostly played
by the Newar community, who hand-craft them from
several types of wood: Khirro, a light wood, Shaj, which
is typically heavier, and Tuni, a red wood.
Nepali related how the tones of a Tuni wood Sarangi,
if made with the skin of a monkey and Bagena wood,
would have a strangely seductive effect on women.
“Therefore, we are strictly not allowed to make it
this way because of the effects,” he said.
Da
This traditional Newari instrument
is shaped similarly to the Damphu,
with it’s octagonal design.
Costing between Rs. 10,000 to
15,000, the Da is usually constructed
around a large wooden ring and a
layer of leather stretched over on
the other end.
Taa
This bronze instrument comes in a pair
and is used percussively, sometimes in
an ensemble with other percussion instruments like the Khocha Khi and Khi.
According to the Music Museum of Nepal, the unmarried young women of the
Limbu ethnic group play the Taa, which
accompanies a dance where young men
and women come together and commonly choose life partners.
It is easily available and costs between
Rs. 500 to 10,000.
Bhusya
Accompanying the Taa is the much
larger Bhusya, which comes in the
shape of a soldier’s hat. Similarly made of bronze, this Newari
instrument can also be found
commonly in today’s traditional
folk songs.
The price for this cymbal-like
instrument ranges between Rs.
10,000 to 15,000.
Information
on instruments
provided by Sangeet
Vidhyalaya, Madal and Newari
Instrument teacher; Shyam Nepali, Sarangi instructor at Nepal Music Centre; and
Nucche Bahadur Dongol, Khocha Khi artist.
12
Dance
¡El Baile!
If you think you have two
left feet but love to dance
nonetheless, then maybe it’s
time you put on your dancing shoes and hit a dance
school for good. “Dancing is
a form of expression where
people let go of their inhibitions,” says Binayek D.
Shrestha, Founder and CEO
of Salsa Dance Academy
(SDA) in Bhatbhateni. With
the tagline: ‘Feel the Chemistry, Express the Passion’,
SDA offers dance classes in
Salsa, Hip-Hop, Bollywood
and Kathak. Salsa dancing
can be fun and an effective
exercise, and if a UK study
holds true, it may also be
beneficial in lifting the moods
of those who suffer from
symptoms of depression. “We
have had working individuals as students who say that
coming to the classes after
work energizes them and puts
them in a good mood,” says
Shrestha. So if you are desperately looking for a break
away from the monotony of
work life and release your
‘feel good’ hormones, join the
new weekend class at SDA
that’s started on 13th February. For more information,
call 4420564, 9841277893, or
visit the SDA website: www.
salsanepal.com ! AN
metropolis
Delicacy
Winter Style
With every household specialty, winter
becomes the season to indulge in tasty
treats and heartwarming delights.
T
he aroma of freshly made
lapsi ko aachar never fails
to make your mouth water,
and with specialties that
range from maseura to gahat ko
dal, winter becomes the season to
indulge in delicious food. Rama
Sigdel, 75, has been around long
enough to let us in on the knowhow of these delicacies.
“All these seasonal foods have
a special significance. Although
vegetables and spices can be
found year round now, it was a
different story back in my time,”
she says. It was only during winter that maseura – where beaten
lentil and yams are made into a
paste, rolled into small balls and
then put out in the sun – was
made because the sun’s rays
during winter are not as harsh
as that during summers. Sigdel
also says that because during
summer there was scarcity of
vegetables, maseura would make
an excellent side dish come
summer. Similarly, gahat ko dal
delights the pallet in the winter not only because of its rich
taste but also because it warms
up your body to ward off the
winter chill.
With the busy lives that we
lead today, the weekend becomes
the perfect time to indulge in
these yummy dishes rather than
some restaurant food you eat
for lunch every other day of the
week. Avishek Raj Pradhan, Busi-
Flowers
Oh-So-Beautiful Orchids…
“Orchids are growing in popularity these days. Before, orchids were not the rage as they
are today. But now I would say
about 60 to 70% of people have
developed a keen interest in orchids,” Gayatri Thapa of Scott
Sunrise Orchid Nursery says.
“Taking care of orchids can be
an extremely enriching hobby,”
Thapa adds further.
Flowers as pretty as orchids
can light up your house and
make it feel blissful. Gayatri
Thapa says, “I always encourage
customers to grow orchids in
the house.” But most people feel,
or rather, assume that taking
care of orchids will be a hassle.
“Growing orchids is not at all
that difficult. It is like growing
any other seasonal flower,” Thapa says. But growing orchids
have certain prerequisites that
need to be met, “The main sea-
“It is such a close knit of people
sharing each other’s culture, the
effect is seen in the diversity of the
foods we prepare in our kitchens.”
ness Development Manager of
Baskins and Robins, Kathmandu
says, “I love spending my Saturdays with the family and actually
make it a point to have an elaborate lunch out in the sun during
winters.” A major ‘event’ during
these gathering is not only lazing
around in the sun to heat chilled
winter bodies but also picking a
perfectly ripened bhogatey from
the garden, garnishing it with
spices, salt, sugar and yogurt and
spending the holiday afternoons
munching away. Yummy!
With this fascination of eating in a Nepali household, it
is hard to find a difference in
the eating cultures of different caste groups. Because it
is such a close knit of people
sharing each other’s culture,
the effect is seen in the diversity of the foods we prepare in
our kitchens. So this weekend,
indulge yourself in the world
of heartwarming delights and
get your tummy full of oranges, bhogatey, lapsi ko aachar
and much more.... ! AN
“To be able to grow orchids
successfully requires a lot of
patience because they take longer to grow and bear flowers.
It’s not like the seasonal flowers
that grow faster,” Thapa further
explains, adding, “you need to be
really passionate about flowers
and gardening to really enjoy
the entire process of growing
orchids.”
Those of you with a knack
for gardening and wishing to try
your hands at growing orchids,
Scott Sunrise Orchid Nursery,
located at 173 Loshal Janamarg
in Maharajgunj, Chakrapath is
the place to go. ! AB
Off the Shelf
Sidney Sheldon’s
Mistress of the Game
Author: Tilly Bagshawe
Coming soon to Pilgrims Book
House, call 4700942 for more details.
son for orchids is from around
October-November to April.
Also, you need to make sure that
the environment for the orchids
to grow in is cooler. We import
them from places like Darjeeling
and Sikkim. We ‘top-dress’ our
orchids to ensure that they are
well taken care of. Top-dressing
is basically putting the soil from
the bottom layer on top. And
the rest is the same; you need
to take care of orchids like any
other plants.”
Fans of the late Sidney Sheldon will rejoice to know that
his wildly popular ‘Master of
the Game’ has spawned a
sequel, written by little known
British author Tilly Bagshawe.
Carrying on from Sheldon’s
nefarious Blackwell family
saga, Mistress moves on several
generations but loses none
of the drama and feuds that
made the first novel such a
huge success in the first place.
Critical review has been
mixed, but pick up a
copy and see for yourself
whether Bagshawe does
justice to Sheldon’s saga.
metropolis
polis
bazaar buzz
Neoteric Nepal –
leisure
Authorized Distributors for DELL
at a press briefing on 12th
february, dell computer
announced the appointment
of neoteric nepal as their
authorized distributor for
dell products in nepal. neoteric nepal intends to make
dell products more accessible through its network of
retailers across the country,
thus making them easily available to customers throughout
nepal. neoteric’s charter includes a two-tier distribution
of the broad range of dell
inspiron, studio, studio Xps
as well as vostro notebooks.
nima Rumba will be endorsing the dell products.
10 Mobile Phones
from Micromax
network solutions, the
authorized seller of micromax
mobiles, recently launched 10
mobile phones, seven of which
are gsm while three are
cdma models.
Syakar Launches
Honda Hornet
on 16th february, syakar
company launched a new motorcycle, the honda hornet,
in the nepali market. With
abs (antilock brake system),
a system which smoothly
counteracts tyre slip while
treading over variable road
conditions, thus increasing
overall safety, honda hornet
is also equipped with pgm fi
(programmable fuel injection
system) and hiss (honda
intelligent security system).
the 599cc liquid-cooled bike
is a 4-stroke engine with an
electric start and a fuel tank
capacity of 19 liters.
New Hyundai Outlet
laxmi intercontinental pvt.
ltd., the official partner of
hyundai motors for nepal, inaugurated its new showroom
in thapathali on 10th february.
the new showroom aims to
provide improved services
in terms of quality, space and
ambience to customers.
Adaptable Phone
Features
call mobility pvt. ltd., the authorized distributor of g’five
mobile phones in nepal, has
launched new phones with
dual batteries. the makers of
g’five have come up with this
new feature seeing that the
load shedding problem is not
going to abate anytime soon.
Sony Walkman X-Series
Nepa hima trade Link
Pvt. Ltd. rs. 34,999
Sony hD handycam
Nepa hima trade Link Pvt. Ltd.
rs. 71,999
Nokia N97, Virgin
Mobile. rs. 51,670
DeLL StuDio 1340 Laptop
Neoteric Nepal
rs. 108,900
SonyW-Series Walkman
Nepa hima trade Link
Pvt. Ltd. rs. 9,499
Black Sony Cybershot Camera, Nepa hima trade Link
Pvt. Ltd. rs.29,999
window shopping
iPoD NANo
evo Store
16 gB
rs.18,000
DireCtory
NePA hiMA trADe LiNK
PVt. LtD. Bakhundole
5546076.
SexyGadgets
Pink Sony Cybershot
Camera , Nepa hima
trade Link Pvt. Ltd.
rs. 31,999
the bulky forerunners of the techno world (read big fat gadgets) are
being mercilessly beaten by the much slimmer and sexier newcomers,
and increasingly so. in this edition of Window Shopping, we give you a
selection of sexy gadgets for you to take home.
— Samriddhi Rai
eVo Store, Durbar
Marg. 4220659.
PhiLiPS Jyoti Bhawan,
Kantipath. 4225490.
SAMSuNg, him elec-
PhiLiPS DVD PLAyer
tronics, China town.
4267760
VirgiN MoBiLe, tamrakar Complex, New
road, 4260173
Philips Showroom
rs. 34, 990
SAMSuNg CorBy Pro
CLASSiC iPoD
evo Store
160 gB
rs. 23,500
NeoteriC NePAL, NLiC
City Center Kamal
Pokhari, 4011528
cool bargains
eNVy
Durbar Marg
Winter sale offer valid
until 20th february
discounts up to 50% on
all items
 4224241
iNDiAN terrAiN
Kamaladi
change of season offer
buy 2 get 1fRee
9841678340
giorDANo
ground floor
Sherpa Mall
Durbar Marg
stock clearance sale
up to 60% off on all items
 4011588
greeNLiNe
CeNtre
Kantipath
stock clearance
offer
buy 2 and get
1 (vin de pays
wine) fRee
 4257277
City CeNter
 4011809
Kamalpokhari
60% off in giordano
50% off in puma
40% off in italiana,
cocktail
30% off in lilliput, Warehouse
20% off in the gift shop,
g-time corner
15% off in prolink
10% off in style
 4011809
WiNter
Peter eNgLAND
Putalisadak
up to 35% discount on
Winter Wear
offer valid until
mid-march

4225646
BALeNo
 ladies/gents wear
25% off
KoutoNS
gents wear up to
50% off

hANgteN
 ladies/gents wear
30% off
on select items
tAMrAKAr houSe
New road & Putalisadak
50% off on Jackets
 4245348, 4240121
NfC
Putalisadak
30% off on Jacket &
sweaters
9841300996
ShiLPA trADerS
ground floor
united World trade
Center
tripureshwor
30% off on Winter Wear
 4117160
iNDiAN terrAiN
Kamaladi
buy 3 get 1 fRee on mixed
items
buy 2 get 1 fRee on select
items
buy 1 get 1 fRee on select
items
offer valid for 15 days only
contact: Ravi adhikari,
9841678340
JAgADiShWAr eMPoriuM
united World trade
Center
tripureshwor
buy 1 get 1 fRee on
shirts and pants
offer valid for 15 days
only
 4117071
9841993095
SALe offerS
BLueBirD MALL
 4228833
Samsung Showroom
rs. 21,700
giNger
ladies wear up to
70% off
on select items
PeLtZ
 ladies shoes up to
40% off
retAiL therAPy
 kids/ladies/gents
wear up to 70% off


tiMe CeNtre
Romanson, casio,
fuji time, Westar and
trofish watches up to
25% off
fuSioN
ladies wear up to
40% off
Peri WiNKLe
kids/children wear
30% off
on select items


DAViNChi
ladies/gents/
children wear up to
50% off
giNi & JoNy
children wear up to
30% off

triDAKArSANi
 ladies wear up to
40% off
on select items
toP CLASS
ladies/gents
shoes up to 50% off
 ladies/gents
wear up to 50% off


CriMSouNe CLuB
ladies/gents wear up
to 30% off
on select items

LABeLS
up to 50% off on
select items

ArroW
 buy 1 get 1 fRee on
shirt & pants
 50% discount
on sweaters
NiKe
Shoes – up to 25% Off
 Ladies wear – 20% Off
 Men’s wear – 15% Off
 Accessories –
10% off

JohN PLAyerS
buy 1 get 1
fRee
 buy 2 get 1 fRee

itALiNA fAShioN JeWeLLery
 10% discount
BoSSiNi
up to 50% off

LiLLiPut
kids/children wear
up to 30% off
 buy 2 get 1 fRee
4011809

14
timeoff
the weekender
the details provided in the listings are tentative and are
subject to change. for promotions and listings, write to
[email protected]. tel: 5011571
hot BreADS
food court at bluebird
mall, Bluestar complex,
tripureshwor
spaghetti napolitano:
Rs. 135
4228833
eateRies
KAthMANDu
AQuA JAVA ZiNg
thamel
Rosted mushroom with
pimento & jalapeno:
Rs. 240
4254809
BAWArChi the
reStro BAr
Lazimpat
kathi kawab Roll
chicken: Rs. 70
2150050
Bhoe ChheN
NeWAri reStAurANt AND BAr
Basantapur
chatamari: Rs. 85
4221811
BhuMi reStro
LouNge
Lazimpat
buff choela: Rs. 100
4412193
CAfÉ oLLA reStAurANt AND BAr
Kantipath, Jamal.
golden fried prawn:
Rs. 320
4232673
CheZ CAroLiNe
reStAurANt
Babar Mahal revisited
pepper steak, french
fries, salad: Rs. 700
4263070, 4264187
ChoPStiCK reStAurANt & BAr
Buddha Bari,teku
mandarin bektifish
(Whole fish): Rs. 595
4104503
CoSMoPoLitAN
CAfÉ
Basantpur
veg cheese burger:
Rs. 105
4225246
CourtyArD reStAurANt
Kamaladi
Roasted chicken: Rs. 195
4253056
DeLiCAteSSeN
CeNtre CAfÉ
Durbar Marg
oven baked Roast
chicken: Rs. 180
5525903
e.D.e.N fooD
Court & LouNge
BAr
Kathmandu Mall
barbeque pork chop
Rs. 225 + tax
4150062
gArLiC CAfÉ AND
BAr
united World trade
Centre,tripureshwor
chicken a la kiev: Rs. 180
4117010
gAZeBo reStro
LouNge
Durbarmarg
kitchen alakeb: Rs. 340
9841397603
grASShoPPer
Basantapur
chicken kievana: Rs. 230
4255513
hiMALAyAN JAVA
Coffee LouNge
tridevi Marg
cafe latte: Rs. 90
4422519
JAtrA
thamel
sukuti ko achar: Rs. 110
4700043
iMAgo DeL CAfÉ
gALLery
Nag Pokhari
spinach artichoke dip:
Rs. 175
4442464
K-too BAr & SteAK
houSe
thamel
peppered steak: Rs. 360
4700043
LoBSterS
Sherpa Mall, Durbar
Marg
tou ka tiem kung: Rs. 550
4231323, 4231437
MANDAriN PALACe
Babarmahal revisited
chicken slice W/capsicum:
Rs. 350
4212675
NeW orLeANS
CAfe
thamel
vegetabel Jam bolaya:
Rs. 280
4700736
North gAte AQuA
LouNge
tej Bhawan, uttar
Dhoka, Lazimpat
pork chop: Rs. 240
4440567
or2K
thamel
stuffed vegetables combination: Rs. 290
4422097
SiLVer WoK ChiNeSe CuiSiNe
Panipokhari
pork chivi: Rs. 185
4438728
o3 PuB
Panipokhari
diced chicken: Rs. 175
9841408985
the fACtory reStAurANt & BAr
thamel
chilled gazpacho
Rs.150
4701185
PANAS reStAurANt AND CAfÉ
Khichapokhari
buigal set: Rs. 210
4212593
ViNtAge CAfÉ &
PuB
Durbarmarg
vintage platter: Rs.400
4254831
PuMPerNiCKeL
thamel
chitlang goat cheese
sandwich: Rs. 170
4259185
ViShrAM reStAurANt
Basantapur
Roasted pork: Rs.215
2012127
riCe & BoWL,
tripureswor
hakka prawn: Rs. 550
4251678
WiLD eArth PVt.
LtD, DhAPASi
MArg
Basbari
Wild earth open house
and himalayan plant alchemy workshop! make
your own perfume, enjoy a foot massage, and
sample our freshly made
face creams & oils on
13th feb basbari 2010
time: - 12 - 6 pm
4374178, 4650240
roAD houSe CAfÉ
thamel
toasted goat cheese
salad: Rs. 205
4260187
roX reStAurANt
hyatt regency, Boudha
char grilled prawns:
Rs. 1450
4491234
royAL SAiNo reStAurANt AND BAr
Durbar Marg
experience the gyakok
(the hot pot with
t-momos) and enjoy
other varieties of delicious
momos in the heart of city
with daily live bbQ
4230890
ShiSA terrACe BAr
& reStAurANt
thamel
fried chicken cordon
blue: Rs. 250
2091137
1905 reStAurANt
Kantipath
leg of lamb: Rs.650
4215068
PAtAN
BAKery CAfÉ
Pulchowk
chicken sizzler: Rs.205
5010110
ChAPter 9
Jawalakhel
paneer chatpata: Rs.240
5525979
ChoPStiX
Kumaripati, Patan
nasi goreng: Rs. 245
5551118
DhoKAiMA CAfÉ
Patan Dhoka
brinjal chicken: Rs.150
5522113
eZer BooK CAfÉ
Sanepa
kim chi chhige Rs. 250
5546578
ghANgri CAfÉ
Pulchowk
cordeu blue: Rs. 150
5524694
JAZZABeLL CAfÉ
Jhamsikhel
chicken basket: Rs. 150
2114075
LA rotiSSerie
griLLeD ChiCKeN
& SANDWiCh & iCeCreAM PArLor
Jawalakhel
crab sandwich: Rs. 110
5530823
PAtAN MuSeuM
CAfÉ
Patan Durbar Square
patan museum burger:
Rs. 180
5524694
music
BAMBoo CLuB
reStAurANt
thamel
Robin and the new
Revolution playing live
every tuesday
7 pm onwards
4701547
BottLeS & ChiMNey
thamel
sunday: live music by
plan b followed by
football match on big
projected screen
Nightout
SigMA fooD
Court
Pulchowk
Roast chicken Rice set:
Rs. 220
5009092
the AMBieNCe reStAurANt & BAr
Mangalbazar
newari set: Rs. 250
5538980
NAgArKot
the teA houSe iNN
Nagarkot
saturday special, enjoy sizzling sekuwa, hot momos
and delicious bbQ along
with splendid views of the
himalayas and refreshing
breeze
9841250848
BourBoN rooM
Durbar Marg
the best of sufi by hemant Rana. every monday,
7 pm onwards. open mic
with ciney gurung. every
Wednesday
7 pm onwards
4441703, 4249747
CAfe horiZoN
hotel himalaya
Mexican Sojourno –
come and experience the
flavours of mexico with
tantalizing mexican dishes
and selection of tequilas
monday: blues with
nekhvam
tuesday: live music by
brotherhood followed
by charity Quiz from
umbrella foundation
Wednesday: blues with
nekhvam
thursday: live music by
astral with free peanuts
friday: live music by
plan b
saturday: live music by
brahmastra
live music begins from 7
pm onwards.
happy hours 4:00 - 8:00
pm
chill out music, exotic
cocktails and different
flavors of shisa.
9841425925
BugLeS AND tigerS
BAr
everest hotel
live music by fusion
band far away from the
philippines
to tickle your taste
buds amidst intriguing
ambience
every friday, from 7:00
pm onwards
live music by prism
band
5523900
CLuB PLAtiNuM
hotel yak & yeti
salsa night with
Jimmy and masha.
every Wednesday, free
Workshop
8 pm onwards.
4248999 , 4222636
D’LouNge
BeiJiNg roASt
DuCK reStAurANt
New Baneshwor
melodious nepali gazals
and songs
every thursday,
6:30 pm onwards.
4468589
every evening except
monday
time 7 pm - 10:30
pm
4780100
ext: 7711/7811
cies, with ghazals,
Jazz and pop music
every friday and
saturday
4 pm onwards
4482993, 4460296
CeLeBrAtioNS
reStAurANtS
AND BAr
thamel
live music by Robin
and new Revolution
every friday 7pm
onwards
9841347613
JAtrA CAfÉ
AND BAr
thamel
ladies night with live
sufi and indian contemporary music
every Wednesday
4256622
fuSioN BAr
Dwarika’s hotel
live band featuring
dinesh Rai
every friday night
7 pm onwards.
4479448
grAND NorLiNg reSort
gokarna
enjoy mouth watering mughlai delica-
hiMALAtte CAfÉ
thamel
cloud Walkers, playing
live. every tuesday,
7:30 pm onwards
4256738
u2 and the police from
the eternity
every friday
7:30 pm onwards
4256738
LhASA reStAurANt & BAr
thamel
live band
every Wednesday, friday
and saturday
7 pm onwards
9851010431
PLug terrACe
Balwatar
blind. ears playing
acoustic
every Wednesday
6:30 pm onwards
2150072
MoKSh BAr &
LouNge
Pulchowk
soul train playing live
every tuesday
7:30 pm onwards
5526212
NANgLo CAfÉ
AND PuB
Durbar Marg
crossfire playing live
every friday
4222636
PorCh BAr
Soaltee Crowne
Plaza
Soaltee Mode
Relax and enjoy some of
the finest drinks
every day, 6 pm to 10 pm
4273999
the CAfÉ
hyatt regency
taste the culinary
delights from the
mediterranean region
of greece, italy and the
middle east. fridays,
6:30 pm
4491234
the CorNer BAr
radisson hotel,
Lazimpat
offering an array of
sumptuous snacks
exotic drinks and
cocktails
3 pm to 11 pm
4411818
timeoff
worth a watch
riz Khan’s one on one
profiling celebrities and newsmakers
from around the globe with a focus
on their personal histories, defining
moments and achievements, Riz khan
brings you one on one.
10:15 pm, Saturday 20th february
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
india:the girl Who Cries Blood
twinkle, a 14-year-old from northern
india, spontaneously bleeds from her
eyes, hands, feet, head and chest. this film
explores the myths and medical truths
of stigmata and reveals little known facts
about deadly blood disorders.
10:15 pm, friday 19th february
ESPN
Barclays Premier League 2009/10
match: manchester city vs. liverpool
8:25 pm, Sunday 21st february
HBO
Mamma Mia!
friday picks
The Good Guy
(drama)
the story centers on an ambitious young
manhattanite and urban conservationist
beth, who wants a good job, good friends,
and a good guy to share the city with.
but beth falls hard for tommy, a sexy,
young Wall street hot-shot, and she soon
learns that the game of love in the big
city is a lot like Wall Street – high risk,
high reward. and everybody has an angel!
the terrACe,
hyAtt regeNCy
Boudha
sunday Jazz brunchenjoy a relaxing sunday
with barbeque and live
jazz music
12:00 pm- 3:30 pm
4489362
uPStAirS JAZZ BAr
Lazimpat
live Jazz music playing
live
every saturday
8 pm onwards
9851040276
capes
Weekend es
goDAVAri ViLLAge reSort
godavari
special packages available for nepalese and
expatriates
2 days, 1 night package.
for single Room:
Rs. 3,000/- plus taxes
which includes bed and
breakfast. for double
Room: Rs 3,500 plus
taxes which includes bed
and breakfast
5560675
hyAtt regeNCy
Boudha
Relax package for two including breakfast at the café
1 night package, for maximum 3 nights, only for local
residents and nepalese
citizen. for couple: Rs.
6,200/- plus taxes
package is valid till 20th
february
4491234, 4489800
PArK ViLLAge
Budhanilkantha
Weekend package with half
board accommodation per
night
for double Room: Rs. 4,900
plus tax
9851070936, 9851057642
DhuLiKheL
DhuLiKheL MouNtAiN reSort
Dhulikhel
palanchowk bhagwati
darshan package
2 days, 1 night package
for single Room: Rs. 4,500
which includes, accommodation, transportation and
3 meals
4420774
the DWAriKA’S hiMALAyAN ShANgriLA ViLLAge reSort
Dhulikhel
overnight package. 2 days,
1 night
single Room: Rs. 3,500 plus
10% tax
double: Rs. 5,000 plus
10% tax
great escape package.
3days, 2 nights. couple: Rs.
12,666 plus 10% tax.
4479488
impact Asia with Mishal husain
global news as it affects audiences
in asia. mishal husain presents
breaking news, debate and analysis,
using the full range of bbc correspondents from the asia-pacific
nations and across the world.
7:45 pm, Wednesday 24th
february
Marley & Me
newlyweds
John (owen
Wilson) and
Jenny grogan
(Jennifer aniston) ponder
the life-changing
decision to
start a family.
unsure of his preparedness for raising
children, John instead adopts a labrador
pup with his new wife. through the years
of mayhem brought in by their dog marley,
John and Jenny come to realize, marley
– “the world’s worst dog” – somehow
brings out the best in them.
6:45 pm, Sunday 21st february
Shutter Island
(thriller)
reLeASiNg oN: february 19th
DurAtioN: 1 hr 30 mins, DireCtor: Julio depietro
StArriNg: Anna Chlumsky, Scott Porter, Alexis Bledel
roX BAr- hyAtt
regeNCy
Boudha
live Jazz tunes by inner
groove
every friday evening
4489362, 4491234
BBC
meryl streep leads an all-star
cast in this film adaptation of the
beloved stage musical featuring
the timeless lyrics and melodies
of iconic super group,abba.
mamma mia! is a celebration
of mothers and daughters, old
friends and new family found.
6:45 pm, Saturday 20th
february
from oscar-winning director
martin scorsese, shutter island
is the story of two us marshals,
teddy daniels (dicaprio) and
chuck aule (mark Ruffalo), who
are summoned to a remote and barren island off
the coast of massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the island’s
fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane.
reLeASiNg oN: february 19th
DurAtioN: 2 hrs 18 mins, DireCtor: martin scorsese
StArriNg: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley
NAgArKot
CLuB hiMALAyA
Nagarkot
chiso chiso hawa ma
special package.
2 days, 1 night package.
for single: Rs. 3,500 plus
10% service charge + 13%
vat inclusive of dinner and
breakfast
for double: Rs. 4,500 plus
10% service charge + 13%
vat inclusive of dinner and
breakfast
4442726
hoteL SPACe MouNtAiN
Nagarkot
exclusive package Rates for
expatriates and nepalese.
for single: Rs. 1,700 plus
tax inclusive of dinner,
breakfast and room
for double: Rs. 2,500 plus
tax inclusive of dinner,
breakfast and room
4430812, 6680071
PoKhArA
fuLBAri reSort
Pokhara
sense and serenity package
2 nights, 3 days package
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 mins foot
massage 25% discount on
golf, health farm, spa, and
tennis
4461918
gLACier hoteL
Pokhara
package includes a harbor
breakfast
for couple Rs 1,999 per
night
15% discount on paragliding facilities
463722
ChitWAN
tiger toPS
special Re-opening offer
3 nights/4days at tiger
tops jungle lodge & tented
camp, spending one night
at tiger tops tharu lodge
for single: Rs.40,050
approximately inclusive of
all taxes
extras: airfare kathmandu/
meghauly/ kathmandu
for single: Rs. 15,450
approximately inclusive of
all taxes
enjoy safari, nature walks,
bullock cart rides. experience the rich tharu culture
offer valid until 28th
february
4361500
Big PAgoDA hALL
hotel Bajra,
Chhauni
tantric dance, ‘the god
dance of nepal’
tuesdays, 7 pm onwards
4271545
CoMfort ZoNe AND
griLL
thamel
korean style bbQ. enjoy
the great taste of bbQ
every day with a variety of
cocktails
4700080
DÉLiCeS De frANCe
thamel
choucroute alsacienne
this traditional dish from alsace, north east of france,
is cabbage finely sliced and
lacto-fermented, cooked in
white wine with smoked
pork meat, bacon, sausage
and potatoes.
this delightful winter dish
is exceptional in nepal (top
quality meat from germany).
served with 1 everest beer.
Rs. 1,200 plus taxes
thursday 11th february
7 pm
limited to 20 people only
for reservation: 4260326
eDeN LouNge BAr
Kathmandu Mall
enjoy every day happy
hour.
3 pm – 7 pm
4150062
us
miscellaneo
ALfreSCo
Soaltee Crowne
Plaza experience the
taste of homemade
pasta
4273999
TRAVEL & LIVING
STAR MOVIES
ALJAZEERA ENGLISH
LA DoLCe VitA
thamel
Rediscover fine italian
cuisine
4700612
MADAN PurASKAr
Patan Dhoka
‘people after War’. permanent photo exhibition.
every day
11 am - 4 pm
5521393
5 Star insider: Africa – tanzania
angus enjoys a unique tanzanian safari
across the serengeti, staying in luxurious
bedouin-style tents complete with personalized butler service.
9:45 pm,tuesday 23rd february
HISTORY CHANNEL
infamous Assassinations:the Assassination of Che guevara
one of fidel castro’s most trusted lieutenants in the cuban revolution, ernesto ‘che’
guevara left to become a guerrilla leader
fermenting uprising against other south
american dictatorships. captured in bolivia
on 8th october 1967, he was assassinated by a
cia-inspired killer.
10:45 pm, Monday 22nd february
poll-o -meter
LASt WeeK’S PoLL
Do you thiNK thAt SoMe eStABLiSheD CoMMerCiAL
BANKS WiLL go BuSt iN 5 yeArS tiMe?
58%
yes
No
hAVe your SAy
is sex always about love?
for yes type y space poll, for No type N space poll and send it to 3276.
MANDAriN,the
eVereSt hoteL
Naya Baneshwor
enjoy the real taste of
tibetan gyakok ( sherpa’s
famous steam boat, minimum for two)
daily from 12pm - 2:30 pm
and 7pm - 11:30pm
4780100
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
pauba art
9:30 am - 7:00 pm
4256004, 9841418871
9851026064
roCK CLiMBiNg
nexgen adventure
program
daily departure
6914541, 9841283385
roX reStAurANt
hyatt regency
famous stews of the world
every tuesday, Wednesday
and thursday from 6 pm
onwards
4491234, 4489362
the CAfÉ At hyAtt
regeNCy
vegeteranian buffet
every monday
6:30 pm onwards
4491234
the CAfÉ, hyAtt
regeNCy
arabian nights - taste the
culinary delights from the
middle east
every friday from 6:30 pm
onwards
4491234, 4489362
the KAiSer CAfÉ
the garden of Dreams
cocktail and dreams
6 pm onwards
4479488/4425341
the LouNge - hyAtt
regeNCy
Boudha
strawberry high tea - enjoy
the festive season high tea
with strawberry flavor
4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
4491234
WiLD eArth PVt.
LtD.
Dhapasi Marg,
Basbari
Wild earth open house
and himalayan plant
alchemy workshop!
make your own perfume,
enjoy a foot massage,
and sample our freshly
made face creams & oils
12 - 6 pm
4374178, 4650240
16
Beejive 3.0
Facebook
tweetdeck
wikipanion
Instapaper
Social media
on the move
gizmo
As the price of the iPod touch continues falling and the iPhone
becomes ever more ubiquitous, LiM yAN LiANg takes a look at
five applications that can make you a Web 2.0 maverick.
1.Beejive 3.0
This is for all you IM addicts out
there. From staples like MSN and
Yahoo Messenger to more esoteric
services like Google Talk and Jabber, Beejive enables a user to connect to nearly all major IM services
simultaneously, all on one application. Allowing users to connect via
3G, EDGE and WiFi, Beejive is
one of the first IM clients on the
iPhone to incorporate pushmail
technology, meaning that you can
choose to continue receiving message notifications even after you
close the application and go on to
do something else. Hari Maharjan,
a banking executive, cannot remember how he got by without the
trusty app. “Separating IM from
my work computer makes it easier
to look like I’m working when I’m
actually chatting,” he chuckles.
2. Facebook
Let’s all face it: we are all completely addicted to Facebook.
“Even at work, I used to keep my
Facebook tab minimized in my
browser and check it whenever
I’m free,” said Sushma Shrestha,
a finance officer at an INGO. The
Facebook app for the iPhone and
iTouch certainly doesn’t help – us
addicts now have the ability to
check (in real-time) what our pals
are doing on the social network
anywhere there is an internet
connection. With version 3.0, the
app comes even closer to mimicking how Facebook works on the
PC, with full news feed interaction, including ‘Likes’ and ‘Comments’, support for ‘Pages’ and
‘Events’, a reworked homepage
for navigation, and even enabling
let’s all face
it: We aRe all
completely
addicted to
facebook. the
facebook app
foR the iphone.
you to upload a video directly from your iPhone
or iTouch. Facebook: 1,
Productivity: 0.
3. tweetdeck
While we are on social-media addictions, there is no way we can leave
out its new poster child, Tweeter.
Tweetdeck makes sure you are
always part of the conversation,
bringing its signature ‘columns’ layout to the iPhone and iTouch. The
application’s support for groups (allowing you to organize your followers into more manageable chunks),
multiple accounts and its ability to
sync settings between the desktop
and mobile versions puts it head
and shoulder over and above the
numerous other pretenders to the
140-word throne.
and then get sucked into spending
the next couple of hours hopping
from one article to the next. With
Wikipanion, you can now bring all
that goodness with you anywhere.
So why use a dedicated app instead of the Safari browser? With
Wikipanion, the text and pictures
are specifically formatted for the
iPhone and iTouch, meaning that
pages load faster with none of that
scrolling and zooming to detract
from getting that info fast. Now
everyone can be a smart alec, and
actually be able to back it up.
4. wikipanion
5. Instapaper
Probably the next best thing to
sliced bread, Wikipedia made it
easy for everyone to search for
information on almost anything,
Wordsmiths and avid readers,
this is the holy grail of reader
applications that you simply
need to have. Ever browsed the
web on your iPhone, only to
find an interesting article that
you are too pressed for time to
read? Instapaper adds a bookmarklet to your browser, allowing you to strip the page of ads
and images, and save the text for
offline reading later. The best
part – Instapaper is available
free, although the paid version
includes invaluable one-hand
tilt scrolling and a dark-background mode that improves
low visibility reading. “I used
to have to hunt for reading materials during my coffee break,”
said Ahmad Iskandar, a journalist with the Nepali Times. “Now,
I just whip out my iPhone and
I have a whole spread of fresh
articles to choose from.” !
18
betterhomes
Cheaponomics
your economical guide to a beautiful
home. Samriddhi rai takes you on a tour.
Y
ou read that right my
friend. The word is
“cheaponomics”; the repercussion of the recession wave, an art to be mastered
for some and an act of substantial
survival for many, “cheaponomics”, could just be your best bet,
guiding you through some good
times at this juncture when the
economy vis-à-vis inflation are
at their worst.
Cheaponomics teaches you
to invest in cheap stuffs without having to compromise on
your level of satisfaction. It
helps you curb your financial
woes yet making you as happy
as you would be with a far more
expensive purchase” says Manju
Rai, 37, a housewife residing in
Jawalakhel and a ‘fan’ of the art
of cheaponomics herself.
While cheaponomics can be
applied in many spheres of our
lifestyle, Friday has some suggestions to apply to make for you
to apply on your home front.
Flower Pots
Flowers are the basic requirements for a beautiful home.
While artificial ones make a
good substitute, nothing beats
live ones. Surround your home
with flowers, or invest in big
indoor plants. Plants are said
to have huge benefits to a person’s health and well being
too. While plants may not be
too expensive to buy, pots are,
and increasingly so. Pots you
buy here in Kathmandu are
almost thrice the original price.
So if and when you decide to
buy them, make a trip to Thimi
industrial area and amaze yourself by purchasing yourself
flowerpots that will cost you as
low as Rs.5 per piece.
earthenware
And as long as you’re out there
in Thimi, check out the range of
earthenware they manufacture.
Vases, water fountains, garden
accessories… the same stuffs
you find in interior shops here
too. It’s just that they are way
cheaper.
straw Baskets
Beautiful straw baskets are
great additions to a home. The
roughly woven ones can be used
as waste bins while the refined
ones can house indoor plants.
There are straw fruit baskets,
straw laundry baskets, straw
magazine holder and other varied range of straw-made items
to choose from. Since its Nepal
made, they’re definitely cheaper
than the imported ones and lend
an authentic Nepali touch to any
home.
form of sitting we proudly call
paleti kasnu? This is where the
sukul comes in handy. You can
find these in all shapes, sizes and
quality of your liking. And boy,
are our Nepali rugs cheap!
Paper Light shades
the Chinese Market
Colorful light shades instantly
brighten up an otherwise dull
room. And a plentiful of them
is widely available in the streets
of Thamel, Basantapur and Patan in all shapes, sizes and colors. Learning to bargain is a hit
theory in “cheaponomics”. So
embrace the skill. The prices
of the shades start as low as a
hundred rupees per piece but, if
you’re good enough at the bargaining game, you could land up
paying a lower price. Happily!
‘sukul’, the nepali rug
If you have a big garden, a terrace, a patio, or a balcony at the
very least, invest in sukul the
Nepali version of a rug. Sofas
and chairs are all very comfortable, no doubt. But isn’t it in
our innate nature as Nepalis to
enjoy sitting cross-legged, the
If there is anything as cheap as
things that are made in Nepal,
it’s got to be things made in China. Chinese manufacturers excel
in producing charming yet cheap
ceramic items. So invest in a lot
of Chinese dinner sets, kitchenware and decoration items. Chinese credit their “Feng Shui” for
their great economical success
in the world, so it wouldn’t hurt
you to invest in some of their
lucky charms. Who knows, Feng
Shui might just do good to you
and your home as it “supposedly” did to China and its people.
China Town in Sundhara is a
convenient mall to look for Chinese items (with parking space
and all). But, going by the ethics
of cheaponomics, the Chinese
Market located in Mahabaudhha
would be a better (read cheaper)
option. !
betterhomes
Kitchen Talk
different strokes
for a woman, the kitchen is the heart of her home. it is where
she spends most of her time conjuring delectable recipes... No
wonder she has the right to a kitchen that’s cozy and ‘cool’
— Suneeta Gurung
N
o one can challenge
the fact that the
kitchen is essentially a woman’s favorite domain and a place where
she spends most of her time – an
astounding 18 years or more of
her life. Of course, the trend is
going for a slight lemony twist
with an increasing number of
the men folk trying to ‘encroach’
what once used to be a totally
women’s realm. Cozy, workable,
central and practical are what
absorb the smell of cooking and
retain it. An exhaust fan alone
is not sufficient to resolve the
problem; it has to be combined
with a chimney to actually work.
If the smell continues to persist,
using an easily removable and
washable fabric like a curtain or
blinds as a barrier can work effectively by absorbing the smell.
If the windows are positioned
in a way that offers cross ventilation it should be good enough
to solve the ‘smell’ issue.
and your family are. Throw
away those empty Horlicks and
Chawanprash bottles or jam and
mayonnaise jars of the Mughal
era and replace them with some
trendy plastic containers readily available in the market.
3. For a woman, no fridge is
large enough to accommodate
all the foodstuffs that we love
to buy and sometimes over
buy. It is a very familiar sight
to see an overcrowded fridge
the most modeRn facilities and sophisticated
kitchenWaRe aRe not going to pRevent youR
kitchen fRom looking like a dump yaRd oR,
foR that matteR, smell like one.
packed to its core with salads,
fruits, vegetables and milk, not
to mention the leftovers. Sealed
containers and plastic bags, if
used effectively, can not only
make your fridge look neater
but, nutritionally, you score
points too.
could, perhaps, suitably describe
a ‘functional’ kitchen. The most
modern facilities and sophisticated kitchenware are not going
to prevent your kitchen from
looking like a dump yard or, for
that matter, smell like one. Here
are some effective ways to make
your kitchen a haven and you a
Goddess with your own ‘Greek
God’ worshipping you.
4. Lack of space is a major is-
some Challenges and solutions
1. The kitchen is truly a place
from where delightful aromas
can instantly mesmerize your
olfactory senses. But the most
obvious issue that comes to
mind is that along with the aroma come the odors of garlic and
onions. The issue becomes more
problematic if there is a carpet
in the living area as it tends to
2. Undoubtedly, and like every-
body else’s, bags and plastic containers dominate the kitchen. It
is absolutely not necessary to
make your kitchen the lone witness to show how healthy you
sue that we have to deal with,
especially if the kitchen is a bit
tiny. Devote a closet kept in the
hall or the dining area for secondary spices, sauces and extra
rice, atta and sugar as well as
for baking accessories.
It’s important to get your
kitchen looking neat, clean and
stylish because that’s where
you spend most of your time
don’t you?. !
Let There Be Light
— Yusuf Abdol Hamid
As a foreigner in K-town, there are moments when the adaptation process to Nepal’s quirks gets so overwhelming you
just need to run into a 5-star hotel for a brief respite from
the dust, honking and the stench of uncollected garbage.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, you can run but you can’t
hide from the long and spindly arm of load shedding. Imagine
my despair when a waiter at an up-market hotel café apologized
to me: “I’m sorry sir, the cappuccino you ordered was almost
done but the power went out.” For someone with a serious caffeine addiction, this was bad news of the highest order.
Coffee isn’t the only thing denied to me because of the
blackouts. The electric companies are robbing me of my
eyesight, which I feel acutely when stumbling around in
pitch-black alleys.
Too many times have I soiled my hands while touching
the narrow alley walls for support in the dark, or stepped
into questionable squelching substances that inevitably leave
a dreadful reek for days to follow. The gods must have been
smiling on me when I narrowly missed an open manhole
last night, which would probably have placed me squarely
on the obituary pages of the following day’s newspaper(s).
I find myself waiting breathlessly for the hours with
power, running around the house charging my laptop, mobile and micro-waving my cold dinner, before the lights are
cruelly and forcibly switched off.
Load shedding has its minor benefits though. My hearing has improved immeasurably from countless nights of
listening closely for the sound of bicycle pedals to avoid a
mid-road collision with unseen cyclists.
Electricity abandoning the circuits is also the perfect excuse to have a romantic candlelit dinner; great way to sweep
a girl off her feet – on the very first date!
Despite these tiny condolences, the next time I go to the
bathroom for a little load shedding of my own, the lights
better be on… !
ecs media pvt. ltd, kupondole, lalitpur, nepal, 5011571
no. 4  feb 18-24, 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
Inhouse Writers: AYUSHA NIROLA, AYUSHMA BASNYAT
Color Separation:
CTP Nepal Pvt. Ltd, HATTIBAN,
525.0466, 525.0468
Printing: Jagadamba Press, Hattiban,
525.0017/18/19
Distributor:
Kasthamandap Distribution Pvt. Ltd.
424.7241
��
Design & Production Executive: SANJEEV SHRESTHA
Photographer: DASH B. MAHARJAN
Asst. Managers, Sales & Marketing:
BIJENDRA PRADHAN, ANGIRAS MANANDHAR
Asst. Manager, Business Development:
SHWETA BUDHATHOKI
Ad Enquiries: [email protected]
Subscription & Distribution Executive: BIKRAM SHRESHTA

for finer things in life

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