in search - Friday Weekly

24
SUBSCRIBER COPY ISSUE 29 | RS. 20 www.fridayweekly.com.np August 12-18, 2010 | >fj0f @&–ef› @, @)^& AND MORE ECS Media Books Courtesy: Pilgrims Book House Tourism for development Catch the screen- ings of two docu- mentatires of life in Mugu and the state of the Bhuta- nese refugees and join TUDE in promot- ing tourism through social causes. things to do this week 14 August (Saturday), 11:30 am page 8 EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY | EVERY THURSDAY Sastriya Sankranti The sounds of the tabla, sitar and so much more. This week let the soulful music of classical instru- ments take you on a journey. 17 August (Tuesday) Tapas at Rox In the mood to have a big meal? Head on to Hyatt Re- gency and get a taste of some scrumptious Spanish delights. 13 August (Friday), 6 pm ����������� PAGE3 Just Asking Fr!day asked a few people of who they would want to bring back from the past. We got some interesting answers. PEOPLE Deep Shrestha He is no stranger to the Nepali music scene and Fr!day walks down memory lane with him. CONSUME Elegant Attires We head to Nilima’s Boutique to find out why it might be a woman’s one- stop shopping destination. HALFWAY Pretty Gardens What makes a beautiful garden? Read on to know more and make your home a sanctuary. TIME OFF Vesper Our undercover agent is back again with his spoon and fork to dissect all about the Vesper Cafe. FEATURE Not to Visit Nepal Binod Bhattarai delves into the unpreparedness of the Nepali government in regards to Nepal Tourism Year 2011. 17 3 12 14 5 Not getting your Fr!day on Thursday? Beg, borrow, steal, or just... CALL 9801041213 In search language of a turn to page 2 for more of it! on what’s Why speaking one language is just not enough Sabrina Singh Which language has not been the oppressor’s tongue? Which language truly meant to murder someone? And how does it happen that after the torture, after the soul has been cropped with a long scythe swooping out of the conqueror’s face - the unborn grandchildren grow to love that strange language. - Sujata Bhatt, “A Different History” 19

Transcript of in search - Friday Weekly

SUBSCRIBER COpy issue 29 | rs. 20 www.fridayweekly.com.np

August 12-18, 2010 | >fj0f @&–ef› @, @)^&

AN

D M

ORE

ECS

Med

iaBooks C

ourtesy: pilgrims Book H

ouse

Tourism for developmentCatch the screen-ings of two docu-mentatires of life in Mugu and the state of the Bhuta-

nese refugees and join TUDE in promot-ing tourism through social causes.

things to do this week 14 August (Saturday), 11:30 am

page 8

evenTs & enTerTainmenT Weekly | every Thursday

Sastriya SankrantiThe sounds of the tabla, sitar and so much more.This week let

the soulful music of classical instru-ments take you on a journey.

17 August (Tuesday)

Tapas at RoxIn the mood to have a big meal? Head on to Hyatt Re-gency and get

a taste of some scrumptious Spanish delights.

13 August (Friday), 6 pm

����������������������������������������

PAGE3

Just Asking Fr!day asked a few people of who they would want to bring back from the past. We got some interesting answers.

PEOPLE

Deep Shrestha He is no stranger to the Nepali music scene and Fr!day walks down memory lane with him.

CONSUME

Elegant AttiresWe head to Nilima’s Boutique to find out why it might be a woman’s one- stop shopping destination.

HALFWAY

Pretty GardensWhat makes a beautiful garden? Read on to know more and make your home a sanctuary.

TIME OFF

VesperOur undercover agent is back again with his spoon and fork to dissect all about the Vesper Cafe.

FEATURE

Not to Visit NepalBinod Bhattarai delves into the unpreparedness of the Nepali government in regards to Nepal Tourism year 2011.

77173 12 145

Not getting your

fr!day on Thursday?

Beg, borrow, steal, or just...

Call9801041213

in searchlanguage

of a

turn to page 2 for more of it!

things to do onwhat’s

Why speaking one language is just not enough

— sabrina singh

Which language has not been the oppressor’s tongue?

Which languagetruly meant to murder someone?

And how does it happenthat after the torture,

after the soul has been croppedwith a long scythe swooping out

of the conqueror’s face -the unborn grandchildren

grow to love that strange language.- Sujata Bhatt, “A Different History”

19

2 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!daycover

Nepal is a country of 124 indi-vidual living languages. Keeping aside the two that have no living speakers, dialects amongst ur-ban Nepalis today go beyond in-digenous languages or even Ne-pali, the common denominator, and subsume foreign languages to the likes of French, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin and German. Granted, Nepal has a reputation of never having been colonized, a fact that merely makes the rea-sons for the surge of language institutions that are producing a steady stream of foreign-language-savvy Nepalis, all the more variegated – globalization, a growing interest in foreign cultures, a sign of declining in-terest in ethnic languages, or a practical and professional neces-sity? Friday finds out.

Learning a language is not just learning a languageEveryone speaks English ev-erywhere so why learn a new language? Well, no. Mandarin is the language with the most number of native speakers; in fact, well over four-fifths of the world’s population does not speak English. Which points out that being fluent in the language does not make you a global, cos-mopolitan citizen any more than eating KFC makes you a Nepali.

“As human beings, we should not be limited to our culture and language only,” Prabin Bikram Rana, Deputy Director of Alli-ance Française, says. Learning a language is not just learning a language. It encompasses liter-ary texts and cinema, civilization and history – a whole new cul-ture in a nutshell. For instance, what is “you”? In English, it is a second person pronoun of both singular and plural. French distinguishes between “tu” (in-formal) and “vous” (plural/ formal); Arabic has “nta” (mas-culine singular), “nti” (feminine singular), and “ntuma” (plural); Spanish has five different words for it; and, of course, Nepali has “ta”, “timi”, “tapai” and “hajur”! This example (apart from show-ing how English chooses not to differentiate the audience) also shows that language opens up a whole new way of looking at life.

For many, this is exciting enough a reason to take up a foreign language: “The appeal of Spanish, apart from the fact that it is rela-tively easy to learn, is that its cul-ture is very interesting,” remarks

Srijana Thatal, Head of Spanish Department, Alta Vista, “Look at the popularity of Salsa dancing or Spanish cinema.” Rozen Neupane, student at Alliance Française, also remarks, “18th century French lit-erature, the crazy phonetics and Celine Dion are what made me want to learn French!”

Encroaching the nativeSo Kathmanduities may be catching up with globalization; cultural diffusion can be the cause (and effect) of the popu-larity of foreign languages. But what can be called ‘multicultur-alism’ can also be labeled ‘assim-ilation’, something that many bemoan as being a threat to our distinct indigenous languages and cultures.

However, I soon discovered (unsurprisingly) the language institutes beg to differ. “There is some sort of cultural invasion in Nepal so we should not ruin our base of ethnic languages. But in no way does learning a foreign language hamper our own lan-guages,” remarks Srijana Thatal.

On the contrary, “Once you learn a foreign language, you better understand the struc-ture and form of your own language,” Benoit Gillet of Al-liance Française explains, “For example, French is sometimes closer to Nepali than English, so when we teach students, we sometimes employ Nepali gram-mar rules and make comparisons between the two languages.” In addition, you enhance your vo-

cabulary and etymologies. This notion was echoed by everyone I talked to and brings to mind a particular saying by polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, “Those who know nothing of foreign languages, knows noth-ing of their own.”

Enough of macro reasoning. What other incentives are there for you or me to learn a foreign language?

From the I to the MeResearch has shown people who have learnt foreign languages show greater cognitive devel-opment in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, problem-solving, memory and reasoning. Even children who have learnt a second language score higher in reading, language, arts and math. “If you want to be more analyti-cal and open-minded, learn a new language,” Prabin Bikram Rana suggests, “Especially for stu-dents, being a bilingual gradu-ate is a real advantage, too.” This brings me to my next point.

Academic asset, professional precedenceMany colleges abroad require a minimum two-year study of a foreign language and even pre-scribe foreign language courses for an undergraduate degree. If one is studying International Re-lations, social sciences, or some-thing similar, a foreign language is a must for a graduate degree.

Professionally, foreign language acquisition may not have as much of an advantage in our country as abroad, but in the tourism sec-

tor, multinational companies and INGOs, they sure are great as-sets. “Knowing many languages helped me overcome many profes-sional barriers, especially in this food and beverage industry. So I would recommend anyone to take up a foreign language,” recounts Jonathan Mendies, proprietor of Red Dingo restaurant, who speaks Nepali, English, French, German and Italian.

“Tourists love it when we can speak their native tongue,” affirms Prem Dongol, MD of Discover Himalayan Trade, who employs fifteen multilingual employees, “In the tourism sector, it becomes much easier not just to communi-cate but also to convince tourists once we know their language.”

As far as the UN goes, “The lingua franca of diplomacy really is English and French,” comments Mita Hosali, who works for the Chief United Nations News Cen-tre in New York, “You really need to know an additional language to work in the UN, preferably one of the six official languages. Be-ing able to speak French, Spanish and English definitely helped me professionally.”

Hami NepaliSo there you go. For a country secluded until the 1950s, the level of awareness about for-eign cultures and the desire to explore the rest of the world is nothing short of astound-ing. Perhaps culture and lan-guage are such that, as Sujata Bhatt shows in her poem quoted above, they cannot be but ever-changing and assimilating. “In Nepal, if someone does some-thing cool, everyone follows, it’s not hard to create a wave,” Pravin Bikram Rana comments, which can partly explain why foreign languages are gaining such momentum, “But if we lose one of our ethnic languages, we lose a whole culture. And that can happen within a span of just a generation – 50 to 60 years.”

As a child of a Rai mother and Newar father, but one who can speak neither of my eth-nic tongues despite (or because of) having a dual ethnic back-ground, I cannot help but ring a mental emergency alarm for the 124 ethnic languages of our country. This generation and the next, especially, may be breed-ing apathy for local languages, fad for foreign ones. Oh, and did I mention, I speak French? Ex-actly my point. !

nThe official language of many countries, as well as that of the United Nations and World Health Organization, French is taught at Alliance Française de Kathmandou in Teku. This institution has around 4000 students, up from 350 in 1994, when the institution was first established. For a two-and-a-half month course, one has to pay Rs. 5,000.

nAlta Vista is the first private institution exclusively teaching Spanish where, for a price of Rs. 4,000, you get a one-and-a-half month course. Started in 2006, the average class size is 7 or 8 people – a drastic increase since 2006 when there used to be as few as one student per class!

nThe language of 200 million speakers worldwide, German is taught at Goethe-Zentrum in Thapathali where there are around 300 students. A sixteen-week course costs Rs. 6,000.

nFor those wanting to learn Japanese, an agglutinative language of 130 million speakers, Ajisai Language Centre at Durbar Marg is an option. Twenty-five sessions (spanning six months) is priced at Rs. 8,000 (although the price will change very soon).

nAt Bishwa Bhasa Campus (affliated to Tribhuwan University), located at Exhibition Road, many major foreign languages are taught, in addition to Nepali, Sanskrit, Newari and Tibetan.

Where?

page3make your statement

Think ink!Black and white and all

shades of colors. The first ever tattoo convention in Nepal was a haven for all

tattoo lovers.

just asking

if you could bring back one person from the past, who would

it be and why?

I would say King Birendra

because he had handled

the country very well dur-

ing his reign and had Nepal

recognized by the world

as a country of peace.

sushama sharma,

head of marketing,

nmB Bank

My grandfather, Sardar Bhim

Bahadur pandey, one of the

first people to prepare the

five-year plan for Nepal. I

think Nepal needs a lot

of help with planning and

maybe he could give point-

ers on how to draft the

constitution and steer the

country ahead.

raina singh, propri-

etor, ramalaya

Hmm... That’s a hard one, but I think I would say

motive to unite Nepal, to make it one.

Prithivi Narayan Shah because at least he had the

Jugesh shrestha, Ceo, amravati Group

rupy singh, director, rupy’s international

I would like to bring back Laxmi prasad Devkota because he was a high thinking person. He is someone that is needed in today’s times for his literature can also inspire the youth to read and learn rather than engage in something destructive.

suman rayamajhi, Co-founder and Ceo, Beed investment

I would bring back prithivi Narayan Shah. He could form a united force in Nepal. The pres-ent leaders can neither lead us nor rise up for any larger interest. If anyone could, I would love to see them; else I wish pNS were alive.

dibya subba, singer

I’d bring back the legendary musician, Gopal yonjan. Even back then, he was not only a singer but also a composer and a lyricist. If he were still around, we would be able to listen to more of his music.

abhinav n. rana, Gm, hotel radisson

Since the world and even our own country, Nepal, needs peace urgently at the mo-

ment, I would like to bring back Lord Bud-dha – the symbol of peace.

hall of frame

4 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!day featureissues that matter

Next year, Nepal is rolling out the red carpet to wel-come visitors. An airport expansion project now

underway is building new boarding gates covered by blue corrugated tin roofs that standout like a tool shed in the otherwise reddish brick complex. A little further down the road, the gate built about 10 years ago at the entrance of the airport, is also getting a facelift.

Airports make the first impression on visitors coming in by air and, therefore, efforts to renovate are welcome. However, the type of work underway may but do little to make that first mark given what is now there to see. (The wel-come gate might have been better demolished to ease traffic, and the new departure gates might have been better lighted with transpar-ent roofing.)

The already cramped pre-depar-ture longue came into being after the hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft from Kathmandu about a decade ago. What started as a tem-porary holding area after security check has now been converted into a pre-departure waiting, where passengers are more likely not to get seating space on any given day, where toilets are woefully inad-equate and the space is unkempt and discomforting.

The less said about toilets the bet-ter. However, to make sure we play good hosts to visitors talking about them is also unavoidable. Even until last week, the men’s rooms reeked of urine and none of them had tissues and hand towels. Both

the floors the basins were wet and stained, and the faucets either leaked or splashed water catching those expecting it to pour only in the basin completely off guard.

If word of mouth of visitors who have “done” Nepal influences the potential tourists’ choice of destination, then those planning to bring in one million tourists next year have some serious thinking to do. Now! Here’s a list of obstacles – and not an exhaustive one – to getting on a plane at Tribhuwan In-

ternational Airport that could give some pointers on where to start:

n Negotiating passage through the crowds outside the departure lounge for the first security check is the first challenge. The signage is primitive to say the least, and figur-ing out where to enter to catch a flight to India or Thailand can be frustrating. A clearly guided smooth walk to the terminal can do magic for people with luggage, especially those delayed by the city’s traffic that could get worse next year.

n The check-in counters inside seem better managed but not on days when there are multiple flights in the most crowded sectors – to the Gulf States, for instance. The queues vanish on those busy days with tour group operators add-ing to the chaos by trying to get quicker check-ins for their clients, disregarding the fact that others have been there waiting.

n The immigration area could also use some mobility management. The crowds there are already

Why NOT to

Visit Nepal in2011

getting longer and could stretch further once the million tour-ists actually begin to arrive. Even though migrant workers make up a substantial number of passen-gers, the TIA officials have not yet thought about a separate desk/s to facilitate their passage. Such an arrangement could be helpful because of the special documenta-tion needed for migration, and also for facilitating faster movement of non-migrant Nepalis. There are separate immigration lines for foreign passport holders, but how well a country handles guests is also reflected by how well it treats its own and, therefore, the crowds there cannot be ignored.

n Immigration upon arrival remains another bottleneck, not because of the crowds but because of the inefficiencies of passenger handling. Anyone who has waited in the queues there may have noticed how passengers aided by airline ground staff and security person-nel routinely break the lines to get quicker passage for their “afno manches” (friends and relatives), and immigration officials willingly comply. (I witnessed this most recently after a midday flight had arrived on Saturday).

The wait at for checked baggage on Saturday was also punctuated by two brief power cuts. The high-light of the “welcome” home was the toilet in this area: It was pitch dark even when there were lights outside. !

Binod Bhattarai is a journalist who runs The Writing Workshop ([email protected]).

IF WORD OF MOUTH OF VISITORS WHO HAVE “DONE” NEpAL INFLUENCES THE pOTENTIAL TOURISTS’ CHOICE OF DESTINATION, THEN THOSE pLANNING TO BRING IN ONE MILLION TOURISTS NExT yEAR HAVE SOME SERIOUS THINKING TO DO. NOW!

— Binod Bhattarai

featureissues that matter

Next year, Nepal is rolling out the red carpet to wel-come visitors. An airport expansion project now

underway is building new boarding gates covered by blue corrugated tin roofs that standout like a tool shed in the otherwise reddish brick complex. A little further down the road, the gate built about 10 years ago at the entrance of the airport, is also getting a facelift.

Airports make the first impression on visitors coming in by air and, therefore, efforts to renovate are welcome. However, the type of work underway may but do little to make that first mark given what is now there to see. (The wel-come gate might have been better demolished to ease traffic, and the new departure gates might have been better lighted with transpar-ent roofing.)

The already cramped pre-depar-ture longue came into being after the hijacking of an Indian Airlines aircraft from Kathmandu about a decade ago. What started as a tem-porary holding area after security check has now been converted into a pre-departure waiting, where passengers are more likely not to get seating space on any given day, where toilets are woefully inad-equate and the space is unkempt and discomforting.

The less said about toilets the bet-ter. However, to make sure we play good hosts to visitors talking about them is also unavoidable. Even until last week, the men’s rooms reeked of urine and none of them had tissues and hand towels. Both

the floors the basins were wet and stained, and the faucets either leaked or splashed water catching those expecting it to pour only in the basin completely off guard.

If word of mouth of visitors who have “done” Nepal influences the potential tourists’ choice of destination, then those planning to bring in one million tourists next year have some serious thinking to do. Now! Here’s a list of obstacles – and not an exhaustive one – to getting on a plane at Tribhuwan In-

ternational Airport that could give some pointers on where to start:

n Negotiating passage through the crowds outside the departure lounge for the first security check is the first challenge. The signage is primitive to say the least, and figur-ing out where to enter to catch a flight to India or Thailand can be frustrating. A clearly guided smooth walk to the terminal can do magic for people with luggage, especially those delayed by the city’s traffic that could get worse next year.

n The check-in counters inside seem better managed but not on days when there are multiple flights in the most crowded sectors – to the Gulf States, for instance. The queues vanish on those busy days with tour group operators add-ing to the chaos by trying to get quicker check-ins for their clients, disregarding the fact that others have been there waiting.

n The immigration area could also use some mobility management. The crowds there are already

Why NOT to

Visit Nepal in2011

getting longer and could stretch further once the million tour-ists actually begin to arrive. Even though migrant workers make up a substantial number of passen-gers, the TIA officials have not yet thought about a separate desk/s to facilitate their passage. Such an arrangement could be helpful because of the special documenta-tion needed for migration, and also for facilitating faster movement of non-migrant Nepalis. There are separate immigration lines for foreign passport holders, but how well a country handles guests is also reflected by how well it treats its own and, therefore, the crowds there cannot be ignored.

n Immigration upon arrival remains another bottleneck, not because of the crowds but because of the inefficiencies of passenger handling. Anyone who has waited in the queues there may have noticed how passengers aided by airline ground staff and security person-nel routinely break the lines to get quicker passage for their “afno manches” (friends and relatives), and immigration officials willingly comply. (I witnessed this most recently after a midday flight had arrived on Saturday).

The wait at for checked baggage on Saturday was also punctuated by two brief power cuts. The high-light of the “welcome” home was the toilet in this area: It was pitch dark even when there were lights outside. !

Binod Bhattarai is a journalist who runs The Writing Workshop ([email protected]).

IF WORD OF MOUTH OF VISITORS WHO HAVE “DONE” NEpAL INFLUENCES THE pOTENTIAL TOURISTS’ CHOICE OF DESTINATION, THEN THOSE pLANNING TO BRING IN ONE MILLION TOURISTS NExT yEAR HAVE SOME SERIOUS THINKING TO DO. NOW!

— Binod Bhattarai

6 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!dayfeature

Read Fr!day. Every Thursday

The other day my six year old son asked me, “Mam-ma when is Dad (he refers to his maternal grand-

father as Dad) going to come back?” Choked with emotions, I could barely think of a proper answer to his innocent question. My father passed away almost three years back, and my son still thinks he is going to come back some day. Children are tru-ly the epitome of innocence and naivety. We can very well say that they are the purest form of human beings as they are not yet molded by the harsh realities of life. So the million dollar ques-tion – how do we groom them to take up challenges in life with the right values inculcated into their minds?

Bringing up a child in a typi-cal Nepali environment in a modern way can be the most challenging task of a lifetime. Ask any parent and the answer will come shining through. There are two sides of the coin. Either we can intimidate them and make them listen to us all the time and have too-good-to-be-true well behaved children to present to the society. Or we can spare the rod, unleash the ex-plorer in them and present very ‘misunderstood’ inquisitive kids to the society.

So which way is the right one? For a parent, the first is definite-

Nurturing Children

ly the easier way – one shout in a booming voice is enough to send them scattering. And for a child not to be able to live the life of a child is like killing their childhood. To be constantly bur-dened at every step with pres-sures of maintaining an ‘adult-like’ decorum can be very taxing for that young mind. Basically we are teaching them to sup-press their feelings for fear and making them more vulnerable to the evils of society. They will grow up to be disturbed teens, insecure in their thoughts and

actions, and always influenced by their friends as they yearn for the parental warmth which they have missed.

And for a parent obviously, the second approach is definitely the more difficult choice. To be able to handle countless queries, to be able to face his anger un-perturbed, to be able to calmly handle unruly situations at pub-lic places and embarrassments galore while visiting people not only takes an astronomical

amount of patience but also co-lossal effort. There will be many situations while visiting when they will be frowned upon for picking up the expensive time piece from the mantle to take a look or eating what they want in a way they like or just looking around.

I have chosen the difficult way because I want my children to make independent decisions dur-ing their growing years. I want them to express their likes and dislikes freely. I want them to share their most guarded secrets

with me and I want them to con-fide in me more than anyone else, especially in their teen years, the important years that can make or break their future. I have been told on many occasions that I have pampered my children. But does jumping on the sofa or put-ting a finger in the fish tank re-ally qualify for being spoilt? It is very child-like at times to show disobedience; most of it comes from curiosity to figure things out on their own. I guess it be-

— Sunita Gurung

The only evenTs & enTerTainmenT Weekly

be in the know

����������������������������������������

AN

D M

ORE

Get updates before it breaks to the world

>

events & entertainment

comes very difficult in our soci-ety to accept audacity in a child, but, in the event, we miss teach-ing him one among the most im-portant lessons of life.

There is a famous rabbinical saying ‘Don’t limit your child to your own learning for he was born in another time’. We must realize that times change and the way things were done in our time may not work anymore. Children are no longer docile, obeying everything a parent asks and, in a way, rightfully so. Isn’t it time we start training our children to survive in this rat race that we call competi-tion? It is very normal for chil-dren to defy the norms set by parents as this is definitely an age-old tradition of the young-sters and there is no way that the HIP HOP generation of the 21st century will skip following it. In fact they will do it more religiously than us. But appreci-ating their tiniest achievements with a pat in the back, boosting their morale when they encoun-ter any failure, understanding their needs and making them feel special and loved no matter how they are is what we should

-a Contradiction

be calling grooming in the right direction.

In a typical Nepali household it is always a prerogative to listen to the elders without ever question-ing, not touching things without ever knowing the reasons why. We have all been brought up that way at home and in school, never given a chance to explore with a mindset that the teacher or the parent is always right. So we re-mained the same even when we grew up, lazy in mind and the ex-plorer in us dying a silent death. But that generation was different and we are still able to survive in this world. Will our children be able to though, is a question we need to ask ourselves time and again. The fact remains that there are no standards and rules written in stone as far as parenting is concerned, but if we insist on being rigid we will just distance ourselves from our children. Shouldn’t we be giving them chances to ask, to explore and to find ways themselves? As Harry S Truman rightfully put it, “I found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then ad-vise them to do it.” !

SO THE MILLION DOLLAR qUESTION – HOW DO WE GROOM THEM TO TAKE Up CHALLENGES IN LIFE WITH THE RIGHT VALUES INCULCATED INTO THEIR MINDS?

Birth control pills have been around for quite a while and just celebrated their 50th birthday this

summer. Sometimes simply re-ferred to as “the pill”, it is a drug used by females wishing to avoid pregnancy. The pills change the way the body works, thus pre-venting pregnancy.

Most birth control pills are a combination of the hormones estrogen and progesterone to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg during a woman’s monthly cycle). A woman can-not get pregnant if she doesn’t ovulate because there is no egg to be fertilized. Pills also thicken mucus around the cervix pre-venting sperms from reaching the uterus and hence fertilizing the egg. Pills also thicken the in-ner lining of the uterus and pre-vent eggs from getting attached to the wall.

Most combination pills come in either 21-day or 28-day packs. You take pills for 21 days and, for the rest of the seven days, you skip the pills or you take pills without hormones. It de-pends on individuals whether they want to have pills continu-ously or with breaks in between. In Nepal, we get two brands of pills and they are both combi-nation pills that are taken as 28-day pills – 21 days with hor-

mone content and seven days without, which is supplemented by iron. They are easily available all across the na-tion. They are fairly priced and of good standard.

There is another kind of pill known as the mini pill. This contains only one type of hor-mone and it is considered less effective in preventing pregnan-cy than the mixed one. This pill prevents periods becoming ir-regular or might even stop them completely.

If one wants to use pills, one has to be regular with or with-out breaks. The first seven days one starts to take pills, one has to take other measures to pre-vent pregnancy like using con-doms as pills start to work only after that period. And it’s always recommended to use condoms to be safe from sexually transmit-

ted dis- ease. If one forgets to take pills, it’s good to skip sex or use condoms for protection.

What’s the chance of failure? Eight percent as per studies car-ried out in the course of one year

of usage. It’s also dependent on individual regularity and dis-cipline. So if you are into pills, don’t miss a single day. Some-times antibiotics do interfere with the efficacy of the pills.

Side effectsPills are a very safe method of birth control and there are very few side effects.

nIrregular menstrual bleedingnNausea, headache, dizziness,

and breast tendernessnMood change

n Blood clots (rare in women un-

der 35 who do not smoke)

W h a t

should you do in case you notice some

side effect? After using the pill for three months, the side ef-fects tend to subside and doc-tors sometime prescribe other kinds of pills. It’s always recom-mended to consult the doctor before you get into any form of medication.

featureissues that matter

Doctors do not recommend pills for the following:nFemales with a history of

blood clots in the legs or other part of body

nBreastfeeding mothersnFemales with a history of

breast cancernIndividuals with liver diseasenFemales who smoke nHypertensive females and

those with vascular prob-lems

nIndividuals with migraine and neurological problems like seizure disorder

Benefits of the PillsnIt helps to regulate men-

struation cyclesnProtects against pelvic in-

flammatory disease and helps to prevent infertility

nDecreases the risk of ovar-ian, endometrial cancer and ovarian cyst

nIs quickly reversible and periods start almost imme-diately after stopping pill intake

nDecreases periods related pains and the amount of bleeding associated with them

Ah! MissednStart immediately and take

one (make it two in case of a missed day)

nTake two pills each day for two days (if missed for two days) and use condom for protection

nIf you miss for three days, take an emergency contra-ception pill after sex not forgetting to use a condom though !

Dr. Bishal Dhakal is a medical practicioner who runs a program - Health@Home, which manages healthcare at home. He can be contacted at [email protected]. (www.hathnepal.com)

WHAT’S THE CHANCE OF FAILURE? EIGHT pERCENT AS pER STUDIES CARRIED OUT IN THE COURSE OF ONE yEAR OF USAGE. IT’S ALSO DEpENDENT ON INDIVIDUAL REGULARITy AND DISCIpLINE. SO IF yOU ARE INTO pILLS, DON’T MISS A SINGLE DAy.

irth control pills have been around for quite a while and just celebrated

birthday this summer. Sometimes simply re-ferred to as “the pill”, it is a drug used by females wishing to avoid pregnancy. The pills change the way the body works, thus pre-

Most birth control pills are a combination of the hormones estrogen and progesterone to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg during a woman’s monthly cycle). A woman can-not get pregnant if she doesn’t ovulate because there is no egg to be fertilized. Pills also thicken mucus around the cervix pre-venting sperms from reaching

mone content and seven days without, which is supplemented by iron. They are easily available all across the na-tion. They are fairly priced and of good standard.

There is another kind of pill

Side effectsPills are a very safe method of birth control and there are very few side effects.

nIrregular menstrual bleedingnNausea, headache, dizziness,

and breast tendernessnMood change

n Blood clots (rare in women un-

der 35 who do not smoke)

W h a t

should you do in case you notice some

side effect? After using the pill for three months, the side ef-

The 50 year old Pill— Dr. Bishal Dhakal

8 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!day

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

sun . mon . tue . wed . thu . fri . sat

Why bring in tourism in your developmental efforts? does it have anything to do with nepal Tourism year 2011?Most of the organizations here have always been concerned with development. We at TUDE, work in tourism for development because tourism is linked to the outdoors. When one goes to explore the outside environment, it raises questions within one and hence one begins to look for answers – this is how tourism is linked to development. We are not linking it to tourism because of Tourism year next year. We have been working in tourism from 2006, development and environment issue. Besides, we take tourism as an umbrella of possibilities that is linked to every aspect of development.

how does screening these documentaries fulfill your objective of promoting development through tourism?Through the documentaries, we want to ask the audience the question of our social understanding. Our objective is to inform the audience about the things happening in parts of the country that we are not very familiar with and to question the “development” taking place so as to find out where we went wrong in our understanding. If we manage to do this, we think we will be successful in sharing the problems we saw. We want to show the flaws in our development strategies through these documentaries.

What is your organisation’s idea of development?It is simple… we look at development as a local need, local aspiration and what people want. We can only help to achieve that development they need, but we can’t bring or give development to them. We urbanites are developed in one way or another. It is just that we need to share our development, share the knowledge that we have. We believe that it takes a long time for development to happen, it simply cannot be brought just through books and theories. There also needs to be implementation.

Reel BitesThe woes of people in Mugu. The condition of our countrymen in rural areas. Tourism Development Endeavor (TUDE) documents these realities. Fr!day talks to coordinator Niraj Tamrakar about TUDE’S initiatives.

arTspropagationOpening Date: 10 August (Tuesday)Closing Date: 18 August (Wednesday)Venue: Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal, Gallery Hours: 11 am to 6 pm (Sunday to Friday), 12 noon – 4 pm (Saturday), 4218048

painting exhibition“Kathmandu Valley Down the Ages: Depicting Life in Ancient and Medieval Kathmandu Valley”By Hari prasad SharmaVenue: Art Council Gallery, Baber Mahal, 4220735

an art Workshop and exhibitionOpening Date: 13 August (Friday)Closing Date: 15 August (Sunday)Venue: Mandala Street, Thamel9851073735

Mandala Deep, in association with Fusion Studio, is organizing a one-day art workshop followed by two days of art exhibition, featuring honorable guest artists Mr. Kiran Manandhar and Mr. Shashi Bikram Shah along with 30 other brilliant artists of this generation from 13 to 15 August at Mandala Street, Thamel.

The event focuses on brining all the artists together to paint and sculpt in their own unique styles on the first day. These paintings and sculptures will be exhibited for sale during the next two days at Mandala Street. The proceeds will be donated to an NGO, Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) in supporting their noble cause. ECDC has been providing residency and day care for Nepal’s Inmates children for the past six years. Currently, they have 35 kids from various prisons under their care.

root periscopeA group art exhibitionOpening Date: 10 August (Tuesday)Closing Date: 24 August (Tuesday)Venue: Sattva Art Gallery, Kupondole9841469467, 9841241790, [email protected]

lecture on artBy Mr. Mukesh Malla, an Art CriticDate: 14 August (Saturday)Time: 3 pm, Venue: Sattva Art Gallery, Kunpundole9841469467, 9841241790, [email protected]

Fair/eXpoQuixote at nepal education and Book Fair 2010World’s best children’s books publishers at the Nepal Book FairDate: 6 August (Friday) – 14 August (Saturday), Time: 11am – 6 pm

Venue: Stall # BD-53, Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall, KathmanduTickets: Students - Rs.10/- and General public - Rs.20/-, 5536974

quixote’s Cove is bringing an exclusive range of books from the renowned international children’s books publishers: Scholastic Inc., Usborne Books and Tick Tock Books to the 14th Nepal Education and Book Fair. quixote’s Cove is also organizing children’s activities at its stall (No. BD-53). Events include book readings, art and craft sessions, a Sherlock Holmes special book mystery, a lucky draw, a jar of candy and lots of prizes. Further, special events to promote local books are also being organized. These events are free and open to the public.

quixote’s Cove is a bookshop in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur. It specializes in fiction, children’s, business and philosophy books and provides a unique Nepali spin on the old bookshop experience. quixote’s Cove also functions as an events management company for literary events. More details at: www.qcbookshop.com

inTeraCTion proGramTalk programSri Aurobindo & his teachings Date: 14 August (Saturday) Venue: Mind Body Library, Baber Mahal Time: 1 pm, For prior registration, send sms to 9841896000, 4102025

musiCrobin and the new revolution at house of musicDate: 13 August (Friday)Time: 7:30 pm onwardsEntry: Rs. 200Venue: House of Music, Thamel.For Bookings and more info: 9849243807, 9851075172

rainer pusch at kJCMusic education from a world renowned teacher Opening Date: July 21Closing Date: September 20Venue: Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, Jhamsikhel5013554, [email protected]

Rainer pusch, who is an internationally renowned

Saxophonist, Composer and Arranger from Germany, will be at the Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory for two months. This would be a fantastic opportunity for musicians in Nepal to learn from this world renowned musician. pusch has learned jazz music from Berklee College of Music (Boston) and has explored the world of classic South Indian Music from Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts, Chennai, India fifteen years ago. Since then he has been working with various international artists and famed Indian Musician like A.R. Rahman and Ramnath Gopalnat and has numerous performances to his name with Ganesh Kumar, Selva Ganesh, Dr. Balamuralikrishnan, and Amit Heri.

He is visiting KJC from July 21 till September 20, 2010, to share his knowledge of music and will be teaching Saxophone, Improvisation and Jazz Theory/Arranging. Workshops and lectures are scheduled for the two months at KJC to share his experiences about the art of music pedagogy.

TheaTresastriya sankrantiA classical music performanceDate: 17 August (Tuesday)Venue: Sama Theatre, Gurukul4466956, 2101332, [email protected]

misCellaneousyouth Jatra 2010Opening Date: 11 August (Wednesday), 9 am, Closing Date: 12 August (Thursday), 4:30 pmVenue: Alliance Française and patan Multiple Campus

August 12, International youth Day, is being celebrated by Association Of youth Organizations Nepal (AyON) and other organizers, through a two-day program called Youth Jatra 2010, (11-12 August).This event aims to uphold the theme of “dialogue and mutual understanding”, which is also the theme of International youth Day. The two-day event will feature musical concerts, b-boying, youth stalls (including those of food, games and entrepreneurship), documentaries related to youth issues, photo exhibitions and oratory programs, amongst others.

real life in reelsDate: 14 August (Saturday), Venue: Gurukul, Baneshwor, Time: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, Entry free, 9841265165, [email protected]

POST uS: Listings can be sent by email – [email protected] or call us at any of the following numbers - 5011571, 5011639, 5011730, 5011731. Listings are free, but inclusion is not guaranteed due to limited space.

With events to the left and right, Friday makes it a little bit easier for you to choose events to check out this week. Here are our top 3 picks:

1. sasTriya sankranTiThis week let the soulful music of classical instruments take you on a journey.

2. Tapas aT roXHead on to Hyatt Regency and get a taste of some scrumptious Spanish delights.

3. Tourism For developmenTCatch the screenings of two documentatires and join TUDE in promoting tourism through social causes.

With events to the left and right,

TOP 3

things to do this weekthis week

onwhat’s

3Qs with Niraj Tamrakar

Coodinator, TUDE

Tourism Development Endeavor (TUDE) is an organization working to promote sustainable, ethical and decentralized tourism in Nepal through research, exploration, documentation and promotion. Two of the documentaries are being screened by TUDE on 14 August, Saturday. These 40-minute-long documentaries talk about the status of Bhutanese refugees and the development in Mugu respectively.

The first one is titled “Sharnarthi”, which translates as “Asylum Seeker” that documents the state and aspirations of Bhutanese refugees who have been resettled in third world countries after living for almost two decades in refugee camps in Eastern Nepal under UNHCR aid. The other documentary, “Conscience of Karnali”, puts a question mark on the current development efforts in Mugu district of Karnali. It focuses on issues such as employment, technology, education and health in the largely isolated community of rural Nepal. The film is based on the journey the members of TUDE took during their trek to some of the remote places in Nepal, and also voices the opinions of the locals there as to what they want to see happening in their community.

To know the stark reality of those living in remote places of our nation and to, perhaps, be able to fathom what being a refugee is like, one has to watch these two documentaries.

events

A number of youth leaders will also attend as guests.

Included in the closing ceremony is forum theatre in which the audience can stop a scene and suggest different actions for the actors, thus bringing audience participation into the performance as well. A youth rally will commence from the Ministry of youth, Kamalpokhari using eco-friendly vehicles and end at Jawalakhel.

youth Jatra aims to empower the youth, encourage their participation in society and sensitize them on social activism issues.

International youth Day has been celebrated on August 12 since 1998. This year’s International youth Day is a particularly important day for youth around the world since the United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 2010 as the International Year of Youth.

mTv Big BlastDate: 13 August (Friday)Venue: yak & yeti HotelTime: 7 pm to 11:30 pm

Join MTV VJ Ranvijay comes to town for the biggest party of this monsoon. Join celebrities, great music and light jockeys, models, dancing, cocktails and party the night away.

Cube - The Club anniversaryDate: 14 August (Saturday)Time: 7 pm till lateTicket: Rs. 500, 4438017

inter-school essay Writing CompetitionDate: 14 August (Saturday)Venue: St. xavier’s School, Jawalakhel

An Inter-School Essay Writing Competition on the theme ‘youth for a better Future’ is being organized on August 14 to celebrate International youth Day. This event is being organized by Himalayan Readers’ Bookclub in collaboration with Rotaract Club of Kupondol and Team Nepal.

The competition will be organized both in English and Nepali with a maximum two participants from each school. The competition is targeted both at private and public schools so as to provide equal opportunity to all.

himalayan hash house harriersDate: 14 August (Saturday) Venue: Various locations in Kathmandu valley, Time: 3 pm – 6 pm, 5528 471

The Himalayan Hash House Harriers is a club that helps people with drinking problems. Every Saturday afternoon, the group meets to run a course through some scenic environs in Kathmandu valley. The club also has a group of enthusiastic walkers. participants usually disperse after a round of soft drinks and some singing.

10th Bagmati river Festival - The festival of the 21st CenturyOpening Date: 5 June (Saturday)Closing Date: 23 August (Monday)4361995, [email protected], [email protected], www.nepalrivers.org.np

The Bagmati River Festival targets at attracting attention to the sorry state of the Bagmati River and to initiate action to conserve it. The wide publicity that this festival generates via the media acts as a reminder to us all that one of the iconic rivers of the country and, along with it, our immediate environment needs human concern and support to help the river get back to the pristine state it was once in.

1. Bagmati Dunga Daud School Challenge and Media ChallengeDate: 13 August

Join a 7-km down river race on a raft from Sundarijal to Uttar Bahini temple to help raise awareness about saving the Bagmati. Two races will be held – one will be an inter-school challenge and the other an inter-media houses challenge.

2. Bagmati Dunga Daud Corporate Challege and Dunga DiplomacyDate: 14 August

Weekly Farmers’ marketDate: 14 August (Saturday)Venue: 1905 Restaurant GardenTime: 9 am to 12 pmContact: 4225272, 4215068

Organic & gourmet food, healthy breakfast, freshly brewed organic coffee and lots of socializing. With its popularity growing by the week, the Farmers’ Market not only promotes healthy eating but also provides a platform for those individuals working in the field of producing agro products.

Café FrancophoneEvery SaturdayVenue: Delices de Frances Restaurant, Thamel, Time: 5 pm to 7 pm, 4260326Enjoy a very French evening at ‘Café Francophone’, hosted by Delices de

France Restaurant, where you can get to practice and speak French with different people. participants also get 30% off on drinks.

salad Bar and Quick smart lunchEverydayVenue: Red Dingo Restaurant, Jawalakhel, Time: 12 pm to 3 pm5550329, 6914960

Red Dingo introduces its “SALAD BAR & qUICK SMART LUNCH”. If you are very busy and time conscious for personal or professional reasons, head to Red Dingo for their salad bar and quick smart lunch which will cater to your needs without compromising on service standard, food quality or time.

First aid CourseOpening Date: 15 August (Sunday)Closing Date: 18 August (Wednesday)Venue: Kakani, Cost: Rs. 11,250 (residential course), Rs. 9,500 (non-residential course)2111505, [email protected]

Recieve an international standard and globally recognized first aid certification with Initiative Outdoors (I.O.). I.O., in cooperation with S.O.L.O. (US-based wilderness medicine school), is offering the first aid course for outdoor professionals and other interested individuals or groups.

mediterranean Food Festival Opening Date: 21 July (Wednesday)Closing Date: 31 August (Tuesday)Venue: Olive Garden, Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat4411818, 9851063967

yoga ClassesDay: Every Monday to FridayVenue: Himalayan Buddhist Center, Jyatha, ThamelTime: 9 to 10 am, 4252251

rox Bar introduces TapasDate: Everyday except MondaysVenue: Rox Bar, Hyatt RegencyTime: 6 pm to 12 am4491234

Enjoy special Spanish appetisers with your drinks at the Rox Bar, with its recently introduced Tapas menu - a Spanish cuisine that includes appetisers.

naTional GeoGraphiCTrue stories: lockdown 2: Gang WarsSalinas Valley State prison is one of California’s most notorious prisons with about 800 incidents each year. Filled far over capacity with some of the system’s most dangerous inmates, it’s also understaffed. After months spent in cells, these inmates are incensed and ready to act. It’s just a question of when. We’ll take you to the gangs’ training ground – C cellblock and yard – where the most aggressive gangs square off against each other and the guards. Thursday, 12 august, 7:15 pm

FoX hisTory and enTerTainmenTnuclear secrets: penkovsky (1959-1962)The Cuban Missile Crisis and how one of the former Soviet Union’s greatest traitors set out to avert WW3. (1959-1962) October 1962. US intelligence revealed Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of America. US cities were potentially just three minutes from a nuclear strike. Soviet ships were steaming across the Atlantic with yet more nuclear weapons. Kennedy’s military leaders urged him to bomb Cuba. Khrushchev threatened to launch a nuclear strike on America if he did. The world held its breath – poised on the brink of an all-out nuclear war.saturday, 14 august, 9:15 pm

hBo lethal Weapon 4In their fourth adventure together, Los Angeles police Department’s dynamic duo Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh find themselves caught up in a series of crimes involving immigrant smuggling and counterfeiting. They join forces with junior detective Lee Butters and money-launderer-turned-private investigator Leo Getz to take on the Chinese triad lord, Wah Sing Ku. This movie is high on explosion, laughter and action!Friday, 13 august, 8:15 pm

espnBarclays premier league:Arsenal Vs. Liverpoolsunday, 15 august, 8:25 pm

sTar moviesTakenAn ex-soldier (Liam Neeson) traveling through Europe embarks on a frantic quest to rescue his daughter after she is abducted by slave traders.Tuesday, 17 august, 9:15 pm

sTar Worldhow i met your mother - The Wedding

How I Met your Mother is a comedy about Ted (Josh Radnor) and how he fell in love.Wednesday, 18 august, 7:45 pm

disCovery Channelman vs. Wild (season 4)pacific islandSand and salt water confront Bear when he’s dropped off the panamanian coast. So he demonstrates how to make fresh water, a raft then survive a storm at sea.monday, 16 august, 3:15 pm

Travel and livinGmodel life with petra nemcova, a model’s ambitions

petra and the Next agents reveal their plans for the aspiring models. Five are one step closer to earning a modeling contract, but one is sent home empty handed.monday, 16 august, 8:15 pm

worth a watch

10 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!day

calendarmark yourevents during the next few weeks

events

arTsku art exhibitionExhibition of paintings and sculptures by final year students of Kathmandu University, Department of Art and Crafts,

Opening Date: 3 August Closing Date: 7 September Venue: Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, 4218048

“Gaijatra” painting exhibitionBy Ragini Upadhya-GrelaOpening Date: 22 August (Sunday)Closing Date: 20 September (Monday)Venue: Siddhartha Art Gallery 4218048

Ragini Upadhya-Grela, the eminent Nepali artist, is going to present her witty and vibrant paintings that capture the farce of the ongoing socio-political situation in Nepal in a solo exhibition.

rivers of pilgrimage at the nepal art CouncilOpening Date: 5 September (Sunday)Closing Date: 19 September (Sunday)Venue: Nepal Art Council

A two-part photographic exhibition that showcases the works of three Indian photographers: prashant panjiar, Dinesh Khanna and Ravi Agrawal along with two Nepali photographers: Kishore Kayastha and Laxmi prasad Ngakhusi will be held from the 5 to 19 September.

painting exhibition By Austrian artist Soshana Opening Date: 30 September (Thursday)Closing Date: 10 November (Wednesday)Venue: Siddhartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited, 4218048

Austrian artist Soshana is going to exhibit her paintings to commemorate her 80th birthday. The exhibition will be coordinated by Amos Schuller.

Fair/eXpoTeej Festival 2010 – exhibition and salesOpening Date: 19 August (Thursday)Closing Date: 22 August (Sunday)Venue: Direction Exhibition & Convention CentreTime: 10 am-7 pm

The 9th Teej Festival, being organized by Women’s Creation Centre, will be held from 19 to 11 August. One can buy handicrafts, Teej souvenirs

and even saares and kurtas on sale at the various stalls. Mehendi and face painting, and food stalls will also be set up. Apart from that, one will also be contributing to a good cause if you attend and buy something at the fair as 15% of the sales proceeds will be going toward aid activities for the upliftment of women.

Fair/eXpohealth and Fitness expo Organized by Direction NepalOpening Date: 26 AugustClosing Date: 29 AugustVenue: Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall

home and décor expo and nepal security expoOrganized by Direction NepalOpening Date: 3 SeptemberClosing Date: 5 SeptemberVenue: Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall

dashain BazaarOrganized by Direction NepalOpening Date: 22 SeptemberClosing Date: 27 SeptemberVenue:

nepal property expoOrganized by Direction NepalOpening Date: 3 DecemberClosing Date: 5 DecemberVenue: Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall

inTeraCTion proGramThe art of lovingLecture program Date: 20 August (Friday)Venue: Mind Body Library, Baber Mahal, Time: 1 pm For prior registration, send sms to 9841896000, 4102025

moviesBuds Film FiestaOpening Date: 6 September (Monday)Closing Date: 9 September (Thursday)Venue: Gopi Krishna HallEntry: Rs. 130, Rs. 80 (students)9841631939, 9841970892

Here is a unique opportunity to showcase your filmmaking skills. With the objective of encouraging

art and discovering new talent, Creative International production Arts, a non-profit organization, is bringing to our midst ‘Buds Film Fiesta’, a four-day film festival starting from 6 September.

The fiesta welcomes short films (3 to 30 minutes in duration) of any genre and on any topic (although not glamorous/commercial ones), fiction or non-fiction. Three best films in competition will be awarded a fully-funded filmmaking project although you could enter your film for the non-competition group as well. “Awarding filmmaking projects instead of cash prizes are an effort on our part to really promote up-and-coming filmmakers,” pratima Shrestha, Creative International production Arts, says. “We want to encourage new ideas, creativity and interesting points of view, so we also have certificates of participation for all selected applicants.”

The deadline for entry submission is 25 August, and all 70 selected films will be showcased at Gopi Krishna movies from 6 to 9 September. For entry forms and details, log on to www.budsfilmfiesta.tk, or contact 9841631939, 9841970892.

musiCkJC Chevrolet Concert seriesDate: 27 August (Friday) Venue: Various locations in Kathmandu valley Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm5013554, www.katjazz.com.np

heaven and hellA tribute concert to Black SabbathDate: 11 September (Saturday) Venue: planet Music AcademyTime: 1 pm to 7 pm

misCellaneousinitiative outdoor-First aid Course1. Advanced Wilderness First AidOpening Date: 25 August, 30 AugustDuration: 5 days

pre-Requisites: previous Fist Aid Experience is needed.

Fee: Rs 15,500 (Residential Course), Rs. 13,500 (Non-Residential Course)

2. Wilderness First ResponseOpening Date: 5 SeptemberDuration: 5 Days

pre-Requisites: Current basic wilderness first aid certification, plus Experience is needed.

Cost: Rs. 32,000 (Residential Course), Rs. 26,000 (Non-Residential Course)

2111505, [email protected]

Date: 1 September (Wednesday)

The glamour quotient apart, what are Miss Nepals made of? Gopal Kakshapati gives us his take on a pagent that is surrounded by controversies.

3Qs with Gopal Sunder Lal KakshapatiChairman, The Hidden Treasure

miss nepal contestants are all about glamour and fashion. The ‘doing good’ is all farce. agree? This is completely false. More than a decade and a half of organizing the Miss Nepal pageants, our experience has revealed that after going through more than a month’s all- round training, the contestants have gone through a virtual transformation in their personality. Win or lose, at the end of the training period, they walk out a more confident and a better individual with a positive mindset. During the training period, the contestants actually ‘live and learn’ about the many relevant issues.

What do you think beauty pageants such as this are representations of?Such pageants primarily aim to promote and provide a necessary platform for an individual to bring to the fore one’s hidden talents besides pursuing the cause ‘beauty with a purpose’. Considered by the press and the public to be a national pageant, and labeled as being the most glamorous event, the pageant stands to be judged all the time and thus makes the organization try to continuously bring in higher degree of professionalism. As the winner of this pageant regularly participates in international arenas, it provides a great opportunity to showcase Nepal around the world.

as ambassadors for the country, how aware do you think miss nepals are about nepal and its people?As pointed out earlier, the contestants ‘ live and learn’ during the extensive training period. As a winner of the crown, she learns to carry herself in public. As the holder of the Miss Nepal title, she is also bestowed the title of Conversation Ambassador and Cancer Awareness Ambassador by WWF (Nepal) for nature fund and Nepal Cancer Relief Society respectively. Her one-year reign engages her extensively in the propagation of awareness campaign activities related to the above two issues. Surely, being engaged in these two issues, she must herself be aware first before she makes other people aware.

The G-quotient

The most awaited beauty pageant in Nepal is back. Twenty gorgeous participants will be competing against each other in this year’s edition of Hidden Treasure Miss Nepal 2010. For the first time, Dabur Special Hair Oil will be the main sponsor of the event.

Throughout this month, after the initial selection, the selected contestants will go through an extensive training program conducted by some of the best professionals available in the country. This will help them to enhance their personality and confidence. A distinguished panel of judges, comprising eminent personalities, will select the winners on the final day. The winners of the pageant will have the opportunity to represent Nepal at various International pageants such as Miss World and Miss Earth. The pageant will be broadcasted live by NTV.

hidden TreasureMiss Nepal 2010

SPECIAL GADGET ISSUE

UNWIRED!Wired is passé. Welcome to the world of the uncluttered and the unwired,

where wireless gadgets dominate.

better late than wrongblogging the blocksThe world can hear you! From the unsocial to the

ultra-social, blogging gives everyone a voice. What does it take to blog and why are people doing it?

Pressured by society, many are forced to commit to marriage. A question of one’s life, how pertinent is it to be coerced to take the ‘big’ decision? When is the right time?

ON STaNdS frOM

15th auGuST, 2010

that wasthe week

event reviews of the past week

What has been your main objective in starting this program in the first place?The whole idea of this program is to provide a platform where professionals from similar industries can socialize. They can know each other, interact and enjoy an evening of fun with Spey Livet. We meet at different venues and we have DJs and artists performing so that events such as these get more exciting. In a sense, this program is providing them a sort of space to cool off after a hectic week at work.

Would you say the level of response and reach of this program has been meaningful?The response has been overwhelming. Be it during Airlines’ Night, or FMCG Night or the latest Advertising Agency Night, everyone seems to be enjoying every moment of it. Although the initial plan involved only three such events, the level of response made us do this for the last six weeks.

so what can we expect next from you?There are still so many areas which are yet to be covered. Our immediate plans are of doing Golfers’ Night where we will be catering to prominent golfers from the city. (Sabrina Singh)

Sushil ShresthaSushil Shresthaoff the cuff with

Sr. Business Development and Brand

Manager, Himalayan Distillery Limited

Cube Bar saw some 200 advertisement professionals blowing off steam on August 6 after a hectic week of work. How has Himalayan Distillery’s periodic parties rubbed off on professionals? We find out more from Sushil Shrestha.

Groovy Gathering

eventsget more out of your weekends

inked! Fine printsBook lover’s paradise – the nine-day-long 14th Nepal Education and Book Fair – began on 6 August at the Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall. Catering to the needs of the avid readers of Nepal, the book fair had stalls of many renowned bookshops in town and even those from India. Mandala Book point, Ekta Books, penguin books were some of them. The fair also featured quite a few education consultancies and colleges.

quixote’s Cove – a bookshop at Jawalakhel – targeted the young readers, offering them the best of the best in children’s books. Clifford-the Big Red Dog, Mermaid Rock, Animorphs were just some of the books that were on display. Books from famous publishing houses such as Scholastic Inc., Usborne Books and Tick Tock Books were also available exclusively at the stall. The stall also offers arts and crafts activities and games like ‘Lucky draw’ and ‘Guess the number of candies’. Also on their list of events was a reading of Jack and Betty & the yak and yeti by author Simon Arthy, a discussion on “The role of Education in unleashing Nepal” conducted by Sujeev Shakya and a photo book presentation – Hamra Hajurama – by photo circle. This fair is on till 14 August. (yukta Bajracharya)

A tree at a time

The “Sowing Remembrance” event was held on 7 August at Jal Binayak (Kirtipur) at 8 am on Saturday in partnership with Jal Binayak Community Forest Users Group and Budhathoki Nursery. Thompson Nepal (JWT) teamed up with CEDB as the creative partner to design all the communication for this event.

Those who participated in the event dedicated a tree to their families and loved ones with a contribution of Rs. 1,000. This amount is to be deposited in the Clean Circle Trust for the preservation and upkeep of the trees for the next ten years under CEDBL’s (Clean Energy Development Bank) commitment, in addition to assisting other activities for the environmental sustenance of the nation.

Shadows of the streetpeople mostly find street children either pitiful or a nuisance. But what is their side of the story? How do children end up on the streets with no family to take care of them? ‘Shadows of the Street’ (2010), a documentary screened at Russian Cultural Center on 6 August, attempted to portray the lives of street children and their plight. The documentary, made by Ankit Khanal and Lawin Khalil Mustafa, showed the story

of a 13 year old boy, prabin, who has been living in the streets of Kathmandu for four years. The documentary shed light on the reasons why children end up on the streets and what risks and dangers they have to face on a daily basis. The documentary was presented by two non-profit organizations, Silver Lining Creations and MAG Nepal, and aided by UNICEF-Nepal and CWIN-Nepal. The event also featured a street drama and a musical performance by the students pursuing Bachelors in Social Work at St. xavier’s College, Maitighar. (yesha Malla)

princess Jayanti Achievement AwardHonoring lady toppers of Hotel Management (Bachelors level), the National Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) presented the princess Jayanti Achievement Award to three students at Hotel de L’Annapurna on 4 August. princess Jayanti Award’s recipients this year included Ram Maya Tamang, Manisha Shrestha and Sapana Agrawal. This award ceremony is an annual event that has been taking place since August 4, 2000.

The event was attended by Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation Shatrugan prasad Singh as chief guest, who inaugurated the event. Other attendees included Dr. Kamal Das Shrestha, Dean of Tribhuwan University; pradip Kumar Koirala; Dorje Sherpa, Chief Operating Officer; and paras Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, Executive Manager of Hotel de L’Annapurna. The award recipients get a cash prize of Rs.30,000 each, and NATHM also announced an additional scholarship of Rs. 120,000 to a Bal Mandir student this year onwards. (Sabrina Singh)

In the Attic with Sabin RaiAn evening with Sabin Rai never seems to be a dull one for anyone.

halfway in retrospect halfway in retrospect

Tells us how you like our Halfway seg-ment. Send us your comments, sugges-tions and ideas at [email protected].

WaY

TO

The

NeXT

half

WaY

issue 26

While the East was acquainted with tea for around 4500 years, the West knew about it only some 400 years back. This humble drink has exerted enormous influence over cultures and is the stuff of numerous myths, legends, po-ems and proverbs.

Nepali tea industry owes its roots to the colonization of India by the East India Company. Numerous tea planta-tions around the hill station of Darjeeling were promoted by the British. Hybrids of tea bushes were introduced in several districts in Nepal - Illam, Taplejung, Panchthar and Dhankuta within a few years after their introduction in Darjeeling and the first tea estates were established in 1863 in Illam and Jhapa. “Nepal tea is very similar to Darjeeling tea. The only difference is that tea produced in Darjeeling has a superior brand image,” says Mr. John Taylor, Market-ing Manager at HIMCOOP-Nepal.

Most non-tea-experts are both curious and confused while identifying the different types of tea. We need to understand that all the different types of tea come from the leaves of the same plant, Camelia Sinesis (not the herbal type or infusions, we are talking real tea here). The essential difference in the different types of teas is how the leaves are processed. The processing deter-mines the taste and quality.

The PerfectCUPPATHE MOST COMMONLY

CONSUMED BEVERAGE AFTER WATER, TEA IS A UNIVERSAL

PHENOMENON. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ENJOY THIS UNPARALLELED AND

ENDURING DRINK ON A DAILY BASIS.

TYPES OF TEA FOUND IN NEPAL

WHITE TEAWhite tea is a very light tea and has a silky texture and soft flavor. It is as much unprocessed as green tea. Unlike the other varieties of tea, White tea is made from tea buds that are barely unfurled. It is also the appearance of these buds which has given White tea its name, as the buds are covered in a silver fuzz at the time of harvesting. When the harvested buds are steamed, the fuzz remains on the leaf turning into a white color, hence the name “White tea”.

Benefits: Vitalizes the immune system; antioxidants help fight cancer; con-tains fluoride; lowers blood pressure and improves artery health; improves bone density (lowers Arthritis and Osteoporosis rates); promotes healthy looking radiant skin; repairs damage due to sun exposure

GREEN TEAOriginally having spread to the world from China, Green tea is a popular beverage due to many factors. Since it exists in its greenest form, Green tea is often not considered very tasty. It gives off a ‘grassy’ flavor that does not buzz everyone’s taste buds.

Processing: Green tea is withered (air-dried) and then either steamed or pan-fried to get its unique flavor. The tea is then rolled gently and heated once to lock in its flavors. Of the four different tea varieties available, Green and White tea varieties receive the least amount of processing. This helps to retain natural Polyphenols that are present in the tea itself.

Benefits: High antioxidant content boosts the immune system inhibiting cancer cell growth; reduces hypertension; kills leukemia cells; increases bone density (reducing risk of Osteoporosis); reduces risk of stroke and Alzheimer’s

Recommended: Drinks 3 cups of green tea per day.

OOLONG TEA Oolong tea is not completely oxidized as Black tea nor is it relatively ‘unprocessed’ as Green tea. The partial oxidation makes Oolong even more special. The taste of Oolong can be best described as subtle. Good quality Oolong tea will not have the grassy taste of green tea.

Processing: For Oolong tea, the plucked tea leaves are with-ered. This withering process causes water from the leaves to evaporate. The edges of these withered tea leaves are further bruised by tossing them in baskets. These bruises only allow partial oxidation of the tea leaves.

Benefits: Boosts immune system and improves metabolism; has antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties; aids diabetes, eczema and many allergies; reduces risk of heart disease; helps reduce digestive disorders; contains fluoride; promotes healthier bones

ORTHODOX (Black leaf tea)Orthodox leaf teas are made from tea plants which grown only in high altitudes. It is named ‘orthodox’, for the manufacturing pro-cess is orthodox in nature. They are produced in lower quantities and are more expensive than CTC teas.

Companies producing orthodox tea: Himalayan Shangrila, Gorkha Tea Estate, Kanyam Tea Estate, Jun Chiya Bari, Kanchanjungha Tea Estate, Kuwapani Tea Estate, Antu Valley.

Processing: The plucked leaves are laid out to wither causing its water to evaporate. They are then rolled and their cracked surface is left to completely oxidize. This turns the leaves to a deep black color.

Benefits: Strong immune system; slows aging process and prevents age-induced diseases; reduces ‘bad’ cholesterol levels; minimizes risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 71%

CTC TEAThe Cut, Tear and Curl, describes the use of machinery that mechanically chops up both leaves, buds and stems without discrimination as to the quality of the end product. CTC produces tea that is finely ground and low in quality. All the leaves, buds and stems are ground down to an equal size, mostly dust and fannings, and are used in tea bags filled with lower quality tea. This method is highly efficient as opposed to the orthodox method that is very labor intensive. In Nepal, CTC tea is produced in the Terai region.

General Guidelines for Making TeaTea Water Temperature Steep Time

Green Tea 160 degrees F 1 - 3 minutes White Tea 180 degrees F 4 - 8 minutesOolong Tea 190 degrees F 1 - 8 minutesBlack Tea Rolling Boil 3 - 5 minutes

Source: Mr. John Taylor, Marketing Manager, HIMCOOP-Nepal

Photo courtesy: HIM

CO

OP-N

epal

Text: Aditi Pandey & Photos: ECS Media

halfwayIssue 27 July 29 - August 4, 2010

Instructions • Boil freshly drawn and freshly boiled water to more

than 98.5 degrees centigrade.

• Pour the freshly boiled water onto the bag (in the

cup) and brew for two minutes.

• Squeeze the bag against the side of the cup with a

spoon for two seconds.

• Stir once, then squeeze for a further two seconds.

• Remove bag.

• (optional for milky tea) Add milk to brew last. For

standard 270ml mug, optimum amount of milk is 16ml.

Make sure you boil fresh water to more than 98.5

degrees centigrade, as it’s only temperatures in excess

of this that can efficiently extract flavour from the leaf.

Water should be fresh and not previously boiled to

maximize the oxygen content.

The Perfect Cup with a Tea Bag

Tea without Milk

Tea with Milk

• Tea without milk and sugar has no calories

• Ice tea made at home with no added sugar and preservatives will have zero calories.

• Generally, one teaspoon of sugar has 16 calories and one teaspoon of powdered creamer has 11 calories. Thus if we add 2 tea-spoons of both sugar and creamer in a cup of tea, then the cup of tea contains 54 calories.

• One big cup of commercial mix iced tea contains upto 200 calories

Difference

Photo courtesy: HIM

CO

OP-N

epalissue 27

FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY BIRDS, NEPAL IS A PARADISE, WITH OVER 865 RECORDED

SPECIES OF BIRDS AND 27 IDENTIFIED IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS.

Starting from the lowland jungles of the Terai and spreading to the Kosi Tappu barrage through dense rhododendron and Oak forests of the middle hills and to the windswept plateaus of the high Himalaya, the variety is mind-boggling. One of the reasons why Nepal is blessed with such a vast array of exceptionally rich bird life is because of the variety of habitats that exist within the country due to its diverse topography and climate. These habitats have proven to be suitable homes

to nearly 10% of the world’s total bird population. The country also shelters some endangered bird species like the Impeyan Pheasant, Giant

Hornbill, and Spiny Babbler, the only endemic bird of Nepal.

For a country that boasts of such rich diversity, very little has been done to promoting birdwatching. Many have probably not even heard

of this activity. “Birdwatching is known to two types of people. One, who are poor and who need firewood and timber from the jungle; the other who are very rich and are retired. The latter have enough time and plenty of money to enjoy it,” says Dr. Hum B. Gurung, CEO of Bird Conservation Nepal, Lazimpat. According to Dr. Gurung, pri-ority from the government can turn a leisure activity into a regular source of income for the nation and also promote

conservation of birds in Nepal.

BIRDWATCHING

READY YOUR BIRDWATCHER’S GEAR

6. TELESCOPES

• Choose a good quality telescope.

• Suitable magnification power of eyepiece: 20-40. Very high magnification power will result in a narrow view, making it difficult to focus on the target.

• Telescopes are large, heavy and less mobile. With the aid of a tripod, the larger magni-

fication power of a telescope comes in handy when observing birds that are far away, such as water

birds and birds of prey.

3. BINOCULARS

• Choose one that is small, light, convenient and of good quality

• Suitable magnification power: 7×10, 8×30, 8×40 and 10×40 for beginners and for viewing big birds;10×42 and 10×51 for experts and for viewing small birds.

• Wide-angle binoculars are good for observing land birds in mountains and forests. These birds are usually quick in movement.

spot

s in

and

aro

und

Kath

man

duBI

RDW

ATCH

ING

5

Code of Conduct• Habitat and Environment Protection

• Protect the homes of birds by

-using kerosene or gas stove instead of wood

-using your extra jumper instead of making a campfire

-not littering their habitat

• Do not disturb the birds

• Inform the authorities as soon as you find a rare

bird breeding and do not disturb them or theiir nest.

• If you find a rare migrant bird, be cautious about

whom to inform. You don’t want an influx of bird-

watchers scaring them away.

• Respect the rights of the landowner. Since birdwatch-

ing can take to the most unusual of places, be sure that

you have the permission to be in the place first.

• And please follow the ‘Dos and Don’ts of National

Parks and Wild Life Reserves.

1. Shivapuri National ParkLocation: 12 km from the capital, northern side of Kath-mandu valley.Birds to see: Wedged-tailed Green Pigeon, Oriental Cuck-oo, Lemon-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Parrotbill (rare).

3. Bagmati Nature ParkLocation: Ward numbers 10 and 22 of Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City, Jwagal.Birds to see: Common Kingfisher, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Grey-backed Shrike, Siberian Rubythroat, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black Bulbul (winter).

5. Nagarjun ForestLocation: Close to the famous Swoyambhu temple, the Nagar-jun forest covers an entire hill.Birds to see: Black Eagle, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Brown Wood Owl (rare), Hill Blue Flycatcher (rare).

2. Phulchowki Mountain ForestLocation: 18 km from the capital, southeast of Kathmandu above Godavari Garden.Birds to see: Whiskered Yuniha, Blue-napped Pitta (very rare), White-browed Fulvetta, Black-throated Parrotbill (rare).

4. Gokarna ForestLocation: Northeast of Kathmandu valley, a 40-min-ute drive from the city center. Birds to see: Grey-hooded Warbler, Blue throated Barbet, Short-billed Minivet, Eurasian Eagle Owl.

4. Notebook (Don’t forget a pen or pencil with it!)• Personal record of your birdwatching experience. Can be used as database for further research.

• Record important data, including basic information such as date, location, environ-ment, observed species, numbers and behavior. You can also draw simple sketches of birds and write down other information including your own thoughts.

5. Clothing • It is best to use clothing that suits the season and blends into the environment. Shirts with collar are recommended to minimize discom-fort caused by binocular straps hanging around the neck for prolonged periods of time.

• Apply insect repellent prior to entering swamps and deciduous forests.

PhulchokiMountain

Forest

GodavariGarden

Surya Binayakand SetideviCommunity

Forest

Surya BinayakTemple

Surya Binayak

Bajra BarahiTemple

DakshinkaliTemple

PharpingCommunity

Forest

Taudha,Basnet Gaun

& Bagmati River

Singha DurbarDharhara

BagmatiNature Park

Balkhu

BICC

Airport

Chabahil

PashupatinathTemple

BoudhanathStupa

Changu NarayanTemple

ThankotMata Tirtha

Mata TirthaTemple

Tribhuvan park

Thankot

Kalanki

Swayambhunath

NagarjunForest Gongabu

Tokha

BudhanilkanthaTemple

ShivapuriNational Park

Sundarijal

Sankhu

BajrayoginiTemple

GokarnaForestGokarna

Temple

Maharajgunj

Royal Palace

Tinkune

KoteshworKrishna Temple

JawlakhelLagankhel

Satdobato

Bajra Barahi

Bish

num

ati R

iver

Dho

bi K

hola

Bagmati River

Sali Nadi

Manahara Khola

Nak

hu K

hola

Bagm

ati R

iver

Amongst the total species of birds recorded in Nepal, 534 species are found in Kathmandu Valley alone. The wetlands and open fields inside the valley make up a diverse habitat for many species of birds. “Although bird habitat inside Kathmandu city is declining, it still has enough variety of bird species for the amateur birdwatcher,” says Jyotendra Jyu Thakuri, a specialist at Bird Conservation Nepal.

1. BIRDWATCHING GUIDE BOOKSPocket guide books are very convenient when observing and identifying birds in the wild.

2. PICTURE GUIDEBOOKSMore organized. Similar types of birds are shown from the same angle, side by side and distinguishing characteristics are pointed out. This kind of guidebook is easy to use and the colours are more precise.

Text: Aditi Pandey & Photos: ECS Media

halfwayIssue 28 August 5 -11, 2010

BIRDWATCHING IN AND AROUND KATHMANDU

Sour

ce: A

Bir

dwat

cher

’s G

uide

to

The

Kat

hman

du

Valle

y (P

ublis

hed

by B

ird

Con

serv

atio

n N

epal

)

Courtesy: M

r. Jyotendra Jyu Thakuri, Bird C

onservation Nepal.

Tells us how you like our Halfway seg-

3. Bagmati Nature ParkLocation: Ward numbers 10 and 22 of Lalitpur Sub-metropolitan City,

Birds to see: Common Kingfisher, Chestnut-tailed Starling, Grey-backed Shrike, Siberian Rubythroat, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Black Bulbul (winter).

5. Nagarjun ForestLocation: Close to the famous Swoyambhu temple, the Nagar-jun forest covers an entire hill.Birds to see: Black Eagle, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch, Brown Wood Owl (rare), Hill Blue Flycatcher (rare).

4. Gokarna ForestLocation: Northeast of Kathmandu valley, a 40-min-ute drive from the city center. Birds to see: Grey-hooded Warbler, Blue throated Barbet, Short-billed Minivet, Eurasian Eagle Owl.issue 28

everyone seemed to be rushing to reach the fourth floor of the United World Trade Center. It was 7 August and it was the first national tattoo

convention ever being held in Nepal. Thirty-two different tattoo parlors from different parts of the country, including some Nepali tattoo artists who worked in India, were a part of this convention, which was supported by Nepal Tourism Board and Fr!day weekly. The hall was crowded with tattoo artists and tattoo enthusiasts. A familiar face amidst them was pilot and actor Bijaya Lama. present to support the art of tattooing, he remarked that this convention was a new beginning for all tattoo lovers. Holding the belief that this convention would definitely help to eradicate the social stigma attached to tattoos, he said, “Nepal was waiting to come out. Such an event like this should have happened a long time back.” To the people of the older generation, who think negatively about tattoos and those who have one, Lama says he has nothing to say. “It’s time the old accept the new ways of the younger generation. If they do not want to wake up, they are at a loss.” he added. Lama himself has gotten inked, twice. His Akash Bhairav tattoo, painted in his arm is, for him, an expression of dedication towards his profession as a pilot.

One could also get inked and pierced on the spot and watch tattoo artists at work. Later in the afternoon, visitors also enjoyed watching dancers B-boying and tattoo artists making free-hand paintings. They say, metal music and tattoos go hand in hand. And so, to add

spice to the affair, metal bands such as Alt F4, Lost Oblivion, 72 hours, among others, also performed at the event. pratik Raj Neupane, guitarist of 72 hours, was excited to be a part of this convention. “I am glad that this tattoo convention is taking place in Nepal. We are looking forward to the International convention as well.” Supporting the cause, all the bands played voluntarily for this convention and the metal band E.qUALS teamed up with Kutumba to bring a touch of East-West fusion especially for this historic happening. At the end of the day, the first ever tattoo convention in Nepal was, to say the least, a successful one. (yukta Bajracharya)

The first season of the TV reality show ‘Mega Model’ successfully ended with Swastika Rajbhandari making history as Nepal’s first Mega Model. With the second season on, the audience is eagerly waiting for the second edition of the show. From hundreds of hopefuls, Hair and Care Mega Model season 2 recently selected its final 16 participants, which was declared on 5 August. Thirty nervous, excited, anxious and glamorous girls waited outside the studio at Lazimpat to hear whether they made it to the next level or not. The top 16 were judged by reputed photographer Raj Bhai Suwal, beautician Sneh Rana and model Sijan Bhattachan on the basis of a photo shoot that took place at an earlier date. Rozie Gurung, a participant sharing her experience said, “The judges’ selections are quite satisfactory and fair. I feel there is a lot of competition this season although there are some girls who still need to be groomed properly.” The girls are now headed to Chitwan for the next part of the show. Catch the drama on Image Channel and stay gripped to Fr!day for more drama-licious updates! (yukta Bajracharya)

Sabin was backed by the Nebha band on 7 August at the Attic Restaurant and Bar. With the wonderful lighting and great sound quality, the band started with a song by the Maroon Five, ‘She will be loved’, which got a huge round of applause.

Then came Sabin Rai who proves time and again that he is not just a singer, but a great performer as well. Entrancing the audiences, Sabin Rai asked for permission to start the evening show with ‘Kalo kalo raat’. His performance captivated everyone and it was a wonderful night indeed. (praakrit pradhan)

Models in the making

The PerfeCT

����������������������������������������

AN

D M

ORE

Text: Sunita Gurung, Photo: ECS Media

GardeNhand TroWelA hand trowel is a gardening tool which is designed for digging small holes, transplanting seedlings, plant-ing bulbs, weeding and performing similar tasks. The design of a hand trowel includes a sturdy handle and a scoop shaped blade, somewhat like a miniature shovel except that the blade is longer and narrower. A sturdy hand trowel of cast steel, aluminum or forged steel is recom-mended. Avoid cheap ones made of stamped steel which will bend easily under the strain of heavy soil.

spadeA spade is a tool designed primarily for the purpose of digging or removing earth. The typical shape is a broad flat blade with a sharp lower edge, straight or curved. The wooden handle ends in a cross-piece, sometimes T-shaped and sometimes forming a kind of loop for the hand. Look for forged-metal heads and handles that fit securely into the shaft.

TOOl Guide

pruners pruners are a type of scissors for use with plants to remove the unwanted and dried flower and parts. There is no denial in the absolute indispensability of a good pair of hand pruners. Out of the three styles available, the bypass garden pruners are probably the most popular. They make a nice clean cut using two curved blades that bypass each other in the same manner as a pair of scissors. One blade is sharpened on the outside edge and it slips by a thicker unsharpened blade.

As each year goes into a seasonal metamorphosis, nature doles out its true flavors in the form of some of the most exquisite flowers. Such an exhilarating beauty can only be the result of a fervent attempt to nurture a product worthy of attention in a place called a garden. One of the most cher-ished hobbies of the world, gardening has always been a source of inspiration and holds fascination for people of all ages the world over. This passion for green dates back to a couple of thousand years with some of the earliest physical evidence of gardening seen on Egyptian tomb paintings around 1500 BC. When king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon constructed a huge garden for his homesick wife, he probably had no idea that the garden’s charm would enthrall the masses to earn a place as one of the wonders of the world. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was built around 600 BC to please the king’s wife who longed for the trees and plants of her homeland Persia.

Gardening is more than enjoyable. It is very productive, too. As waves of colorful blooms roll across, gardening aesthetically expresses beauty through art, taste and style accompanied by the soft caress of nature. Not to be left behind in the global makeover trend, gardening in Nepal, too, has gone in for a facelift. What used to be initially a tedious task of planting seeds and nurturing them till they bloomed has become as easy as buying groceries. A gambol into any of the multitude nurseries can treat you an eye candy worth the money you spend. Every new gardening season brings a crop of new varieties and from an array of plants to choose from, the vibrant colors predicting the oscillating situation that we often find ourselves in. Like every novice in an unexplored domain, the fair share of trial and error remains but time, patience and endurance are the key factors to bring out the skills of a prospective enthusiast and to make gardening into a fun filled hobby.

halfway

spadeA spade is a tool designed primarily for the purpose of digging or removing earth. The typical shape is a broad flat blade with a sharp lower edge, straight or curved. The wooden handle ends in a cross-piece, sometimes T-shaped and sometimes forming a kind of loop for the hand. Look for forged-metal heads and handles that fit securely into the shaft.

ruBBer GlovesGardening gloves protect your hands during jobs like pruning and weeding and can be kind to your hands during the hot summer days and cold winter days as well as the damp season. Choose good quality rubber gloves that are sturdy enough to last a while.

WaTerinG CanIndiscreetly, a watering can forms an indis-pensable part of the gardening equipment. Long nozzles allow the water to come out at a very gentle flow rate and are useful for reaching across long distances. The gentle drops of water prove the efficacy of the tool when it wets the soil without splashing away the top soil. Choose a watering can that has a detachable spray head – this type of watering can is perfect for watering young seedlings.

SOMe faVOriTeS

prunerspruners are a type of scissors for use with plants to remove the unwanted and dried flower and parts. There is no denial in the absolute indispensability of a good pair of hand pruners. Out of the three styles available, the bypass garden pruners are probably the most popular. They make a nice clean cut using two curved blades that bypass each other in the same manner as a pair of scissors. One blade is sharpened on the outside edge and it slips by a thicker unsharpened blade.

1. roseType: perenniallight: Full sunsoil: Fertile, well drainedmoisture: mediumColors: red, yellow, pink, white.

CareRoses are particularly responsive to deadheading. They usually require severe pruning, which must be adapted to the intended use of the flowers.

2. GeraniumType: perenniallight: Full sunsoil: Fertile, well drainedmoisture: mediumColors: White, pink, salmon, red, Fuchsia, lavender, and bi-colors

Care Geraniums will not bloom well if they are over fertilized. Remove faded flowers and dry leaves from the plants. These attract Botrytis fungus which attacks leaves and young buds and can be a problem during wet seasons. Water deeply when the soil is dry.

3. peTuniaType: annuallight: Full sun to part shadesoil: moderately fertile, well drainedmoisture: mediumColors : purple, pink, White

CareRemove faded flowers, deadheading not only helps prolong blooming but also keeps plants looking fresh, healthy and well-groomed. petunias need at least five or six hours of good sunlight; they’ll perform even better when located in full sun all day. The more shade they receive, the fewer flowers they’ll produce.

1

2

3

GardeNiNG TiPS1. 75% of the sun’s rays are harmful for the plants.

The evening rays are more harmful than that of

the morning. So make sure to keep the plants under

proper shade. The right mix of sun and shade plays

a pertinent role in the care of the plant.

2. One of the major challenges one faces while liv-

ing in an urbane area is the soil compactness. The

soil gets easily caked with the severe heat. Loosen-

ing the soil gently around the plants every now and

then is important.

3. Regular use of fertilizers is important as some

leeching of nutrients takes place while the water

gets drained out.

4. Water in the morning if possible. Avoid wetting

the foliage if watering late in the day. Plants need

time to dry off before nightfall to avoid fungal dis-

ease.

5. Weeding is essential to make room for the plants

to grow healthily.

6. It’s time to start scouting for slugs and caterpil-

lars once you spot half eaten leaves.

7. “Deadheading” is the simple practice of manually

removing any spent, faded, withered or discolored

flowers over the course of the blooming season.

Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010

14 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!daypeople

Walking the memory lane…“When I played, nobody

else won!” he reminisces. Deep Shrestha, who is an avid sports-man, recalls how in his child-hood years he did not have competition. He excelled in all kinds of sports from badmin-ton to long jumps. And when it meant jumps, it wasn’t just on the sports field. Shrestha got into big trouble with his strict father when he jumped from one guava tree to another; he broke a whole branch!

Challenged by his young mates during his school days, he raced down the ‘Dantakali’ cliff in Dharan through the dense jungle along with some of his friends. It almost led to a tragic accident. While running down the steep cliff, Shrestha slipped. While trying to steady himself on a rock, he slipped harder when the rock gave way. He thanked his lucky stars that when he finally landed, albeit on a bush of stinging nettles, the rock somehow landed before him with a loud thud. The aw-ful race concluded, as you can guess, with a terrifying lashing from his father that night.

‘HE MISTAKENLy CLIMBED ANOTHER BUS… AND THE BUS DRIVER HAppENED TO BE SARDAR RANJEET SINGH…”

Those were the daysDeep Shrestha, from his

youngest years, grew up with music in his family. During Tihar, Shrestha was popular in Dharan for his ‘bhailo’ nights.

“I remember asking Motikala Subba for her guitar every time my band mates and I performed for our audience. She had the best guitar in town!”

He recalls how he enthralled the neighborhood with Nepali and Hindi songs. He sang the night away.

Shrestha shares he feels hap-py and humbled to have amazing friends that have lasted a lifetime. He says that with friends, one has a “different and comfortable atmosphere” compared to fam-ily, which is essential to make a person’s life complete. It’s so much fun to be with friends that he admits, “Sometimes I don’t want to return home!” However, he laughingly assures, “oh but we do…we’re good boys!”

Apart from countless friends with whom he is still in touch, according to Shrestha, he usual-ly hangs out with “Yadav, Ashok and Nirmal… and a few others. We go to quiet places with my guitar and remember the good old days…”

“Oh and I think it will be in-teresting to let you know that I do have the most unexpected friends…”

To elaborate, Shrestha shared an amusing incident of his adolescent years. It was dawn while coming to Kath-mandu via Raxaul that Shrestha mistakenly climbed another bus while his friends took the right one. When he realized what had happened, he requested the

— Sumnima Dewan

a wise man once said that God gave

us memories so that we may have roses in december. deep

shrestha on why memories make life

worth living.

bus driver, who happened to be Sardar Ranjeet Singh, to follow the bus ahead at full speed. Coin-cidentally, the Sardar was hum-ming a song named, “Bhanthi meri uni…” which happened to be sung by Shrestha. When he assured Sardar Ranjeet that he was meeting the singer himself, Ranjeet Singh enthusiastically drove his bus with such gusto that they soon found the right bus with Shrestha’s friends anx-iously waiting for him. Shrestha smiles, “Perks of being a singer I guess…”

And after all this time, Ran-jeet Singh and Shrestha are still friends.

It’s been forty-two years in the Nepali music industry now. Respected and loved by millions of Nepalese around the world, Shrestha believes he is blessed to have come a long way.

On completing the inter-view, this scribe remembered a beautiful quotation which goes, “We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams.”

Deep Shrestha personifies those words.

He concluded his memoirs with a charming smile, “Those were the days my dear.” Abso-lutely. !

Those were the daysin

Those were the daysThose were the daysfocus

know deepNickname: “Deepe”He hates the broom, prefers vacuum cleaners.Beginning to watch Zee TV, thanks to his better half. Loves Scotch, always single malt. Has never done track recording, and never will.

THE BIKIN

I BEAU

TY

THE BIKINI BEAUTY

THE VIRILE MALE

Issue 9, August 2010

HOW TO INCREASE SEXUAL DESIRE

good for you?

Are Spices(and herbs)

health . fitness . food . sex . relationship . family

Issue 9 August 2010

Rs. 50

SUBSCRIBER COPY

APHRODISIACS: DO THEY REALLY WORK?

Trauma of premature

SEXTips for

all-round fitness

10

BETTER

BIGGERBOLDER

health . fi tness . food . relationship . sex . family

On stands

now

Shrestha describes his father as a disciplined and honorable man who was very much fond of shoes. Being the Tom Sawyer of the family, mischievous young Shrestha stole his father’s shoes a couple of times to play foot-

ball. He was eventually caught red-handed when he acciden-tally slipped down the wooden staircase of their house while his father was asleep. The veteran singer sheepishly grins, “I never stole another of his pair again!”

peoplepower behind the change

spot light

— Sabrina Singh

This morning, the office of Today’s Youth Asia (TYA) is noisy: a group of teenaged activists are

planning their next project, tell-ing me that “dai” would be there shortly. With a copy of Fr!day in hand, their “dai”, Santosh Shah, arrives in TYA, of which he is the President in addition to being the director and anchor of “Power Talks” and a panel-ist at the United Nations Youth Advisory Panel. Excerpts from a conversation with him:

You left a very good life in the USA and came back to Nepal to start as an activist. What made you do so?In 2001, two major incidences took place: the royal massacre and 9/11. When 9/11 hap-pened, I was in the second build-ing 36 hours earlier. After 9/11, your identity as a South Asian became very noticeable (unlike earlier) and I realized my master identity as a South Asian. There was a void inside me and I de-cided I could fill that only when I returned to my own country. So I came with $20 in my pocket and no idea what I was going to do.

In what ways do you think the youth are misunderstood?Firstly, they are not given enough opportunities. Secondly, our culture says you have to age to be wise. My point is: how

can you be wise when you have failed 40 years in your life. And just because you get a few gray hairs, how do you become wise? I wanted to let people know that a young person can be both suc-cessful and wise as well.

When you started out, you were a young fellow with a big voice. How was that like?I wasn’t taken seriously. I was asked questions like “How long will you stay in Nepal?”, “Who are your parents?”, “Can you get a minister to give us a call?” and “Who are backing you up?” No one asked about me or about my vision. The only advantage I had was that I had worked in the US already and so coming back

to Nepal was like retirement at the age of 22.

But how much of the youth training you give and platforms you create for debate actually translate into substantial social change?Training young people is a very active process. I learnt things by hanging out with very successful people (Emmy award winning filmmakers, congressmen, and people from the UN), and they motivated me. That’s exactly what I try to do with the youth that I train. The only dissatisfac-tion I have is that most of them leave the country and that was not my original intention. I am very particular about the fact

that I want the youth to work for our country. The first batch that left eight years ago said they would be back. They didn’t re-turn. That is where I have failed.

Why do you mostly have foreign diplomats and ambassadors talking about our domestic issues in your TV show “Power Talks”? That was coincidental and it worked out that way. Initially, I had only three ambassadors on the list because I knew them personally while the rest were local leaders. Later, several am-bassadors agreed to come on the show and the unanimous feed-back I got from the audience was that they could watch Nepali leaders on other show anyways. Maybe season two will not have that many ambassadors though.

Today’s Youth Asia magazine is no longer in publication. Why didn’t the youth’s voice work this time?Today’s Youth Asia was mistaken by many to be a stepping stone to get scholarships abroad when I wanted it to be a solid maga-zine. You don’t do a workshop to have lunch although the lunch is there as a by-product isn’t it? Plus, there is a lot of envy, jealousy, vengeance and societal pressures. So we stopped it.

If Nepali politics were to be run by the youth, what would be different? I am sorry to say this but the re-ality is that it would be the same. If the young politicians had to change anything, they would have done so in April of 2006. They passed the baton to the same peo-ple – a colossal mistake. And why weren’t there any candidates in their 20s and 30s? Anyway, look at the young leaders of our coun-try – they have been trained by the same old lot. They go to the same sources for money and resources. They may have young blood, but they lack young visions. I’m very pessimistic about this (chuckles).

Considering your pessimism, I bet you don’t believe in this

Walk The TalkYouth activist Santosh Shah

talks about his beginnings, his

failures and young days in politics.

whole Nepali cliché about “youth are the pillars of the nation”?They have the capacity and materials (still unused) to become the pillars, but they haven’t as yet. But we are exporting that material, aren’t we?

So, do you see yourself in politics?No. I pray to god I am spared from that. In politics, if you are honest, you will have a very tough life; if you are dishonest you don’t deliver anything. I believe I am doing big-ger and better things for the coun-try than a politician is anyways. But I do work with many politi-cians and I enjoy it.

Looking back, is there anything you wish you could have done differently?I wasn’t aware that brain-drain could be such a big issue and it only registered when my first batch of TYA activists didn’t return to Ne-pal. We could have had some 300 or more young activists in our country now had it not been for that.

Do you see yourself as an inspiration to the youth?I inspire myself, at least. (laughs) !

16 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!day

Tel: [email protected]

hotel space mountainNagarkot, 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 resortpokhara, Sense and Serenity package2 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

shangri-la village resortpokhara. Kids break package Rs. 8499 net per couple with 2 kids below 12 years sharing parent’s room. 4435741 (Ext 104/121)

Glacier hotelpokhara, package includes a Harbor Breakfast, For Couple Rs 1,999 per night15% discount on paragliding facilities, 463722

Tiger mountain pokhara lodgepokhara, Food, yoga, massage, meditation, walks, pool and more4361500

ChiTWan

Tiger TopsSpecial Re-opening package, 3 Nights/4 days, spending one night at Tiger Tops Tharu Lodge. Enjoy safari, nature walks, bullock cart rides and experience the rich Tharu culture Rs. 39,500/- approx. per person inclusive of all taxes. 4361500. e-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.tigermountain.com

Funky Buddha Bar and CaféThamel, Stuffed Chicken Breast-Rs 350, 4700091

Galleria CaféThamel, Club Sand-wich, Rs. 300, 4260383

Gazeebo restro loungeDurbarmarg, Chicken Crispy, Rs.275

him Thai restau-rantLazimpat, Tom yam Keii / Kumg Rs. 400, 4418683

hot BreadsFood Court At Bluebird Mall, Bluestar Complex, TripureshworSpaghetti Napolitano: Rs. 135, 4228833

indreni Food landIndreni Complex, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu

Offers Special Lunch Menu from Indian, Continental and Chinese Kitchen, Happy Lunch Hour: 12:01 - 3 pm, 4784518 / 4784519

imago dei Café GalleryNag pokhari, Spinach Artichoke Dip: Rs. 200, 4442464

irish pubLazimpat, Traditional fish & chips, Rs. 530, 4005019

JatraThamel, Sukuti Ko Achar: Rs. 110. 4700043

kFC restaurantDurbarmarg, Kathmandu, Hot & Crispy Chicken (Large Bucket), Rs.949 ++, 01-4226287

k-Too Bar & steak houseThamel, peppered Steak: Rs. 360. 4700043

lakhey restro n BarDurbarmarg, Shisk Touck: Rs. 255, 4230212, 4256606

la dolce vitaThamel, Rediscover Fine Italian Cuisine, 4700612

lobstersSherpa Mall, Durbar Marg, Tou Ka Tiem Kung: Rs. 550, 4231323, 4231437

mandarin, The everest hotelNaya Baneshwor, Enjoy the Real Taste Of Tibetan Gyakok (Sherpa’s Famous Steam Bowl, Minimum For Two), Daily From 12 pm - 2:30 pm and 7 pm - 11:30 pm, 4780100

mela restaurant and Bar p. ltdLainchaur, Reshmi Ka-bab, Rs 320, 4444441

nangloDurbar Marg, 4222636

nepali kitchenThamel, Nepali Khana(Non-Veg), Rs. 275, 4260965

new Tushita res-taurantLazimpat, penne with Creamy Bacon & Mushroom Sauce, Rs. 275, 44432957

new nepali ChuloLazimpath, Nepali Chicken Thali, Rs.1100, 4220475

new orleans Cafe Thamel, Vegetable Jam Bolaya: Rs. 280, 4700736

new york CaféThapathaliManderrian Fish Whole: Rs 265, 4101532

northField CafeThamel, quefa-dilla Fuiza, Rs. 275, 47008841

or2kThamel, Stuffed Vegetables Combination: Rs. 290. 4422097

o3 pubpanipokhari, Diced Chicken: Rs. 175, 9841408985

ooh la la Cafe n BarThamel, Woodfired pizza: Rs 250, 2296326

pizza expressLazimpat, Extrava-ganza, Rs.460

pizza hutDurbarmarg, Kath-mandu, Hot & Crispy Chicken (Large Bucket), Rs. 949 ++, 01-4226287

ramalaya Tea roompani pokhari Hill, Organic Asparagus soup with sautéed

mushroom, Rs. 345, 4006589

rice & BowlTripureswor, Hakka prawn: Rs. 550, 4251678

road house CaféThamel, Roasted Goat Cheese Salad: Rs. 2054260187

rox restaurantHyatt Regency, Bouddha, Smoked Trout & Salmon Cutlet: Rs. 690, 4491234

royal saino restaurant and BarDurbar Marg, Experience The Gyakok (The Hot pot With T-Momos) And Enjoy Other Varieties Of Delicious Momos In The Heart Of The City With Daily Live Bbq. 4230890

salsa CaféTripureshwor, Every Evening Live Bbq: Rs. 400 - 1,200, 9803012047

MISCELLANEOUS

EATERIES

kaThmandu

attic BarTej Bhawan, Uttar Dhoka, Lazimpat, Kathmandu Chicken Mini-Masange, Rs. 250,01-4442615

Baithak Babar Mahal RevisitedMaharaja feast/ Deluxe feast, Rs.1200/ 1500

Bamboo ClubThamel, Bamboo Golden Chicken, Rs. 250, 4701547

Bawarchi The restro BarLazimpat, Kathi Kawab Roll Chicken: Rs. 70, 2150050

Bho Chhen newari restaurant and BarBasantapur, Chatamari, 4221811

Bhumi restro loungeLazimpat, Buff Chhoela: Rs. 100, 4412193

Borderline Café & BarUWTC,Tripureshwor, Mexican Chicken, Rs. 300, 4117010

Boudha stupa restaurant and CaféBoudha, Tuna Salad,Nicoise style: Rs. 250, 2130681

Bourbon room restro BarLal Durbar, 4441703, Nachos Grande, Rs. 400

Buzz Café and BarBaluwatar, Thai Wraps and More, Live Music+ BBq Every Saturday, 4429903

Café almondKantipath, Chicken Wings, Rs.200, 4215745

Chez Caroline Babar Mahal Re-Visited,Bahar Mahal, Salad Caroline Rs. 650, 4263070/ 4264187/ 4254268

China GardenSoaltee Crowne plazaEnjoy Dishes From Throughout The Orient, Amidst Minimalist Set Up, For Lunch: 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, For Dinner: 7:00pm - 10:45 pm, 4273999

Comfort ZoneThamel, Korean Style pork BBq: Rs. 480 (big), Rs. 280 (small), 9803509358

CiboLazimpat, pita sand-witches, Rs. 250-410, 4410727

Courtyard restau-rant pvt. ltdKamaladi, Roasted Chicken, Rs. 295 ++, 4253056

Cube The Club With Candles restro loungeKamaladi,Kathmandu, Golden Kings prawn, Rs.500 ++, 4438017

deli Cas de France restaurantThamel, Mediterranean Delite, Rs. 770

dellcateseen Cen-ter CaféDurbarmarg, Steak Maitre D Hotel, Rs.310, 4221331

Finger Chips CaféDurbarmarg, Newari Khaja Set (Non-Veg): Rs. 90, 4263244

Flavor’s CaféBoudha, Stuffed Egg plant, Rs. 300

Forever Cafe Thamel, Garlic Steak, Rs. 315, 4700078

Big pagoda hallHotel Bajra, Chhauni, Tantric Dance, ‘The God Dance of Nepal’Tuesdays, 7 pm. onwards 4271545

himalayan Buddhist meditation CentreKeshar Mahal Marg, Thamel, Tai Chi 10:00 - 11:30 am, Saturday yoga 8:30 - 9:30 am and meditation 5:00 - 6:00 pm weekdays. 4410402

Cooking Class With lunchDelices de France Restaurant, French cuisine first Saturday of each month, [email protected]

extreme experience Experience the extreme with xSportsNepal.com/ zenNepal.com, Thamel (Above Himalayan Java), Daily paragliding (in Kathmandu), Bunjy jumping, Canyon Swinging, Rafting, Canyoning and Rock Climbing, 4422712, [email protected]

WEEKEND ESCApES

hoTel parkland Special jungle safari package program for 2 nights 3 days. Welcome drinks, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner & tea/coffee) accommodation in deluxe room, elephant-back safari, Tharu village visit, Visitor Center visit, canoeing & Elephant Breeding Center visit, sunset view, Tharu Stick dance, nature walk, bird-watching and many more. Foreigners - USD $140 nett. per person, Nepalis - Rs. 5,500 nett. per person. Chitwan National park, Sauraha

KTM office: Thamel, 4701887, 4701888, Cell: 9841229970, 9851022652, [email protected], www.wildlifenepal.com

shambala Garden CafeLazimpat, Kathmandu Nepal, quiche lor-raine with fresh fruit salad @ Rs. 450, 4412999

shogun restaurant & BarBabar Mahal Revisited, Makunochi Lunch Box, Rs. 500, 4263720

Tehzeeb restau-rant and BarDurbarmarg, Biryani, Rs.345, 9841310629

Thamel house restaurantThamel, Bara special, Rs.140, 4410388

The Caféhyatt regency Arabian Nights - Taste The Culinary Delights From The Middle EastEvery Friday From 6:30 pm Onwards, 4491234

The Factory restaurant & BarThamel, Chilled Gazpacho Rs.150. 4701185

The lounge - hyatt regency Boudha, Mango Etagere - Enjoy The Mango Delights Every Evening from June 1, 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, 4491234

Third eye res-taurantThamel, Chicken Tandoori (Full), Rs. 570

Tian rui Chinese restaurant and BarThapathali Kath-mandu, Bang Bang Chicken, Rs.269, 4243078

Tipsy lounge & BarDurbar Marg Nepal’s first complete LED Light Lounge and Bar with family ambiance.Cocktail Olympia: Rs. 450, 4243225

vintage Café & pubDurbarmarg, Vintage platter: Rs.400. 4254831

Walter’s restau-rant & BarBabarMahal Re-Visit-ed, Chicken Cutlets, Rs. 650, 4253337

Wine & CheeseThe Lounge, Hyatt

aBsoluTe BarTaste the mouthwatering Italian, Chinese & Con-tinental Cuisine in a cool and cozy environment and homely atmosphere with pleasing hospitality.

Time: 12 noon onwards.Hotel Narayni Complex, pulchowkph: 5521408, 5549504, [email protected]

Regency, Choose your Choice Of Wines And Cheese Every Friday & Saturday From 5 pm - 8 pm, 4491234, 4489362

yin yang restaurantThamel, Tom yam Kung, Rs. 450, 4701510

Zaika nepali CuisineThamel, Ham and cheese sandwich, Rs.120, 4700972

Zoom Café & BarNew Baneshwor, 1. Whole Fish In Hot Garlic Sauce, Rs.575, 4780601

1905 restaurantKantipath, Leg Of Lamb: Rs.650. 4215068

paTan

aalishanJawalakhelKakori Kabab Rs 4405550039

absolute BarHotel Narayani Complex, pulchowk. Reincarnated in new ambience, open for Lunch and exotic cocktails and mocktails with free Wi-Fi. Opens from 12 noon onwards. 5521408

Bakery Cafépulchowk, Chicken Sizzler: Rs..205. 5010110

Bronco Billypulchowk (Old moksh building), Caesar Salad:

Godavari village resortGodavari, 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 regencyBoudha, Relax package for two including breakfast at The Café1 night package, for maximum 3 nights, only for local residents and Nepalese citizens. For Couple: Rs. 6,200 plus taxes package is valid till 30th September 2010. 4491234, 4489800

park villageBudhanilkantha, Weekend package with half board accommodation per nightFor Double Room: Rs. 4,900 plus taxes 9851070936, 9851057642

The Famous Farm Nuwakot, 3.5 hour drive north of Katmandu, a short walk to the fort and palace; enjoy a luxurious Nepali country living for a night or a week. Himalayan Encounters. 4700426, 4700335

dhulikhel

dhulikhel mountain resortDhulikhel, palanchowk Bhagwati Darshan package. 2 days, 1 night package. For Single Room: Rs. 4,500 which includes, accommodation, transportation and 3 meals. 4420774

mirabel resortDhulikhel, Special package rates for locals and expats. 490972

snow view mountain resort Khawa, Dhulikhel, One night two days package (on full board). Rs. 2000/- only. Limited time offer 9851022810, 9803254175.

naGarkoT

Club himalayaNagarkot, 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 breakfast4442726

hotel Country villaClose to nature/ scenic drive thru jungles/ ethnic people to mingle with/ mountain biking around typical villages/ badminton/ table tennis/ hiking etc. , Serene & comfort, Hygienic/ quality food & beverage, Truly a place to relax & celebrate, Ideal for Conference/ workshop/ group/ family entertainment, Reasonable rates - NRs. 3,500/- + taxes per double room with b/fast & dinner.

Kathmandu reservation office:Z-street, Thamel, Kathmandu

Nightoutattic Bar Tej Bhawan, Uttar Dhoka. Monday Blues with Rusty Nails,Open Mic every Wednesday & Friday House Band, 4442615

Bottles & ChimneyNarshingh Chowk, Thamel. Live music by Nekhvam. Every Wednesday & Friday with Dharmendra Sewan playing, Unplugged sessions. 7 pm onwards. 2123135

Bourbon roomDurbar 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

Buddha BarThamel, Best chill out music in town with special cocktail. Happy hour 4 pm – 7 pm. 9851053235, 9841626582

Bugles & Tigers The Everest Hotel, New Baneshwor. Live music by fusion band from philippines every evening from 7 pm – 8:30 except Monday. 4780100 , ext: 7711/7811

Cafe horizonHotel Himalaya, Mexican Sojourno – come and experience the flavours of Mexico with tantalizing Mexican dishes and selection of Tequilas to tickle your taste buds amidst intriguing ambience, Every Friday, from 7 pm onwards, Live music by prism Band. 5523900

Club platinumHotel yak & yeti. Salsa night with Jimmy and Masha. Every Wednesday, Free Workshop, 8 pm onwards. 4248999 , 4222636

Comfort ZoneThamel, Every Saturday, Fusion Live band and Anil Shahi & Frens. Every Sunday, Fusion Band Rudra, 9803509358

Cube the ClubKamaladi, Sundays & Wednesdays live performance by The Dexterous,6 pm onwards , 4438017www.cubetheclub.com

domeThamel, Live music by Nekhvam. Every Sunday & Tuesday 7 pm onwards

eden loungeKathmandu Mall, Sundhara. On The Mix. Every Friday 8 pm onwards. 4150062, 4150063

FusionDwarika’s Hotel, Battisputali. Live music with Dinesh Rai & The Sound Minds with BBq dinner & 1 Beer/ Soft Drink at Rs 1366. Every Friday 7 pm onwards. 4479488

house of musicThamel, Karaoke night every Tuesday & house band/jam session every Saturday. 2 pm - 12 am. 9851075172, 9849243807

himalatte CaféThamel, 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

Jatra Thamel, Ladies night: Mesmerizing unplugged Sufi, Nepali & English music by Dharmendra Sewan with one free cocktail to all the ladies. Every Wednesday 5 pm – 7 pm. 4256622

lakhey restro BarDurbar Marg. Fridays: DJ session till wee hours, 4256606

lhasa restaurant & BarThamel, Live Band, Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7 pm onwards, 9851010431

new maya Cocktail & Barparyatan Road, Thamel, Special cocktail, 4700371

paddy Foley’s irish pubThamel, Enjoy special Irish drinks & food with live music. Every night, 7 pm onwards. 9808398079

plug TerraceBalwatar, Blind. Ears playing acousticEvery Wednesday, 6:30 pm onwards. 2150072

porch BarSoaltee Crowne plazaSoaltee Mode, Relax and enjoy some of the finest drinks, Every day, 6 pm to 10 pm. 4273999

shisha Terrace Café & BarThamel, Special flavored Shisha drink with live music. Every night 7 pm onwards. 4701104

Rs. 250, 5526212

Cafe Cheenopatan Dhoka, LalitpurApple Crumble with Cream: Rs. 220, 2210423

Café de patanMangal Bazar, Newari Samaybaji with Chicken: Rs. 175. 5537599

Café de Templepatan Durbar Square, Temple Special Chicken: Rs. 225. 5527127

Casa Toscanapulchowk (Opp. Sajha prakashan), 5537775pollo Braciola: NRs 395/-

Chapter 9Jawalakhel, paneer Chatpata: Rs. 240. 525979

ChopstixKumaripati, Nasi Goreng: Rs. 245, 5551118

Cinnamon Grill loungeJhamsikhel, Cinnamon platter: Rs.300, 5521339

dhokaima Cafépatan Dhoka, Chilled roasted veg. soup: Rs 129 5522113

ezer Book CaféSanepa, Kim Chi Chhige Rs. 250, 5546578

Ghangri Cafépulchowk, Cordeu Blue: Rs. 150. 5524694

hadockJhamsikhelSpicy Chicken: Rs. 2005546431

higher Ground CaféJawalakhel, Chicken quesadilla: Rs. 130, 5525903

inar Café and BarKupondole, Burger: Rs. 65-150. 5542071

Jazzabell CaféJhamsikhel, Chicken Basket: Rs. 150, 2114075

la rotisserie Grilled ChickenJawalakhel, Grilled Chicken : Rs. 445. 530823

lazy GringoJwalakhel, Tres enchi-ladas, Rs. 350

le Trio restaurant and Barpulchowk Lalitpur, Bacon potato Roll Rs. 350, 5521674

patan museum Cafépatan Durbar Square, patan Museum Burger: Rs. 180, 5524694

red dingo res-taurantJawalakhel (behind standard chartered bank), Red Dingo Steak, 900 - 1100 (without alcohol) & 1400 (with alcohol), 01 69 149 60

The ambience restaurant & BarMangalbazar, Newari Set: Rs. 250. 5538980

The Turning point restaurant & BarJhamsikhel, SanepaExplore a great dining experience in a clean homely atmosphere, pork Chops: Rs. 270, 5521338

Tawas and Tan-doorsHotel Himalaya, Kupondole, The magical tastes of India, with mouthwatering Indian delicacies amidst live music Rs. 999/- Nett per person, including a bottle of beer/ soft drink/ a shot of signature whis-key. 5523900

NOTE: The details provided in the listings are tentative and are subject to change.

The CaféHyatt Regency, Taste the culinary delights from the Mediterranean region of Greece, Italy and the Middle East. Fridays, 6:30 pm. 4491234

The Corner BarRadisson Hotel, Lazimpat, Offering an array of sumptuous snacks, exotic drinks and cocktails. 3 pm to 11 pm, 4411818

Tamas spa loungeChaksibari Road, ThamelLive CLassical/Fusion music by Tabla Maestro pritam Rai and his ensemble and DJ sessions by in-house DJ Saakar along with great food and wine selection. Every night 7 pm onwards. 4257658

The FactoryThamel, Live music every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 7 pm onwards, 4701185, 4701187

Tantra BarThamel, Live music with The Axis Band with special Tantra’s Hookas imported straight from Bahrain and available in different flavors. Every Friday from 7 pm onwards. 4218565

Tipsy lounge & BarDurbar Marg, DJ Sessions by DJ Suresh and DJ Rupesh everyday, 10 pm onwards, Special Tipsy Cocktail-Tipsy Tower Rs. 1,500, 4243225

Upstairs Jazz BarLazimpat, An interesting mix of locals and expats of Jazz music. Every evening, from 7 pm onwards. 4410436

timeoff

the weekenderFor promotions and listings, write to [email protected]. 5011571POST uS

essential restaurants, bars and getaways

adVerTiSeMeNT

timeofffor the adventurous palate

undercover gourmet

5 Ws Where’s it located? The Restaurant Road, Jham-sikhel (enter from the Fire Bri-gade and it’s the second eatery to your right) Call 5548179

What not to wear? Conservative suits

Why drop in? For the Continental fare

When to visit? Early lunch till late dinner

How much to carry? The date lunch cost me Rs. 1,500 with taxes.

i love surprises only if they are pleasant. So last Friday, when somebody asked me out on a lunch date, I was

surprised but still not sure if I loved the surprise. I was to love it however when she drove into the gardens of Vesper Café.

Spacious, medieval and laid-back is what Vesper is. It is di-vided into a sun-bathed patio and a cooler inside. The patio is done in orange bricks with black wooden furniture comple-mented by amber upholstery. The patio umbrellas are well-

positioned and I love the garden – eclectic and well-maintained collection of flowering and non-flowering plants. The portion under the roof is creatively seg-regated into a tiny bar, an iso-lated block of settee and other creative arrangements amidst the fireplace, the (deliberately) unfinished walls and the false ceiling (my only turn-off).

Only moments after we had oc-cupied one of the sun-kissed tables and placed the order did we real-ize that we had ordered not an ap-petizer but a glutton’s muse. The Goat Cheese Salad comes with home-made mustard dressing. It’s sweet, salty and sour; the herbs and grasses are fresh and crunchy; and the appeal is

welcoming. I love the Rocket and the combination of red onion rings with Parmesan and green pep-pers in the mustard. The soft goat cheese atop the bread is slightly herbed and spiced and is an amus-ing break from the regular.

As we furthered our Conti-nental palates, we ordered Spa-ghetti Bolognaise and Chicken Parmezano for the main course. The spaghetti is boiled to perfec-tion and it retains the warmth beneath the rich sauce in which the mince is cooked. The mild spices and delectable herbs cre-

laidback lavishnessVesper

raTinG

on a scale of five (5 being the highest)

Furnishings , Appealing upholstery, indoor settee could be more comfy Ambience , Generates a pleasant laid-back feelDining wares , Wise selection of dining wares, I love themCutlery , Seem to have been used a lotService , personalized, well-mannered, welcoming and unimposing Restroom , Calm and clean, I love the wall tiles

No better way to wrap up a lunch than with a satiating des-sert. The heavenly slice of apple pie is topped with a dollop of va-nilla ice cream and raisins dipped in a lavish downpour of chocolate sauce. The base is thin and the sides beautiful. The sweetness is balanced by the chopped walnuts. It’s pleasantly cool and the cinna-mon is one reason why you should settle for it for dessert.

About the date, we ended up fighting (for the apple pie). Thankfully, we don’t need to is-

sue a verdict yet. !

ate a gastronomic allure, which is hard to resist. The Chicken Par-mezano is chicken slabs browned in a skillet and topped with ham, aubergine and peppers which are then covered in a melt of Par-mesan Cheese. It is accompanied by fries and spiced green salad. I love the sauce – luscious, sticky and brilliant in color.

—Garrulous Foodie

Nepal’s First Complete LED Light Lounge & BarDurbar Marg, 4243225

Tipsy Chicken, rs. 600

Tipsy lounge & Bar

Durbarmarg, 4220475, Lazimpat, 4418206

nepali Chulo

nepali khana set: rs 1,100

The Ghangri Cafépulchwok Lalitpur, 5528703Visit us for Sumai Open MoMo and many more Chinese Cuisines

Chicken lolipop, rs 185

mushroom syapta, rs. 150

Mangal Bazar, patan Durbar Square, 5538980

The ambience restaurant & Bar

Harihar Bhawan, pulchwok, 5526212Bronco Billy

Chicken nachos, rs. 300

Chicken Fricassee, rs 349

patan Dhoka, 5522113dhokaima Cafe

Naxal, 4424303mike’s Breakfast

pork escalopes picatta, rs.475 +taxes

Thamel, Kathmandu, 4701510

yin yang restaurant

Thai soup (Tom yam kung), rs. 415

Thamel, Kathmandu, 4260289

Third eye restaurant

Chicken kastoori kebab, rs. 395

Food Court @ Blue Bird Mall, 4228833

Bawarchi

egg Chicken roll, rs. 160

18 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!dayconsume

— Prasanna K.C.

dareto

Cruzel

ike coffee, there are a lot of ways to enjoy your en-gines. Generally speaking, more power is considered

to be better, but what really makes an engine good or bad is where and how the power is made. In fact, it makes all the difference.

Before deciding on a car, car enthusiasts ask around, look at the specifications and consult car magazines. But it is seldom as simple as that. Many a times, a 1.6 litre car can be sweeter than a SUV and this has got to do with where the motor pro-duces the power to give you that sweetener. The soon-to-be launched Chevrolet Cruz pos-sesses that sweetener, and more.

If short bursts of speed ex-cite you, then the Cruze is the car you’ve been waiting for. On

a recent drive around the city, I couldn’t help myself from squaring off against a Bajaj Pulsar and, to my astonish-ment, it took me less than six seconds to beat the bike! The brilliant diesel engine is fantas-tic for short bursts due to that spike of power it possesses. But if you drive them hard enough while navigating corners in the city, the engine will struggle just when you need them to be responsive and potent. Partly to blame is the pitiful state of our city roads and the unpredictable traffic snarls. With the automat-ic, however, this is not a problem as it delivers equal bursts of power even at a slow speed.

At first glance, the Chevro-let Cruze looks anything but budget. The panel work drapes solidly down over its wheels, and there’s an unapologetic front with nicely detailed lights and grilles. From the rear three quarters, it seems to be paying

homage to the BMW 5 series, and, in doing so, manages not to look idiotically over-optimistic.

The interiors of the Cruze shine. In the cabin, one of the roomiest in the class, the plas-tics don’t seem too cheap, and the whole is lent a warm and modern ambience by a swath of leather that runs across the dashboard and ties the design together. The upper part of the dashboard is finished in cloth or a leather-type material, and a twin-cockpit theme tries to evoke classic Corvettes.

The instruments emit a swish blue glow after dusk. The stalks

and switches move with finger-caressing precision and there’s ample headroom despite a coupe like roofline. Drivers and pas-sengers enjoy extraordinary legroom, and the front seats can be pushed way back. While the rear seats can be folded down, trunk space is impressive at 15.9 cubic feet. The only disap-pointment is the fiddly, hard-to-reach lever that adjusts the front seatbacks.

The suspension rides firmly but faithfully. Noise suppression is average-to-good and the han-dling didn’t cause any upsets. Although I felt an oddly artifi-cial self-centering in the steer-ing, it probably made it easy for the mildly inattentive driver like me to stay in my motorway lane.

The Cruze handles well. When pushed, it stays on the safe side and moves into good-natured understeer until the electronic stability control gen-tly kicks in. The hydraulic power steering offers good control, but despite fat tires and 16- or 17-inch wheels, it disappointingly does not display any sporting aspirations.

Mrs. Annie Gardner Vaidya, Executive Director of Vijaya Motors, authorized distributor

for Chevrolet in Nepal, describes the Cruz as “a bold, aggressive and stylish car designed for those who choose to define their own lifestyle. Targeted at a rela-tively higher income bracket, with a starting price of Rs. 4.47 Mil., it is a car for the enthusiast minority. It’s carefully designed and subtly developed for peo-ple who want a good value car that’ll look after them without constantly asserting its charac-ter on them”.

Moment of truth: With the Cruze, have I found a car that is as nice as a frenzied, naturally aspirated diesel spinning at 7-8,000 rpm? No I haven’t.

But then again, it comes mighty close. !

Contact Mr. Rikesh Karki: 9841469878 at Vijaya Mo-tors for a test drive.

WITH THE CRUZE, HAVE I FOUND A CAR THAT IS AS NICE AS A FRENZIED, NATURALLy ASpIRATED DIESEL SpINNING AT 7-8,000 RpM? NO I HAVEN’T.

consumebecause there is more to life

NOTE: The details provided in the listings are tentative and are subject to change.

For promotions and listings, write to [email protected]. Tel: 5011571POST uScool bargains

GinGer30% and 50% off on selected

JoCkeyNew Arrival (Ladies wear, Loungeries)

FaraUpto 40% off onSaree & Kurta, 4224412

samsoniTe40% discounts on American Tourister suitcases4224452

Baleno Upto 40% off on gents and ladies wears

reTail Therepie ThapathaliOffer for next Friday (30 July) upto 70% off on

BlueBird mall 4228833

Bishal BaZaar

durBarmarG

CiTy CenTre mall kamalpokhari60% off in Giordano50% off in puma40% off in Italiana, Cocktail30% off in Lilliput, WarehouseNew arrival-Watches, purses, Sunglassesin The Gift Shop, G-Time Corner, 4011701 15% off in prolink10% off in Style 4011809

sphinXCity Centre mall, 3rd floor T-30Upto 50% off on Ladies Bag and Ladies Dress4011755

Colosseum enTerprisekumaripati20% discount on gents and 25% discount on ladies 9851114406, 9851110375

Call moBiliTy pvT. lTd.1GB memory card + U-SIM free with Motorola W562 CDMA 4240866

BeaTiFiCaTion BouTiQueClearance sale of 50% and 25% off on all bridal, party and ethnic Indian wear

dell lapTopsAvailable at iLifeGet free Belkin backpack worth Rs. 5000 on purchase of Dell Inspiron 1320 (Limited Stock)With all laptops get Logitech Mini Optical Mouse free

dresses and one - piece (ladies) and other ap-parels of kids and men.4011809

pelTZ30% and 40% off4224409

FurniTure land sTore10% Discount on Furniture4228833

kouTonsGents wear, Upto 50%4224481

leaTher produCTsUpto 60% discount

Crimsoune CluB Up to 50% off on selected

Tridakarsani Up to 40% off on selected

worth Rs. 15004246994

shree pashupaTi eleCTroniCs pvT. lTd.Buy a Videocon TV and get a t-shirt free, Fax: 4445645

indulGenCe BouTiQue and CelesTial BouTiQueDurbar Marg50% off on chic designer garments (tops, shorts, dresses)2012148

TaXXi Nag pokhariNew arrival- Bags, shoes, Ladies dresses4426024

JaWalakhel

BanGla’s BeauTy

20% discount on services on occasion

of teej and anniversary5534238

uWTC

Borderline CaFenBar1st Floor10% discount on the bill 41170109849214196

reviewshop— Praakrit Pradhan

— Shreeya Joshi

One of the beginner brands of the touch-screen phones, Sony Er-icsson has brought out

their most awaited touch-phone, Satio (Idou). Launched in Nepal only a month ago, the Satio has been one of the fastest selling Rs.40-50 K touch phones. At a market price of Rs. 46,500, it is clearly competing with the ‘talk of the town’ – the Nokia N900 (Rs. 41,750).

Sony Ericsson has been very dull and un-customer friendly, but using Symbian OS for the first time in Satio, they believe to impress the customers with high picture and music quality. The Satio, also referred to as the Idou, promises to give, if noth-ing else, high picture quality. With a 12.1 megapixel (40000 * 3000 pixels) camera and Xenon flash, it is the best touch phones in terms of the camera. Satio’s camera can never be justified by words alone as it is said ‘a pic-ture is larger than a thousand words’. With the latest smile and face detection system, it also has Touch focus and geo-tagging.

Clicking great pictures with-out a proper display? Wouldn’t that be a waste? Fortunately, the display of Satio is second only to the latest iPhone 4. A display screen possessing the power of 16M (million) colors, it eas-ily can be ranked higher than Nokia N900’s 65K (thou-sand) colors. The sharpness and

can

clarity that can be seen in Satio is just awesome!

Competing with N900, the look of Satio is ‘to die for’. A very sleek, full touch with a larger widescreen display, Satio is remarkably lighter. Camera, looks, picture quality are not

the only things to look for in a phone. The N900 comes with an internal storage of 32GB (SD card support up to 16GB) while Satio has 128MB internal (8GB free, expandable to 32GB). Nokia have brought a new OS to town, Maemo. It promises to make surfing the net as easy as in a PC. The multitasking is sup-posed to have been made easier. But the delay time, in addition to the slight freezes, doesn’t really compliment that. Nokia has al-ways been better at user comfort, and yet again Maemo scores! The N900 allows its user to personal-ize multiple desktops!

Even though the N900 prom-ises to have Skype and Google talk, they are nothing more than a few touches away from Satio. The Satio’s standby and talk time battery life are a step ahead to that of the N900, but the use of its marvelous camera drains all of its battery life.

3G networks, TFT touch screen, smart phones, Wi-fi connections and syncing. Sony Ericsson offers a much easier, quicker and efficient syncing with PC than Nokia. With the price in mind, “Satio should be an easy choice over the N900 for any one even remotely in-terested in multimedia and PC sync, I’ve always loved Sony over Nokia,” grinned a cus-tomer in City Centre when asked about Satio, “after all it’s in three colors!” ! Contact: Seema Digital World, City Centre, 4011501

make.believe?Satio

The new sony ericsson satio has been launched and a debatable argument between which one is the better – n900 vs. satio – has arisen. Fr!day does a little research.

SATIO SHOULD BE AN EASy CHOICE OVER THE N900 FOR ANy ONE EVEN REMOTELy INTERESTED IN MULTIMEDIA AND pC SyNC

elegantly Nilima’sNilima’s Studio of Fashion, situated on the third floor of City Center, Kamal pokhari, is a one-stop shop for the sophisticated woman who wants the trendiest and newest designer-made fashions in town. From bags to shoes to clothes to other accessories – this shop has them all. The main attraction here is the clothes, however. Ranging from Ethnic Indian wear to modern Western outfits, these clothes are handpicked and imported from places like Delhi, Bangkok, Korea and China by the managing director, Nilima Sharma herself. The shoes, bags and accessories are all custom handmade designs that have been imported as well. Not only this, but Nilima’s also offers an array of handpicked vintage wedding gowns that have been imported from Thailand, for those lovely Christian brides out there. The price of the clothes here range from Rs. 1,000-39,000, while the accessories range from Rs. 600- 7,000. As long as you can afford them, anyone, be it teenagers or middle-aged mothers or even going-to-be Christian brides, is welcome to drop in here to shop. There is something for everyone at Nilima’s. Contact: 4011622, 4011529, 9851111446, [email protected] !

The ultimate NailsEveryone says that the eyes are the windows to one’s soul. But your hands show how much you take care of your body that holds something as precious as your soul. Manicures, pedicures and acrylic nail extensions have been around to beautify your hands for quite some time now. But Elements Spa, above Red Dingo Restau-rant, in Jawalakhel, brings all the ladies something radically hotter – Ultima Nails.

Ultima Nails is a product of Ventech Medical International, owned by David Mendies. They are gel nail extensions and are better than acrylic ones as they do not harm your nails in any way, last more longer (as they aren’t affected by any chemicals what-soever) and also look more natural. you can get these in a variety of different types – Color Gel Nails, Glitter Gel Nails, Basic French, Color French and Glitter French. you can even have high quality European rhinestones added to them if you want!

However, if patience is not one of your virtues, it might be a bit difficult for you be-cause setting these takes at least two hours. To set the Ultima nails, your nails have to be first filed and buffed, and then three different Mirage gels – the base coat, builder gel and top coat gel are used to ensure you get the ultimate looking nails. After the application of each gel, you have to subject your hand to UV light which is completely safe. Getting these nails on your hand will cost you Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 2,500 depend-ing on the type of nail design you want. However, they are worth every penny as they will last for 3-4 weeks. For appointments, call 9808091011 !

The ultimate Nailshott!!! that’s

— Shreeya Joshi

sTyle Fashion WearGround floor10 % discount on the retail price4117116

oFFiCe Works enTerprisesGround floor10% disc on all logitech products 4117123

Fuel10% and 15% discounts on Ladies and Gents wear 4238428

20 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!day consumebecause there is more to life

trickstips &

flyboys— Prasanna K.C.

consume

noW shoWinG CominG soon

First love

aisha

in cinemas

showing at : Kumari Hall Cast: Aryan Sigdel,Karma,Vinay Shrestha,Nisha Adhikari,Reecha Sharmadirector: Simosh Sunwar

A film by Simosh Sunwar (of ‘Mission paisa’ fame) comes another Nepali movie worth a watch. Get ready for some drama!

runtime: 2 hrs 19 minsyear of release: 2006

available at : Mahaboudha, New Roadstarring: James Franco, Martin Hen-derson, David Ellison, Jennifer Decker

director: Tony Bill

— Yukta Bajracharya

shelfoff the

lafangey parindeypeepli live

releasing date : 20 AugustCast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Deepika padukonedirector: pradeep Sarkar

showing at : Kumari HallCast: Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Arunoday Singhdirector: Rajshree Ojha

showing at : Jai NepalCast: Omkar Das, Nawazuddin Siddiquidirector: Anusha Rizvi

Lafangey parindey is about a group of youngsters living in the backstreets of Mumbai with an unusual love story as a backdrop.

Aisha is a girl who takes everyone’s business to be her own. Arjun is a boy set to make Aisha mind her own business.

A local politician suggests two poor farmers commit suicide to benefit from a government program that aids the families of indebted deceased farmers.

Meluha

Cocktails represent cel-ebrations. And cocktail parties have been a pop-ular social gathering for

years. Throwing a cocktail party is an easy way to commemorate any occasion or milestone. Best of all, you never need an excuse to host a cocktail party. It’s the perfect “just because” gathering to catch up with friends.

Cocktail parties can take sev-eral different forms. The least formal is the cocktail buffet, which is usually a semi-formal or casual attire sit-down buf-fet. Cocktail parties themselves usually feature appetizers while guests remain standing. These are generally semi-formal. Cocktail parties are great for entertaining friends or business associates, or a combination of the two. They’re also ideal for house parties or receptions, both business and personal.

You might be a little per-plexed on how to organize a

successful cocktail party if you’re a novice in party plan-ning. To help you with some tips on organizing a cocktail party, Friday consulted Alok Yonzon, an avid restaurateur who has also been hosting parties. He had been manag-ing a couple of clubs, hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong along with organizing events and parties. Today, he co-owns Tamas Lounge and has recently opened a fine dining restaurant Jardin. He shares his expertise with Friday:

1. It’s important to have an in-teresting starter for any party. So I would recommend you to serve nachos and margaritas when the guests arrive.

2. I believe good food is very es-sential. So make sure you have delicious snacks for your cock-tail party to go along with the booze. As momos are every-

body’s favorite, serve them as the staple snack for your party.

3. As for the main course, (if you are serving any), have the perfect wine to go with the food if you want to wow your guests. It doesn’t have to be a bottle for each person; a glass or two will

— Suyasha Sitaula

Flyboys, the first World War I aviation film in over 40 years, is inspired by the epic, courageous tale of the young American men who would become known as the legendary Lafayette Escadrille, the 124th air squadron formed by the French in 1916. The squadron consisted of 5 French officers and 38 American volunteers who wanted to fly and fight in World War I during the main years of the conflict, 1914–1917, before the United States later joined the war against the Central powers.

Ordinary boys who volunteered for the First World War looking for adventure, these young, naive adventure-seekers learned the true meaning of love, brotherhood, heroism, courage and tolerance, and, in return, gained a true reason to risk their lives.

Shot like a Disney period piece (prettily, with spiffy props, shiny vintage vehicles and costumes just back from the cleaners), “Flyboys” introduces its squadron the old-fashioned way – with character-establishing setups.

Amit Shrestha, Manager at Mega Bank, describes the movie as “an old-fashioned, boys’ adventure version of an arresting chapter in World War I history which doesn’t disappoint”.

Knowledgeably made by director Tony Bill, who got his pilot’s license as a teenager, the movie has a lightweight, airbrushed feel. Despite the brutal dogfights and inevitable deaths, there’s little gravity or reso-nance.

Must watch for flight film fans and the idly curious.

be more than enough. I would suggest Shiraz for red wine and Sauvignon Blanc for white wine.

4. Most of the parties I host have karaoke. When parties mainly include alcohol, it won’t be difficult to have some friends debut a singing performance. It’ll be fun to have your guests sing along, especially if it’s a cocktail party!

5. It’s very important to stock up on a lot of beer as it’s a com-mon favorite among all guys. For women, white wine sangria, which is a combination of white wine, orange juice and peach schnapps, will be just perfect.

6. Have a lot of rock glasses and old fashioned glasses for your drink. It is not always fea-sible to have all assortments of glass styles to cover the type of drinks you plan to serve.

7. Don’t forget to stock up on mix-ers, including orange juice, fresh lime juice, soda, tonic and cola.

8. These days, vodka with cran-berry juice is getting tremen-dously popular. So make sure you have the best cranberry juice for the best taste. Also, try serving your drinks on the rocks as many people might not be too keen on mixers.

9. If you want to make your cocktail party more interest-ing, I suggest you do some jell-o shots. To make jell-o shots, mix some vodka with jelly powder and let it stay in the freezer overnight. I bet it will be a great hit in your party.

10. During summers, fresh fruit martinis are going to be very special. Try different varieties with fruit pulp in gin or vodka. Litchis and mangoes are good options. !

FRIDAY SUBSCRIPTION

Duration No. of Issues Cover Price You Pay You Save

1 Year 50 Rs. 20 x 50 = 1,000 Rs. 800 Rs. 200 (Price of 10 issues)

2 Years 100 Rs. 20 x 100 = 2,000 Rs. 1,500 Rs. 500 (Price of 25 issues)

to subscribe, call Bikram Shrestha or type ‘friday’ and sms to 9841227897

One of life’s necessities

CocktailTHROWING A COCKTAIL pARTy IS AN EASy WAy TO COMMEMORATE ANy OCCASION OR MILESTONE. BEST OF ALL, yOU NEVER NEED AN ExCUSE TO HOST A COCKTAIL pARTy.

Overload!

pickfriday

The first novel of the Shiva Trilogy, The Immortals of Meluha is a page turner that is set in 1900 B.C. Meluha is a near to perfect empire created by Lord Ram, a phenomenal monarch, centuries ago. When the primary river of the empire, the Sara-swati River, gradually dries up, the land and its Suryavanshi rulers face many perils, including an attack from the Chandravanshis of the east. The Suryavanshis now have to defend themselves from the Chandravanshis and their allies – the Nagas. Their hope is the legend that promises them a hero, one that will rise when everything else seems to be lost.

The immortals of

Such goes the plot of this fast-paced novel written by Amish Tripathi. This book is a combination of historical facts woven with the author’s own imagination. It includes action-packed scenes as well as love stories, and has the power to hook the readers with its engaging plot. Strong knowl-edge of the mystical Indian mythol-ogy is the backbone of this novel, a debutant fiction for Amish. Get this book at Mandala Book point, Kan-tipath to unravel the adventurous transition of how Shiva becomes the savior and is immortalized as God. price: Rs. 472Contact: 4227711

consumebecause there is more to life

trickstips &

flyboys— Prasanna K.C.

consume

noW shoWinG CominG soon

First love

aisha

innoW shoWinG

cinemas

showing at : Kumari Hall Cast: Aryan Sigdel,Karma,Vinay Shrestha,Nisha Adhikari,Reecha Sharmadirector: Simosh Sunwar

A film by Simosh Sunwar (of ‘Mission paisa’ fame) comes another Nepali movie worth a watch. Get ready for some drama!

runtime: 2 hrs 19 minsyear of release: 2006

available at : Mahaboudha, New Roadstarring: James Franco, Martin Hen-derson, David Ellison, Jennifer Decker

director: Tony Bill

— Yukta Bajracharya

shelfoff the

lafangey parindeypeepli live

releasing date : 20 AugustCast: Neil Nitin Mukesh, Deepika padukonedirector: pradeep Sarkar

showing at : Kumari HallCast: Sonam Kapoor, Abhay Deol, Arunoday Singhdirector: Rajshree Ojha

showing at : Jai NepalCast: Omkar Das, Nawazuddin Siddiquidirector: Anusha Rizvi

Lafangey parindey is about a group of youngsters living in the backstreets of Mumbai with an unusual love story as a backdrop.

Aisha is a girl who takes everyone’s business to be her own. Arjun is a boy set to make Aisha mind her own business.

A local politician suggests two poor farmers commit suicide to benefit from a government program that aids the families of indebted deceased farmers.

Meluha

Cocktails represent cel-ebrations. And cocktail parties have been a pop-ular social gathering for

years. Throwing a cocktail party is an easy way to commemorate any occasion or milestone. Best of all, you never need an excuse to host a cocktail party. It’s the perfect “just because” gathering to catch up with friends.

Cocktail parties can take sev-eral different forms. The least formal is the cocktail buffet, which is usually a semi-formal or casual attire sit-down buf-fet. Cocktail parties themselves usually feature appetizers while guests remain standing. These are generally semi-formal. Cocktail parties are great for entertaining friends or business associates, or a combination of the two. They’re also ideal for house parties or receptions, both business and personal.

You might be a little per-plexed on how to organize a

successful cocktail party if you’re a novice in party plan-ning. To help you with some tips on organizing a cocktail party, Friday consulted Alok Yonzon, an avid restaurateur who has also been hosting parties. He had been manag-ing a couple of clubs, hotels and restaurants in Hong Kong along with organizing events and parties. Today, he co-owns Tamas Lounge and has recently opened a fine dining restaurant Jardin. He shares his expertise with Friday:

1. It’s important to have an in-teresting starter for any party. So I would recommend you to serve nachos and margaritas when the guests arrive.

2. I believe good food is very es-sential. So make sure you have delicious snacks for your cock-tail party to go along with the booze. As momos are every-

body’s favorite, serve them as the staple snack for your party.

3. As for the main course, (if you are serving any), have the perfect wine to go with the food if you want to wow your guests. It doesn’t have to be a bottle for each person; a glass or two will

— Suyasha Sitaula

Flyboys, the first World War I aviation film in over 40 years, is inspired by the epic, courageous tale of the young American men who would become known as the legendary Lafayette Escadrille, the 124th air squadron formed by the French in 1916. The squadron consisted of 5 French officers and 38 American volunteers who wanted to fly and fight in World War I during the main years of the conflict, 1914–1917, before the United States later joined the war against the Central powers.

Ordinary boys who volunteered for the First World War looking for adventure, these young, naive adventure-seekers learned the true meaning of love, brotherhood, heroism, courage and tolerance, and, in return, gained a true reason to risk their lives.

Shot like a Disney period piece (prettily, with spiffy props, shiny vintage vehicles and costumes just back from the cleaners), “Flyboys” introduces its squadron the old-fashioned way – with character-establishing setups.

Amit Shrestha, Manager at Mega Bank, describes the movie as “an old-fashioned, boys’ adventure version of an arresting chapter in World War I history which doesn’t disappoint”.

Knowledgeably made by director Tony Bill, who got his pilot’s license as a teenager, the movie has a lightweight, airbrushed feel. Despite the brutal dogfights and inevitable deaths, there’s little gravity or reso-nance.

Must watch for flight film fans and the idly curious.

be more than enough. I would suggest Shiraz for red wine and Sauvignon Blanc for white wine.

4. Most of the parties I host have karaoke. When parties mainly include alcohol, it won’t be difficult to have some friends debut a singing performance. It’ll be fun to have your guests sing along, especially if it’s a cocktail party!

5. It’s very important to stock up on a lot of beer as it’s a com-mon favorite among all guys. For women, white wine sangria, which is a combination of white wine, orange juice and peach schnapps, will be just perfect.

6. Have a lot of rock glasses and old fashioned glasses for your drink. It is not always fea-sible to have all assortments of glass styles to cover the type of drinks you plan to serve.

7. Don’t forget to stock up on mix-ers, including orange juice, fresh lime juice, soda, tonic and cola.

8. These days, vodka with cran-berry juice is getting tremen-dously popular. So make sure you have the best cranberry juice for the best taste. Also, try serving your drinks on the rocks as many people might not be too keen on mixers.

9. If you want to make your cocktail party more interest-ing, I suggest you do some jell-o shots. To make jell-o shots, mix some vodka with jelly powder and let it stay in the freezer overnight. I bet it will be a great hit in your party.

10. During summers, fresh fruit martinis are going to be very special. Try different varieties with fruit pulp in gin or vodka. Litchis and mangoes are good options. !

FRIDAY SUBSCRIPTION

Duration No. of Issues Cover Price You Pay You Save

1 Year 50 Rs. 20 x 50 = 1,000 Rs. 800 Rs. 200 (Price of 10 issues)

2 Years 100 Rs. 20 x 100 = 2,000 Rs. 1,500 Rs. 500 (Price of 25 issues)

to subscribe, call Bikram Shrestha or type ‘friday’ and sms to 9841227897

One of life’s necessities

CocktailTHROWING A COCKTAIL pARTy IS AN EASy WAy TO COMMEMORATE ANy OCCASION OR MILESTONE. BEST OF ALL, yOU NEVER NEED AN ExCUSE TO HOST A COCKTAIL pARTy.

Overload!flyboys

pickfriday

The first novel of the Shiva Trilogy, The Immortals of Meluha is a page turner that is set in 1900 B.C. Meluha is a near to perfect empire created by Lord Ram, a phenomenal monarch, centuries ago. When the primary river of the empire, the Sara-swati River, gradually dries up, the land and its Suryavanshi rulers face many perils, including an attack from the Chandravanshis of the east. The Suryavanshis now have to defend themselves from the Chandravanshis and their allies – the Nagas. Their hope is the legend that promises them a hero, one that will rise when everything else seems to be lost.

The immortals of

Such goes the plot of this fast-paced novel written by Amish Tripathi. This book is a combination of historical facts woven with the author’s own imagination. It includes action-packed scenes as well as love stories, and has the power to hook the readers with its engaging plot. Strong knowl-edge of the mystical Indian mythol-ogy is the backbone of this novel, a debutant fiction for Amish. Get this book at Mandala Book point, Kan-tipath to unravel the adventurous transition of how Shiva becomes the savior and is immortalized as God. price: Rs. 472Contact: 4227711

22 Issue 29 August 12 -18, 2010 Fr!daybazaar

Another Worldmarket

Another Worldinsight

reetu Joshi shrestha MD, Chaitanya Spa

Nepal’s first medi-spa, Chaitanya promises to stay true to ancient traditions, treatments and procedures. With an ambitious aim to satisfy the Indriyas making for a harmonious balance between Panchamahabhuta, leading to a state of ‘Chaitanya’, this one has all the makings of a unique and world-class experience.

New Kia Sportage

how can your spa contribute to making nepal an international destination for health services?It is a fact that non communicable diseases are spreading like wildfire due to the hectic and unmanaged lifestyle we follow nowadays. Many people all over the world are resorting to effective and harmless natural therapies for these types of diseases. South Asian countries are the base for naturopathy and Ayurvedic treatments, and Nepal can also be one of the destinations for Ayurveda, yoga, Meditation and natural therapies. Many people travel to Nepal for these types of treatments.

Chaitanya, a Wellness Healing Spa, is the first medi-spa in Nepal. We are equipped with graduate naturopathic physicians and trained, experienced and efficient therapists are enough to provide luxurious treatment in our world class spa. We provide health packages, Ayurvedic treatments, natural therapy, yoga and Acupuncture/Acupressure amidst a luxurious setting. We believe we can contribute to making Nepal an international destination of health services with our natural, harmless and time proven therapies that definitely help people in who believe lifestyle modification and wellbeing.

how aware/enthusiastic are nepali people about spa treatments?When we have to talk about the awareness of spa treatments, we have to say its 50-50. Some people know lots about it and some don’t even have an idea about what a spa is all about. But I must say people are enthusiastic to know there is a place where they are cared for and treated naturally amidst a luxurious ambience for ultimate relaxation. The inquiry and response we had at Chaitanya Spa for the past weeks is quite commendable and this shows how we, Nepali people, are enthusiastic and getting better aware about the advantage of spa treatments.

spa treatments can only be utilized by the well-off in nepali society. your take?We, at Chaitanya Spa, believe in healthy living, and those who love themselves are our clients. Spa treatment is an affordable service, but people have to realize the value of what they are getting. We provide treatments naturally in very luxurious surroundings.

Continental Associates Pvt. Ltd., the authorized distributor for KIA vehi-cles in Nepal, has intro-

duced the all new petrol engine KIA Sportage model in the Ne-pali Market. The company will also be bringing the Sportage with diesel engine in the near future. Equipped with 2000 cc engine, the petrol version gives a mileage of 8 to 10 km per li-ter.

The silky curved exterior of the SUV makes it look larger than the previous models. The lights have a sharp penetrating look with the design on the grill giving it a ‘tiger nose’ look. The SUV looks all the more luxuri-ous with its smooth finish tail light and outward curve.

haSee laptops launched

Zenith Technology Pvt. Ltd., the authorized distributor of HASEE Computers in Nepal, launched seven different addition-al models of notebooks/laptops in the market. Chief Operation Officer of Zenith Technology said, “We aim to provide afford-

able, innovative computing products and bring high technology to the cus-tomers.” HASEE is becoming popular in the Nepalese and global markets due to its advance features, excellent design and affordable price.

The Company stated, if you are looking for affordable and high configura-tion notebooks/laptops, HASEE will be the best option available in the mar-ket for you. Due to the overwhelming response of our previously launched models, we are expanding our presence in Banepa, Biratnagar, Birtamode, Dharan, Bhairahawa, Chitwan, Dang, Dhangadi, Nepalgunj, and Pokhara. In fact, HASEE will be available all over Nepal in the coming days.

The recently launched models by the company include the HASEE

ME-122, HASEE FU-400DC, HASEE FU-400C2D, HASEE CG-400i3, HASEE CG-400i5, HASEE CV-500i3 and the HASEE CV-500i5. The company had already revealed two models on May, the 2010 HASEE ME-100 and HASEE ME-120, priced at Rs. 25,000 and 26,000 respectively.

The HASEE ME-122 comes with Intel Atom Processor, 10.1” LED dis-play, 1 GB memory, 250 GB hard drive and 6 cell batteries. And while the HASEE FU-400DC has Intel Dual Core Processor, 14.0” LED display, 1 GB memory, 250 GB hard drive and 6 cell batteries, the HASEE FU-400C2D comes with Intel Core2Duo Processor, 14.0” LED display, 2 GB memory, 250 GB hard drive and 6 cell batteries. The three models are priced at Rs. 27,500, 35,500 and 40,000 respectively. Similarly, the HASEE CG-400i3 and HASEE CG-400i5 use Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i5 Processors respec-tively, both modes have 14.0” LED display, 2GB DDR3 memory, 320 GB hard drive and 6 cell batteries and are priced at Rs. 46,000 and 50,000 respec-tively. Likewise, the HASEE CV-500i3 and HASEE CV-500i5 have Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i5 Processors respectively. Both the modes have 15.6” LED display, 2GB DDR3 memory, 320 GB hard drive and 6 cell batteries and are priced at Rs. 51,000 and 57,000 respectively.

Fitted with comfortable syn-thetic leather seats that actually feel like leather, passengers can enjoy a cozy ride even on rough roads. Additionally, all the functions in the SUV are eas-ily reachable. And though the shock of the SUV lets the pas-senger feel the bad roads, they are not much affected. The SUV has very spacious back seats as a little compromise has been made in the luggage area. The vehicle is equipped with an all new classy control panel with additional auxiliary and iPod port as well as a USB port.

Having a small steering wheel with audio control built in for safety reasons, it is very smooth when it comes to han-dling. The SUV has a very good

pick up, smooth acceleration and the soft clutch keeps the driver from getting too easily tired.

The latest function of the SUV is the All Wheel Drive (AWD). This function distributes the pow-er to all the wheels in the ratio of 70% and 30% in the front and rear wheels, but on slippery roads, the power is distributed equally to the front and rear wheels.

Safety wise, the KIA Sportage has ABS, fog lights, seat belt lock, four disk brakes but just one air-bag. The SUV comes in nine col-ors and Continental Associates in providing a one-year warranty or 20,000 km for any manufactur-ing defect. And though the SUV carries a price tag of Rs. 3.849 million, it undoubtedly looks and feels worth its price.

bazaar

ECS Media pvt. Ltd, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal (Regd. 77) 5011571.No. 29 n August 12-18, 2010

Publisher: ECS MEDIA PVT. LTD. Editor: SUNIL RAJ SHRESTHA Director, Editorial & Marketing: NRIPENDRA KARMACHARYASr. Manager, Editorial & Marketing: SUDEEP SHAKYADeputy Manager, Editorial & Marketing: NILADRI S. PARIAL

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

Manager, Editorial & Marketing: NEERAZ KOIRALAContributing Editor: VIVIAN YONZON Asst. Editor: AYUSHA NIROLAInhouse Writers: SUYASHA SITAULA, ADITI PANDEY,YUKTA BAJRACHARYAEditorial Secretary : PRAGYA POKHRELDesign & Production Executive: SANJEEV SHRESTHADesign Assistant: DIPESH MAHARJAN Sr. Photographer: DASH B. MAHARJANPhotographer: YOGENDRA MAHARJAN Asst. Managers, Sales & Marketing: BIJENDRA PRADHAN, ANGIRAS MANANDHARAd Enquiries: [email protected]. Managers, Business Development: AVISHEK RAJ PRADHAN, SHWETA BUDHATHOKISubscription & Distribution Executive: BIKRAM SHRESTHA

����������������������������������������

AN

D M

ORE

— Yukta Bajracharya

different strokes

I only think in English nowadays – and that scares me. I feel like I have betrayed my language, my mother tongue. I know I shouldn’t be feel-ing like this because, unlike the other “Newars” I know, I can at least speak Newari fluently, the way it is supposed to be spoken without being stuck at every other word. But somehow, because I cannot write in Newari or have stopped thinking in it, I feel like a traitor.

My apprehension grew when, a few days ago, I met with my cousin, someone I had lost somewhere down the family tree. And as we sipped iced coffee at Fire and Ice, we conversed in a language not our own, trying to bridge the gap of not knowing each other for almost two decades. In a foreign language, we tried to discover one another, passed comments in English, shared secrets in English – all the time neglecting that we also shared a beautiful mother tongue, which, perhaps, would have brought us much closer.

Just being able to converse in a language I realized, is not enough. To keep it alive, to prevent it from being slain by some other language, there needs to be something written in the language – be they ballads sung in the languages or stories told in that language. Twenty years down the line, I worry that my language will no longer be used to tell stories of Gurumapa or sing the lullaby of Shisir and Basanta to small children. I worry it will only be spoken by a few old women and men to communicate with each other. And the question is will I be amongst them?

But then again there is hope. I met hope. Just the other day, my friend’s nephew, born to a Newari couple in England and here to meet his grandparents, startled me by talking in Newari – albeit with an accent. It brought a smile to my face to know that he responded more readily to the pet name “Rajah putta” (a nickname meaning beloved prince) than to “honey” or “sweetheart”. I thank his parents for trying to keeping Newari alive, even seven seas across.

And this plea comes from the bottom of a Newari heart to all the Newars and non-Newars who do not yet know how to speak in our language (“My name is so and so” in your language doesn’t count!): Dear people, please learn your language and learn to love it. your mother tongue (and/or your father tongue) needs you to keep it alive, to keep your identity intact. And as I sign off this piece, I hope that one day I shall be able to write in my own mother tongue. That would be one of the proudest moments of my life !

Bazaar coordinated by Avishek Raj Pradhan. 5011571, 5011639, [email protected]

markets & launches

for the love of My language

airlineBuddha air set to fly to paroBuddha Air, one of the private commercial airlines in Nepal, plans to make its maiden international flight to paro, Bhutan form 23 August. The airline will be using the Beech- craft 1900D airplane, which has a seating capacity of 16, for operating four flights a week. The company is planning to fly daily during the tourist season and also add charter flights as needed on this sector.Contact: 5521015

etihad’s new serviceEtihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi based company of the UAE, is to introduce the first ‘all economy’ class aircraft to its fleet in October. The two Airbus A320s will be configured to carry 162 economy class passengers and increase the seat capacity to 42. The all-economy aircraft will operate to short haul Etihad destinations. Contact: 4233548

auToBajaj Csr initiativesHansraj Hulaschand (HH) Company and its dealers contributed Rs. 151,000 to pokhara Briddhashram and Annapurna Bal Ashram under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The company has given assurance to support these agencies in the future, too. HH has been serving the different sectors of the society by carrying out various social development, educational and awareness programs. Contact: 4220094

Tucson price loweredLaxmi Intercontinental, the authorized dealer for Hyundai cars for Nepal, has decreased the price of Hyundai Tucson, the largest selling SUV in the valley. The price has decreased from Rs. 4.89 million to Rs.3.90 million, a difference of almost Rs.1 million. Contact: 4433780

Chery Tiggo exchange programBama Motors, the authorized distributor for Chery Motors in Nepal, is organizing an exchange program for the Chinese SUV, Chery Tiggo. Cars from any company can be exchanged for a Chery Tiggo. The company is also offering a six-day all expenses paid trip to Thailand for those who avail of this offer. Besides this, the company is also providing free facilities like free valuation of old cars, one year tax, insurance, on-spot finances and free car accessories. Contact: 4226655

sipradi conducts free campNarayani Auto Business pvt. Ltd., the authorized dealer of Sipradi Trading in Kathmandu, conducted a free check up camp for Tata vehicles as well as a free medical checkup for its staff. During the camp, the company provided a discount of 12 percent on spare parts and 18 percent on lubricants. The company plans to conduct such camp every three months. Contact: 4422254

Ford Figo to hit nepali roads soonGO Automobiles pvt. Ltd., under the Golcha Organization and the new official distributor of Ford cars in Nepal, is soon to introduce the Ford Figo, the most awaited hatchback in Nepal. It is targeting the launch of the vehicle in mid-August. The Figo is available in both petrol and diesel versions. The vehicle ranges in price from Rs. 1.85 million to Rs. 2.3 million. Contact: 4250001

BanknCC’s psTn serviceNCC Bank has started Nepal Telecom pSTN bill payment service. This service can be used by NCC customers and non-customers at any of NCC Bank’s branch offices. The bank is also planning to start NT’s ADSL payment service soon. Contact: 4246991

Goodwill Finance shiftsGoodwill Finance, a leading category ‘C’ financial institution, has shifted its corporate office from Dillibazaar to its own building at Hattisar. The new building was inaugurated by the Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. The finance company has been in operation for the last 15 years. Contact: 4422290

sunrise Bank for small industriesSunrise Bank Limited and Business promotion program (Bpp) have joined hands to promote cottage and small industries as well as entrepreneurs. The Deputy GM of the bank and Chief of Bpp signed a Memorandum of Understanding to this effect. Under the program, the bank will assist micro cottage and small enterprises by not only providing loans but also training to the entrepreneurs. Contact: 4004560

nmB’s new schemeNMB Bank has introduced a new saving scheme under which a customer can open a saving account for Rs. 100 and get a complimentary SIM card from Namaste with a talk time of Rs. 50. The Bank has various schemes like NMB Investors Account, NMB Bank prudent Invest, NMB Swornim Nari Bachat and many more that cater to different customer interests. Contact: 4246160

CedB plants treesClean Energy Development Bank Limited (CEDBL) organized ‘Sowing Remembrance’ program at Jalbinayak under its ‘The Clean Circle Campaign’. Those who participated in the event dedicated a tree to their family and loved ones with a contribution of Rs. 1000. This amount is to be deposited in the Clean Circle Trust for the preservation and upkeep of the plant for the next 10 years. Contact: 4279567

GiZmoCell Tech introduces Grapes mobile setsCell Tech Exim – the authorized dealer for Grape Mobile for Nepal – has launched the all new Grape Mobile series in the Nepali market. The mobile phones come in a wide array of models and are equipped with GSM and CDMA facilities. One of the plus points of the new mobiles is that they support Nokia battery and charger. Contact: 4223740

motorola W7 in townCall Mobility has launched the Motorola W7, a 3G mobile handset, in the Nepali market. The handset comes with many new and exciting features such as accelerometer sensor, gesture control, dual camera, fitness application, motion gaming pedometer and many more. The handset is priced Rs. 9,999. Contact: 4240886

Q6i Tv handset from G’FiveCall Mobility pvt. Ltd., the authorized distributor for G’Five mobile phones in Nepal, has introduced a new range

of G’Five mobiles – the q6i. The q6i is powered by TV, has a 2.2 inch TFT screen and also includes an HD camera for video recording and still photography. With a qWERTy slider handset, you can easily use applications such as Facebook, yahoo etc. Contact: 4240886

lG Frost Free nimbus refrigerators now in nepal LG, a premier name in style and functionality in the Consumer Electronics and Home Appliances segment, has now launched a new range of LG Frost Free refrigerators better known as nimbus series. LG now has introduced Green Ion Door Cooling (GIDC) technology on these refrigerators. Currently, there are 5 models, which sport colors such as pink, burgundy, inox and wooden tango, available in the local market. Contact: 5525041

misCellaneous mango Fiesta at shangri-la hotelThe Mango Fiesta at the Shangri-la Hotel has been providing an opportunity for mango lovers to savor various types of mango items at its Shambala Garden Restaurant. The event started form July 26 and will last till August 9. During the event, the hotel has introduced various food items prepared from Mango. Contact: 4412999

kaspersky’s new releasesKaspersky Internet Security 2011 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011 have officially been released in the Nepali market by Sagar International TechnoSys (Sagar Infosys), the authorized distributor of Kaspersky products in Nepal. The newly launched software would provide real time proactive protection for computers.Contact: 4245058

kaldi Coffee launchedThe Giri Group has launched Kaldi Fresh Roasted Coffee. It is a franchise of Camel Coffee Japan, a famous Japanese coffee producer. Kaldi Coffee is prepared by mixing beans imported from Colombia, Ethiopia and Indonesia with Nepal grown beans. The company will provide coffee in seven different flavors in the market. Contact: 4467676

CG to sponsor 5th Wai Wai QuizChaudhary Group (CG), a leading business conglomerate that has been fulfilling social responsibilities through its corporate social initiatives in the health, education, arts, sports and many other sectors, has again decided to sponsor the 5th Series of Wai Wai quiz. The winning team will get a sponsorship worth Rs. 50,000. Contact: 5525041

virgin mobile turns twoVirgin Mobile, a multi-brand, multi-service mobile retail outlet in Nepal, celebrated its second anniversary. On the occasion, the company distributed prizes to winners of its “Customer Loyalty Offer”. The first, second and third prizes comprised Rs. 100,000, Rs, 50,000 and Rs. 30,000 respectively. Contact: 4260173

THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING WRITTEN IN THE LANGUAGE – BE THEy BALLADS SUNG IN THE LANGUAGES OR STORIES TOLD IN THAT LANGUAGE.