Archive for February, 2008


Long live momo

Filed under: My kitchen by Prajwol — 1 Comment
February 26, 2008

I was surprised how I needed to readjust again in the country where I already had spent two and half decades before. I might have changed a little, but more has to do with me being used to what’s considered basic necessities here in USA being perceived (in fact is true) as luxury in Nepal. For example; uninterrupted supply of water, electricity, communications etc.

Though it was difficult at first but fun later to take a shower using a bucket and mug again. While I hated the cold temperature inside the house (no insulation), the warmth of sun outside was very pleasant. I have been living in Louisiana so the winter sun is similar to in Nepal (you actually do feel warm when the sun is out), but basking sun in Nepal with Oranges and Grapefruit (भगटे) in the roof top is entirely different experience. Even if I disliked the speed of internet, I enjoyed revisiting all those TV channels which I saw growing up (God! rules of cricket has changed a lot). Missing (some) independence and freedom of States compared nowhere to the priceless affections from the family.


View full article »

Read More & Comment

Lumbini in pictures

Filed under: Let the picture speak, My bandwagon by Prajwol — 5 Comments
February 24, 2008

I had never been to Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha. This time, it was one of my top agenda. I was surprised to see the infrastructures there, built by different countries. The temples (or Pagoda’s) were unbelievably clean and very well maintained (that’s not typical of other temples in Nepal). People knowledgeable of that place say that if there was absolutely no corruption, Lumbini Bikash Kosh (a trust taking care of that site) had enough money to pave all the trails with silver (don’t quote me on this). The only big disappointment I had was that the public toilets were nowhere close to the standard maintained by those temples.

I was impressed with Hotel Hokke in Lumbini. It had rooms designed in Japanese, European and American Style. Japanese rooms were unique to me: their bath tub, bed, as well as sitting room were completely different than European/American style. If you plan to stay overnight in Lumbini, Hotel Hokke seems like a good choice. I couldn’t stay overnight there, but will definitely consider that hotel for next time.
Picture: Peacock in Hotel Hokke’s garden


View full article »

Read More & Comment

बिरालो बांधेर श्राद्ध

Filed under: My bandwagon by Prajwol — 7 Comments
February 21, 2008

नेपालमा भिसा नविकरण गर्नु पर्छ, पुगेको भोली पल्ट नै गर्छु भनेर यतै बाट फोटो समेत खिचेर लगेको थिंए । नेबिल ब्यैंक महाराजगंज मा बुझाउनु पर्ने रहेछ भिसा को फारम, मेला नै लाग्दो रहेछ त्यता त । पहिला गएर टोकन लिनु पर्ने, घण्टौं कुरे पछि बल्ल फारम बुझाउने पालो आउंदो रहेछ । बुज्रुक भएर फोटो यतै बाट खिचेर लगे पनि फारम भर्न भने बिर्सेछु, आजकाल electronically फारम भरेर त्यसैलाइ प्रिन्ट गरी बुझाउनु पर्ने रहेछ । नेबिल ब्यैंक को छेउमै रु. १००.०० प्रति ब्यक्ति फारम भर्ने अफिस रहेछ । “कस्तो महन्गो” भन्दा “हामी expert छौं फारम भर्न लाइ, हामीले भरेको मा केही गल्ती हुंदैन त्यसैले १०० रुपैंया लिएको” भने साहुजीले । पहिलै टोकन लिएर जानु पर्ने रहेछ, फारम भरेर फर्के पछि फेरि कुर्नु पर्यो ।

आफ्नो पालोमा फारम बुझाउन जांदा मेरो फोटो भएन रे । मैले झन अमेरिकामै अमेरिकाको पासपोर्ट standard फोटो खिचेर आएको नेबिल ब्यैंक को कर्मचारीले हुन्न रे । किन भएन भनेर सोध्दा त मेरो फोटो मा म कालो आएको छु रे मान्छे भन्दा । हुन पनि हो Walmart मा खिचेको रहर लाग्दो भने आएको थिएन, तर पनि अलि कालो आयो भन्दैमा फोटो नै नमिल्ने भने त हैन नि ? मेरो त्यो फोटोको background चाहिने जति उज्यालो नै थियो, खालि अनुहार अलि tan देखिएको थियो । मेरो पासपोर्टमा आखिर तेहि Walmart मा नै खिचेको फोटो थियो । अनि कस्तो फोटो चाहिन्छ त भनेर सोद्धा अर्काको फाइल बाट फोटो देखाइन । त्यो फोटो त मैले पहिलो चोटि अमेरिका जांदा फोटो कनसर्न मा खिचेको जस्तै रहेछ । अनि मैले ति कर्मचारीलाइ यो फोटो मा त झन Adobe Photoshop चलाएर गोरो बनाउने, लाली लगाउने, पिम्पल हटाउने आदि काम गर्छन्, अनि कसरी यो मन्छे संग मिल्यो र भनेर सोधें । हक्क बक्क भएर ति कर्मचारीले “तपाइं को फोटो अलि कालो भएकोले पासपोर्टमा भिसा scan गर्दा कालो आउंछ” भनिन । अनि मैले अफ्रिकाको मन्छे ले भिसा लिनु पर्यो भने कस्तो खालको फोटो खिचाउनु पर्छ नि भनेर सोधें ।

केहि सिप लागेन, अखिरमा महन्गोमा emergency फोटो खिचेर भोली फेरि आउनु पर्यो । मेरो नया फोटोमा Adobe Photoshop चलाएर गोरो बनाउनु को साथै लाली पनि अलिकति चढाइ दिएको रहेछ । बिरालो बांधेर श्राद्ध गर्ने जस्तै भोलि पल्ट तेहि कर्मचारीले खुरुक्क तेहि फोटो लिइन ।

This post has already been published in this site

Comment

Flowers of Nepal

Filed under: Let the picture speak by Prajwol — 5 Comments
February 18, 2008

Since purchasing my DSLR I have been a huge fan of Macros, I love taking pictures of flowers. Following are the pictures that I took while I was in Nepal. Majority of them are of Water Lilies that I took in Lumbini. I am not good with Taxonomy, so you have to figure out their names yourself :)

View full article »

Read More & Comment

Nepal Diary: Right of way?

Filed under: My bandwagon by Prajwol — 3 Comments
February 12, 2008


Wikipedia defines ‘right of way’ as “the concept whereby one road user has the right of use of a section of a road to the exclusion of another road user with a competing claim”. It was a baffling concept to me at first, when I was preparing for my driver’s license here in United States. After driving for years here, I still couldn’t understand why it took time for me initially to grasp that simple right of way concept. I had mentioned in my earlier post that it was mistake in my part to take the front seat of the car after coming out of the airport, that’s where I realized why it was difficult for me to understand right of way. It was difficult for me because I came to USA from a country which doesn’t have the concept of right of way. As my father drove the car, I felt perhaps roller coaster ride would be less threatening :) . View full article »

Read More & Comment

Nothing

Filed under: Let the picture speak by Prajwol — 4 Comments
February 8, 2008

Well, wanted to write something but ended up with just changing the color of blog layout. How about me getting away this time with just a picture? I guess I’m hungry and missing Nepal right now :)



Picture: Vendors selling dried/smoked fish at Malekhu, Nepal.

Comment

Here and there

Filed under: News/information and opinion, Randomization of randomness by Prajwol — 4 Comments
February 2, 2008

Taking a break from my Nepal Diary series, I wanted to write something new. I will definitely be continuing with my Nepal Diary later.

It’s a Mardi Gras season here, I won’t be going to New Orleans but I plan to attend all possible parades in Lafayette. I will gradually post parades pictures later. Meanwhile you can refresh your memory on Mardi Gras by checking my earlier posts. Check this link for my post on New Orleans Mardi Gras, and check this link for post on Lafayette parades.

Nepal is making new headlines here in US, not for our unpredictable politics but for disappearance of 100 Nepali workers from a DVD packaging plant in Alabama. They not only disappeared, but were able to vanish the furniture’s and utensils from their apartment too. Check this link if you are unaware of this news.

Talking about Nepal again, 46 hours of load shedding: can you imagine that? I guess, one day a week there is absolutely no load shedding, and rest six days has maximum of 8 hours and minimum of 7 hours a day to account for 46 hours/week load shedding. Well if rivers keep drying and demands keep rising there will come a day when Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) can only provide 2 hours of electricity a week. In that 2 hours you have to charge your cell phone, charge your Inverter (very popular in Ktm now days), find your missing ear ring which got dropped in the corner where the sunlight doesn’t reach etc. On a serious note, I know Nepal has sufficient Hydropower to overcome all its demand, but is hydropower the only option? I believe we need to start venturing on other options too. How about developing our own Nukes ? :)

Comment