Latest stories – पछिल्ला टिप्पणीहरू
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By a disgruntled graffiti artist?
Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist, the ultra-left faction that split from the United CPN Maoist, wants us to boycott the second Constituent Assembly polls slated for 19 November 2013. Personally I don’t agree with their call though I respect their right to not to take part in the electoral process. However, as an eager voter, I am against anyone who wants to disrupt elections. 12 Aug ’13. -
Nepal Telecom’s Improved 3G Service
Nepal Telecom’s upgraded network now offers Evolved High Speed Packed Access data service. A week ago I posted an entry expressing my dissatisfaction with the Nokia Lumia 820 phone that I have been using since March. I wrote:
Everything’s fine [with the phone] except the 3G connectivity. Not sure if it’s the Nepal Telecom network (I would like to think so and not blame the phone itself as yet) but I have been unable to use 3G internet service on it.
Now I give clean chit to the phone. It was the faulty network of Nepal Telecom, the operator. Of late, NT has been replacing its old towers (called base transceiver stations) with new, improved ones. The result? My phone now picks up the super fast 3G signal in some areas of Kathmandu where the network upgrade has been effective. The news is that the NT will upgrade its network all over Kathmandu valley within a month: (धेरै…)
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Kaal Bhairav of Kathmandu Darbar Square
The God may or may not eat but He has lot of devotees who never fail to take care of Him. Two laddus in the photo- spot them- are proof.
Bhairav: “Fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva associated with annihilation.” Does he look like an angry ‘man’? Is that a smile? What do his eyes tell? Is that a big grin?
Kaal Bhairav at Hanumandhoka (Kathmandu Darbar Square).
According to Wikipedia, this 12-foot (3.7 m) high stone image of Kala Bhairava was sculpted in the 5th or 6th century and later rediscovered in paddy field in the 17th century CE by King Pratap Malla. It was believed that people die if they speak false in front of this sculpture. So, this temple served as the supreme court of Nepal for a long time.Recent entries are mostly about religious sites and temples. Didn’t plan this. Walking around in Kathmandu (the city and the Valley), generally speaking, means stumbling upon a lot of statues quite frequently.
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Changunarayan
19 July- Can’t remember the last time I was here but it doesn’t look very different. The temple, built several centuries ago over a small hilltop in Bhaktapur district and recently renovated, looked new. Read the history of Changu Narayan here
at the temple complex
on way to the Changunarayan temple/hill
at the main entrance to the temple
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Nokia’s Lumia
Saw this NYT report on Nokia Lumia a few days back. Was excited for a while. It felt good to know that more and more people are using the phone (820) that I have been using for the past few months. But I am not satisfied with the phone lately. Everything’s fine except the 3G connectivity. Not sure if it’s the Nepal Telecom network (I would like to think so and not blame the phone itself as yet) but I have been unable to use 3G internet service on it.
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Seto Gumba- the white monastery
13 July- An impromptu trip to Seto Gumba, a Buddhist monastery that sits atop a hill behind Swyambhunath, on a Saturday. That’s the only day of the week Gumba opens its gates to general visitors and tourists- a reason, perhaps, why the place is crowded mostly by teenagers and couples. Some hike up to the Gumba, others reach there in bikes and cars. A bus driver’s effort to make some profit by operating a shuttle service (Rs. 40 per passenger from Ringroad to the Gumba) turned futile in the narrow and steep road because of the continuous flow of taxis and motorbikes. The place offers a good view of the Valley- much better than the one from Swyambhunath Stupa. This, and the walk to reach there, seemed to be the reason why people go there. Not so much for the teachings of Buddha, I am afraid.
a bride walks in the rain..to her new home beneath the hill
our camera spotted a couple busy observing villages from a hilltop
a click by the Windows Phone as the camera does its job
in front of the Seto Gumba temple building- people gather at the yard to get a view of the Kathmandu city and take some photos.
Buddhas keep their eyes over the city of Kathmandu
Behind Seto Gumba is the valley of Ichangunarayan and the hills.
Couples gather at the yard of Seto Gumba temple to whisper with each other and get a birds-eye view of the K-town.
the road became very narrow as we headed towards the other side of Kathmandu Valley
The Gumba provides a pass to each visitor. Cameras don’t like them though.
This building houses the Seto Gumba temple which is heavily decorated with Buddha statues and other arts/paintings.
A small Tamang village just behind the monastery where a small number of young visitors of Seto Gumba reach to have snacks and alcohol. -
एसएलसी फेल, बिहे पास
Amrit Gurung posted a link to a YouTube video on his Facebook page today that showed a group of men from a Gurung family singing one of the first songs of the band Nepathya. I found that very very interesting. Very nicely done– over a dining table. I was so impressed that I watched it twice and showed the video to a cousin who was visiting me at my home. That video prompted me to look for more Nepathya songs on YouTube. I like many songs of the band.
As I typed the word “nepathya”, the video sharing site suggested several possible combinations that the site thought I could be interested in. I chose “nepathya songs collection“. Seventh video in the list had a familiar cover photo. The one I took near the Rara lake in Mugu district. Padam Bahadur Rawal is smiling at my camera as he tended his sheep.
As I played the video (the song “Binti chha hai“) I saw many more photos that I had taken during my trips to Karnali region used in the slide show. Those photos made me nostalgic. My trips to Karnali region, first in 2007, were great in the sense that they taught me a lot about Nepali society and what it means to be a Nepali in the remotest and neglected corners of Nepal. Last time I checked, Rara wasn’t in the Lonely Planet guide book on Nepal. I have recommended this place to many foreigner friends who aske me where they should go in Nepal. I recommend it to everyone. If you prefer reading this story in English, here it is: A Different Alchemist: Himalayan Yarns of Nepali Shepherds (Also, don’t forget to watch the Gurung family video).
लाई लैजाउ मेल्टरी जुत्ता
माथि लेक हिउ छ
नफाल्नु दियाको चिठ्ठी
त्यसमा मेरो जिउ छ
एसएलसी पासहुने आस मारेका १८ बर्षो पदमबहादुर रावलले पाउलो कोहेल्लोको अल्काईमिस्टको भेडा गोठालोले भन्दा फरक अबको जिन्दगी तिनै जनावरका पछाडी लगाउने सोचेका छन् ।
रारा (मुगु)- सिमसिमे पानीले खुम्चिएका चार सय भेडा मुख चलाउदै सुस्ताइरहदा पदमबहादुर रावल नजिकैको गोठभित्र धुवाको मुस्लोसँग संघर्ष गरिरहेका थिए । झ्यारी गाउ मस्तिर रारा ताल नजिकैको त्यो गोठ बर्षा छल्न पसेका केही ग्वाला पानी रोकिनासाथ जंगल पस्ने सुरमा छन् । अगेनोको फलामे भाडोमा उम्लिरहेको सीमी बाहा (साँझ) को खान्की हो ।
दाईने पाखुरामा केरमेटसँगै अंग्रेजी क्यापिटल अक्षरमा ‘मेक द टेम्पल’ र दाईने पिडुलामा कोरिएको ‘ह्याप्पी’को अर्थ आउने भए पदम किन तीनपटक एसएलसी फेल हुन्थ्ये ? ‘कितावको साटो भेडा पढ्ने,’ टोप्ला गाउको कर्णाली सेकेन्डरी स्कुलका पूर्व विद्यार्थीले भने- ‘कहाँको पास हुनु ?’ बाहिर उग्राइरहेका मध्ये पाच दर्जनजति भेडा उनका हुन् र पासहुने आस मारेका १८ बर्षोले पाउलो कोहेल्लोको अल्काईमिस्टको…
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Pilgrims Book House, Kathmandu
Pligrims Book House, Thamel, Kathmandu. 8 July 2013. Background:
1. रातभरि आगो दन्किरह्यो
2. Pilgrims burns down, ignites old memories, new hopes
3. पिल्ग्रिम्स जलेकै छैन
4. धन्यवाद भगवान्, तिमीले पिल्ग्रिम्स जलाइदियौ
