for finer things in life
Transcription
for finer things in life
february 18-24, 2010 kmfNu'g ^–!@, @)^^ and mo Re subscRibeR copy ������ iSSue 4 | rS. 20 ���������������������������������� eVeNtS & eNtertAiNMeNt WeeKLy www.fridayweekly.com.np 3 PAGE3 4 PEOPLE Talk Of The Town statements, declarations, confessions, accusations. people deluge us with their uninhibited comments. One Question so what can we really do to kick the power-cut blues out of our country? We report people’s opinions. 10 13 17 GIZMO CORPORATELIFE Sound Of Music Sexy Gadgets Cherry Picking cheaponomics get a brief history of the traditional instruments that everyone has heard in songs, but few know anything about. Believe it or not, numbers play a significant role in shaping our lives - for better or for worse. — Friday Correspondent known today as numerology – in our lives. Even then, the real credit of organizing this branch of occultism along user-friendly lines, as Damaru Lal Bhandari – editor of reportersnepal.com, a bilingual Nepali news portal – says, goes to Count Louis Hamon ‘Cheiro’, a Scottish seer. The latter, who passed away on October 8, 1936, has contributed a lot in what is also known as chiromancy. For all practical purposes, the knowledge, which Cheiro left behind, will certainly keep on guiding and influencing all human lives. One may ask here: How do numbers guide at all? Well they do; right from the moment you are born! Put differently, one is going to be born on any day of any moth of the Gregorian calendar (which, of course, is nothing but numbers and their repetition) depending on one’s karmic development over incarnations or karmas worked out, or not yet worked out, in past incarnations. turn to page 2 for more of it! MeDiA PuBLiCAtioN 18 METROPOLIS sleek, slim and shiny techno toys are so in. Window shopping gives you options to befriend one, and soon. if you are a social animal here are i phone / i touch applications that will keep you close to the grapevine. NUMBERED D eVery thurSDAy HALFWAY YOUR DAYS ARE o you believe in numbers? Or, if that is not clear, do you know that the Arabic ordinal numbers could have any significance at all? No? Yes? Well, whatever you think, the reality is numbers dominate every aspect of our lives. And with life getting increasingly complex, more and more people are turning to occult science to throw up solutions for them. The good news is that numbers, or numerology, have answers for every problem that we are faced with. Numerology has explanations for everyone – from the romantically challenged to someone who is finding success elusive. It can tell whether you will make a politician or a socialite or a poor soul for whom life is a hellhole. Of course, astrologers have been around ever since numbers were discovered. However, it was the Chaldeans (many millennia ago) who put together the significance of numbers – | money may get you a beautiful house but it takes a loving heart to create a beautiful home.We tell you how. 2 Someone who landed Cheiro’s Numerology & Astrology and You & Your Star – two books which help you change your troubled life – while passing through a lean phase of in his own career back in 1995, Bhandari has come a long way in achieving a ‘rescue act’ and has been able to achieve some semblance of ‘restoration’, to say the very least. He marvels at how numbers take a negative toll on human life and, at the same time, how they also often take many to ‘dizzy heights’. Looked at from the view point of numbers, life is no longer a mystery if anyone considers life to be a mystery at times, and especially through phases when success is elusive while appearing to be within one’s grasp. “I used to take (my) life to be a mystery. I knew I had just enough good qualities to reach just about anywhere given the qualities of others around me. But the struggle was over when it all simplified itself the day I got my hands on the books,” Bhandari says in a matter-of-fact way. First, of course, what do numbers represent? Here is a tour: Number 1 stands for the Sun and all that is creative, and persons born on the 1st, 10th, 19th and 28th (1+0=1, 1+9=10 which is 1, 2 and 8=10 which is again 1) are creative, individualist and inventive by nature. Of course, finer details can be arrived at only after taking note of the month they are born in. Number 2 stands for the Moon and persons born under it are Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 imaginative, artistic and romantic but not as forceful as those born under number 1. The ‘number 2’ persons are those born on the 2nd, 11th, 20th, and 29th (please note the numbers, when boiled down to a single digit, add up to 2). Number 3 stands for the planet Jupiter. The point to be noted is that those born under this number are never satisfied and often occupy high positions. Moreover, they are dictatorial too. Those born on the 3rd, 12th, 21st and 30th are the ‘number 3’ people (all numbers boil down to 3 after natural addition). Take a breath! The number 4 stands for the planet Uranus and those born under this number have a distinct character of their own. They are born rebels and do not make friends easily. Next is number 5, which stands for the planet Mercury. It goes without saying that those born under this number such as the 5th, 14th and 23rd are highly mercurial in nature. The high point is they make friends easily. Number 6 represents the planet Venus. And with Venus, the presiding planet, chances are those born under this number such as the 6th, 15th and 24th are highly magnetic (they attract people). Similarly, number 7 represents the planet Neptune and are, thus very independent and original, and possess a marked personality. Hence, those born on the 7th, 16th and 25th are likely to be leaders no matter which sphere of life. What Their Numbers Say... B. P. Koirala, who was born in september, has this in his entry:you will have many restricting influences until the age of 35 but, later on, you will meet your ambitions. secret enemies and underhand attack will be the hallmark. prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, born on 6th march, has this:you will have many friends who will show high devotion to you.you are also likely to have many romances and love affairs.trouble with marriage is also in order. Prachanda, born on 2nd december, has this:you will have mental gifts of very high order and will rise to a very high position. incidentally, W. e. gladstone, an english statesman, too, was born on the same day. entry related to the late prince Dipendra, who was born under number 2 in may, has this: strong enemies, great opposition and a hasty temper will hardly get you through the full span of your life without facing violent death.add to it intemperance. Take another breath. The number 8 stands for the planet Saturn, which means that those born on the 8th, 17th and 26th (they all boil down to 8) are prone to be misunderstood and likely to be lonely at heart. It is a dreaded number for sure. Finally, number 9 stands for the planet Mars. The good news for those born on the 9th, 18th and 27th of the month is that they are born fighters. Expect them to fight it out anywhere. But the tour is by no means over. The way things stand, people born under the same number across different months differ. Meanwhile, distinct achievements gained by those born under any number is attributed to higher numerology, something that has not been explored yet. This sums up the bare minimum from a vast body of knowledge. And now a brief tour of 365 days of the year and what is in store for those who are born under highly favorable influence of the planets. The reading of those born under number 1 in January, for example, goes: “Success, unless brought about by exceptional circumstances, is likely to be delayed until later years.” The reading for those born under number 2 in February goes: “You will have many restrictions in the early part of life” with those born on the 29th enjoying “less restrictions”. Those born under number 3 in March are “Fortunate in large concerns”, but more so if born on the 30th. There is a likelihood of becoming wealthy. Those born under number 4 in April are likely to be successful but only “if they keep their head”. Similarly, those born under number 5 in May are those who will be either hated or loved. The good news is that they will be lucky in finances. Those born under number 6 in June stand the chance of being cheated as far as money is concerned. Worse, finances will be uncertain. Persons born under number 7 in July are ‘children of fate” and, talking about their financial success, they can expect to be successful in this regard as long as they keep away from speculation. Those born under number 8 in August can expect many unusual circumstances and danger to their lives from violence and accidents. Not a very good number, this. Given below are a few more random examples: Look up under number 3 in November and it is likely to read: “If you are a woman, you might have taken a very similar course (as that of a man born under it), or the demands on your time may have forced you to take care of children (a state of widowhood). Here is a traveling lover. That is to say that those born under number 6 in December are prone to attract women into their lives and likely to lose money in the latter part of their lives. Meanwhile, Bhandari says, “Occultism is as popular today as ever before given the brisk sale of books on the theme in Kathmandu’s bookstores. It indeed is a productive hobby, one that can help in affecting a change in one’s life.” ! page3 talk of the town “i have taken up durbar school as my newest challenge now. it’s sad to see how once a grand school, the first in the country, has been badly polluted by unnecessary politics. i am working on changing the entire administration of the school, from hiring new people to firing unproductive employees. i will turn this school around from which nepali children can fully benefit.” umesh Shrestha, president, pabson, on his most recent undertakings. “i believe tion i am in connec e.” with the univers Milan rai, t Artist, on wha. inspires him hem Raj chhetri sarad singh bhandari gurvesh singh Rajiv Rajbhandari “We prefer to lay low and go steady rather than be the ‘hype’ one month and phase out the other.” Navin tuladhar, proprietor of bourbon Room, on the emergence of clubs and lounges in kathmandu. “I create clothes which are stylish, beautiful and very different. What is the point of dressing sunaina shah, cabinat and susan shrestha up if you are not a head turner?” hall of frame Capturing Moods ViVeK uPADhAyA, creative director, beatification boutique, on what style means to him and on his designs. some chilled, some thrilled, a few camera shy. no, our pictures don’t lie! our snooping Friday lens went around capturing people and personalities in all kinds of moods. “a guitar is always better than a woman. tell you why? because you can have and play as many guitars as you want to in your lifetime. but you can’t do the same with women my friend.” Manoj Kumar KC, musician and lead guitarist, 1974 ad, on his love for his guitars. binay bdr. maharjan “its unique and it’s one piece because people cannot afford it.” SAiSAB ShreSthA, ceo, leon motors, talking on his prized possession, the mitsubishi gt3000, the only existent sports car in the country. sanjay golchha, nima Rumba with dell team kanak mani dixit manose singh 4 people Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 one question What is the way out of this mess? Power cuts - there has got to be a solution. Friday went around fishing for people who might have an idea or two… — Ayushma Basnyat reStA JhA, Ceo, PriMe Life iNSurANCe SuBASh NiroLA, SeNior DireCtor, NePAL touriSM BoArD for me, the obvious solution would be to resolve the political problems. there are a lot of political problems that arise out of mismanagement of hydroelectricity. another thing that is very essential is to have social entrepreneurship for hydroelectricity. the technical part is there, yes, but vis-à-vis the technical aspects, we should also look into social entrepreneurship whereby the hydro projects themselves could establish ngos and cooperatives. the solution would be more hydro power, more electricity – that’s what we need. but i have rather extreme views on this; i think establishing a nuclear plant is the best alternative. hydro power should be left for drinking water and irrigation. nuclear plant, on the other hand, would help ease the power cut problems that we have been facing; and although the investment is more than in hydro power, i think a one-time heavy investment would prove more fruitful in the long run than hydro power projects, which would take around 10 years to build. SAJAN SAKyA, fiNANCe DireCtor, MArCoPoLo trAVeLS since i am to give an impromptu answer, i think the best solution for now would be to give a quota to each electricity meter. people will choose how best to use their supplied electricity during the 24 hours. i think a “think tank team” should be deployed by the government to solve this crisis. also, this team should be unbiased and should be backed up by all necessary finance and security. rAJAN SAKyA, Ceo, Kgh grouP the load shedding problems can possibly come to an end if we use cfls and leds. using these would reduce electricity consumption by around 70-80%.this will definitely make it easier to sustain electricity. DiLiP AgrAWAL, Ceo, WorLDLiNK the best way is to make rain (laughs). Jokes apart, i think we need to start taking some serious action now. but more importantly, for the short run, we need to increase the use of cfls and try to focus on getting more power from india. in the long run, however, i see constructing hydro power as the best solution. CABiNet ShreSthA, MANAgiNg DireCtor, AgNi iNCorPorAteD Power cuts – the solution has to be more rain. But since that’s not in our control, better planning is the definite solution, both for the short and the long run, the way i see it. SANDiP ShAh, PreSiDeNt, iNDePeNDeNt PoWer ProDuCerS ASSoCiAtioN NePAL if we are looking at the immediate future, within the next three or four years, i see the transmission line that the government is planning to build as the best possible solution. if that comes up, then i think that we have a ray of hope. besides this, the government is also looking into a few more projects that can help us sustain energy. people Simmering Aggression in focus “A man of few words, Asha Dangol, somewhat resembling Van gogh in appearance, expresses his innermost thoughts and feelings through his paintings, and how...” — Amar B. Shrestha O ne cannot escape the gnawing feeling that beneath the cool exterior lies a simmering aggression. This aggression, which may be evident only to a keen observer, demonstrates itself in his veiled response to external stimuli, as also in the manner of his artistic progression through the years, which, by the way, has been quite dramatic. Asha Dangol, 36, is well known not only as a founder member of Kasthamandap Art Group (KAG), but also individually, as a contemporary artist with élan. “What the Nepali art world needs today is savvy marketing,” says Asha. He doesn’t elaborate on this. He is a quiet man. Really, the phrase, ‘still waters run deep’, could have been written about him. The neatly bearded artist resembles Van Gogh to some extent and, like the legend, is striving earnestly to blaze his own trail. In his studio in Kupondole, a large canvas depicting a dozen couples in different erotic postures makes for an arresting sight. I doubt if it has ever been publicly exhibited. band), and they tied the knot. As expected, marriage had an influence on Asha who began focusing more on the female form and who also noticed a change in his lines. “The freedom of my lines was reflective of my new excitement and feelings,” he admits. Asha also credits a 2004 workshop at the Osho Tapoban in Nagarjuna forest for bringing about later changes in his style. His second solo exhibition, ‘Inside the Words’, based on Poet Manjul’s stanzas from his ‘Death Poem’ series, was held at the Gallery Moksh in March 2004. In 2005, his third “foR him, picasso is god and the influence of the masteR is all too appaRent in his WoRks. ” The artist is a shy man. “Well, I was painfully shy as a kid,” he admits. Two nearby houses in Kupondole have studios of all seven members of the KAG. A room below Asha’s studio houses a row of computers. “We do graphic design work,” says Asha. An adjoining room is where they conduct art classes. Asha explains, “Art alone is not sustaining,” adding, “but I really wish to devote myself totally to art.” For him, Picasso is God and the influence of the Master is all too apparent in his works. Asha first exhibited two figurative works in 1992 at the Srijana Art Gallery. ‘Folk Images of Nepal’, held at the Siddhartha Art Gallery in January 2002, was his first solo exhibition. It was during this time that Asha fell in love with another KAG member, Erina Tamrakar (who is as well known as her hus- solo, ‘Folk Fusion’, was held at the Siddhartha Art Gallery. In 2006, his painting, ‘Tantrik Prem’, won the first prize in the contemporary art section at the prestigious National Art Exhibition. In June 2007, ‘The Scream’ was exhibited at The Art Shop. Although Asha doesn’t have too many solos to his credit, he has been a part of many group exhibitions in and outside Nepal. ‘Reflections of Reality’ in San Francisco in April 2007 was one such. He confesses, “There are almost 8,000 artists in this city and it’s not easy to make one’s mark.” Besides the US, his works have also been displayed in Belgium, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands and India. About the San Francisco trip he mentions, “I was thrilled to view Picasso’s original works at the Picasso Gallery.” Obviously. Asha is now also into ceramic painting, and he has also exhibited some of these works. His ‘Black Series’ has never been exhibited, though. Now, one would likely say, “So what?” Well, this question wouldn’t arise if one were to know that his first prizewinning work, ‘Tantrik Prem,’ was from this particular series. Perhaps the reason lies in this statement by the artist, “Many of my works have been bought by collectors before they could be collected for an exhibition.” Which is a far cry from the time when for three years after graduating from the Fine Art Campus, he, along with some friends (later, members of KAG), painted and sold postcards. “We sold them from shop to shop in the tourist areas,” he remembers. ! 6 feature Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 Nepali Architecture: Past, Present and Future In Conversation with Kai Weise Kai Weise gets candid with Friday: from his recent projects designing Annapurna Arcade and Coffee Shop to sharing his views on the evolution of Nepali architecture. —Veneeta Singha A definitive account of Nepali architecture is a complex task to put together with its plethora of historical influences, materials, conceptual perspectives and design logic. To quote Kai Weise, a well-known architect from Kathmandu, on his recent work here, “Each and every project is unique. However, it is difficult to get the projects implemented as conceptualized since there are so many external influences – the greatest influence being the client. My most recent projects have been the Annapurna Arcade and Coffee Shop. Here I had to take my father’s designs from the 1960s-1980s of the Annapurna Hotel and reinterpret them. Such restrictions are also the motivation for designing. I believe it was possible to come up with a design that was modern, however, with appropriate scale and proportions.” What is Nepali architecture? Kai posed this question somewhat vociferously at our rendezvous at the Moksh Restaurant under a warm December sun. Fittingly, the place and space gave me an added boost to pursue this topic further. After a definitive account of his partnership with UNESCO Nepal and its admixture of work on pertinent Nepali themes, we embarked on an enlightening conversation about the evolution of architecture in Nepal. The term “Nepali” is popularly used to denote a political rather than a cultural identity. In Nepal, we find distinct forms of vernacular architecture that are closely linked to the varied ethnic cultures and the local context. We are as yet to develop a form of architecture that can truly be called ‘Nepali’. The socio-historical evolution of Newari architecture, owes its origin and subsequent development to the rich, fertile and clay soil of Kathmandu. Home to myriad indigenous belief systems rooted in socio-religious practices, this form of architecture drew inspiration and tradition geographic and social dynamics began to take shape within the larger structural functions. Until recently, much of the focus of the architectural discourse in Kathmandu has been on monuments – the architecture of the elite. True to form, the reigning dynasties of the past ap- The unification of Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shah and his vision led to the utilization of Newari artisans, builders and technology for impressive structures such as the Nau-talle Durbar at Hanuman Dhoka. By the time Bhimsen Thapa came to power, he dabbled with various interpretations of Mogul architecture, which can be noted in the Dhararaha. When the Ranas took power, they traveled to the West and returned with grand ideas, which translated into the use of a blend of European architectural forms to symbolize their authority. Power was projected through the white washed stucco facades. In the 1960s, King Mahendra began to develop the concept of a “When the Ranas took power, they traveled to the West and returned with grand ideas.” from a unique ‘sense of place’. As the overall design and functional systems matured, they began to incorporate elements of the diverse nature of the geo-cultural spectrum. Additionally, adaptation to prevalent environmental, proached architectural developments through the lens of power and prestige. With each reign came more sophisticated shows of rule and power and, interestingly enough, the formation and presentation of identity. Nepali national identity following which a new palace design was commissioned. Whether the iconic Narayanhiti Palace stood up to this grand task is open to debate. There emerged a clear break from the symbolic architecture of power introduced by the Ranas. Kai wryly opines, however, that we are still struggling with the concept of developing a ‘Nepali’ architecture. This can be explicitly seen when one observes the Bahadur Bhawan, the Election Commission building, with its little tiered temple roofs placed atop a Rana palace. Kai’s own work experiences also point to a spirit and influ- ence of collaboration that was to continue well beyond the abovementioned periods. He elaborates, “I worked for Madyapur Thimi Municipality from 1997 to about 2003 and prepared the zoning plan and bylaws. I also started some more specific planning projects. However, these became rather politicized. Taking this experience and projecting it to the situation in the entire valley, I would stress a few critical issues. In Thimi, we developed a ‘reserve zone’ consisting of agricultural land, which needs to be preserved as far as possible. We also tried to initiate an Urban Agriculture Support Program. The conservation of the traditional settlements was the other major task. I am dealing with the same issues in the Monument Zones of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites. There is much to do in respect to services and infrastructure. There is much to be learnt from the traditional systems of recycling and composting. We must save our rivers!” As a final note, Kai gives us some food for thought: “If we talk about architecture in Nepal, we must consider the cultural and geographical diversity of the country. The term ‘sustainable’ means appropriate in respect to economy, environment and the social and cultural settings. Architecture must respond to the given context. Nepal has shown great innovation in various fields such as nature conservation, community forestry and ecotourism. We need to build up on local initiatives. This would be a great time to focus on heritage conservation – both cultural and natural – especially since (with the discussions on the new constitution) heritage has taken centre stage in defining the new state.” ! feature The meaning of the festival itself is somewhat confusing, especially for a foreigner unfamiliar with the intricacies and parallel narratives that run through Hinduism. Shivaratri Two Sides Of The Festival Babajis and devotees come together on Maha Shivaratri in a chaotic mix of colors, smells, and, of course, smoke. — Text and photograph by Yusuf Abdol Hamid P ashupatinath temple, on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, was aflame; voluminous clouds of smoke were rising above its majestic grounds. This arresting scene was not a result of reckless arson, but the numerous bonfires lit in and around the temple grounds on Maha Shivaratri, an annual Hindu festival celebrated on the 14th day of the Krishna Paksha in Falgun in honor of Lord Shiva. The meaning of the festival itself is somewhat confusing, especially for a foreigner unfamiliar with the intricacies and parallel narratives that run through Hinduism. Some locals I spoke to claim the festival honors Lord Shiva’s birthday whilst others say it was the day He created Himself. Whatever the real reason, of which there are numerous, thousands of Hindus visit temples to perform Puja, paying respect and homage to Lord Shiva. On my way to Pashupatinath temple, one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the country, the taxi I was in collided with a motorcyclist. The biker was flung off his ride, and suffered a nasty cut below his right eye. However, he just brushed himself off and was driven off by someone on the street almost immediately. “He must have been smoking ‘shambho’ at Pashupati; very dangerous,” chided the taxi driver, who dropped me about a kilometer from the temple grounds as the roads were closed for the day. It was much later, after squeezing through the crowds, that I realized Shivaratri had two distinctly different sides to it. Approaching the temple grounds, queues snaked into the distance as devotees patiently waited their turn to enter the courtyard where they could do the puja. This was the religious aspect, and unlike the rest of the country, the queue was calm and orderly. Non-Hindus were not permitted to enter the courtyard. Going up the stairs across the Bagmati, a carnival seemed to be in full swing. Sadhus, more commonly known as Babas, were dotting the landscape and throngs of young men crowded around them. I mistakenly thought they were seeking words of wisdom, but discovered that the wisdom they were after was in the form of crushed up Marijuana buds. The unmistakable odor was in the air, slightly pungent and grassy, and all around, young men were toking up with abandon. The scene would be bizarre any other day of the year: Babas openly selling joints while policemen walked by with their truncheons. At Rs. 10 a joint, sales were brisk for these ‘Business Babas’. Apparently, the consumption of marijuana is legal on Shivaratri, and thousands flock to Pashupatinath to enjoy this privilege. Lord Shiva is said to be fond of Marijuana, and intoxicating oneself with it is considered a form of reverence. With that in mind, I pushed my way through a mass of ‘reverential devotees’ to seek out a Baba I could sit with, and make sense of this multi-faceted festival. On a slope, two Babas sat cross-legged under a tent, scraggly beards and unruly dreadlocks framing their well-worn faces. For some reason, packs of young men had gathered around them, and on the hillside behind. There were occasional taunts directed at the Baba, and later, small stones. In a flash, the Baba stormed out of his tent and waved his stick threateningly, his face a mask of rage. It was no empty threat as he grabbed a fist-sized stone and hurled it at the men who retreated hastily. He seemed in no mood to chat. So I returned the next day and he waved me in to sit with him. Unfortunately, he spoke only a smattering of English, and he claimed to live in Thamel. Puzzling as that was, I was unable to find out more. So instead, we sat back and he made me black tea in a rudimentary tin, tossed into his charcoal pit. If there were any gems of wisdom I was hoping to receive, I heard none. Almost in silence, I watched them roll a few joints and take hearty puffs out of their chillum. Locals who wished to sit with us were waved away: clearly as a foreigner, I would be more likely to ‘donate’ a handsome sum to support the Babas. Knowing that this was a transaction diminished the experience significantly, but sharing a dusty mat with a Baba was a soothing, calming experience. Or maybe that was just the weed. ! One of life’s necessities FRIDAY SUBSCRIPTION Duration No. of Issues Cover Price You Pay You Save 6 months 25 Rs. 20 x 25 = 500 Rs. 440 Rs. 60 (Price of 3 issues) 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 8 events in short Charyaleisure Dance Show following the 11th february show, manjushree received yet another round of appreciation in the Charya dance show, The Glory of the Himalayas, organized by alliance française in kathmandu at the Russian cultural center on 12th february. everything about the Charya dance show speaks of the evolution of kathmandu valley. later, the band ‘Rock sitar’ also performed. Bhajans and Shivaratri on 11th february, the pashupati area development trust and nepal mahadharma sewa, in association with the embassy of india, organized Shiv Stuti. the prayer through bhajans, dedicated to lord shiva, was held at the hans sabha mandap at pashupati a day before shivaratri. the week that was Home Accesories Redefined for all who love to beautify their homes, Casa – a new interior decoration shop – has opened up in k-town. located in anamnagar, opposite the east gate of singha durbar, casa saw it’s opening amidst a mediafrenzy crowd on 11th february. the owners of the enterprise, Rishi and sunaina saraf, said,“this exclusive store is a ‘must-visit’ and is committed to providing top quality (interior decoration accessories) and a unique shopping experience for all. our customers will discover that re-doing or adding to their interiors has never been so affordable or so much fun.” located on the ground floor of the building, the casa showroom has on display a wide range of tasteful accessories, suitable for both home and office use, that have been personally handpicked from all over asia. cushions, linen, throws, rugs, photo frames, mirrors, glassware, lights, funky chairs and tables, among others, are some of its major attractions. casa was launched with the tagline: ‘uber cool and stylish accessories marry modern contemporary design with a twist of classic.’ Samjhana’s Expression of Trees on 10th february, artist samjhana Rajbhandari’s third solo exhibition called Expression of Trees was held at the imago dei gallery. the 22 acrylic paintings on display had a similar theme and was an expression of the same subject matter. the exhibition is set to continue till 15th february. St. Xavier’s Fair on 13th february, st. Xavier’s college was abuzz with life with some one thousand people attending the event. there were around 70 stalls, each with its own unique attraction, at the fair. among the ones that stood out were the blood-group-testing stall, a signature collecting booth against bandhs and sexual harassment towards women, and a stall which displayed an ideal home for senior citizens. UK College Fair the uk education exhibition was held on 14th and 15th february. the exhibition provided an opportunity for students to meet and interact with the representatives of over 20 uk institutions and learn about the scholarship opportunities as well. at an event jointly organized by alliance française in kathmandu and the indian culture centre on 11th february, manjushree pradhan wowed the audience as she skillfully executed various abhinayas. manjushree, originally the french artist maude glasmuck, has been learning eastern classical dance for 12 years now. pradhan depicted the romantic scenes of Radha and krishna on the banks of yamuna River through various expressions and postures. Kutumba Extends Helping Hand To Haitians to show support for the haiti earthquake victims, the music band, kutumba, performed at 1905 Restaurant and bar on 13th february. the band played free of charge for the noble cause. With a haitian theme, in addition to food and music, people were seen enjoying haitian dance floor grooves. all the proceeds from the event went to Red cross to provide assistance to the neediest haitians. A Lazy Valentine’s Evening Artists without Barriers art is a form of expression; there are no barriers to who can and who can’t be a part of the arts. it is precisely this kind of message the bakery café, pulchowk was trying to convey when they recently organized an art exhibition which had on display mosaic art and paintings by physically-challenged artists. besides them, the event also included paintings by students from shuvatara and gems schools. The artists came from two organizations – Esther Benjamin trust and sindhu bahira vidya school, community action nepal. the main objective of the two organizations was to teach the physically-challenged kids skills that would enable them to become independent. Good News For Nepathya Fans! When It’s 3, Stop ‘flashmob kathmandu v-day freeze’ was an event that took place on valentine’s day at 3:00 pm at the kathmandu durbar square. the event was coordinated via facebook, but was organized locally by sirish pokharel, ujwal thapa and samin Rijal with the objective of giving single people an opportunity to meet. Manjushree’s Magic tucked into a small lane just off pulchowk, lovers and friends alike celebrated the day of love by enjoying an evening of easy revelry at moksh live Restaurant bar, where a live band serenaded the crowd while it partook of the extensive menu available, away from the manic parties and crowded restaurants. Movies and More the nlic city centre has fast become one of the coolest hangouts, providing the best quality products in nepal. but that’s not all. on 11th february, the centre saw the opening of a new multiplex, under the big cinemas banner. there are a total of three halls inside the cineplex. after a press meet on the very day, the movie, My Name is Khan, was screened. however, it opened to the general public only from 12th february onwards. Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 nepathya is set to release four music videos that contain songs from its album Mero Desh. a special press show of the videos was organized on thursday, 11th february at nepa~laya’s ‘r’ sala. the album and the videos have been produced by nepa~laya and directed by bhusan dahal. Mero Desh consists of songs that are all social in nature and the video released thus, too, echos the theme of the album. among the songs visualized so far are Mero Desh, Juna Jhain, Kasaile Sodhe and Aama. “our album, Mero Desh, is our musical interpretation of the time we are living in. We wanted to produce a fun-filled album this time, but the time guided us otherwise,” said amrit gurung, the front man of nepathya, hinting towards the contents of the album. “i am glad bhusan found the songs sensible enough to be visualized,” he added. the music videos, which were shown to a select gathering of media persons on thursday, will be released on tvs starting friday, 19th february. one song will be released every friday (19th and 26th february, and 5th and 12th march). 9841713189, 9841332102 e-mail: nepalaya@wlink.com.np kicking off the night with their take on kool & the gang’s “ladies night”, the band made everyone present comfortable with their renditions of crowd pleasers, moving from blues to a motown sound with effortless ease. no doubt the highlight of the night, the 5-piece outfit included a saxophonist, which added an extra dimension to the tunes. the opening beat of elvis’ “blue suede shoes” elicited cheers across the room, which went up a notch with the lead singer’s gravelly baritone voice, a wonderful imitation of the king. later in the set, the beatles’ “yesterday” helped to slow things down, and the crowd of mostly 30- and 40-somethings were content to sway along to the mellow music. the soft mood lighting and laidback atmosphere encouraged the individual parties – and couples, of course – to slink back and take in the music, cocktail in hand and piping hot pizza on the table. it might have been the lack of space in the intimate little room, or the too-full tummies, no one took up the band’s offer to get footloose, instead opting to soak in the lazy vibe from the comfort of their seats. a delightful mix of good food and great music, moksh proved to be a hit with the audience, whether it was families, friends, or lovers. (lim) what’s on events tional to celebrate the unique cultures in each location through collaborations with local artists and organizers. for the kathmandu gigs, audiences will be treated to voices singing in doteli, awadhi, bhojpuri, maithili and limbu. the “by-invitation-only”, set for february 19th, will be host to the president and prime minister of nepal, and a whole list of ministers and celebrities. 1974 AD Unleashed Day: friday. Date: 19th february Venue: house of music, gaa, thamel. time: 7:30 pm entry: Rs.199. 9849243807, 6922647 playing live are alt f4 and 1974 ad. the latter will be performing unreleased songs from its upcoming album and, of course, an array of its all time hits. Culmination of a musical journey Day: friday. Date: 19th february Venue: garden of dreams (by invitation only). time: 5pm onwards Day: saturday. Date: 20th february Venue: basantapur durbar square (free for all) time: 5pm onwards this friday and saturday, the historic garden of dreams and basantapur durbar square will play host to the soothing sounds of kathmandubased folk band kutumba, theatretroupe minap, and a selection of musicians from around nepal. the performances culminate a month-long tour across the span of nepal, from dadeldhura in the far west to phidim in the east. kutumba and minap visited 5 towns under the direction of lead interna- manish Jha, director of marketing and relations at lead international says that the organization hopes to attract around 10,000 people to the basantapur durbar square performance on february 20th. Spicy Salsa VIII Day: friday. Date: 19th february Venue: tamas spa lounge, thamel time: 6:35 pm till midnight 9841277893 spicy salsa, a monthly event organized by salsa dance academy (sda) every third friday of the month, is a salsa party where students of the academy along with outsiders come and join the salsa crowd and move their feet to the beats of some great latin music. With ‘shirt and jeans’ as the dress code for this month, this event is not only for the sda students but can be attended by all. the entrance to the party is free. moments with instances and narratives that bind the author and the nation into a meaningful story. as with all tavern tales at the bookshop, Aila and tidbits will be on offer. 2nd Class Room Show opening Date: sunday, 14th february Closing Date: sunday, 21st february Venue: park gallery, pulchowk time: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm 5522307 An exhibition of water color paintings by amateur artists presented by Studio Petals Rescue For Street Animals Day: tuesday. Date: 23rd february Contact: kat centre, chapali gaon, 4373169 if you’ve wanted to play a part in improving the sorry state of stray animals, dogs and cats to be precise, roaming around the streets of k-town, kathmandu animal treatment centre (kat)’s “spay day” campaign might be of help in making your wish come true. “spay day that falls on 23rd february will last until 3rd march where the in-house vets of kat centre, dr. bidur piya and dr. prabin thapa, will provide their expertise in spaying female animals under the weeklong ‘animal birth control program’,” says prerna thami, communication officer, kat. spaying, also called ovariohysterectomy, removes the uterus and ovaries of a female animal, preventing estrus entirely.“kat believes that spaying is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation, ensuring that every pet has a family to love them” adds prerna. you can take your female cat or dog for spaying at a discounted price to the following clinics: kathmandu veterinary clinic, maharajgunj; pet clinicare ‘n’ vet consultancy, baluwatar; animal care clinic, golfutaar; animal hospital and Research centre, baneshwor; and capital mobile vet clinic, chandol. “Literally Figurative” – An International Art Exhibition by kapil mani dixit and a group of aspiring american artists from north lake college, irving, texas, usa opening Date: Wednesday, 17th february at 4:00 pm Closing Date: friday, 26th february Venue: imago dei gallery, nagpokhari time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm 4350836, 9851061968 Tavern Tales: Dekheko Muluk Day: sunday. Date: 21st february Venue: Quixote’s cove, Jawalakhel time: 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm entry: Rs. 50. contact: 5536974 Quixote’s cove presents tavern tales, featuring a reading by renowned editor, writer and intellectual kanak mani dixit from his new book, Dekheko Muluk. the book is an autobiographical memoir that captures various facets of dixit’s life throughout the past three decades of nepal’s turbulent but transformative history. it combines critical insight into some of nepal’s most poignant Poet’s Corner opening Date: sunday, 21 february Closing Date: sunday, 28th february Venue: lazimpat gallery café. st come along to write, read and vote for your favorite poem. entries accepted until 20th february. 4428549 Screening of the Film: ‘Dil Bhusan Pathak’ Day: thursday. Date: 25th february Venue: durbar hall, bal mandir, naxal. time: 5:00 pm. 4410844 the film was screened at the ‘himalayan film festival’ in the netherlands (2005); the ‘himalayan experience’, paris (2005); the independent south Asian Film Festival – Seattle, USA (2006); and also at John hopkins university, baltimore (2007); and tufts university, boston (2007). it is widely used for literacy programs nationally and internationally. pathak believes that the movie is meant for people of all generations. and he suggests that both the young and the old should go and watch this movie. A Print Maker’s Feelings An exhibition of prints by Saurganga Darshandhari opening Date: sunday, 21st february Closing date: Wednesday, 10th march Venue: kathmandu contemporary art centre, Jhamsikhel, lalitpur time: 1:00 am - 5:00 pm. 5521120 Arthalaya: The School of Entrepreneurship and Economics five-Day residential Workshop opening Date: monday, 22nd february. Closing Date: saturday, 27th february. Venue: dhulikhel village Resort, dhulikhel. Contact: samriddhi, the prosperity foundation 4464616, 4484016 Utsav – A Pre-Holi Festival by Kutumba Day: thursday. Date: 18th february Venue: bal mandir, icc, naxal time: 4:30 pm the musical group kutumba is well known for their fusion folk music. With traditional instruments, including flute, sarangi, dhimi and percussion, the group of six musicians has created unique compositions and also plays folk songs in maithili, bhojpuri and awadhi. mark your calendar Momo Mania Day: saturday. Date: 27th february. Venue/time: the bakery café, bouddha (11:00 am to 2:00 pm) and the bakery café, sundhara (5:30 pm to 9:00 pm). ticket prices: Rs. 495 for adults and Rs. 295 for children celebrate your love for momos at ‘momo mania’, an annual event organized by the bakery café, which is back again this year to fulfill the momo craze of the people around town.this year around, like every year, the organizers have put forth some astounding varieties of momos. from gudpak momo to fresh fruit momo, get ready for a totally new experience in your momo-eating experience.the attractions at the event include more than 20 varieties of momos at one place, momo-making and momo-eating competitions, and coke and beer drinking competitions. live performance by the ‘2010 sprite band challenge’ Winner – Sound Cuddles. With so much to look forward to, join in this fiesta of savoring the nepali people’s unofficial ‘national’ food. tickets are available at all the bakery café outlets. Women In Concert Day: saturday Date: 3rd april Venue: garden of dreams the organizers of Women in concert, an annual musical event, have just announced that they have postponed this year’s event scheduled to have been held from march 20th to april 1st. “last moment auditions are still taking place, but we will finalize everything by next week,” said Rachana gurung sharma, a member of the organizing committee. Watch this space for more on the event next week. TASAFU – Kathmandu scrolls by Julien Solé MUSIC BY THE MUSEUM – II Day: friday Date: 26th february Venue: siddhartha art gallery, baber mahal Revisited time: 5:00 pm Day: friday Date: 12th march Venue: patan museum alliance française in kathmandu presents TASAFU – Kathmandu scrolls, an exhibition by Julien solé, who has been painting while traveling for the last 10 years. among other countries, solé has worked and exhibited his works in egypt, morocco and ethiopia. in the spring of 2009, he found in nepal an unexpected and inexhaustible source for his work. in this exhibition, long sketches and water colors on scrolls of paper will be showcased.the sketches will be sometimes framed and sometimes shown on handle machines.there will also be texts and extracts from the folded book “tasafu”, a project which is supported by the french alliance in kathmandu.the exhibition will continue till 19th march, 2010. for more information, visit his website: http://juliensole.free.fr Kailash Shrestha and Sushma Sakya’s Exhibition Date: sunday, 4th april to Wednesday, 21st april Venue: siddhartha art gallery, baber mahal Revisited artists kailash shrestha and sushma sakya will be presenting works prepared during the one-year residency program sponsored by australian himalayan art foundation. the exhibition will be inaugurated by h.e. susan grace, the australian ambassador to nepal gear up for some good music this spring for musicology and hits fm 91.2 bring to you ‘Music by The Museum – II’. With the main objective of promoting nepali music, the event will feature manose singh with 1974 ad making a guest appearance. the plan is to have the first half of the concert filled with manose singh’s music and the second with a blend of manose’s eastern classical Sojourn In Bangladesh Date: friday, 23rd april to thursday, 13th may Venue: siddhartha art gallery, baber mahal Revisited Jupiter pradhan, an mfa graduate in painting from the university of development alternative, presents “sojourn in bangladesh”. this very exciting exhibition will showcase mixed media works that the artist has painted while he was a student and during the various international art residency programs in bangladesh. his most recent kathmandu-based works will also be included in the show. renditions and 1974 ad’s rock music. for those of you who enjoyed the first edition of music by the museum, organized on 8th may, 2009, you might remember how spectacular it was. but for those of you who missed out on the first one, don’t fret about it as, this time, the event is set to blow the audience away with something even better… something even bigger. With manose singh and the much-loved 1974 ad lined up for you, music by the museum ii promises to be a one-of-a-kind evening. so don’t forget to mark your calendar right now as patan museum is the place to be in on 12th march. POST US Do let us know if events need to be listed. Listings must arrive in writing by Sunday. Please include day, date, time, admission price, contact phone number(s) and if possible, a contact person as well. Listings can be sent by email – events@ fridayweekly.com.np or promotions@fridayweekly.com.np. Listings are free, but inclusion is not guaranteed due to limited space. The sound of Music Khi The bigger brother of the Khocha Khi, the Khi is a big Madal that is central to religious dances like the Mahakali dance and the Manjushree dance. The Khi still has relevance in modern Nepali songs and costs between Rs. 5,000 to 15,000. Nepal has a long history of music and the craft of unique instruments, but not many know their history, or even their names. —Yusuf Abdol Hamid M usicians and their instruments have been part of Nepali culture for countless generations, with some claiming to hark back to the days of the legendary Mahabharata. The now popular lead guitar, bass and drum ensemble are comparatively young set against the humble-looking tools of traditional musicians, or Gandarbhas, as they were once known since the days of the early monarchs of Nepal. As international influences flow into the country, some fear the place these instruments have in our culture will eventually be lost. A tragedy, considering the historical value and importance that Gandarbhas had in Nepali society in centuries past. Living in this age where information is rapidly transmitted through a myriad of instantaneous networks like television, radio and the Internet, it’s easy to forget that in the past, getting information from one village to another was an arduous and lengthy task. “The Gandarbhas were the ones who spread information to different villages through music. In some legends, there are even stories of them stopping wars through their songs,” explained Shyam Nepali, a Sarangi instructor at the Nepal Music Centre (NMC) in Kathmandu. Historically, the art of music was also revered in the Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. Mythical hero Arjuna was instructed in song and dance by the Gandarbhas, but eventually lost due to his insufficient skill. Lochan Rijal, principal of the NMC, oversees a large faculty that actively trains students of all ages in the art of traditional Nepali instruments. Of the many instruments still played, Rijal identified the Khi, Taa, Bhusya, Dan, Bansuri and Ba as thriving and popular within the Newar community in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan. “These days, I find academicians, some popular musicians and ethnomusicologists are getting more conscious about promoting such traditional instruments,” he said. However, younger players are becoming a rarity, partly due to the limited number of gurus to pass their knowledge on. The Gandarbhas were the ones who spread information to different villages through music. In some legends, there are even stories of them stopping wars through their songs “The teaching methodology is based on an oral form of transmission. So, over time, there may be some loss of musical values,” Rijal explained. Accentuating the importance of musical values and unique stylings is the apparent unwillingness of gurus to hand them down to a student unless his loyalty and dedication is demonstrated. Sharing an interesting anecdote was renowned Khocha Khi artist Nuchhe Bahadur Dongol, who was once under the tutelage of a guru. “In the past, there had to be a special bond between a teacher and student, especially when learning special musical techniques.” “To show my loyalty, I had to steal a goat, sacrifice it and give all the parts like the eyes and tongue to my guru as an offering,” he recalled, chuckling at the memory. ! halfway Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 Khocha Khi (not in the picture) This percussive instrument appears like two small drums side by side. But despite its deceptively small size, the instrument is surprisingly sonorous and can easily fill a large room with the sound of finger rolls and smacks. Popular amongst the Newars, the Khocha Khi is typically played for marriage processions and during the Nine Nights’ festival. If the stories are true, you might want to keep this instrument away from your house dog. Khocha Khi made from tiger skin will apparently send canines weeping with fear when played at night. The small drum was devised by cutting the larger tabla in two, and is usually played in Kathmandu. Bansuri/Ba (Long flute/ Short flute) Belonging originally to the Jyapu caste of the Kathmandu Valley, these delightful-sounding instruments are made of the Sattisaal wood. The sound these flutes may often soar above the rest of the ensemble, taking the lead with their high notes and instantly pricking up the ears of those nearby. Sarangi This beautifully-crafted instrument is derived from a combination of two Hindi words: sau (hundred) and rang (color), because the sound of the Sarangi is said to be as expressive as a hundred colors. For aspiring flutists, these instruments cost between Rs. 3,000 to 5,000. The violin-like wooden instrument is mostly played by the Newar community, who hand-craft them from several types of wood: Khirro, a light wood, Shaj, which is typically heavier, and Tuni, a red wood. Nepali related how the tones of a Tuni wood Sarangi, if made with the skin of a monkey and Bagena wood, would have a strangely seductive effect on women. “Therefore, we are strictly not allowed to make it this way because of the effects,” he said. Da This traditional Newari instrument is shaped similarly to the Damphu, with it’s octagonal design. Costing between Rs. 10,000 to 15,000, the Da is usually constructed around a large wooden ring and a layer of leather stretched over on the other end. Taa This bronze instrument comes in a pair and is used percussively, sometimes in an ensemble with other percussion instruments like the Khocha Khi and Khi. According to the Music Museum of Nepal, the unmarried young women of the Limbu ethnic group play the Taa, which accompanies a dance where young men and women come together and commonly choose life partners. It is easily available and costs between Rs. 500 to 10,000. Bhusya Accompanying the Taa is the much larger Bhusya, which comes in the shape of a soldier’s hat. Similarly made of bronze, this Newari instrument can also be found commonly in today’s traditional folk songs. The price for this cymbal-like instrument ranges between Rs. 10,000 to 15,000. Information on instruments provided by Sangeet Vidhyalaya, Madal and Newari Instrument teacher; Shyam Nepali, Sarangi instructor at Nepal Music Centre; and Nucche Bahadur Dongol, Khocha Khi artist. 12 Dance ¡El Baile! If you think you have two left feet but love to dance nonetheless, then maybe it’s time you put on your dancing shoes and hit a dance school for good. “Dancing is a form of expression where people let go of their inhibitions,” says Binayek D. Shrestha, Founder and CEO of Salsa Dance Academy (SDA) in Bhatbhateni. With the tagline: ‘Feel the Chemistry, Express the Passion’, SDA offers dance classes in Salsa, Hip-Hop, Bollywood and Kathak. Salsa dancing can be fun and an effective exercise, and if a UK study holds true, it may also be beneficial in lifting the moods of those who suffer from symptoms of depression. “We have had working individuals as students who say that coming to the classes after work energizes them and puts them in a good mood,” says Shrestha. So if you are desperately looking for a break away from the monotony of work life and release your ‘feel good’ hormones, join the new weekend class at SDA that’s started on 13th February. For more information, call 4420564, 9841277893, or visit the SDA website: www. salsanepal.com ! AN metropolis Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 Delicacy Winter Style With every household specialty, winter becomes the season to indulge in tasty treats and heartwarming delights. T he aroma of freshly made lapsi ko aachar never fails to make your mouth water, and with specialties that range from maseura to gahat ko dal, winter becomes the season to indulge in delicious food. Rama Sigdel, 75, has been around long enough to let us in on the knowhow of these delicacies. “All these seasonal foods have a special significance. Although vegetables and spices can be found year round now, it was a different story back in my time,” she says. It was only during winter that maseura – where beaten lentil and yams are made into a paste, rolled into small balls and then put out in the sun – was made because the sun’s rays during winter are not as harsh as that during summers. Sigdel also says that because during summer there was scarcity of vegetables, maseura would make an excellent side dish come summer. Similarly, gahat ko dal delights the pallet in the winter not only because of its rich taste but also because it warms up your body to ward off the winter chill. With the busy lives that we lead today, the weekend becomes the perfect time to indulge in these yummy dishes rather than some restaurant food you eat for lunch every other day of the week. Avishek Raj Pradhan, Busi- Flowers Oh-So-Beautiful Orchids… “Orchids are growing in popularity these days. Before, orchids were not the rage as they are today. But now I would say about 60 to 70% of people have developed a keen interest in orchids,” Gayatri Thapa of Scott Sunrise Orchid Nursery says. “Taking care of orchids can be an extremely enriching hobby,” Thapa adds further. Flowers as pretty as orchids can light up your house and make it feel blissful. Gayatri Thapa says, “I always encourage customers to grow orchids in the house.” But most people feel, or rather, assume that taking care of orchids will be a hassle. “Growing orchids is not at all that difficult. It is like growing any other seasonal flower,” Thapa says. But growing orchids have certain prerequisites that need to be met, “The main sea- “It is such a close knit of people sharing each other’s culture, the effect is seen in the diversity of the foods we prepare in our kitchens.” ness Development Manager of Baskins and Robins, Kathmandu says, “I love spending my Saturdays with the family and actually make it a point to have an elaborate lunch out in the sun during winters.” A major ‘event’ during these gathering is not only lazing around in the sun to heat chilled winter bodies but also picking a perfectly ripened bhogatey from the garden, garnishing it with spices, salt, sugar and yogurt and spending the holiday afternoons munching away. Yummy! With this fascination of eating in a Nepali household, it is hard to find a difference in the eating cultures of different caste groups. Because it is such a close knit of people sharing each other’s culture, the effect is seen in the diversity of the foods we prepare in our kitchens. So this weekend, indulge yourself in the world of heartwarming delights and get your tummy full of oranges, bhogatey, lapsi ko aachar and much more.... ! AN “To be able to grow orchids successfully requires a lot of patience because they take longer to grow and bear flowers. It’s not like the seasonal flowers that grow faster,” Thapa further explains, adding, “you need to be really passionate about flowers and gardening to really enjoy the entire process of growing orchids.” Those of you with a knack for gardening and wishing to try your hands at growing orchids, Scott Sunrise Orchid Nursery, located at 173 Loshal Janamarg in Maharajgunj, Chakrapath is the place to go. ! AB Off the Shelf Sidney Sheldon’s Mistress of the Game Author: Tilly Bagshawe Coming soon to Pilgrims Book House, call 4700942 for more details. son for orchids is from around October-November to April. Also, you need to make sure that the environment for the orchids to grow in is cooler. We import them from places like Darjeeling and Sikkim. We ‘top-dress’ our orchids to ensure that they are well taken care of. Top-dressing is basically putting the soil from the bottom layer on top. And the rest is the same; you need to take care of orchids like any other plants.” Fans of the late Sidney Sheldon will rejoice to know that his wildly popular ‘Master of the Game’ has spawned a sequel, written by little known British author Tilly Bagshawe. Carrying on from Sheldon’s nefarious Blackwell family saga, Mistress moves on several generations but loses none of the drama and feuds that made the first novel such a huge success in the first place. Critical review has been mixed, but pick up a copy and see for yourself whether Bagshawe does justice to Sheldon’s saga. metropolis polis bazaar buzz Neoteric Nepal – leisure Authorized Distributors for DELL at a press briefing on 12th february, dell computer announced the appointment of neoteric nepal as their authorized distributor for dell products in nepal. neoteric nepal intends to make dell products more accessible through its network of retailers across the country, thus making them easily available to customers throughout nepal. neoteric’s charter includes a two-tier distribution of the broad range of dell inspiron, studio, studio Xps as well as vostro notebooks. nima Rumba will be endorsing the dell products. 10 Mobile Phones from Micromax network solutions, the authorized seller of micromax mobiles, recently launched 10 mobile phones, seven of which are gsm while three are cdma models. Syakar Launches Honda Hornet on 16th february, syakar company launched a new motorcycle, the honda hornet, in the nepali market. With abs (antilock brake system), a system which smoothly counteracts tyre slip while treading over variable road conditions, thus increasing overall safety, honda hornet is also equipped with pgm fi (programmable fuel injection system) and hiss (honda intelligent security system). the 599cc liquid-cooled bike is a 4-stroke engine with an electric start and a fuel tank capacity of 19 liters. New Hyundai Outlet laxmi intercontinental pvt. ltd., the official partner of hyundai motors for nepal, inaugurated its new showroom in thapathali on 10th february. the new showroom aims to provide improved services in terms of quality, space and ambience to customers. Adaptable Phone Features call mobility pvt. ltd., the authorized distributor of g’five mobile phones in nepal, has launched new phones with dual batteries. the makers of g’five have come up with this new feature seeing that the load shedding problem is not going to abate anytime soon. Sony Walkman X-Series Nepa hima trade Link Pvt. Ltd. rs. 34,999 Sony hD handycam Nepa hima trade Link Pvt. Ltd. rs. 71,999 Nokia N97, Virgin Mobile. rs. 51,670 DeLL StuDio 1340 Laptop Neoteric Nepal rs. 108,900 SonyW-Series Walkman Nepa hima trade Link Pvt. Ltd. rs. 9,499 Black Sony Cybershot Camera, Nepa hima trade Link Pvt. Ltd. rs.29,999 window shopping iPoD NANo evo Store 16 gB rs.18,000 DireCtory NePA hiMA trADe LiNK PVt. LtD. Bakhundole 5546076. SexyGadgets Pink Sony Cybershot Camera , Nepa hima trade Link Pvt. Ltd. rs. 31,999 the bulky forerunners of the techno world (read big fat gadgets) are being mercilessly beaten by the much slimmer and sexier newcomers, and increasingly so. in this edition of Window Shopping, we give you a selection of sexy gadgets for you to take home. — Samriddhi Rai eVo Store, Durbar Marg. 4220659. PhiLiPS Jyoti Bhawan, Kantipath. 4225490. SAMSuNg, him elec- PhiLiPS DVD PLAyer tronics, China town. 4267760 VirgiN MoBiLe, tamrakar Complex, New road, 4260173 Philips Showroom rs. 34, 990 SAMSuNg CorBy Pro CLASSiC iPoD evo Store 160 gB rs. 23,500 NeoteriC NePAL, NLiC City Center Kamal Pokhari, 4011528 cool bargains eNVy Durbar Marg Winter sale offer valid until 20th february discounts up to 50% on all items 4224241 iNDiAN terrAiN Kamaladi change of season offer buy 2 get 1fRee 9841678340 giorDANo ground floor Sherpa Mall Durbar Marg stock clearance sale up to 60% off on all items 4011588 greeNLiNe CeNtre Kantipath stock clearance offer buy 2 and get 1 (vin de pays wine) fRee 4257277 City CeNter 4011809 Kamalpokhari 60% off in giordano 50% off in puma 40% off in italiana, cocktail 30% off in lilliput, Warehouse 20% off in the gift shop, g-time corner 15% off in prolink 10% off in style 4011809 WiNter Peter eNgLAND Putalisadak up to 35% discount on Winter Wear offer valid until mid-march 4225646 BALeNo ladies/gents wear 25% off KoutoNS gents wear up to 50% off hANgteN ladies/gents wear 30% off on select items tAMrAKAr houSe New road & Putalisadak 50% off on Jackets 4245348, 4240121 NfC Putalisadak 30% off on Jacket & sweaters 9841300996 ShiLPA trADerS ground floor united World trade Center tripureshwor 30% off on Winter Wear 4117160 iNDiAN terrAiN Kamaladi buy 3 get 1 fRee on mixed items buy 2 get 1 fRee on select items buy 1 get 1 fRee on select items offer valid for 15 days only contact: Ravi adhikari, 9841678340 JAgADiShWAr eMPoriuM united World trade Center tripureshwor buy 1 get 1 fRee on shirts and pants offer valid for 15 days only 4117071 9841993095 SALe offerS BLueBirD MALL 4228833 Samsung Showroom rs. 21,700 giNger ladies wear up to 70% off on select items PeLtZ ladies shoes up to 40% off retAiL therAPy kids/ladies/gents wear up to 70% off tiMe CeNtre Romanson, casio, fuji time, Westar and trofish watches up to 25% off fuSioN ladies wear up to 40% off Peri WiNKLe kids/children wear 30% off on select items DAViNChi ladies/gents/ children wear up to 50% off giNi & JoNy children wear up to 30% off triDAKArSANi ladies wear up to 40% off on select items toP CLASS ladies/gents shoes up to 50% off ladies/gents wear up to 50% off CriMSouNe CLuB ladies/gents wear up to 30% off on select items LABeLS up to 50% off on select items ArroW buy 1 get 1 fRee on shirt & pants 50% discount on sweaters NiKe Shoes – up to 25% Off Ladies wear – 20% Off Men’s wear – 15% Off Accessories – 10% off JohN PLAyerS buy 1 get 1 fRee buy 2 get 1 fRee itALiNA fAShioN JeWeLLery 10% discount BoSSiNi up to 50% off LiLLiPut kids/children wear up to 30% off buy 2 get 1 fRee 4011809 14 timeoff Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 the weekender the details provided in the listings are tentative and are subject to change. for promotions and listings, write to promotions@fridayweekly.com.np. tel: 5011571 hot BreADS food court at bluebird mall, Bluestar complex, tripureshwor spaghetti napolitano: Rs. 135 4228833 eateRies KAthMANDu AQuA JAVA ZiNg thamel Rosted mushroom with pimento & jalapeno: Rs. 240 4254809 BAWArChi the reStro BAr Lazimpat kathi kawab Roll chicken: Rs. 70 2150050 Bhoe ChheN NeWAri reStAurANt AND BAr Basantapur chatamari: Rs. 85 4221811 BhuMi reStro LouNge Lazimpat buff choela: Rs. 100 4412193 CAfÉ oLLA reStAurANt AND BAr Kantipath, Jamal. golden fried prawn: Rs. 320 4232673 CheZ CAroLiNe reStAurANt Babar Mahal revisited pepper steak, french fries, salad: Rs. 700 4263070, 4264187 ChoPStiCK reStAurANt & BAr Buddha Bari,teku mandarin bektifish (Whole fish): Rs. 595 4104503 CoSMoPoLitAN CAfÉ Basantpur veg cheese burger: Rs. 105 4225246 CourtyArD reStAurANt Kamaladi Roasted chicken: Rs. 195 4253056 DeLiCAteSSeN CeNtre CAfÉ Durbar Marg oven baked Roast chicken: Rs. 180 5525903 e.D.e.N fooD Court & LouNge BAr Kathmandu Mall barbeque pork chop Rs. 225 + tax 4150062 gArLiC CAfÉ AND BAr united World trade Centre,tripureshwor chicken a la kiev: Rs. 180 4117010 gAZeBo reStro LouNge Durbarmarg kitchen alakeb: Rs. 340 9841397603 grASShoPPer Basantapur chicken kievana: Rs. 230 4255513 hiMALAyAN JAVA Coffee LouNge tridevi Marg cafe latte: Rs. 90 4422519 JAtrA thamel sukuti ko achar: Rs. 110 4700043 iMAgo DeL CAfÉ gALLery Nag Pokhari spinach artichoke dip: Rs. 175 4442464 K-too BAr & SteAK houSe thamel peppered steak: Rs. 360 4700043 LoBSterS Sherpa Mall, Durbar Marg tou ka tiem kung: Rs. 550 4231323, 4231437 MANDAriN PALACe Babarmahal revisited chicken slice W/capsicum: Rs. 350 4212675 NeW orLeANS CAfe thamel vegetabel Jam bolaya: Rs. 280 4700736 North gAte AQuA LouNge tej Bhawan, uttar Dhoka, Lazimpat pork chop: Rs. 240 4440567 or2K thamel stuffed vegetables combination: Rs. 290 4422097 SiLVer WoK ChiNeSe CuiSiNe Panipokhari pork chivi: Rs. 185 4438728 o3 PuB Panipokhari diced chicken: Rs. 175 9841408985 the fACtory reStAurANt & BAr thamel chilled gazpacho Rs.150 4701185 PANAS reStAurANt AND CAfÉ Khichapokhari buigal set: Rs. 210 4212593 ViNtAge CAfÉ & PuB Durbarmarg vintage platter: Rs.400 4254831 PuMPerNiCKeL thamel chitlang goat cheese sandwich: Rs. 170 4259185 ViShrAM reStAurANt Basantapur Roasted pork: Rs.215 2012127 riCe & BoWL, tripureswor hakka prawn: Rs. 550 4251678 WiLD eArth PVt. LtD, DhAPASi MArg Basbari Wild earth open house and himalayan plant alchemy workshop! make your own perfume, enjoy a foot massage, and sample our freshly made face creams & oils on 13th feb basbari 2010 time: - 12 - 6 pm 4374178, 4650240 roAD houSe CAfÉ thamel toasted goat cheese salad: Rs. 205 4260187 roX reStAurANt hyatt regency, Boudha char grilled prawns: Rs. 1450 4491234 royAL SAiNo reStAurANt AND BAr Durbar Marg experience the gyakok (the hot pot with t-momos) and enjoy other varieties of delicious momos in the heart of city with daily live bbQ 4230890 ShiSA terrACe BAr & reStAurANt thamel fried chicken cordon blue: Rs. 250 2091137 1905 reStAurANt Kantipath leg of lamb: Rs.650 4215068 PAtAN BAKery CAfÉ Pulchowk chicken sizzler: Rs.205 5010110 ChAPter 9 Jawalakhel paneer chatpata: Rs.240 5525979 ChoPStiX Kumaripati, Patan nasi goreng: Rs. 245 5551118 DhoKAiMA CAfÉ Patan Dhoka brinjal chicken: Rs.150 5522113 eZer BooK CAfÉ Sanepa kim chi chhige Rs. 250 5546578 ghANgri CAfÉ Pulchowk cordeu blue: Rs. 150 5524694 JAZZABeLL CAfÉ Jhamsikhel chicken basket: Rs. 150 2114075 LA rotiSSerie griLLeD ChiCKeN & SANDWiCh & iCeCreAM PArLor Jawalakhel crab sandwich: Rs. 110 5530823 PAtAN MuSeuM CAfÉ Patan Durbar Square patan museum burger: Rs. 180 5524694 music BAMBoo CLuB reStAurANt thamel Robin and the new Revolution playing live every tuesday 7 pm onwards 4701547 BottLeS & ChiMNey thamel sunday: live music by plan b followed by football match on big projected screen Nightout SigMA fooD Court Pulchowk Roast chicken Rice set: Rs. 220 5009092 the AMBieNCe reStAurANt & BAr Mangalbazar newari set: Rs. 250 5538980 NAgArKot the teA houSe iNN Nagarkot saturday special, enjoy sizzling sekuwa, hot momos and delicious bbQ along with splendid views of the himalayas and refreshing breeze 9841250848 BourBoN rooM Durbar Marg the best of sufi by hemant Rana. every monday, 7 pm onwards. open mic with ciney gurung. every Wednesday 7 pm onwards 4441703, 4249747 CAfe horiZoN hotel himalaya Mexican Sojourno – come and experience the flavours of mexico with tantalizing mexican dishes and selection of tequilas monday: blues with nekhvam tuesday: live music by brotherhood followed by charity Quiz from umbrella foundation Wednesday: blues with nekhvam thursday: live music by astral with free peanuts friday: live music by plan b saturday: live music by brahmastra live music begins from 7 pm onwards. happy hours 4:00 - 8:00 pm chill out music, exotic cocktails and different flavors of shisa. 9841425925 BugLeS AND tigerS BAr everest hotel live music by fusion band far away from the philippines to tickle your taste buds amidst intriguing ambience every friday, from 7:00 pm onwards live music by prism band 5523900 CLuB PLAtiNuM hotel yak & yeti salsa night with Jimmy and masha. every Wednesday, free Workshop 8 pm onwards. 4248999 , 4222636 D’LouNge BeiJiNg roASt DuCK reStAurANt New Baneshwor melodious nepali gazals and songs every thursday, 6:30 pm onwards. 4468589 every evening except monday time 7 pm - 10:30 pm 4780100 ext: 7711/7811 cies, with ghazals, Jazz and pop music every friday and saturday 4 pm onwards 4482993, 4460296 CeLeBrAtioNS reStAurANtS AND BAr thamel live music by Robin and new Revolution every friday 7pm onwards 9841347613 JAtrA CAfÉ AND BAr thamel ladies night with live sufi and indian contemporary music every Wednesday 4256622 fuSioN BAr Dwarika’s hotel live band featuring dinesh Rai every friday night 7 pm onwards. 4479448 grAND NorLiNg reSort gokarna enjoy mouth watering mughlai delica- hiMALAtte CAfÉ thamel cloud Walkers, playing live. every tuesday, 7:30 pm onwards 4256738 u2 and the police from the eternity every friday 7:30 pm onwards 4256738 LhASA reStAurANt & BAr thamel live band every Wednesday, friday and saturday 7 pm onwards 9851010431 PLug terrACe Balwatar blind. ears playing acoustic every Wednesday 6:30 pm onwards 2150072 MoKSh BAr & LouNge Pulchowk soul train playing live every tuesday 7:30 pm onwards 5526212 NANgLo CAfÉ AND PuB Durbar Marg crossfire playing live every friday 4222636 PorCh BAr Soaltee Crowne Plaza Soaltee Mode Relax and enjoy some of the finest drinks every day, 6 pm to 10 pm 4273999 the CAfÉ hyatt regency taste the culinary delights from the mediterranean region of greece, italy and the middle east. fridays, 6:30 pm 4491234 the CorNer BAr radisson hotel, Lazimpat offering an array of sumptuous snacks exotic drinks and cocktails 3 pm to 11 pm 4411818 timeoff worth a watch riz Khan’s one on one profiling celebrities and newsmakers from around the globe with a focus on their personal histories, defining moments and achievements, Riz khan brings you one on one. 10:15 pm, Saturday 20th february NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC india:the girl Who Cries Blood twinkle, a 14-year-old from northern india, spontaneously bleeds from her eyes, hands, feet, head and chest. this film explores the myths and medical truths of stigmata and reveals little known facts about deadly blood disorders. 10:15 pm, friday 19th february ESPN Barclays Premier League 2009/10 match: manchester city vs. liverpool 8:25 pm, Sunday 21st february HBO Mamma Mia! friday picks The Good Guy (drama) the story centers on an ambitious young manhattanite and urban conservationist beth, who wants a good job, good friends, and a good guy to share the city with. but beth falls hard for tommy, a sexy, young Wall street hot-shot, and she soon learns that the game of love in the big city is a lot like Wall Street – high risk, high reward. and everybody has an angel! the terrACe, hyAtt regeNCy Boudha sunday Jazz brunchenjoy a relaxing sunday with barbeque and live jazz music 12:00 pm- 3:30 pm 4489362 uPStAirS JAZZ BAr Lazimpat live Jazz music playing live every saturday 8 pm onwards 9851040276 capes Weekend es goDAVAri ViLLAge reSort godavari special packages available for nepalese and expatriates 2 days, 1 night package. for single Room: Rs. 3,000/- plus taxes which includes bed and breakfast. for double Room: Rs 3,500 plus taxes which includes bed and breakfast 5560675 hyAtt regeNCy Boudha Relax package for two including breakfast at the café 1 night package, for maximum 3 nights, only for local residents and nepalese citizen. for couple: Rs. 6,200/- plus taxes package is valid till 20th february 4491234, 4489800 PArK ViLLAge Budhanilkantha Weekend package with half board accommodation per night for double Room: Rs. 4,900 plus tax 9851070936, 9851057642 DhuLiKheL DhuLiKheL MouNtAiN reSort Dhulikhel palanchowk bhagwati darshan package 2 days, 1 night package for single Room: Rs. 4,500 which includes, accommodation, transportation and 3 meals 4420774 the DWAriKA’S hiMALAyAN ShANgriLA ViLLAge reSort Dhulikhel overnight package. 2 days, 1 night single Room: Rs. 3,500 plus 10% tax double: Rs. 5,000 plus 10% tax great escape package. 3days, 2 nights. couple: Rs. 12,666 plus 10% tax. 4479488 impact Asia with Mishal husain global news as it affects audiences in asia. mishal husain presents breaking news, debate and analysis, using the full range of bbc correspondents from the asia-pacific nations and across the world. 7:45 pm, Wednesday 24th february Marley & Me newlyweds John (owen Wilson) and Jenny grogan (Jennifer aniston) ponder the life-changing decision to start a family. unsure of his preparedness for raising children, John instead adopts a labrador pup with his new wife. through the years of mayhem brought in by their dog marley, John and Jenny come to realize, marley – “the world’s worst dog” – somehow brings out the best in them. 6:45 pm, Sunday 21st february Shutter Island (thriller) reLeASiNg oN: february 19th DurAtioN: 1 hr 30 mins, DireCtor: Julio depietro StArriNg: Anna Chlumsky, Scott Porter, Alexis Bledel roX BAr- hyAtt regeNCy Boudha live Jazz tunes by inner groove every friday evening 4489362, 4491234 BBC meryl streep leads an all-star cast in this film adaptation of the beloved stage musical featuring the timeless lyrics and melodies of iconic super group,abba. mamma mia! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found. 6:45 pm, Saturday 20th february from oscar-winning director martin scorsese, shutter island is the story of two us marshals, teddy daniels (dicaprio) and chuck aule (mark Ruffalo), who are summoned to a remote and barren island off the coast of massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the island’s fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane. reLeASiNg oN: february 19th DurAtioN: 2 hrs 18 mins, DireCtor: martin scorsese StArriNg: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ben Kingsley NAgArKot CLuB hiMALAyA Nagarkot chiso chiso hawa ma special package. 2 days, 1 night package. for single: Rs. 3,500 plus 10% service charge + 13% vat inclusive of dinner and breakfast for double: Rs. 4,500 plus 10% service charge + 13% vat inclusive of dinner and breakfast 4442726 hoteL SPACe MouNtAiN Nagarkot exclusive package Rates for expatriates and nepalese. for single: Rs. 1,700 plus tax inclusive of dinner, breakfast and room for double: Rs. 2,500 plus tax inclusive of dinner, breakfast and room 4430812, 6680071 PoKhArA fuLBAri reSort Pokhara sense and serenity package 2 nights, 3 days package per person on twin sharing basis single supplement room: Rs. 4,999 plus 10% service charge and 13% vat. package includes buffet breakfast, buffet dinner, boating, gorge walks, 30 mins foot massage 25% discount on golf, health farm, spa, and tennis 4461918 gLACier hoteL Pokhara package includes a harbor breakfast for couple Rs 1,999 per night 15% discount on paragliding facilities 463722 ChitWAN tiger toPS special Re-opening offer 3 nights/4days at tiger tops jungle lodge & tented camp, spending one night at tiger tops tharu lodge for single: Rs.40,050 approximately inclusive of all taxes extras: airfare kathmandu/ meghauly/ kathmandu for single: Rs. 15,450 approximately inclusive of all taxes enjoy safari, nature walks, bullock cart rides. experience the rich tharu culture offer valid until 28th february 4361500 Big PAgoDA hALL hotel Bajra, Chhauni tantric dance, ‘the god dance of nepal’ tuesdays, 7 pm onwards 4271545 CoMfort ZoNe AND griLL thamel korean style bbQ. enjoy the great taste of bbQ every day with a variety of cocktails 4700080 DÉLiCeS De frANCe thamel choucroute alsacienne this traditional dish from alsace, north east of france, is cabbage finely sliced and lacto-fermented, cooked in white wine with smoked pork meat, bacon, sausage and potatoes. this delightful winter dish is exceptional in nepal (top quality meat from germany). served with 1 everest beer. Rs. 1,200 plus taxes thursday 11th february 7 pm limited to 20 people only for reservation: 4260326 eDeN LouNge BAr Kathmandu Mall enjoy every day happy hour. 3 pm – 7 pm 4150062 us miscellaneo ALfreSCo Soaltee Crowne Plaza experience the taste of homemade pasta 4273999 TRAVEL & LIVING STAR MOVIES ALJAZEERA ENGLISH LA DoLCe VitA thamel Rediscover fine italian cuisine 4700612 MADAN PurASKAr Patan Dhoka ‘people after War’. permanent photo exhibition. every day 11 am - 4 pm 5521393 5 Star insider: Africa – tanzania angus enjoys a unique tanzanian safari across the serengeti, staying in luxurious bedouin-style tents complete with personalized butler service. 9:45 pm,tuesday 23rd february HISTORY CHANNEL infamous Assassinations:the Assassination of Che guevara one of fidel castro’s most trusted lieutenants in the cuban revolution, ernesto ‘che’ guevara left to become a guerrilla leader fermenting uprising against other south american dictatorships. captured in bolivia on 8th october 1967, he was assassinated by a cia-inspired killer. 10:45 pm, Monday 22nd february poll-o -meter LASt WeeK’S PoLL Do you thiNK thAt SoMe eStABLiSheD CoMMerCiAL BANKS WiLL go BuSt iN 5 yeArS tiMe? 58% yes No hAVe your SAy is sex always about love? for yes type y space poll, for No type N space poll and send it to 3276. MANDAriN,the eVereSt hoteL Naya Baneshwor enjoy the real taste of tibetan gyakok ( sherpa’s famous steam boat, minimum for two) daily from 12pm - 2:30 pm and 7pm - 11:30pm 4780100 PAthiBArA Art gALLery Arcadia Apartment hotel, Chaksi Bari Marga,thamel exhibition on authentic traditional tibetan thangkas by prominent artists: nabin krishna chitrakar, gyalze sherpa, urgen tensing, amir lama to promote real tibetan thangka and newari pauba art 9:30 am - 7:00 pm 4256004, 9841418871 9851026064 roCK CLiMBiNg nexgen adventure program daily departure 6914541, 9841283385 roX reStAurANt hyatt regency famous stews of the world every tuesday, Wednesday and thursday from 6 pm onwards 4491234, 4489362 the CAfÉ At hyAtt regeNCy vegeteranian buffet every monday 6:30 pm onwards 4491234 the CAfÉ, hyAtt regeNCy arabian nights - taste the culinary delights from the middle east every friday from 6:30 pm onwards 4491234, 4489362 the KAiSer CAfÉ the garden of Dreams cocktail and dreams 6 pm onwards 4479488/4425341 the LouNge - hyAtt regeNCy Boudha strawberry high tea - enjoy the festive season high tea with strawberry flavor 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm 4491234 WiLD eArth PVt. LtD. Dhapasi Marg, Basbari Wild earth open house and himalayan plant alchemy workshop! make your own perfume, enjoy a foot massage, and sample our freshly made face creams & oils 12 - 6 pm 4374178, 4650240 16 Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 Beejive 3.0 Facebook tweetdeck wikipanion Instapaper Social media on the move gizmo As the price of the iPod touch continues falling and the iPhone becomes ever more ubiquitous, LiM yAN LiANg takes a look at five applications that can make you a Web 2.0 maverick. 1.Beejive 3.0 This is for all you IM addicts out there. From staples like MSN and Yahoo Messenger to more esoteric services like Google Talk and Jabber, Beejive enables a user to connect to nearly all major IM services simultaneously, all on one application. Allowing users to connect via 3G, EDGE and WiFi, Beejive is one of the first IM clients on the iPhone to incorporate pushmail technology, meaning that you can choose to continue receiving message notifications even after you close the application and go on to do something else. Hari Maharjan, a banking executive, cannot remember how he got by without the trusty app. “Separating IM from my work computer makes it easier to look like I’m working when I’m actually chatting,” he chuckles. 2. Facebook Let’s all face it: we are all completely addicted to Facebook. “Even at work, I used to keep my Facebook tab minimized in my browser and check it whenever I’m free,” said Sushma Shrestha, a finance officer at an INGO. The Facebook app for the iPhone and iTouch certainly doesn’t help – us addicts now have the ability to check (in real-time) what our pals are doing on the social network anywhere there is an internet connection. With version 3.0, the app comes even closer to mimicking how Facebook works on the PC, with full news feed interaction, including ‘Likes’ and ‘Comments’, support for ‘Pages’ and ‘Events’, a reworked homepage for navigation, and even enabling let’s all face it: We aRe all completely addicted to facebook. the facebook app foR the iphone. you to upload a video directly from your iPhone or iTouch. Facebook: 1, Productivity: 0. 3. tweetdeck While we are on social-media addictions, there is no way we can leave out its new poster child, Tweeter. Tweetdeck makes sure you are always part of the conversation, bringing its signature ‘columns’ layout to the iPhone and iTouch. The application’s support for groups (allowing you to organize your followers into more manageable chunks), multiple accounts and its ability to sync settings between the desktop and mobile versions puts it head and shoulder over and above the numerous other pretenders to the 140-word throne. and then get sucked into spending the next couple of hours hopping from one article to the next. With Wikipanion, you can now bring all that goodness with you anywhere. So why use a dedicated app instead of the Safari browser? With Wikipanion, the text and pictures are specifically formatted for the iPhone and iTouch, meaning that pages load faster with none of that scrolling and zooming to detract from getting that info fast. Now everyone can be a smart alec, and actually be able to back it up. 4. wikipanion 5. Instapaper Probably the next best thing to sliced bread, Wikipedia made it easy for everyone to search for information on almost anything, Wordsmiths and avid readers, this is the holy grail of reader applications that you simply need to have. Ever browsed the web on your iPhone, only to find an interesting article that you are too pressed for time to read? Instapaper adds a bookmarklet to your browser, allowing you to strip the page of ads and images, and save the text for offline reading later. The best part – Instapaper is available free, although the paid version includes invaluable one-hand tilt scrolling and a dark-background mode that improves low visibility reading. “I used to have to hunt for reading materials during my coffee break,” said Ahmad Iskandar, a journalist with the Nepali Times. “Now, I just whip out my iPhone and I have a whole spread of fresh articles to choose from.” ! 18 betterhomes Issue 4 February 18 -24, 2010 Cheaponomics your economical guide to a beautiful home. Samriddhi rai takes you on a tour. Y ou read that right my friend. The word is “cheaponomics”; the repercussion of the recession wave, an art to be mastered for some and an act of substantial survival for many, “cheaponomics”, could just be your best bet, guiding you through some good times at this juncture when the economy vis-à-vis inflation are at their worst. Cheaponomics teaches you to invest in cheap stuffs without having to compromise on your level of satisfaction. It helps you curb your financial woes yet making you as happy as you would be with a far more expensive purchase” says Manju Rai, 37, a housewife residing in Jawalakhel and a ‘fan’ of the art of cheaponomics herself. While cheaponomics can be applied in many spheres of our lifestyle, Friday has some suggestions to apply to make for you to apply on your home front. Flower Pots Flowers are the basic requirements for a beautiful home. While artificial ones make a good substitute, nothing beats live ones. Surround your home with flowers, or invest in big indoor plants. Plants are said to have huge benefits to a person’s health and well being too. While plants may not be too expensive to buy, pots are, and increasingly so. Pots you buy here in Kathmandu are almost thrice the original price. So if and when you decide to buy them, make a trip to Thimi industrial area and amaze yourself by purchasing yourself flowerpots that will cost you as low as Rs.5 per piece. earthenware And as long as you’re out there in Thimi, check out the range of earthenware they manufacture. Vases, water fountains, garden accessories… the same stuffs you find in interior shops here too. It’s just that they are way cheaper. straw Baskets Beautiful straw baskets are great additions to a home. The roughly woven ones can be used as waste bins while the refined ones can house indoor plants. There are straw fruit baskets, straw laundry baskets, straw magazine holder and other varied range of straw-made items to choose from. Since its Nepal made, they’re definitely cheaper than the imported ones and lend an authentic Nepali touch to any home. form of sitting we proudly call paleti kasnu? This is where the sukul comes in handy. You can find these in all shapes, sizes and quality of your liking. And boy, are our Nepali rugs cheap! Paper Light shades the Chinese Market Colorful light shades instantly brighten up an otherwise dull room. And a plentiful of them is widely available in the streets of Thamel, Basantapur and Patan in all shapes, sizes and colors. Learning to bargain is a hit theory in “cheaponomics”. So embrace the skill. The prices of the shades start as low as a hundred rupees per piece but, if you’re good enough at the bargaining game, you could land up paying a lower price. Happily! ‘sukul’, the nepali rug If you have a big garden, a terrace, a patio, or a balcony at the very least, invest in sukul the Nepali version of a rug. Sofas and chairs are all very comfortable, no doubt. But isn’t it in our innate nature as Nepalis to enjoy sitting cross-legged, the If there is anything as cheap as things that are made in Nepal, it’s got to be things made in China. Chinese manufacturers excel in producing charming yet cheap ceramic items. So invest in a lot of Chinese dinner sets, kitchenware and decoration items. Chinese credit their “Feng Shui” for their great economical success in the world, so it wouldn’t hurt you to invest in some of their lucky charms. Who knows, Feng Shui might just do good to you and your home as it “supposedly” did to China and its people. China Town in Sundhara is a convenient mall to look for Chinese items (with parking space and all). But, going by the ethics of cheaponomics, the Chinese Market located in Mahabaudhha would be a better (read cheaper) option. ! betterhomes Kitchen Talk different strokes for a woman, the kitchen is the heart of her home. it is where she spends most of her time conjuring delectable recipes... No wonder she has the right to a kitchen that’s cozy and ‘cool’ — Suneeta Gurung N o one can challenge the fact that the kitchen is essentially a woman’s favorite domain and a place where she spends most of her time – an astounding 18 years or more of her life. Of course, the trend is going for a slight lemony twist with an increasing number of the men folk trying to ‘encroach’ what once used to be a totally women’s realm. Cozy, workable, central and practical are what absorb the smell of cooking and retain it. An exhaust fan alone is not sufficient to resolve the problem; it has to be combined with a chimney to actually work. If the smell continues to persist, using an easily removable and washable fabric like a curtain or blinds as a barrier can work effectively by absorbing the smell. If the windows are positioned in a way that offers cross ventilation it should be good enough to solve the ‘smell’ issue. and your family are. Throw away those empty Horlicks and Chawanprash bottles or jam and mayonnaise jars of the Mughal era and replace them with some trendy plastic containers readily available in the market. 3. For a woman, no fridge is large enough to accommodate all the foodstuffs that we love to buy and sometimes over buy. It is a very familiar sight to see an overcrowded fridge the most modeRn facilities and sophisticated kitchenWaRe aRe not going to pRevent youR kitchen fRom looking like a dump yaRd oR, foR that matteR, smell like one. packed to its core with salads, fruits, vegetables and milk, not to mention the leftovers. Sealed containers and plastic bags, if used effectively, can not only make your fridge look neater but, nutritionally, you score points too. could, perhaps, suitably describe a ‘functional’ kitchen. The most modern facilities and sophisticated kitchenware are not going to prevent your kitchen from looking like a dump yard or, for that matter, smell like one. Here are some effective ways to make your kitchen a haven and you a Goddess with your own ‘Greek God’ worshipping you. 4. Lack of space is a major is- some Challenges and solutions 1. The kitchen is truly a place from where delightful aromas can instantly mesmerize your olfactory senses. But the most obvious issue that comes to mind is that along with the aroma come the odors of garlic and onions. The issue becomes more problematic if there is a carpet in the living area as it tends to 2. Undoubtedly, and like every- body else’s, bags and plastic containers dominate the kitchen. It is absolutely not necessary to make your kitchen the lone witness to show how healthy you sue that we have to deal with, especially if the kitchen is a bit tiny. Devote a closet kept in the hall or the dining area for secondary spices, sauces and extra rice, atta and sugar as well as for baking accessories. It’s important to get your kitchen looking neat, clean and stylish because that’s where you spend most of your time don’t you?. ! Let There Be Light — Yusuf Abdol Hamid As a foreigner in K-town, there are moments when the adaptation process to Nepal’s quirks gets so overwhelming you just need to run into a 5-star hotel for a brief respite from the dust, honking and the stench of uncollected garbage. But if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, you can run but you can’t hide from the long and spindly arm of load shedding. Imagine my despair when a waiter at an up-market hotel café apologized to me: “I’m sorry sir, the cappuccino you ordered was almost done but the power went out.” For someone with a serious caffeine addiction, this was bad news of the highest order. Coffee isn’t the only thing denied to me because of the blackouts. The electric companies are robbing me of my eyesight, which I feel acutely when stumbling around in pitch-black alleys. Too many times have I soiled my hands while touching the narrow alley walls for support in the dark, or stepped into questionable squelching substances that inevitably leave a dreadful reek for days to follow. The gods must have been smiling on me when I narrowly missed an open manhole last night, which would probably have placed me squarely on the obituary pages of the following day’s newspaper(s). I find myself waiting breathlessly for the hours with power, running around the house charging my laptop, mobile and micro-waving my cold dinner, before the lights are cruelly and forcibly switched off. Load shedding has its minor benefits though. My hearing has improved immeasurably from countless nights of listening closely for the sound of bicycle pedals to avoid a mid-road collision with unseen cyclists. Electricity abandoning the circuits is also the perfect excuse to have a romantic candlelit dinner; great way to sweep a girl off her feet – on the very first date! Despite these tiny condolences, the next time I go to the bathroom for a little load shedding of my own, the lights better be on… ! ecs media pvt. ltd, kupondole, lalitpur, nepal, 5011571 no. 4 feb 18-24, 2010 ������ Publisher: ECS MEDIA PVT. LTD. Managing Editor: SUNIL SHRESTHA Director, Editorial & Marketing: NRIPENDRA KARMACHARYA Sr. Manager, Editorial & Marketing: SUDEEP SHAKYA Manager, Editorial & Marketing: NEERAZ KOIRALA Consulting Editor: VIVIAN YONZON Editorial Assistant: SAMRIDDHI RAI Inhouse Writers: AYUSHA NIROLA, AYUSHMA BASNYAT Color Separation: CTP Nepal Pvt. Ltd, HATTIBAN, 525.0466, 525.0468 Printing: Jagadamba Press, Hattiban, 525.0017/18/19 Distributor: Kasthamandap Distribution Pvt. Ltd. 424.7241 ���������������������������������� Design & Production Executive: SANJEEV SHRESTHA Photographer: DASH B. MAHARJAN Asst. Managers, Sales & Marketing: BIJENDRA PRADHAN, ANGIRAS MANANDHAR Asst. Manager, Business Development: SHWETA BUDHATHOKI Ad Enquiries: sales@fridayweekly.com.np Subscription & Distribution Executive: BIKRAM SHRESHTA
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