The way Nepal is

All religion are same........ the amalgamation of
religions at Pashupatinath Temple

Words/photo: Anup Joshi

https://www.facebook.com/anupjoshiphotogr
aphy

Historic Bhaktapur

"Bhaktapur alleys always led to some beautiful stories".

Words/photo: Shweta Shakya

shweta54@hotmail.com

Evaporation of life

Our life is like the glacier of high Himalayas . We
melt , burst and rush into fast running river ,
reach ocean and meditate silence for some
period of time until we evaporate to turn into
clouds and again the cycle starts. well, it is sad
to say that some of us do not reach to the
ocean and evaporate somewhere in the mid way

Words/photo: Anup Joshi

      arzose@gmail.com

The pigeon's tale

Koteshwor, Kathmandu
I never thought I would end up capturing a
confused pigeon with my god forsaken camera. I
couldn't help, it was just sitting there. It was
brave enough to not be bothered by me and that
is what caught my attention.
Sometimes bravery is mother of foolishness. Not
that I planned to imprison the bird. I was
wondering why it was unshaken. And then I was
hit by this realization, "It was scanning for
water." I used to be sarcastic about global
warming but slowly it is taking toll on earth and
you can see how Kathmandu is burning.
The world for me is like Game of Throne's plot.
The world is so busy with its own version of
contrived politics and skewed economical theory
that nobody is paying attention to the fact that
the Winter is coming. They are oblivious about
the sufferings we are going to face.
But who cares about a thirsty bird?

Words/photo: Aayush Ghimire

https://m.facebook.com/Ghimireaayush

उदार नेपाली

नेपालका मान्छेहरु अचम्मका हुन्छन।
भुकम्पमा सबै ध्वस्त भएपनि सहयोगि गर्नबाट पछि हट्दैनन।
एकैछिन कुरा गरेपछिनै अाफ्नै जस्तो गर्छन र भन्छन,"बाबु अरु
त सबै भुकम्पले लग्यो तर अलिकति अालु छ। थोरै भएपनि लग्नु
न।"

Words/photo: Prabin Thapaliya

https://www.facebook.com/prabinth13

Wanderlust

Music is what journey desires.
On My Way to Kathmandu from Sindhuli
I like to travel long distances. I am the guy who
sits on the last seat of the micro and wishes that
it never stopped. I cannot explain the magic in
staring out of the window and contemplating
while your thoughts dance with the music of the
wind.
There are people who cannot survive without
earphones. I am one of them.
It's like playing hide & seek with your miseries
while the passing trees and houses narrate you
their stories. The idea of losing myself to the
best music of Mozart and friends while the
highway is offering you heaven in pieces like
your favorite cupcake, it is my idea of heaven.
This is B.P. Koirala highway, it breathes. The
idea of heaven on earth has come to life.

-Aayush

The beauty of uncertainity

It was a normal Friday and I was bored, nothing

much to do and no electricity as well . Sitting in

the room was getting too monotonous. I started

to gaze out of the window. It was partly sunny

and wind blowing. At a distance I could see

some Buddhist prayer flags dancing along the

wind, it made me startled and I continued

watching for a while. Then I got up and decided

to walk around for a while. With my headphones

on and wearing a loose t-shirt and a short I

started to walk around Anamnagar.

As I began my walk it felt beautiful, the wind in

my face, a bit of long hair of mine being blown

and Linkin park in my ears. As I continued, it

turned to be too sunny out of nowhere. Now I

was in dilemma regarding whether to turn back

or march ahead .Coincidently a tempo came by

and luckily it had seats.so I continued on, seeing

the places from back of the tempo since it was

almost empty. Now uglyz started to bring maya

in my ears and I was passing by

Bhrikutimandap…the garbage smell made my

nose twitch. The trees and falling leaves on the

street on its shade near the tourism ministry

made me feel better. I smiled.

Now the tempo was heading towards Kathmandu

mall. The striking rays had been a bit gracious

and soft. Watching the vehicles,smokes, the big

Tudhikhel ,marbled sahid gate and people, the

journey continued in the safa tempo. I was blank

but don’t know why was feeling good. The tempo

reached Kathmandu mall and stopped amongst

the crowd of other safa tempos, I got down

handed the fair to the lady driver and stood in

front of mall, wind started to blow once again

and sun became faint.

Bought a bottle of water and sat in the stairs of

mall for a while shuffling through songs and

checking the fb. After half and hour I walked in

and looked here and there. Few stuffs were cool

and got my eyes but hadn’t carried enough

money. Saw a pretty girl in shop felt like

watching her for a while but avoided neither

could get in to look her because it was ladies

shop. Smiled again, now parelima played in my

ears by 1974 AD and I laughed alone. It was

almost 3:30 pm and I felt hungry. I left the mall

and headed towards sundhara of course for the

momos.

People were beginning to gather around the area

as it was beginning of the evening market

though it wasn’t crowded. With few push and

bangs I reached the place and asked for a plate

of momo, ate it looking at the dark sky which

was almost bright when I entered the mall. The

tummy was more than happy. After that I began

walking towards Basantpur .Now bob Dylan was

speaking to my ears saying answer Is blowing in

the wind and it kind of felt magical. Dark sky,

soft wind and of course blowing dust. I reached

there, started to climb the stairs of the big

monument in the centre of Basantapur and sat

there facing Hanuman Dhoka .I called a friend to

come over.

As I began to glare around lot of things came in

my mind. I was full of energy. My eyes caught a

pigeon on the roof of well-crafted monument

across mine. They were many of them but it was

alone, it rarely was moving. I felt exactly same at

that moment .The pigeon was me.I was in a

country which is so well crafted and trying to

break through but not able, just barely moving

and all alone. I was hoping when it will fly and

then saw a foreigner taking its picture .I thought

she came all way long for this and I being here

rarely do what she was doing. I smiled again

looking at the pigeon thinking I did great today, I

lived the city being alive.

Suddenly drops of pears started to fall from

gloomy sky and the pigeon flew, got mixed to its

crowd .I felt happy and laughed .Seeing

Basantapur in rain is mesmerizing and feeling it

in your hands and standing at top feels like being

on top of the world of art, history and joy .Being

there feels peace and seeing the pigeon fly gave

a glimpse of me flying, surely someday. Then my

friend arrived a bit drenched. We chatted for a

while and as the rain got low, we rode off amidst

the uncertainty ahead but with the smell of rain

and the beauty of the city around.

Words: Sanket Sapkota

https://m.facebook.com/sanket.sapkota1?refid=12

The Kathmandu we know!

Kathmandu can be mysterious with its surprising

change of weather in the recent days but even

the weather can't harm its beauty rather polishes

to attract more people here. The streets are

always crowded with people but nobody likes the

emptiness when you get used to the large mass

of people.

"I was just walking inside the Boudha Stupa few

hours ago observing people's activities. The

monastery is always crowded with people

specially in the evenings as the true color of the

God's creation could be felt at that period of

time. The peaceful fume that the place leaves

can calm down any mind and mesmerize the soul

within the premises."

The reason for the crowd inside the Stupa was

one of the alluring presence of Kathmandu's

finest product.

It is one of the tourist attraction center of the

Valley. The aroma of the premises is filled with

various Buddhist chants which welcomes you

and ultimately stops you to leave the place.

I wouldn't want to describe the place in words as

I wouldn't want to compromise the real beauty

of the place through my words.

Ultimately Kathmandu has been the city with

more World heritage sites than any other cities.

Life is one strange opportunity to live with so

many opportunities buried inside it. Roaming

around Kathmandu would be an opportunity to

bequest your eyes with the views of true heaven

to store the panorama in its diary.

Words: Pratik Ghimire

https://m.facebook.com/ghimire.pratik

The Animal connection.

Kathmandu is often called the city of God....the city of temple and monasteries......and here are
monkeys and pigeons guarding these holy temples......I don't know whether gods who are believed to be eternal residents of temple do still reside in the statue of temples or not but these
animals are sheltering in temple premises....
Pigeons in Basantapur Durbar Square
Monkey reluctantly eating apple in
Swyambhunath Stupa.

Words/Photo: Anup Joshi

arzose@gmail.com

Nature and its Beauty

Flowers-Orchids(Information and Status)
The flower offered of itself
And eloquently spoke
Of Gods
In languages of rainbows
Perfumes
And secret silence...~Phillip Pulfrey
1) Dendrobium longicornii
Orchids, popularly known as Sungava or Sunakhari are most extravagant family of flowering plants with medicinal properties which are distributed throughout tropical to high alpine regions of Nepal.
Picture: Dendrobium longicornii
Habitat: Epiphytic orchid distributed in eastern and central Nepal
Conservation Status: Facing problem due to deforestation and collection.

Photo/words: Asha Kiran Devkota

As I walk by...

I was walking to work and I usually see this man playing flute in the street.This day i fancied a talk with him. I asked him how difficult his life was. He replied,"Obviously its difficult when you do not have the power of vision which most take for granted.But I haven't given hope for myself because even if I cant see music helps me find my way".
Photo/words: Prabin Thapaliya

https://www.facebook.com/prabinth13

A day at Bhrikuti Mandap Fun Park

Fun park located at Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu is a land mark in itself. I guess the place famous as “Dragon Word” during the time we were kids has been visited by most kids of the valley and outside the valley alike. Personally speaking every holiday I got from school would end up with me dragging my mother and siblings to the dragon world. It seemed all so gigantic then, the ferry wheel felt like the tallest thing on earth, the stalls with crash the can games were so exciting and the Columbus was the most dreaded ride.
So when my friend suggested going there, the naïve me said “Who even goes there anymore?” I felt I was too cool to go there at this age. Somehow with growing up, I had forgotten the place which was an essential part of my childhood memories. Eventually I did agree. The day was hot, place crowded, the ferry wheel didn’t seem that tall anymore and I hardly paid attention to the crash can stalls. Yet the sheer excitement of the kids, the screams of people from the rides, the pond with the paddle duck boats and the joy that filled that place made me smile.
The first ride we took was the Columbus. Sure enough when you’ve grown up you would think you are brave enough now and wouldn’t scream or close your eyes shut. I was quiet mistaken about that. The scream came out louder than ever and that funny feeling in the gut was undeniable. The ferry wheel may not seem that intimidating now nevertheless at times it got petrifying. Even if the dragon ride it is just an excuse of a roller coaster at the fun park, the brief three rounds will leave you wanting more. I think the hit one with the teenagers is the electric car thing. I never got the hang of it but a lot of people seem to love it. Every other ride we took gave us the adrenaline rush no matter how tame the ride looked. There is so much more it offers, the horse ride, the haunted house, the boat ride at the little pond, the train ride. All of this might sound kiddish but believe me it is fun in its own way.
Regardless of how much you’ve matured there is no good denying the kid in you at times like these. Rather it is so much better to let go, laugh as much and get thrilled. True enough our fun park may not be any Essel World however it is all we got and we have to cherish it. I would definitely recommend going to our own fun park on a not so hot day with a lot of water and snacks. Pretty sure it will help you relive those treasured childhood days.

Words: Apurwa J Rae
https://www.facebook.com/earthtopisces?fref=n

The diary of the capital

Having been lived in Kathmandu for more than 19 years now, I have grown a sense of fondness and attachment with the city that gave thousands of memories to reminiscence in life. The city where I was born, the city where I grew up…the city that continues to share my experiences with.

Whenever I walked around the streets of Kathmandu, I always wondered, looking at the numerous faces everyday..what could their life stories possibly tell, the curious bug inside my head never stopped questioning me of the mystery those faces kept hidden. The world is so big, there are so many things left unheard and unseen. But here we are; confided to our very own little world of ourselves. I know, a single life would never be enough to cover the entire world or almost the half of it but the least we could do is try. My philosophy is why die curious? Starting from our country and then minimizing it to a city, the capital; the city of temples, histories and mysteries..Home to 9 lacs people and their dreams…Kathmandu is yet more to be discovered other than the basic outlook and approach. I wanted to find out more about the people…places…food…the underlying stories and the hidden pictures of Kathmandu via the lenses of other people and zooming in to the city’s uncovered with their personal understanding. Join in to this quest discoveries and knowledge and take a different perspective everyday and learn more about your very own city..Kathmandu!

Trying to bring Kathmandu to the people and the people closer to their city.

Words: Sambridhi Pandey

psambridhi@gmail.com