9 772091 109009

ISSN 2091-1092

Every Thursday | issuE 178 | Rs. 20

17 JULY 2013 | @ >fj0f @)&)sUbscriber copYwww.fridayweekly.com.np

www.facebook.com/fridayweekly

Drummers Day Out IIKathmandu Jazz conservatory and Drummer’s circle come together to bring you the much anticipated Drummers’ Day out ii.Continued on page 2

Continued on page 14

Under 18 not Allowedit’s a tale parroted by many tattoo artists, a tattoo is sometimes simple, sometimes elaborate, and always personal.

southboundJust a few kilometers away on the southern front of the valley stands the grand chain of chandagiri hills. Continued on page 17

Drummers’ Day Out II

start off with our picksgetstarted

Yeshe Choden Rapten

While Kathmandites believe that they’ve seen all there is to see,

a vast unchartered ground still remains with a throng of possibilities beneath the surface. Over the years, much of the drumming scene in Nepal has gone unnoticed. While most can only assimilate this form of percussion in the generic genres of rock and jazz, a few others step outside the lines of these more established schools of music and tread on the less familiar yet exciting ground of beats.

After the overwhelming success of their first Drummers’ Day Out last August, Drummer’s Circle, in collaboration with the well-reputed Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory is bringing Drummers’ Day Out II to the people of K-town! A result of much anticipation and a great deal of inquiry has decided that 5 July is a convenient date for all. Ashesh Kulung Rai, Kiran Shahi, Kismat D. Shrestha, Pratap Risal, and Rishav Acharya who together make up the ultimate drummer dream team call themselves the Drummers’ Circle. KJC

event manager, Shanti Gurung tells us, “They have invested a lot of time into ensuring that this is a successful event. They want to expose the drummers of Kathmandu to all kinds of genres.” It is apparent that the group is leaving a mark for themselves in the music world of Nepal, but what is even more evident is their passion to inspire and change the conditions of the drumming scene in the country.

While the event is centered around the 5 drummers’ frequent jams, (and a final showstopper by the group,) it will also be celebrating the talent of a spectrum of drummers, from the amateur to the professional, and a spectrum of instrumentalists in a number of solos and duets. Some of the more established drummers who will make an appearance are Rajat Rai, Rohit Shakya, Jay Ram, Bijent Bikram Shah and Anamol Mahara. Gurung recalls that last year the event welcomed music enthusiasts

when 13 July

Time 2:30pm to 5:00pm

where Moksh Auditorium, Kathmandu Jazz conservatory (KJc,) Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur

what Drummers’ Day out ii

Ticket Price rs. 100

at a glance

and musicians from the tender age of 8 to the more seasoned age of 64. The beauty of music is that it retains its nature of true magic whether listened to from the ears of the young or the old.

“KJC likes to come up with events that really think outside of the box,” says Gurung, who also tells us that usually a large number of talented drummers go under the radar because only a handful of people see them at gigs. Drummers’ Day Out II and its many more successors to come (the event is an annual one,) hope to push these boundaries that confine so many from being discovered. !

Continued from page 1

page3make your statement

Tripti D. Shrestha

celebrity surveillance

Girish KhatiwadaMC/Rapper, Girish khatiwada is not only popular but is also accredited for the introduction of rap music to Nepal. Also a well-known DJ, he has performed in almost all of the popular clubs in Nepal including some international ones. A teacher, producer, and also upcoming director, Khatiwada is truly a versatile character. Busy as he is, the father of Nepali rap still makes time for his fans. He recently launched a new album called Sadak ko Army and despite his hectic schedule with the album promotion, Fr!day gets an inside scoop of his daily schedule.

5:45 amThough not a morning person, Khatiwada wakes up early to let Aaya didi in the house and starts his day with a warm black tea and some chit chat with his wife, Jyoti.

11:00 pmAfter a busy day full of work Girish collapses into the soft covers of his bed and is asleep before he has time to think about anything else.

2:00 pmKhatiwada has a habit of going out at 2:00 pm, so he always arranges his schedule accordingly. Usually he hangs out at purple studio or rain studio with his friends spaddix, Viber and K-world, discussing new songs, new beats, and new music.

5:00 pmrecently married, Khatiwada loves to be home early. once he gets freshened up, he starts to write songs and learn video editing skills. Despite having cinematographed and directed his title track sadak ko Army by himself, Khatiwada still feels that he is an amateur. He wants to learn advanced video editing and effects.

8:00 pmback home for some warm and light dinner, Khatiwada loves to hear how his wife’s day went and shares his own story. He is a family guy, there’s no doubt about that.

8:45 pm

Night is the only time he feels he can really concentrate on his music so he gets back to his little home studio and continues working feverishly on various compositions and videos. There

7:00 amAfter an hour of tossing and turning in bed, he finally freshens up for – what he likes to call – a productive day. Khatiwada then thinks of all the work he has to do and plans the day ahead accordingly.

9:00 amHis favorite part of the morning is the time spent with his wife in the kitchen where he helps her prepare the morning meal. “cooking is not my cup of tea but i do love to chop vegetables and use Facebook while i’m at it,” shares the rapper.

10:00 amit’s that time of day when we get to see a different side of Khatiwada; the skinny man puts on formal attire as he heads off to Nesfield college in Lagankhel, where he teaches behavioral science to bbA students.

11:15 amHe takes pride in his job as a teacher. “Teaching helps one to know the inner self,” says Khatiwada. The students love the class and are very attentive during his 45 minutes lecture.

Favorite international artist Rakim and atmosphere

Favorite Nepalese artist sugam Pokhrel and upcoming rapper laure and mC Flo.

First rap in 8 grade meaningless rap

12:30 pmHe returns home as he needs to return to his usual tattooed self in skinny jeans and converse. once he is done with lunch he starts creating some beats.

12,019 Fans on Facebook

are some days when he takes a break during this hour usually assigned to work and instead prefers watching movies with his beloved. Pulp Fiction has been his alltime favorite movie.

Ballantine’s Finestone of the five product range from ballantine’s scotch whisky, ballantine’s Finest is soft, sweet and complex in terms of taste. belonging to a heritage that goes back to the year 1827, ballantine’s Finest, like the other ballantine’s contains malts from the 4 corners of scotland - speyside, Highlands, islay and the Lowlands. This blend creates a unique and luxurious scotch whisky that is not only complex, but also perfectly balanced.

Tasting notesColor: Light goldnose: Deep with hints of spiceBody: roundedPalate: Well balanced with tones of chocolate, apple and vanilla followed by a gentle floral finishFinish: sophisticated after-taste gives a fresh floral glow

Caught by the Animation Bugthe buzz-makers

people

We watch animated movies and get enthralled by the level of imagination and brilliance that captivates us. In Kathmandu, animation movies, whether in 2D or 3D from the likes of Walt Disney, Pixar, Blue Sky Studios have always gained popularity. But how many of us think about the amount of hard work and technical prowess one needs to get into the field of animation, especially in a country like ours. This week, Fr!day talks to three such people who are involved in the field of animation and working towards establishing a sound future for animation in Nepal.

i love animation because animation for me translates to creative genius. it is for the people who dream big and i am a dreamer.

if not an animator i would have loved to become a pilot.

my favorite animation movie is Monsters, inc. produced by pixar and ice Age series produced by blue sky. i also loved the opening title of bal Kaaryakram and commercial spots produced by incessant rain.

The major challenge for animators and the art of animation has to be the lack of proper financial investment. Young learners interested in this art need basic guidance and consultancy for them to thrive in this creative field.

5 years down the line i see myself working on a feature length Nepali animated film.

my biggest achievement till date would be making the animated television advertisement for Hatthi chaap chappal with my friend Kirti Janardhan Joshi. i have survived 18 years in Nepal doing animation and visual graphics which i count as a great accomplishment.

my inspiration in the field of animation in the: international arena includes John Lasseter, George Lucas, blur studio, and blue sky studio. i also admire the works of Karun Thapa, Nirmal serchan, Vijay Kumar chaudhary and suyogya ratna Tuladhar.

laxan Kundan started his career as a Junior Animator at Cinematrix Studio. Some of his projects include working on an animation video for the crash investigation of Sita, Tara and Buddha Air and info graphics and an educational animation clip about AIDS for UNICEF. Currently he is working as a freelance artist and an animation instructor at Eclipse Animation Academy.

i love animation because it involves the art of movement where we can create our own character, our own world and make it come alive. i can make a tomato talk, a baby fly or transform a car into a beautiful girl. Animation is fun.

if not an animator i would have probably become a painter.

my favorite animation movie is Tangled, pocahontas and Tarzan produced by Walt Disney Animation. WALL-e by pixar, and spirited Away, a Japanese animated fantasy film.

The major challenge for animators is that our enthusiasm to make something out of animation is lost because many companies doubt our efficiency. in the past years we did not have a sound foundation for animation in Nepal, i am glad that the scene is getting better.

i love animation because animation has played a huge role in my life and it has always been inside of me. even when i was young i used to draw stick figures and make them walk, jump, smile and cry.

if not an animator i would be a computer software programmer which is how i started my career.

my favorite animation movie includes a list of hundreds of movies that i have watched over the past years. i am a huge fan of animated movies and watch those several times. some of my favorites include Framing roger rabbit, Finding Nemo, Toy story, ice Age, rio, and The Lion King.

The major challenge for animators is we lack efficiency and sound ideas. Animators and visual effects artists need to aim big. The government

needs to recognize the potential of the people in iT-related fields and facilitate

outsourcing.

5 years down the line i would like to see Nepal opening new arenas for

animators and investing in quality resources and development

an animated character that i absolutely adore is Gollum from the lord of the Rings trilogy. The computer generated imagery of this character, its texturing and the photorealistic rendering has set a high standard for all the animators.

one animated character very close to my heart is mickey mouse, a cartoon character and the official mascot of The walt Disney Company. mickey’s body composed of circles in order to make the character simple to animate is genius in itself.

an animated character that i absolutely love is lady Eboshi from the movie Princess monokoke. in all of miyazaki’s movies the characters are simple yet much detail has been put into their appearance which is commendable.

needs to recognize the potential of the people in iT-related fields and facilitate

outsourcing.

animators and investing in quality resources and development

Young learners interested in this art need basic guidance and consultancy for them to thrive in this creative field.

5 years down the line i see myself working on a feature length Nepali animated film.

my biggest achievement till date would be making the animated television advertisement for Hatthi chaap chappal with my friend Kirti Janardhan Joshi. i have survived 18 years in Nepal doing animation and visual graphics which i count as a great accomplishment.

my inspiration in the field of in the: international arena

includes John Lasseter, George Lucas, blur studio, and blue sky studio. i also admire the works of Karun Thapa, Nirmal serchan, Vijay Kumar chaudhary and suyogya ratna

started his career as a Junior Animator at Cinematrix Studio. Some of his projects include working on an animation video for the crash investigation of Sita, Tara and Buddha Air and info graphics and an educational animation clip about AIDS for UNICEF. Currently he is working as a freelance artist and an animation instructor

The major challenge for animatorsenthusiasm to make something out of animation is lost because many companies doubt our efficiency. in the past years we did not have a sound foundation for animation in Nepal, i am glad that the scene is getting better.

an animated character that i absolutely adore is Gollum from the lord of the Rings trilogy. The computer generated imagery of this character, its

an animated character that i absolutely love is lady Eboshi from the movie Princess monokoke. in all of miyazaki’s movies the characters are simple yet much detail has been put into their appearance which is commendable.

one animated character very close to my heart is mickey mouse, a cartoon character and the official mascot of The walt Disney Company. mickey’s body composed of circles in order to make the character simple to animate is genius in itself.

an animated character that i absolutely love is lady Eboshi from the movie Princess monokoke. in all of miyazaki’s movies the characters are simple yet much detail has been put into their appearance which is commendable.

people in iT-related fields and facilitate an animated character that i absolutely love is lady Eboshi from the movie Princess monokoke. in all of miyazaki’s movies the characters are simple yet much detail has been put into their appearance which is commendable.

5 years down the line i see myself working in my personal studio.

my biggest achievement till date would be my skill which gives me the ability to create any animation that i want.

my inspiration in the field of animation would definitely be Hayao Miyazaki.

menuka Rai has worked as a 2D animator at MIDAS Tech for four years. She also has a diploma in 3D animation. Currently, she is working as a freelancer animator and doing art direction for a Nepali feature movie Suntali.

so that trained animators are produced, which is required by international companies.

my biggest achievement till date would be introducing 3D animation in Nepal in 1992 and being awarded the icT Award for serving the industry for over 25 years.

my inspiration in the field of animation i would say are comic books that i read during my school days. i was a fan of Asterix and Tintin comics and every time i read them, the characters would come alive which inspired me to become an animator.

Karun Thapa is the first person to introduce 3D animation in Nepal and has contributed to Nepali IT and Media sector with his innovative ideas for more than 25 years. He is also a multi-talented 3D Animator, CEO of Mantra Network, as well as IT and Media Consultant of Himalaya Television. His pioneering contribution to different sectors has been an inspiration to many.

Samyak Moktan

and Buddha Air and info graphics and an educational animation clip about AIDS for UNICEF. Currently he is working as a freelance artist and an animation instructor

issues that matterfeatureLate Night Rowdies

I am a hardworking person, working 9 to 5; sometimes even late, and my only wish

when I reach home is to have a hearty meal with my family, watch some TV and then whizz to the land of dreams. Except, that is not the case.

I live in Patan. For many it might seem like a bed of roses. Of course, living the heritage and architecture, day in and day out is a luxury not everyone has, but where there is ying, there is yang. Or should I say in my case, more yang than yin. One might assume the topsy-turvy narrow alleys to be peaceful at night, where even the creatures of the night would think twice before howling into the air. However, you will be disappointed to know that the reality is not even close to it.

Dogs howling into the night

Akriti Shilpakar

sky is one thing to tolerate, listening to drunken singing in the middle of the night is a completely different story altogether. The story began with a series of nights, where what seemed like a harmless groups of men, made noise after a few shots of drinks. For starters, we ignored and tried to focus on our sleep. But things were about to get very nasty in our peaceful neighbourhood.

We knew what was attracting all these hooligans to our society - a retail store, that turned into a liquor outlet at night. But out of habit no one found it necessary to do anything about those hooligans or the store. I don’t remember how many nights the store was open till late at night before it got my attention and rest of the neighborhood’s too.

I am a dead sleeper. Normally, the dogs crying in the night don’t bother me at all. But this time it was different. A group of men, sitting at the pati in front of the shop and the ruckus they were making woke me up in at 1:00 am in morning. I thought I heard someone swear in my dream. Someone yelled which was followed by a series of expletives. I woke up to what seemed like a non-stop utterance of profanities. It made me sick

to my guts. From all the shouting that was happening it was clear that there were two groups and they were all drunk. They were having a fight; fortunately only one from each group seemed to be having trouble with the other. The rest of the members were keeping them from turning it into a huge fight. I knew that any moment, either of the group could lose its cool and in a blink of an eye things could turn out to be pretty nasty. And it didn’t take very long for that to happen.

In a matter of seconds, I could hear the sounds of body collapsing on the floor and being slammed down hard. It was a riot. I heard someone from next door yell. Nobody had the guts to go down and get involved in the mess. Neither did I. But I made a call. A call to the police station that went unanswered. By the time I got off the phone, after a frustrating hope of someone answering the call, I realized the fight had mellowed down. Suddenly there was a sense of calmness in the air. The men were still there, still cursing but without the sound of bodies being bashed up, everything looked brighter. I curled up in my bed, scared and sleepless for hours before God knows when I went back to sleep.

The next morning brought forth an angry group of locals. Surprisingly, my parents didn’t hear a thing that night. But a father is a

father. The accounts of the night and his concerns for my safety, led him to take matters into his own hand, if the society was to do nothing. He walked up to the store and asked the shopkeeper to either voluntarily shut down the store by 10 in the evening, or to say goodbye to his shop. Seems like my father’s warning worked like a charm. A month has passed and there has been no problem like the previous riot.

The incident I narrated above may not sound important but it is just the tip of an iceberg. It could have been worse. Some one could have been badly hurt in the fight or even the unthinkable. Late night rowdies is not a subject that should be taken lightly. The consequences of which we keep hearing in the news. An action has to be taken, whether it be on an individual or a communal level or through law enforcers. In our society, the main reason behind such rowdies was the store. It was inviting the problem. And so, it was important we rooted out the main source. And that we did. But late night rowdies is a problem that can occur anywhere, at any time. A well aware person would be prepared to face such a problem. Find out the contact details of your nearest police department, so that in time of need, help would be just a few rings away. !

Read

Every Thursday

11 12 1314 15 16 17

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

things to dothings to do

what’s things to dothings to do

on

make the most of the cityevents

POST US: email event details to events@fridayweekly.com.np or call 5011571/ 5011639/ 5011730/ 5011731 for listings. Listings are free but inclusion is not guaranteed due to limited space.

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

1. BasTillE Day CElEBRaTionGet ready to celebrate the fun and festivities of the French National Day at Alliance Francaise.

2. KJC summER CamPKJc brings to you a summer camp which includes music workshops, dance, art and craft classes perfect for your kid this summer.

3. BRunCh anD swim aT summiT hoTElif you want a relaxing weekend go to the summit Hotel where you can swim and enjoy a scrumptious brunch.

Publisher: ECS MEDIA PVT. LTD. Editor: SUNIL RAJ SHRESTHA Director, Editorial & Marketing: NRIPENDRA KARMACHARYASr. Manager, Editorial & Marketing: SUDEEP SHAKYASr. Manager, Business Planning & Development: RUPESH SHAKYAManager, Editorial & Promotions: NILADRI S. PARIAL

Color Separation & Printed at: WordScape The Printer Pvt. Ltd.Bhaisepati, Lalitpur5548861, 5552335Distributor: Kasthamandap Distribution Pvt. Ltd. 424.7241

ecs Media pvt. Ltd, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Nepal. 5011571.No. 178 17 July 2013

D.A.o. Lalitpur regd. No.77-066/67

Sr. Manager, Editorial & Marketing: NEERAZ KOIRALAEditorial Coordinator: TRIPTI D. SHRESTHAInhouse Writers: AKRITI SHILPAKAR, SUPRASANNA ARYALCopy Editor: ANUJ D. ADHIKARYDesign Executive: SUNIL MAHARJANDesign Assistant: NARAYAN MAHARJANSr. Photographer: DASH B. MAHARJANPhotographer: UMESH BASNET, YOGENDRA MAHARJAN, ANUP SHRESTHA, AMAR D. RAI, RAJIL MANANDHAR, PRAJWOL MAHARJAN, NIRAJ MAHARJANHead, Business Development: BIJENDRA PRADHAN, ANGIRAS MANANDHARSr Executive, Business Development: SACHIN TAMRAKARAssistant Executive, Business Development: NIRBHEEK SUBEDIAssistants, Business Development:BABISH MAHARJANPromotions & PR Assistant: RASHMI AGRAWALAd Enquiries: sales@fridayweekly.com.npSr. Executive, Production & Distribution: BIKRAM SHRESTHASubscription & Distribution Executive: ATULYA ACHARYASubscription & Distribution Coordinator: SUJAN SHRESTHA

Our sister publications

DisClaimERDetails of the event listings are accurate as per information received before the date the weekly goes for printing. Fr!day is not responsible for any changes.columnists are entitled to their own views and opinions. They do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ecs Media and the organizaton cannot be held liable for the same. readers are encouraged to write to us at editorial@fridayweekly.com.np

Pool Party with a CauseDate: 13 July (saturday); Time: 1:00 pm onwards; Venue: Aroma restaurant & Fitness center, sanepa, Lalitpur; 9843410702

pool parties are the latest craze in Nepal – and it makes sense, for what better way could there be than to cool down in this hot and humid weather with a dip in a cool pool. in this pool party organized by WoW events you can do just that and more. With an attempt to launch the career of bebek Thapalia (Trese Hood) and sashank (sainsaw), the event will also feature artists like reshma sunwar, Viber-b and bidan pradhan.

A heated rap battle is to be expected according to the organizers. Also take part in pool games or choose to loosen your body and dance to the music played by DJ Nishant and DJ chou. And it doesn’t end just yet. Fashion show is something that will help you get away from all the excitement going on. For the hungry stomachs, there will be delicious beach-themed dishes served. remember, this is not just a frivolous pool party but an event with a cause, i.e. a blood donation program.

Ticket price: rs. 500

musiC anD PaRTiEs

Crazy, sexy, wild Dance PartyDate: 12 July (Friday)Time: 1:00 pm to 8:00 pmVenue: club platinum9841277705

Here is a party for your calendar. The best DJ with top club numbers – what’s there not to love? so on 12 July, make sure you go to the crazy, sexy, Wild Dance party and get as crazy, sexy and wild as you possibly can.

Ticket price (single): rs. 400

(couple): rs. 300

a wow Pool PartyDate: 13 July (saturday)Time: 1:00 pm onwardsVenue: Aroma restaurant & Fitness center, sanepa, Lalitpur9843410702

pool parties are not just for fun and this event by WoW events will show you just that. Dance to the tunes played by DJ Nishant and DJ chou all the way from the UK. When you are tired from all the dancing, join the pool games to refresh yourself. You

can also enjoy the fashion show or sample some special beach-themed dishes. Through this event, WoW is hoping not only to introduce new artists but also raise funds for their next project, a blood donation program.

Ticket price: rs. 500

Drummers’ Day out iiDate: 13 July (saturday)Time: 2:45 pm onwardsVenue: Moksh, Jhamshikhel5013554, info@katjazz.com.np

Drummers’ Day out i was a huge success and now Kathmandu Jazz conservatory and The Drummers’ circle are back with Drummers’ Day out ii. on 13 July be sure to witness the best drummers in Kathmandu showcasing their talent with other musicians in attendance. This is the event for people who love drums and want to experience an amazing concert. The drummers in the circle are- Ashesh Kulung rai, Kiran shahi, Kismat D. shrestha, pratap risal and rishav Acharya along with a special appearance by sanjay shrestha. And if other drummers want to participate

in this event, contact shanty@katjazz.com.np.

cover charge: rs. 100

French national Day in Kathmandu – Dance Party @ Délices de FranceDate: 14 July (sunday)Time: 9:00 pm onwardsVenue: Délices de France, Thamel4260326

celebrate the French National Day with a dance party. The French revolution dating back 200 years is still a reason to celebrate – and do so at Délices de France. party lovers, you have one more reason to dance till dawn break on 14 July. The DJ of the night will be DJ surr. Those who want to give this day a toast can do so because the cash bar will be open.

entrance: Free

misCEllanEous

Friday movie nightsDate: 12 July (Friday)Time: 7:00 pm onwardsVenue: Meconopsis boutique Hotel, Lalitpur5544879

Mark Friday as a movie night on your calendar. This Friday, go to Meconopsis boutique Hotel to enjoy a good movie and great food. This is not just a one-time event; every Friday Meconopsis boutique Hotel will be hosting a movie night. This Friday they are showing Twilight samurai. With the movie you can enjoy a three-course meal for just rs. 800 net. You can also buy one budweiser and get another for free.

KJC summER CamP 2013opening Date: 15 July (Moday)closing Date: 26 July (Friday)Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pmVenue: Kathmandu Jazz conservatory, Jhamsikhel5013554, info@katjazz.com.np

This summer camp is god-send for parents with four to eleven year olds who are doing nothing but being little trouble makers at home. Kathmandu Jazz conservatory (KJc) is organizing a summer camp where Ms. Kyra Newton and Ms. shreeti pradhan will be giving music and dance classes. KJc’s in-house music instructors as well as visiting teachers will be giving workshops on music. The children will also have arts and crafts classes, modern

Insider’s Tip

what to wear?pool party is all about enjoying the summer. put on summer dresses! boys will looks good in short, a simple t-shirt and slippers, if you are actually planning on jumping into the pool. otherwise, wear anything that suits you. Girls should try playful colors. shorts and tank-tops go well together. Do take a swimsuit with you, because you will need it.

how to have fun?Where there is a party, you are bound to have fun. but the fun part of a pool party is the pool itself. Jump into the pool and learn to have some fun. play some pool games with your pals. off the water, dance to the beats of DJs and enjoy a drink or two!

what to avoid?Getting wasted at a pool party is a complete no-no. Don’t drink too much to begin with and avoid picking up fights because it kills the spirit of the party. Also, just because there is a pool doesn’t mean you have to make some nasty jumps. First of all, you look like a show-off and secondly, it is very dangerous. (Pooja Pradhan)

Dibesh Dangol, a regular at pool parties guides you through the dos and don’ts of a pool party

9Issue 178 | 17 July 2013Fr!dayeventsevents

Disclaimer:Fr!day does not endorse any event printed, mentioned or listed in the publication. event participants are advised to cross-refer to sources for validation.

Turn to page 19 for details on live performances around town.

dance classes and will also go on field trips. There is also Aikido classes for children who are interested. on 27 July the children will be putting together a performance that combines music and motion to show what they have learned in the camp.

reservation fees: rs. 800package fee: rs 8,000

BasTillE Day CElEBRaTionDate: 12 July (Friday)Time: 1:00 pm onwardsVenue: Alliance Francaise, Kathmandu4242832

Just because they are celebrating the French national day two days earlier does not mean it’s not going to be fun. Alliance Francaise has a list of

their fashionable clothes, because Fashion Freak is having a super sale for ladies wear. You can also find some of their new arrivals in this event. so on 12 July shop while you are listening to live acoustic band setting the ambiance for a fun day of shopping. if you are hungry or thirsty, do enjoy the vast array of food from the food stalls and exotic cocktails and mocktails offered.

Free entrance Paintball for the needyDate: 13 July (saturday)Time: 8:00 am to 8:00 pmVenue: The Target Arena, sanepa, Lalitpur9849038688

organized by elite events and Management and supported by the rotaract club of Jawalakhel, this paintballing event is unlike any you have been to before. You can come with your friends or just come with a couple of people they will help you make groups. For those who want to have a nibble after all that running around there are food stalls that will surely help you get your energy up for a second round. This is a fundraising event for orphans and differently abled people. The fundraising hopes to provide the necessary equipment to differently abled people, and basic needs for orphans though sahara Foundation.

Ticket price: rs. 300

BRunCh anD a swim aT summiT hoTElopening Date: 13 July (saturday) closing Date: 14 July (sunday)Time : 11:00 amVenue: summit Hotel , Kupondole Height5524694

Weekends should be family time, nothing just relax time. so why not go out and have a brunch with your family? but before you have the brunch, swim for some time to increase your appetite. At summit Hotel this weekend you can do all that. enjoy a relaxing or invigorating swim then eat the scrumptious buffet spread. in all have a great family time with our loved ones. Those of age can also enjoy a complementary can of chilled beer.

price for brunch: rs.1200++ per person

Bubbly BrunchDate: 13 July (saturday)Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pmVenue: shambala Garden and club, Kathmandu4412999

This saturday, shambala Garden and club has bubbly brunch every saturday. They offer hot and cold buffet, as well as two live counters. in one of the live counter the chef makes the deliciously filling chicken showarma right in front of you. if you want to enjoy a bit heartier dish, then try the pasta. in the live counter section you can choose the sauce and the spices you want in your pasta. You will also get a complementary sparklingly white wine with the bubbly brunch.

cost of brunch: rs. 1,100 per person

starry night BBQDate: 12 July (Friday)Time: 7:00 pm onwardsVenue: shambala Garden and club, Kathmandu4412999

saturday is a fun day, why not make Friday night a fun night as well? At shambala Garden and club you can do just that – enjoy a delicious bbQ meal accompanied by ciney Grung’s melodious singing. Make sure you try both Mongolian bbQ with noodles and Mongolian spices of your choice and the tender traditional form of bbQ. if you don’t want to try the bbQ then there is also a buffet that you can enjoy.

Dinner price: rs. 1,299 per person

Friday’s Event @ The FactoryDate: 12 July (Friday)Time: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pmVenue: The Factory, Mandala street, Thamel9801031334

enjoy live performances by the band prayas with unique acoustic sounds that will calm your sould after a tiring day at work. The Factory is introducing the band that is also the winner of the Kantipur reality television show Tonguecutters. prayas will be performing a number of Hindi, Nepali and english songs, followed by Factory’s own DJ Niral after 9:00 pm.

entrance: Free

events that you can enjoy on 12 July. pétanque contest is at one so be ready to toss some balls or dodge some balls in a game of dodgeball. Then at three you can enjoy the animated movie The illusionist by s. chomet. Dress up as famous French characters or a French symbol for the costume contest. Have fun dancing to the French brass band somewhere over the Tempo. Get a blue, white and red make up to mark the occasion.

Free entrance Fashion Freak presents summer winter saleDate: 12 July (Friday)Time: 11:00 am onwardsVenue: imago Dei, Naag pokhari, Kathmandu980-3283373

Fashion Free online makes some amazing fashion statement with cool design and funky styles. This Friday be sure to go to imago Dei restaurant if you want to check out

Gypsy Jazz with Hari MaharjanDate: 27 June (saturday); Venue: Trisara Garden, Lazimpat contact: 01-5550191, 5521691

JJ sultans studio featuring renowned guitarist Hari Maharjan is showcasing an evening with Gypsyjazz, an intriguing form of jazz. Hari Maharjan has achieved wide popularity with this unique genre that blends together to create a fusion of Middle eastern influences, Nepalese folk, rock and jazz styles. Understood and enjoyed by both national and international audience, their melodic instrumental pieces are orchestrated and ornamented with both eastern and western influences.

how to enjoy jazz music?You just listen to the music without any preconceived notion; for what it is. Jazz music is usually advertised for being very demanding in nature, which is actually a fallacy if you’ve heard all time classics like Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World or Frank sinatra’s Fly Me to the Moon. Like with any genre you need to know certain jazz standards to be able to comprehend the music. These very standards are treated in different ways and interpreted in various manners by jazz musicians.

Things to avoid?As i mentioned: preconceived notions. one should not tend to frequently deconstruct music because are various elements that may be too complicated for the same. Deal with it using an organic approach. if you understand how jazz musicians interpret it, you get a proper grasp of the genre. There are certain jazz eras like dixieland, swing, bebop, hard bop cool jazz, modern, modal, fusion and others that one needs to be familiar with in order to have a proper grip on the genre. After all, jazz standards are songs with lyrics that are interpreted further in various idioms instrumentally.

Top tipsI would recommend artists like:ella Fitzgerald, billie Holiday , Louis Armstrong, chet baker, Miles Davis, Duke ellington, Thelonious Monk for a starter. or one could even listen to smooth jazz albums to get familiar with the genre. people like Larry carlton, George benson, pat Metheny and so forth. (Tripti D. Shrestha)

Insider’s Tip

Disclaimer:Fr!day does not endorse any event printed, mentioned or listed in the publication. event participants are advised to cross-refer to sources for validation.

Turn to page 19 for details on live performances around town.

events in the next few weeks

mark yourevents in the next few weeks

calendar

make the most of the cityevents

musiC anD PaRTiEs

The Project XDate: 3 August (saturday)Time: 12:00 pm to 12:00 amVenue: Woodland complex, Durbar Marg9818414131, 9841484919, 9803498628, 9808569110

After the ‘project-X promotional party’, The project X, the events management company is coming up with the main event, The project X. DJ Niral and DJ rabbit will be spinning the deck. Join in for the energizing party featuring food, drinks and fun.pre sales: rs. 599 (includes a drink)Door sales: rs. 799 (includes a drink)

End of the summerDate: 27 July (Thursday)Time: 3:00 pm onwardsVenue: international club, sanepa9801032305, 9851132305

A pool party called end of the summer is being organized this July. The event will be accompanied by music by DJ

chaos, DJ Finzok, DJ rabbit and DJ rupesh.

let’s Get wet Grind summer Pool PartyDate: 10 August (saturday)Time: 1:00 pm onwardsVenue: Nature club, Dhapasi Height, Dhapasi9808263228

An event organized by party people, this will be the party to be at. They are hosting their annual summer pool party at Nature club. Get wet, and forget all your worries once you come to the party. The DJs for this awesome party will be DJ palden Tamang, DJ Man ixh, DJ candy sagar singh. misCEllanEous

Kathmandu Kora Cycling ChallengeDate: 20 July (saturday)Time: 7:00 amVenue: patan Durbar square4468128

For three years, the third saturday of July has been marked as the day when cyclists ride 50 kilometers around the Kathmandu Valley. every year they ride for a cause. This year they plan to build an eco-designed building for a birthing facility. They plan to make the building earthquake-proof, secure, warm and welcoming because just having a building

that meets minimum requirements is not enough. in order to raise the money to contsruct this facility, participants are requested to ask their friends, family members or companies to pledge at least rs. 100 for every kilometer they ride.

monsoon yoga weekend with Ellenopening Date: 20 July (saturday)closing Date: 21 July (sunday)Time: 8:00 am to 7:00 pmVenue: Neydo Monastery,pharping

Join pranamaya Yoga for an inspiring weekend at a Tibetan buddhist monastery. engage in yoga classes from ellen with classic Ashtanga yoga system, a walk to a famous meditation cave nearby, a teaching about buddhism from the abbot of the monastery and join the morning prayers of the monks in the beautiful main hall. Yoga classes will be suitable for all levels. expenses include accommodation on twin sharing basis, vegetarian meals, transportation, yoga instruction and a yoga mat.

Tickets: rs. 9,750

movie night at alliance FrancaiseDate: 18 July (Thursday)Time: 7:00 pm onwardsVenue: Alliance Francaise, banshi Ghat Marg, Teku road, Kathmandu424 2832

Alliance Francaise is screening a movie called poupoupidou (Nobody else but You) by Gerarfd Hustache-Mathieu. The movie stars Jean-paul rouve, sophie Quinton and Guillaume Gouix et olivier rabourdin.

entry: Free

Goalmari, Bandladesh’s own islandopening Date: 25 July (Thursday)closing Date: 15 August (Thursday)Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pmVenue: Alliance Francaise, banshi Ghat Marg, Teku road, Kathmandu424 2832

in this photographic project, Munem Wasif has focused on the water

tragedy bangladesh is facing. Wasif is a multi-award-winning photographer, and has won a prix pictet commission to document a water project in bangladesh in 2008.

women in Green FestDate: 26 July (Friday)Venue: borderlands eco Adventure resort, bhote Koshi4381214/4381425

Ladies, it is time to go green in a whole different style! pack your bags and take your spouse with you to spend some quality time at borderlands eco Adventure resort. This event can help you unwind; relieve your stress and celebrate womanhood. Fun activities, games and music are further highlights of the event. The ticket price includes transportation, accommodation and a 3-meal package.

Ticket price: rs. 4,000 (For couples)rs. 2,300 (For ladies)

K11’s The Cloud spotlightDate: 27 July (saturday)Time: 6:00 pm onwardsVenue: summit Hotel, Kupondol9841552045

enjoying songs by the bands that you know and love is great. but even better is discovering a new band. K11’s The cloud have been able to carve a niche for themselves by blending traditional Nepali beats with well known Western songs. be sure to mark 27 July on your calendar as the day to discover a new talent in the Nepali music industry, enjoy their music with fellow music enthusiasts and other well known faces in the music industry.

Sarthak Upadhyay, a true Jazz fanatic and musician gives his insight on attending a Jazz concert.

11Issue 178 | 17 July 2013Fr!day 11Fr!dayevents

event reviews of the past week

event reviews of thethe week

event reviews of theevent reviews of thethat was

Issue 178 | 17 July 2013

Celebrating RopainDibesh DangolLalitpur, 29 June

Following last year’s success, the annual ropain festival was held in the emerald green paddy fields of bajrabarahi on 29 June. on a drizzling saturday morning the event kicked off with approximately 90 participants from all backgrounds and ages. The organizers attempted to showcase the festival in the true spirit of the planting season. participants along with farmers and locals planted rice seedlings side by side, followed by a snack in the field. The plantation festival was followed by a Newari feast.“The rice planting Festival is all about showcasing the local traditions by honoring the staple diet, and of course a chance to play and wrestle in the mud!” said raj Gyawali, the Founding Director of social Tours. The annual ropain rice planting Festival is organized by social Tours and powerful Hands.

hotel shangri-la Turns 35Suprasanna AryalKathmandu, 1 July Hotel shangri-La, on the occasion of its 35th anniversary, organized

a cleaning and donation program at the hotel’s premises in Lazimpat. The hotel’s employees participated in the cleaning program conducted around the hotel as well as in other parts of the neighborhood. As its corporate social responsibility, the hotel collected money and other items like clothes, instant food, etc. which were handed over to Nepal red cross society and Himalaya Television to help flood victims of Darchula. raju bikram shah, senior General Manager of the hotel, shared that he was immensely pleased with the noble activity to mark the anniversary. A 15% discount on food and beverages for the guests was also offered that day.

Telling Stories – a Photography workshopDibesh DangolKathmandu, 4 July

Voice to express in collaboration with photo Journalist club Nepal conducted a photography workshop titled Telling stories for beginners and working professionals. The event was conducted by award-winning photographer sailendra Kharel from 4 to 10 July at the Nepal Tourism board, bhrikuti Mandap. The workshop

included daily assignments and group discussion of their work followed by presentations and lectures on solving technical problems in photography.“in this 7-day workshop, photographers will learn and explore visual language and how to communicate through picture, which will guide them to develop their story,” says Kharel. The participants worked on individual photo stories which will be showcased at the sidelines of the iMe-Global Nepal photo contest, an annual photo contest exhibition at Nepal Art council, babar Mahal.

Fourth Edition of Cinemandu - saanghuro film screenedAnubhuti PoudelKathmandu, 5 July

on 5 July, free movie screening of saanghuro was held in Nepal bharat Library in NAc building, sundhara. it was one of the many programs organized by the Library to promote good cinema and good dialogues among Nepali crowd.The film was screened as per the monthly event cinemandu where films that have left an impact on the Nepalese cinema are screened for free to Nepali crowd. The directors and the cast are invited to interact with the audience at the end of the screening. The library, which runs under bp Koirala india Nepal Foundation, embassy of india, organized programs that assist Nepalese crowd in understanding and appreciating creativity and art.The director of the film, Joes pandey, along with a few cast members of the film watched the film with the audience and took part in an interaction program afterward. cinemandu is organized first week of every month in sundhara.

Chetan Bhagat in KathmanduSadiksha UpadhyayKathmandu, 6 July

chetan bhagat, author of popular novels like 2 states, one Night at the call center and Three Mistakes of My Life, conducted a career workshop at everest Hotel

in New baneshwor on 6 July. The event titled career Workshop with chetan bhagat was organized jointly by sr Group of institutions, Jhansi and republica Daily. The audience was a mix of keen youth and a selected group of corporate people. interacting with the audience about motivation and success, bhagat also talked about his unplanned leap from his banking career to become a full-time writer and motivational speaker. The writer has travelled around the globe as a motivational speaker, addressing corporate houses, education institutions, government organizations and volunteer agencies.

ashtanga yoga with miluseNidhi AdhikariKathmandu, 6 July

An Ashtanga yoga event was held at pranamaya yoga studio in Moksh. Miluse Vande Kant, a yoga instructor from Holland, introduced her students to the principles of this distinct form of yoga. she has been practicing yoga for over 10 years. The class was initiated with the philosophy behind Ashtanga, which emphasizes the principles of non-violence, endurance, non-possessiveness, purity and withdrawing the mind from all external objects. Focus was given on mental peace and maintaining equilibrium of the body. The class that began at 2:00 pm carried on till 5:00 pm with students meditating and going through various exercises enhancing their vitality, flexibility and strength.

The Point is PoetryNija MaharjanLalitpur, 6 July

Word Warriors, a group of enthusiastic slam poets held a slam poetry contest on saturday at The Yellow House in sanepa starting at 1:00 pm. 12 poets participated in the first round, of which six with the highest accumulated scores marked by five judges competed in the second round. The participants slammed about love, life, humanity, child right, women violence, Nepal and other issues. except the participants, there was an open mic inviting other poets to slam as well. All

the poets got full attention of audience throughout the show; they cheered for every contestant. John swinton was announced the winner who slammed about his pencil, “My pencil is nothing without me and i am nothing without my pencil.”The event was organized in an attempt to raise funds for their next upcoming event slamming in surkhet 2013.

say hello to happy TummySuprasanna AryalKathmandu, 7 July

children of Adarsha school at Naxal seemed quite excited as they sat down in their classrooms to see a skit being presented by enthusiastic youths in the event Happy Tummy. The drama aimed at creating awareness about the causes, consequences and cure of stomach-worm ailment. student volunteers from rato bangala school, Ullens school, Trichandra campus and Nepal commerce campus collaborating with Kehi Garoun organized the event to raise the awareness and also to provide free medication to students in government schools this monsoon. They will be conducting similar programs in 30 more schools in the valley.

white house Fair Sanjana Sarah ChhetriKathmandu, 9 July

White House Graduate school of Management is organizing White House b-fiesta 2013 and Himalayan science Fair 2013 on 16 and 17 August at Trade Tower in Thapathali. b-fiesta is aimed towards the management students of different institutions and aims to provide a platform to enhance team effort, competition and communication skills among students.Meanwhile Himalayan science Fair 2013, running in its third year, is being organized by Himalayan club de’ scientia. its intention is to explore the young minds of pupils who are fascinated by science and technology. Around 30 colleges are invited to be a part of this event that intends to simplify everyday life of the students and help them use the knowledge they have learned over the years in the right way.

hallofframe

Folk meets Fusion6 July, House of Music

on saturday evening, an impressive crowd gathered at House of Music to enjoy soothing music by Hari Maharjan featuring Kutumba along with one of the best flutists, Manose singh. The evening started with some hits by Kutumba, followed by fusion with Hari Maharjan and then flute with Manose singh. The gig was worth spending the wonderful weekend at the crowded venue.

1. Hari Maharjan 2. robin Tamang 3. Arun Manandhar 4. Kiran Nepali 5. rubin Manandhar

1

4 5

2 3

4 5 6

31 2

1. Lok Man Golcha 2. Grishma shrestha 3. Tashi Lama 4. shekhar Golcha 5. Akash Golcha 6. Umanga bagaria 7. Malina Joshi

Go Ford7 July, Soaltee Crowne Plaza.

A month-long Ford Heritage Month concluded with a felicitation of vintage Ford owners, who were presented with appreciation letter from Ford Motor company and a miniature model. it was celebrated in the honor of Ford’s 110th anniversary and the 150th birthday of its founder, Henry Ford.

1

7 8

2 3 4 5 6

himal Celebrates 50th anniversary8 July, Sheetal Niwas

Himal iron and steel celebrated its Golden Jubilee in a formal ceremony held at sheetal Niwas in the presence of president ram baran Yadav, fellow industrialists, musicians and press members. The company is part of the Jyoti Group of companies.

To mark the occasion, the company launched a book and a music compilation titled 50 Years of progress: a photographic journey and 50 Years of Golden Music, respectively. The book presents a photographic journey of the progress of Jyoti Group as well as of Nepal. similarly, the music cD is a rare and exclusive compilation of the most celebrated songs from some Nepali music legends of past 5 decades.

1. padma Jyoti 2. saurabh Jyoti 3. suhrid Jyoti 4. sambhujit baskota 5. roop Jyoti 6. Kiran chitrakar 7. ram baran Yadav 8. satya Mohan Joshi

77

1

7

1 2 3 4

8 9

2 3 4 5 6

1. Thomas Gass 2. Nathalie Gass 3. samir Thapa and Krishna Dulal 4. Kunda Dixit 5. Jean Francois cuenod 6. bishakha sherstha and romi Lal shrestha 7. shambhu ram shimkhada and W.M senevirathna 8. balaram poudel and prithivi poudel 9. rebu Dhaubhadel and Vishnu bhusal

Bidding Goodbye3 July, Hotel Radisson

on the evening of 3 July, Nepal-swiss Friendship society (NsFs) hosted a farewell dinner party for the Ambassador of switzerland to Nepal. The event also saw the launch of 100 recipe Guide book, a collaborate effort of Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality education and Nathalie Gass, who happens to be a specialist in swiss desserts. The book is themed to showcase a blend of Nepali and swiss cuisines and has various collections of delicious swiss and Nepali dishes.

Exploring Photography5 July, Bikalpa Art Center

An exhibition titled ‘explorations in the photographic medium v.1.5’, was put together by photo.circle and seven Kathmandu University bFA students who had spent a semester attempting to explore and understand the photographic medium.

Under the guidance of sujan chitrakar, the students worked on ideas of memory, home and family. While some of them made photographs, others collected, researched and installed photographs through mediums such as illustration, design and video.

1. sudeep balla 2. Karma Gurung 3. Kishor K sharma 4. sujan chitrakar

Exploring Photography5 July, Bikalpa Art Center

An exhibition titled ‘explorations in the photographic medium v.1.5’, was put together by photo.circle and seven Kathmandu University bFA students who had spent a semester attempting to explore and understand the photographic medium.

Poetry on the move5 July, Image Ark Gallery

image Ark Gallery’s event Troubadours showed poetry can be much more than just words. Kiran Manandhar painted susmita Nepal’s poem on canvas, showing that poetry can also be a painting. Whereas the jazz dance performance on Madhav prasad Ghimire’s poem by Diya Maskey with satyam shrestha and his group showed how poetry can come alive through dance. The whole event was jam packed with an enthusiastic crowd and continued in the courtyard right next to the image Ark Gallery, more and more people joined to see poetry in movement.

1 2

3 4

6

1. Homraj Acharya 2. raju Maharjan and siddharth Maharjan 3. Nishant Gauchan 4. Arun Gurung 5. Diya Maskey

5

let the good times beginentertainment

Under 18 not AllowedWhen a tattoo artist with over a decade of experience dispenses advice, you listen, especially if you are about to or wish to get inked. A conversation with the globetrotting tattoo artist Ujo Mathema, who has a word of advice or two.Gita Limbu

There are so many stories involved in the world of tattooing, whether it’s the

tattoo artist’s journey or each and every tattoo ever inked from time immemorial. Fr!day chats with the dynamic Ujjwal (Ujo) Mathema, behind the “more sterile than a hospital” Ujo Tattoo and Piercing.

All stories have a beginning and Ujo’s was an unexpected one –an apathetic interest in tattoos. Rather, having studied for 4 years in Lalit Kala Campus and graduated with a diploma in fine arts from Srijana College of Fine Arts, a huge part of Ujo’s life revolved around art. As with all aspiring artists, selling an artwork

can prove to be an arduous task and Ujo was looking to other options to earn a living.

During a visit to Thailand in 1999, Ujo developed an interest in tattoos and soon, aspired to be a tattoo artist. Here, he reiterates the unbending stereotypical stigmas held by the older generations of people who were inked. With unapproving stares and a world frowned upon, tattooing was more of an underground form of art. Ujo recounts that even his parents were not impartial to his decision to become a professional tattoo artist. This did nothing much to deter the budding tattoo artist who had started tattooing in the Yellow House Lodge (where his tattoo studio still resides) located in the always cool Freak Street.

In 2002, Ujo went to Melbourne, Australia, and worked with an underground pioneer tattoo studio, Victoria studio, for 3 years to hone his skills. Upping the ante, Ujo shifted to Bur Dubai, a historic district in Dubai, to continue tattooing. Currently, Ujo is trained as a professional body piercer and to tattoo in any style from cover ups, dotwork, tribals, Japanese, traditional, freehand, to portraits.

To the untrained traveler, finding the Yellow House Lodge in the inconspicuous Freak Street, Kathmandu can be fairly difficult. Look out for the

round sign and enter the alley resembling a very old traditional Newari house where you have to duck to enter. On your left, you will see the reception area. Ujo Tattoo and Piercing is located on the second floor. Original artwork by Ujo and gifts from friends line the pretty colored walls leading up to the studio. A short tour of the studio where the real work happens shows us just how much the artist has invested to assure his clients hygiene – there’s a sterilizer found in hospitals. Inside, the lights are bright. Harsh, even.

In the waiting area under the warm lights is where Ujo shares his first woe. That the government is lax when it comes to allowing unregistered tattoo artists to practice tattooing. He shares that abroad, licensed artists have to register with the government and doing so ensures that stringent protocols are followed in all tattoo studios. “With the burgeoning number of people interested in tattoos, the government in turn has to keep check of any unlicensed or unregistered tattoo artists,” says Ujo.

Here, Ujo points out that with changing times, the stereotypical barriers held of tattooed people have broken down. Younger dynamic people are entering the once-taboo world and a tattoo artist now garners respect. What then does a tattoo signify? The 37 year old artist states that tattoos have been around for ages and the meaning always varies. He shares a rather interesting ancient belief among the older generation that tattoos can be sold for comfortable commodities in heaven. The belief starts with a man born naked and dying naked except for the tattoos on his body. Another use for tattoos

is a form of protection when deities are depicted on the body.

The maestro has inked himself from head (literally) to torso. Ujo points out the self-inked tattoo on his left hand and says that most of the tattoo artists starting in the business start by self-inking. He has a second self-inked tattoo on his right thigh. All other tattoos, he says, were done on his travels overseas which bring us to his second advice. “Open your eyes before getting a tattoo,” Ujo exclaims. The increasing popularity in tattoos inadvertently gives rise to scratchers – inexperienced, unclean and untrained tattoo artists. A cautionary tale he personally knows of is about a friend asking for recommendations on where to get a tattoo done. Although he didn’t recommend any place, his friend ended up going to a dubious studio and ended up being diagnosed with hepatitis a month later.

“It’s fine that you wish to look for a good deal for your tattoo but remember that the tattoo will be on your body for life,” adds Ujo. With ideals this clear, he plans to open another studio in Hong Kong soon. For now, he’s busy preparing for the tattoo convention expected to take place from 18 to 20 October, 2013. The 3-day Nepal Inked Tattoo and Lifestyle convention will be held at the Brikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall from 10 am to 7 pm and is a joint collaboration with Ujo Tattoos, Jads Tattoo and kgarira.com among others.“The feeling is definitely different working at a tattoo convention compared to working in a studio. The level of stress and excitement is clearly palpable but the learning experience is great,” finishes Ujo. !

Continued from page 1

15Issue 178 | 17 July 2013Fr!day

Believing in Art

entertainment

canvas conversation

Isha Gharti

When art in Nepal is increasingly serving commercial purposes, few people like Rajman Maharjan are in the field of art for the sake of art.

Movies at QFX

world warZUnited Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

Cast: brad pitt, Mireille enos, Daniella Kertesz

Director: Marc Forster

monster universityA look at the relationship between Mike and sulley during their days at the University of Fear -- when they weren’t necessarily the best of friends.

Cast: billy crystal, John Goodman, steve buscemi

Director: Dan scanlon

looterainspired from o. Henry’s “The Last Leaf”, Lootera is the uplifting story of two lovers, of heartbreak, betrayal and ultimate redemption.

Cast: ranveer singh, sonakshi sinha

Director: Vikramditya Motwana

An artist and art writer who single-handedly runs a weekly newspaper called

Canvas Weekly has selflessly dedicated more than half his life to art. With dedication and simplicity, Maharjan has been silently making huge contributions to the Nepalese art by documenting art and art activities for over a decade through his publication. The humble artist believes that art is a sophisticated human belief through which simplicity of existence can be attained and expressed. Tell us about yourself and how you got into art?Initially, I wasn’t much interested in art. I used to write songs when I was in school and even sent a song to Radio Nepal in 1980 which they passed for final singing. But I was young back then and could not manage money for that. Later I also got into essay and satirical writing and won a few awards. Around 1985 I also published a newspaper titled Pyanke in Newari language for which I did illustrations, too. But I found that people were not that interested in Newari magazine but were interested in comics. So I made a few Newari comics and they did well. I was facilitated with Karnaakar award by Lok Saahitya Parishad for promoting Nepali Language through comics in 1992. I also started doing illustrations for various NGOs and businesses. I also collaborated with Japanese artist Mechia Takahasi to publish comics on environmental issues around 1995.This is how initially I got into painting. I also thought of joining a fine arts college, but was discouraged by some friends; therefore, I discarded

the idea. I started studying a different subject at Trichandra College, which I think is very artistic; every view there had so much of art. That is why artist late Manohar Man Poon used to come there and sketch and paint for hours. I used to accompany him What themes do you prefer to work on? Gaine, meaning the one who generally writes his or her songs and uses a traditional musical instrument called sarangi. They sing songs in order to circulate news or message in their locality. This is basically a folk art of Nepal. My paintings are based on and dedicated to them. Magar Gaine is regarded as the master folk artist in this regard, and then his son Ram Saran was equally proficient. And now his son Shyam Saran is doing his bit to expand this form of art. You are also the publisher and editor of Canvas Weekly; would you share something?Since I was already involved in art and

writing from a young age, I wanted newspapers to have many news on art. I even spoke with a few editors and artists as well but none seemed much interested. And I thought if this has to happen then I will do art writing and publication on my own. This is how around 2003 Canvas Weekly came about. This magazine attempts to document the art activities in Nepal as much as possible and bridge art to the public and artists, alike. Sometimes I think I am merely wasting my time by bringing out this weekly. But other times I think that this is a very important aspect of art, and someone has to do it. Then why not me? Who are your favorite artists and which art do you like the most?

Shashi Shah and Manuj Babu Mishra are my

favorite artists. I like the sublime and harmonious

quality that Shashi Shah’s

work has, and Manuj Mishra’s are

raw yet message-oriented.

What is your take on

Nepali art?In Nepal, art education is not strong enough. Ultimately

art is an opinion that reflects on society. Art in Nepal today seldom has any reflection on society.

Art education should work on connecting art with other

professions also, in order to get access in society. I do not see any art organizations and institutions sincerely working on this issue. The state has provided responsibilities to some artists to elevate art in Nepal. But they have done nothing. There are various external factors for art to not flourish effectively here. Before blaming anyone else one has to comprehend the attempts of artists themselves for art not advancing. I see weak decision-making capacities in artists, which is due to minimum interaction on art and weak philosophical perspective. However, I also see some artists experimenting with new media and concepts to explore newer possibilities of life and existence in general. It is amazing to see their creative opinion subtly

unfold through their art. As an artist, art writer and editor, I see great potential for art to flourish here. In your opinion what are some basic elements that make an artist?Art cannot be created from nothing. Therefore, in order to become an artist one has to understand its source. An artist does not merely create; rather s/he tries to understand the surroundings and the world through color and art. An artist does not necessarily have to be emotional as is generally depicted. I think art is a belief, and belief is not something that is created in a day; it takes layers of emotions and a certain amount of time in order to have a belief. One has to work

continuously in understanding the internal aspect of emotion and intellect, and afterwards understand and interpret the external reality with inner understanding. An artist also has to devote to promotion of art and truly needs to improve the philosophical aspect in art and to reflect creative philosophy on society. What plans do you have for future?I will continue doing what I am doing now and in the process, maybe through Canvas Weekly make some contribution in the field of art. !

on the rungetawaySouthbound

Anuj D. Adhikary

Set off on a six hours hike through paddy fields, temples and steep hills, tucked away along Chandragiri.

5 minutes bus drive from balkhu to reach chobhar. Get off at the foot of chobhar. i’d have suggested walking the two kilometers, if even for warm up, but road expansion and monsoon don’t go too well together.

The hike will cost you no more than rs. 200 without Lahana., a community run restaurant. With the Newari extravaganza (highly recommended), throw in a thousand bucks.

bring poncho, hiking shorts, sandals, water and salt (to avert a sticky affair, so to speak).

i

The need-to-know index

Approximate time taken to reach there from Kathmandu

price

Additional informationi

Continued from page 1

Chobar DaandaMake your way to chobar hilltop through a small white gate next to the imaginatively named Missed call café at chobar Phedi. The stairs from the gate start out easy but get steeper as you climb higher. You can always take it easy and rest at a beautiful chautara halfway, surrounded by rich pine trees and marked with tiny,

green vihars. A steeper second leg of climb takes you to chobar Heights where you get the familiar, sweet smell of incense and the sounds of the gorgeous Adinath and Gandharbeshwar temples. Larger of the two, Adinath is a three-storey pagoda-style temple where it’s rather interesting to note kitchenware nailed to the temple walls and pillars as a gesture of sacrifice. The temple square comes alive every morning with devotees, joggers and hungry, cooing pigeons.

Bosan DaandaDescend carefully towards the base of chandragiri from chobar on narrow steps which

Just a few kilometers away on the southern front of the valley stands the grand chain of chandragiri hills. Unlike shivapuri or Nagarkot, this stunning hill range does not draw hordes of hikers and picnic-goers, ensuring you a peaceful retreat and a refreshing workout throughout. Fr!day explores the four prominent daandas (or hillocks) on the chandragiri hike.

are washed away on several stretches by monsoon rains. Following the trial some twenty minutes uphill, we reach the pristine and peaceful village of bosan composed of traditional houses. The village is blessed with an amazing vantage point from where, weather permitting, you get stunning views of the valley below and the imposing sight of massive chandragiri right above you. The beautiful Taudaha Lake, which in recent days has gained prominence among young couples, appears serene from here. Moving farther up bosan’s hill, we reach a bhagwati temple at the edge of the verdant chandragiri forest with fenced track that leads to champadevi peak. The complete silence you find here is broken by the occasional chirps of exotic birds that are quite a spectacle.

white house DaandaTime to move on towards the next checkpoint: White House Daanda. Take the less trodden

route along the edge of bosan passing Jigme gompa festooned with colorful prayer flags, then ascending on a steep incline that’ll make chobar’s stairways a fond memory. Keep your mind off the climb with the mesmerizing views of the lush paddy fields beneath bound to give you a temporary relief. Towards the top you’ll find, well, a lone white house owned by a Lama family. if you’re lucky, you will be ushered in by cheerful and elderly caretaker Dil bahadur who makes a fine cup of tea and lets you feed Luri the pup.

it should come as no shock, since we’ve grown so accustomed to it, that the walls of the reservoir at the top of hill are adorned with messages of true love, young lust and mindless rambles replete with graphic images. Find yourself a nice spot on the edge and lo and behold! You’re greeted with spectacular sights of Himalayan giants. The valley below looks gorgeous, with chobar and Kirtipur hills dwarfed, and Taudaha shrunk. The green paddy fields look like they’ve been pulled right off a fairytale book.

Kirtipur DaandaFrom La casa blanca, descend on a mix of steps and narrow trails along the northern side of the hill to find yourself in panga – the backyard of Kirtipur. This flat section takes us through fields and poultry farms in a sparsely inhabited town that slowly gets denser as we advance to Kirtipur heights, our final destination. This ancient Newari town is famed for its unspoiled tradition and food.

it’s quite an experience getting lost in narrow alleyways of Kirtipur, soaking in the culture, architecture and native lifestyle that seem utterly lost in time. overlooking the old town is bagh bhairab, a triple-roofed temple which draws its name from its tiger-like shape, and a hub for most of Kirtipur’s jatras. Walk down a long flight of stairs behind bagh bhairab to reach Kirtipur market where you can catch a bus back after some five hours of exhilarating hiking.

monsoon hikeon a monsoon morning, you can

choose to either sit on a window ledge with a mug of coffee in hand watching the monsoon rain, feeling all mushy and romantic inside. or, you can don a poncho and a pair of old sandals to make an ungainly sight of yourself walking on slippery aalis trying not to tip over in the muddy paddy field. And brave fat

leeches. Your call. !

Phot

o Co

urte

sy: A

nuj D

. Adh

ikar

y

turn it onmusique

Mouth MusicBibash Paudel, a composer and arranger in his own right, brings in his first solo A Cappella number Timi Nai Hau. In the process, he has become the only singer in Nepal to release a song completely in the genre. Fr!day talks to the experimenter and digs into the making of Timi Nai Hau.

Bijaya Adhikari

Hundreds of singles enter the archives of coveted FM stations every day.

From established to emerging singers, from professionals to hobbyists, and from people with good music background to just a good voice – all compete in the race to top the charts. In this cut-throat competition to make it there, flavors matter. To those who can bring in experimental

music technique, untried and untested vocal variety – the industry is always open.

Enter Bibash Paudel. Even though he is not new to the industry, with more than 20 songs of his own, Paudel has attempted to play with the raw form of music – A Cappella, a technique very much new in the Nepali music scene.

A Cappella translates to “without accompanying a musical instrument”. Generally meant to be accompanied with

musical effects made by mouth, A Cappella has gradually transformed to make way for beatbox, slaps and kicks, and even imitations.

Popular in churches since the 19th century, these days however, A Cappella has gained much popularity in musical compositions, ad hoc performances and sometimes seen in a flash mob, too.

Paudel released his first A

Cappella song, along with the music video and the making, earlier this year. He did a cover of 1974 AD’s Parelima, which amassed positive nods from the audience. Paudel says, “Challenges in A Cappella are a plenty. You need to deliver. It’s not just the song or the music that matters, but the sound effects produced need to be convincing as well. The cover was released primarily on YouTube so that people could relate to the sound with the visual and actually see that sounds were produced by the mouth and the body, and not with any instrument.”

After the cover song, Paudel’s solo with Timi Nai Hau was released on 5 July, simultaneously on YouTube and on TV. The lyrics, composition, vocals and A Cappella effects are done by

Paudel himself, whilst the music video is produced by Shivram Shrestha on camera, Jivan Rijal on assistant camera and edited by Bharat Regmi. The making of this song has taken a span of over two months and rigorous making-

remaking in the process. Paudel says, “I first wrote and composed the song using everyday musical instruments. But after watching Alaa Wardi’s A Cappella video on the Internet and making a cover of Parelima, I took it to myself that I wanted an A Cappella for my own song. And here is Timi Nai Hau. This song has not been made separately with musical instruments, but is a standalone A Cappella number.”

The song showcases a range of vocally produced sound effects of guitar, synth sound, bass effects, and also comprises sounds of kick, clap, thumps with percussion sounds created with slaps, vocal beatbox. The music video of the song also illustrates how the music has been created, how much

manipulation is done on the sound produced by mouth. Paudel says, “I have not been able to put all the effects in the video though. It’s a life-lesson and making an A Cappella is not as easy as it looks.”

You can find quite a few A Cappella numbers on the Internet, most of them created by a single artist and almost all of them are covers. Since A Cappella is always experimental, getting the job correctly done is the biggest challenge to the artists. In Nepal, this experiment has hardly been conducted. Paudel says, “I don’t know the history of A Cappella in Nepal. Nima Rumba’s number Euti Pari Chha was predominated by his vocals, but that’s not an A Cappella. Maybe my research is incomplete, but I have not found any other A Cappella performances in Nepal yet.”

When asked if an unheard song like Timi Nai Hau can make its mark with A Cappella alone, Paudel says, “I don’t know. To many extents, the song truly stands on the trials of time.” Experimental songs in Nepali music industry have been taken well, be it by musical methods, vocal methods or even with lyrical variants. What’s in future for A Cappella is yet to be seen.!

a Cappella effects are done by Paudel himself, whilst the music video is made by shivram shrestha on camera, Jivan Rijal on assistant camera and edited by Bharat Regmi.

19Issue 178 | 17 July 2013Fr!day Issue 178 | 17 July 2013Fr!daymusiquemusique 19musique

live wire

facebook.com/rvlradio www.rvlradio.com @rvlradio

10TOP

RVL Radio CHARTS

ENGLISH CHART

NEPALI CHART

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Let Her Go – passenger

can’t Hold Us – Macklemore & ryan Lewis Ft. ray Dalton

everything Has changed - Taylor swift Ft. ed sheeran

blurred Lines - robin Thicke Ft. T.i & pharell Williams

#thatpoWer – Will.i.Am Ft. Justin bieber

All Around The World – Justin bieber Ft. Ludacris

Just Give Me A reason – pink Ft. Nate ruess

La La La – Naughty boy Ft. sam smith

Love somebody – Maroon 5

Live it Up - Jennifer Lopez Ft. pitbull

Jau Ki basu - sabin rai

raat Ki raani - Hemanta rana

paurakhi - Lochan rijal

No No baby - Anil singh

Galti Mero chaina - ethos band Ft. sanjay chaudary and bullet Flo

baby i - Arluv Gurung ft. suzie, bidhan and Fuba Tamang

K saro - Naren Limbu

Thorai - Topi band

ek Din - subani Moktan Ft. renosance

Assar – bipul chhetri

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mano-a-Mano with Visan N the Groovers

More than a decade separates the oldest and the youngest members of the band, but while they are rocking on stage, all those years and the generation gap just fades into oblivion. Visan N’ the Groovers started grooving nearly three years ago and so far they have released two singles: Kaaran two years ago and Chaahanna Ma six months ago. Kabin, sajin, prajwol, prashant and Visan still plan on rocking their hearts out and becoming a force to be reckoned with in Nepal’s alternative rock scene.

if you had to play a different type of music, what would it be?We all love alternative rock, and that is why we play it together. but we also play with different bands, so we do play different types of music. prajwol plays guitar with the band pariwartan and they play cover songs. The songs are of usually more pop and rock n’ roll. sajin plays the bass guitar with his gospel group. prashant jams with the metal group Asphyxiate and Visan has already taken out singles on his own and they fall more under slow rock.

where do you get the inspirations to write songs, and between the two singles that you have released, which is your favorite?Most of the inspiration we have received for our songs is through our life experiences. Among the two singles we all are a bit biased towards Kaaran. That’s because, well, the song’s our first single and also because we have put a lot of hard work into it. plus, the song actually made people notice us, and made us feel that we have arrived in the music scene.

if you could perform with any international or nepali band, which would it be?We would love to perform with Mukti & revival as well as with Nepathya. What can we say about Nepathya? They are a legend in Nepal’s rock scene, and anyone would love to play with them. Mukti dai is an amazing guitarist and it would be absolutely a dream come true to play with him. As for an international, it has to be Alter bridge because they have amazing lyrics and composition. even if the music is a bit heavy they have really bright lyrics and a really good melody.

has any interesting event occurred while you were performing?Well, our concerts are usually tame, nothing really crazy happens in our concert. You know people are supposed to stretch before they go on stage, but no one really does it here. it was during L.A.’s food fest concert when prajwol got a leg cramp on stage. There was nothing we could do about it since we were on stage, so he sat down on the stage and played on till we finished our gig. (Pooja Pradhan)

LIVE @

Friday: 12 JulyDharmendra and Bittu @ Tamarind Restro and BarTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmLocation: Jhamsikhelcontact: 5522626

All that Jazz @ Moksh Restro and BarTime: 7:30 pm onwardsLocation: Jhamsikhelcontact: 5528362entry: rs.150 per person

Load Shedding @Atmosphere lounge & BarTime: 6:00 pm onwardsLocation: Hattisarcontact: 4435368

Brikit Band @ Vintage LoungeMusic genre: soft rockTime: 7:00 pm onwards

Location: Durbar Margcontact: 9841750985

Abartan Band @ Cafereena Restaurant and BarTime: 6:30-10:00 pmLocation: Durbar Marg, opp. Hotel de Annapurnacontact: 4231313

Prayas Band Followed by in-house DJ Niral @ The FactoryTime: 7:00 to 9:00pm – Live Music by prayas. DJ Niral after 9:00 pmLocation: Thamelcontact: 9801031334

saturday: 13 JulyDharmendra and Bittu @ The Reef Restaurant and lounge BarMusic genre: Freestyle acousticTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmLocation: Thamelcontact: 4411523

Hem Lama and The Band @ Tamarind Restro and BarTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmLocation: Jhamsikhelcontact: 5522626

Sliver Wind Cutter @ Jazz upstairsMusic genre: JazzTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmLocation: Lazimpatcontact: 4416983

Kelsang @ New Orleans CaféMusic genre: celloTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmLocation: Jhamsikhelcontact: 5522708

Monday: 15 JulyKa @ Fire and Ice PizzeriaTime: 8:00 pm to 10:00 pmLocation: Thamelcontact: 4250210

Hemant Rana@ Bourbon Room Restro-BarMusic genre: sufiTime: 7:00 pm to 11:00 pmLocation: Lal Durbar Margcontact: 4441703

Wednesday: 17 JulyHemant Rana @ Tamarind Restro and BarMusic genre: sufiTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmLocation: Jhamsikhelcontact: 5522626

Dharmendra and Bittu @Jatra Cafe & BarMusic genre: Freestyle AcousticTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmLocation: Thamelcontact: 4256622

Sign Band @ The Reef Restaurant and lounge BarTime: 7:00 pm to 11:00 pmLocation: Thamelcontact: 4411523

Hem Lama and The Band @ Bourbon Room Restro-BarTime: 7:00 pm to 11:00 pmLocation: Lal Durbar Margcontact:4441703

DJ sEssions

Friday: 12 JulyDJ B*Cash and DJ Suraj @atmosphere lounge & BarTime: 6:00 pm onwardsLocation: Hattisarcontact: 4435368

saturday: 13 JulyDJ Prajwol and DJ Punnit @ Club PlatinumTime: 1:00 pm to 6:00 pmVenue: Durbarmarg9808263228price: rs 499

DJ B*Cash and DJ Suraj @atmosphere lounge & BarTime: 6:00 pm onwardsLocation: Hattisarcontact: 4435368

sPECials

sunday: 14 Julysunday weekend Brunch with Jazz @ CuriloTime: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pmspecial attraction: Weekend brunchLocation: Lazimpat, opp. to british embassycontact: 9851046889

Special Sunday @ Absolute BarTime: Till 6:00 pmspecial attraction: buy one wine and get another one for free.Location: pulchowkcontact: 5521408

monday: 15 JulySoulful Piano @ Tamarind Restro and BarTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmspecial Attraction: A soulful piano performance by sunil singh.Location: Jhamsikhelcontact: 5522626

Tuesday: 16 Julysalsa night with Reeyaz Shrestha @ Tamarind Restro BarTime: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pmspecial attraction: Free salsa Workshop and trainingLocation: Jhamsikhelcontact: 5522626

haPPy houR

meconopsis Boutique hotelHappy Hour: 5:00 pm to 8:00 pmYou get: 20% Discount on all the drinkscontact: 5544879

Tamarind Restro and BarHappy Hour: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pmYou get: buy one cocktail get one freecontact: 5522626

Advertisementeat, drink, party – livetimeoffTrue to its name, this Newari delicacy has been a favorite in the Newari community and non-Newari community, alike. These days chefs have poured their creativity into these little pouches of rice dough to make many non-traditional varieties of this dish.

Yomari: A Much Loved Confection

Kritish Rajbhandari

OriginsThe Newari name “yomari” is made up of two words: ‘ya’ meaning to like and ‘mari’ meaning a sweet. Combined, yomari simply means ‘a much loved confection’. Originally a winter dish, yomari is prepared and eaten by Newari communities on the day of Yomari Punhi, which takes place during the full moon in December. It is a Newari festival marking the end of rice harvest. According to the tradition, on this day three different kinds of Yomaris are made from the fresh yield of rice and offered to Goddess Annapurna, the goddess of grains. Pouches of different shapes are filled with different kinds of fillings. Believed to drive away cold, these treats are steamed and served warm.

Chaku YomariWhite on the outside, dark on the inside, the chaku version of the yomari is best known to people. It is shaped like a traditional conch shell commonly used during religious rituals and ceremonies. One end of it has two horns and the other end has a tail. It is believed that when prepared on the day of Yomari Punhi, the longer the tail of a yomari, the shorter will the winter last. The inner filling for this yomari is made with chaku or molasses, which is a dark brown substance obtained from raw sugar while processing, sesame seeds and other ingredients according to taste. This dark sweet almost chocolaty filling rolls out from the yomari as you take every bite,

iF ywhere can you find them• Kasi restaurant, Durbar

Marg - Khuwa and chaku• The Village cafe, pulchowk

- Khuwa, chaku, Myah, chocolate and Mushroom

plenty of other Newari restaurants in Nepal, have these delicacies in their menu. A few street stalls also cater to hungry clientele with this confection.

making you literally lick your lips and fingers.

Khuwa YomariKhuwa is a traditional Newari food made from milk and used in many different Newari confections including laddus and barfis. Khuwa is heated into a semi-liquid state and used as a filling in khuwa yomaris. A khuwa-filled yomari is also shaped like conch with a tail but without horns. The filling is less sweet than chaku but softer, smoother and more buttery.

Myah YomariMyah means maas, or black pulses, another ingredient prominently featured in many Newari dishes like wohs and baras. For myah yomari, the pulses are ground and mildly salted and spiced before they are filled inside triangular pouches that have one of their ends pointed like a tail. People who love savory over sweet would love this version.

Chocolate YomariThis is where the best of East meets the best of West! A classic combination of yomari and chocolate, a chocolate yomari is filled with the goodness of chocolates, nuts and condensed milk. It is shaped like a chaku yomari but with a beak-like shape on the one end instead of horns. You wouldn’t know until you tried it, the chocolate blends well with the soft and mushy steamed dough covering to give you that best confluence of the East and the West.

Mushroom YomariAnother invention of chefs, this non-sweet version of yomari, as

the name suggests, is filled with mushrooms. Finely chopped mushrooms are seasoned with onion and garlic to make the filling. Chefs also improvised upon the shape of this one making it to resemble a flattened bottle cap. Mushrooms being mildly crunchy makes the most different kind of experience of eating a yomari, but one that is sure to delight!

Myah Yomari

Khuwa Yomari

Chaku Yomari Chocolate Yomari

Mushroom Yomari

21Issue 178 | 17 July 2013Fr!daytimeoff

Advertisementfood promotion

“Everyone knows Freak street was named by foreigners and is where most of them hang out. we are offering a casual dining experience with an array of indian, Chinese, mexican and newari food items. i am currently looking to open a new, more upscale restaurant in september.” — Dinesh suwal, owner of suryaMoon bistro

Stories of almost mythic proportions have originated from Freak Street. Kathmandu’s coolest street gained fame during the hippie days and continues to draw in the cool crowd even now. Among the restaurants and cafés abound in Freak Street, the year-old SuryaMoon Bistro is already drawing regulars.

Under the Sun

Gita Limbu

Royal salute 21 years old

A bistro is known for its informal and relaxed atmosphere, a trait

replicated at SuryaMoon which imply ‘sunrise to sunset’ and has been used to denote service from dawn to dusk. The minimal interior is unpretentious. Without even trying, the sunny colors of the bistro remind me of a chalet. At SuryaMoon, there isn’t much to look at. It’s a place where you can enjoy a meal or relax and chat over coffee with your friends.

Traditionally, bistros serve simple, moderately priced meals. Keeping to form, the

menu is extensive and exhausts all ubiquitous dishes found in Kathmandu – from salads to soup, vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetizers, spaghetti to pizza, burritos to sizzlers, steaks to typical Nepali meals. I advise those who are indecisive in nature to tag along with the more decisive crowd.

The food served here is sinful comfort at its best. Take for example their chicken steak, and their cordon bleu chicken, ham and cheese. The chicken steak is huge and the flavors, extremely rich. It comes with a luscious creamy sauce, sticky potato

Chef’s Recommendation

chicken Gangnam styleGrilled Mexican chicken

Momo platterbuff celery

wedges, grilled vegetables and sweet basmati rice. Sliced button mushrooms in the creamy sauce complement the tender bites of the chicken steak. The basmati rice is sweetly flavored with diced olives and herbs.

Likewise, the cordon bleu chicken, ham and cheese is a gargantuan dish waiting to be conquered. Rather like a beef

wellington, this dish comes in complex layers. A toasted crust forms the outermost layer, tender chicken breast lines the crust and finely diced ham and cheese form the entire core. The dish cuts messily but along with the cordon bleu sauce, gathering mouthfuls of the chicken, ham and cheese can prove heartily rewarding. Baked potato topped with cheese accompanies this filling dish.

When you’re done with your meal, sit back with a cup of Nepali organic coffee. Alternatively, you can choose from an array of iced coffees, iced teas, smoothies,

lemonades and a host of soft drinks. I had the mint lemonade. My cool drink looks deceivingly healthy with its bright green hue (blended peppermint leaves). It’s not, but that doesn’t stop me from slurping up every last bit of the drink.

Private functions and parties for up to 150 people can be arranged if you book in advance. The casual atmosphere at SuryaMoon is highlighted by their uplifting background music. Think upbeat world and soul music. Garnering a regular crowd overtime since their opening is a phenomenon not hard to decipher. Moderately priced items for generous servings, a low frills ambience and great music make for a great hang-out place. I envision more trips here in the future.!

markets & launches bazaarFair and Lovely Face Wash launched in NepalFairness cream brand Fair and Lovely has launched a new fairness face wash ‘Fair and Lovely Advanced Multi Vitamin Face Wash’. According to the company, the face wash when applied twice a day helps in providing instant by fairer look, brighter and clearer skin with soft and smooth feel. The product is available in tubes of 20, 50 and 100 grams.

Ford ecosport Launched

Go Ford officially launched ecosport, an urban sUV, on 2 June at an introductory price of rs. 28,50,000 and going up to rs. 42,90,000. Available in seven colors and three engine options, in addition to manual and petrol automatic transmission, ecosport aims to epitomize practicality, efficiency and reliability.The sUV is the first in its class to offer Ford sYNc, the voice activated in car connectivity and emergency assistance. With smart keyless entry, customers can unlock the doors automatically by

etihad Airways’ New Faresetihad Airways is offering discounted fares from Kathmandu to Washington in their coral economy class. A one-way coral economy class ticket is priced at rs. 83,344. The package that includes a return ticket is priced at rs. 140,088. The tickets are on sale till 31 July. The travel validity period is from 1 July to 30 september, 2013.

pulling the door handle and pushing the power start button. Ford brings its globally acclaimed ecoboost technology with the patented 1.0-liter ecoboost engine on the ecosport. The engine delivers performance of a traditional 1.6-liter engine with an improvement in fuel economy by up to 20 percent. Advanced safety technologies such as electronic stability program also help customers remain in control of the sUV at all times.

subisu Wi-Fi internet servicesubisu cablenet has launched its retail internet service in Dhulikhel of Kavre district. Now home and small office users can enjoy subisu’s Wi-Fi service. retail customers can receive minimum bandwidth of 128/128 Kbps. in a statement released by the company, ceo sudhir parajuli said, “We are planning on extending Wi-Fi internet services in every part of the country and as per our plan we have launched our service here in Dhulikhel. We are committed to providing quality service to our customers.”

olla coffee Launches coffee bagsolla Himalayan Arabica coffee center has launched a single-

stay cool with springwoodspringwood, a youth apparel brand, has launched a new collection of t-shirts in fresh summer colors, graphic prints and latest styles. According to the company, the latest collection speaks to free-spirited youths who want clothes that reflect their personality. springwood prides itself in being a Nepali brand with a distinct and contemporary sense of fashion. since the launch of the brand it has grown to become a brand that is popular with the youth for providing in-trend apparels at affordable prices.

pepsi Announces Third Week Winners

pepsi has announced the third week’s daily winners of their 2013 promotional campaign pepsi 20-20 – Ru

New Acer Tablet

Mercantile office systems, the sole authorized distributor of Acer for Nepal has officially launched Acer iconia A1 tablet. Due to its sleek and light-weight design it is comfortable to hold in one hand and it also easily fits in a purse or a bag. The tablet is easy to carry, read and explore, and powerful enough for fast media performance.it has 8” capacitive multi-touch screen with a resolution of 1024 x 768 which provides an enriching visual experience while watching videos, e-reading, web browsing and playing games. it has also got a 5 mega pixel rear camera to capture beautiful shots. in addition, it features 16Gb of internal storage and up to 32Gb of expandable memory.The company is offering the new Acer tablet at an introductory price of rs. 24,300 which is valid for a limited period only. The tablet is available throughout

its 30 retail outlets across the country with one-year warranty.

Women in Green Festborderlands eco Adventure resort is organizing the event ‘Women in Green Fest’ in the month of sharavan and is inviting all ladies to be a part of the special event. being a part of this event is the best way to break away from the hustle of the city and to rejuvenate after all the fasting and celebration. pack your bags and take your spouse with you to spend some quality time in borderlands eco Adventure resort.This event is meant to give you time to unwind, relieve stress and a moment to celebrate womanhood. Gentlemen can also join their ladies to enjoy the event.The main highlights of the event are music, games, activities, eco-friendly ambience and good hospitality. The package includes transportation and accommodation with 3 meals and the package cost for couple is rs. 4,000 and for ladies only it’s rs. 2,300. You can also go rafting at sun Koshi river (class 3 rapids) which is optional and costs extra.

Bees Ma Bees Lakh, Jitau Lakhau Lakh (win 20 lakhs in just rs. 20). Lucky winners are given a chance to win rs. 20 lakhs at the end of the campaign.The company handed over one lakh rupees each to second week’s winners- Krishna Tamang, Manoj Kumar shah, shyam sundar silwal, suk Dev Ghimire, Tanka bahadur pandey, Dhup Nath prasad chaurashya and Dinson Khatri. pepsi 20-20 is an under-the-crown promotion running on the 250 ml pepsi, Mirinda, 7Up and Mountain Dew glass bottles with a red ringed crown. each crown has a 7-digit alphanumeric code printed on it. consumers can participate by sending the code via sMs to 7722. The promotion will go on till 6 August.

cup drip coffee filter bags branded olla coffee in three varieties: roasted, de-caffeinated and green. The bags are made from organic coffee beans grown on altitudes 1,000 to 1,200 meters high. olla is easy to use, and claims to have all natural goodness in the form of chlorogenic acid and anti-oxidants.

popular culture revisitedreview

horse Ballet

ACTI

VITY

Gita Limbu

What WorkedHorse riding is a sport that I’ve only heard of and seen from a distance. So I naturally had my fears about how to go about the activity. Luckily, safety takes precedence before fun. The horse riding session starts from the entrance of Gokarna Forest Resort where there is a trainer at hand to teach you how to correctly mount on a horse before your horse is led through a mini forest trail to the riding ground.

Once you arrive at the stables, riders are advised to wear boots, or shoes with hard soles for safety purposes. Then, you are taught the basics like the names of the horse riding equipment, commands and horse care. Knowledge is power, and the Wind Horse instructors are willing to answer all your questions.

The stable ground is a neat little area marked out for the training of the horses, and is where the relocated Wind Horse Stables call home now. There are currently 16 horses of three different breeds – Thoroughbreds (a pedigree bred for racing), Marwari (an exotic breed from India), and Kathiawari (closely related to the Marwari breed).

What Didn’tBecause of the unpredictable monsoon season, the ride through the forest trail proved to be a little uncomfortable as the ground was uneven (proof

Gokarna Forest Resort, in collaboration with Wind Horse Stables, recently launched their horse riding packages on 1 July. The eco-friendly resort offers a rather diverse horse riding packages from leisure activities to learners’ courses to functional purposes. It’s therefore safe to say there’s something for everyone. I tried the one-hour horse ride (adult) which starts at the entrance of the resort and ends with a trek to the stables.

of the havoc caused by the incessant rainfall). Sometimes, the sudden loud horns of approaching vehicles can cause young horses to panic. As a rider, you have to stay calm. This is nothing your trainer (walking with you) can’t handle.

Overall ExperienceWhile the ride is worth every penny, horse riding during the unpredictable monsoon season is best avoided. Go when the monsoon season is about to end. The stables at this time was only about seventy-five percent completed, so by then expect spick and span conditions.

Niraj KC, Managing Director of Wind Horse Stables says, “There is certain joy in horse riding. It stems from bonding with your horse and riding as one.” I agree. Horse riding is more than just fun, when you create a bond with a horse, the experience just elevates itself.

It’s interesting to note that the main form of horse riding you will come to know of being taught at Gokarna Forest Resort is dressage (French for training). Dressage is an equestrian sport most commonly referred to as horse ballet because of the graceful movements performed by both the rider and the horse. You might get to see this training being conducted if you’re lucky. !

The billOne-hour horse ride along with

an instructor and a helmet on

a weekday – Rs. 4,000

for the love of drinkinghighspirits

Pramod Shilpakar

What Not To DoA list of things to avoid doing at a bar. Unless you want to piss off the bartender and face his wrath.

If you have watched the movie Cocktail (not the Bollywood drama, I am

talking about the 1988 Hollywood blockbuster starring Tom Cruise), you might think that bartending is a glamorous job. Of course it is, but there is a twist to everything I guess, which Cocktail has missed out on. If Tom Cruise were to become a bartender for real, I bet he would not last a minute.

The job is a tough one, both mentally and physically. Of course it has its own charm, but standing for endless hours, changing kegs, scrubbing drains, washing glasses, mopping floors and preparing complex concoctions in between is not as fun as one might hope it to be. Every second we

switch our roles just for the sake of dime. One minute we are mixologist creating intricate drinks, the other we are some customers’ psychologist and then there are those who think we are their official photographer for the day. And the list goes on and on. It isn’t just annoying but is disrespectful towards us. And don’t get me started on how uncivilized some bar hoppers can be. Here are some:

Whistle Don’t you dare whistle at the bartender to get your attention. We are not your dogs. This is probably the reason we are ignoring you. I cross paths with this

breed often and they are the lowest there can be.

Ask for a weather forecastIf you really want to talk to us it better be something interesting. Stop asking for some weather forecast. We pour drinks, we are not meteorologist. So spare us the nonsense and grab a paper and read the page that says WEATHER.

Wave to get our attentionPlease don’t wave us to get our attention unless you are a hot chick. If you are pretty and hot I will wave back at you.

Order Mojitos when it’s busyWe know it is our duty to give you what you ask for, but it is for your good not to order a Mojito when the whole bar is slammed. Engrave this piece of advice in your mind, because trust me, even if we make one for you it is not going to be good. We don’t have time to squeeze lemons or muddle sugar cubes and

fresh mint. For your sake, order a chilled beer and quench your thirst for the moment.

Place a generic orderWhen a bartender asks you what he can get for you, don’t place a vague order, such as a beer. We are not psychics. Figure out what you want to drink.

Ask for a free drinkUnless if you are willing to support us for the next few years or until we find another job as good as the current one, don’t ask for a free drink. Do you ever walk in a liquor shop and ask for a free bottle of beer? I suppose no, so why on earth do you expect one from us?

Split your tabThis is my usual expression for such offers - are you kidding me? You are going to hand four different credit cards to a bartender and ask him to split the tab four ways. Oh! Come on. This happens when they come in groups. I

always wonder - Can’t one of you man up to the bill?

Play puzzle If you think it’s funny to play quiz or puzzle with bartender then it is not. We are not walking search engines. Infact we all are pretty dumb and drunk. So why don’t you geniuses take the help of your smart phone and google it.

Don’t tip What is this culture of not tipping. We are here to make enough money to somehow scratch out an existence. We are not millionaires standing behind the bar putting up with your nonsense. So stop being so stingy and tip us when you get out.

Runaway tabs This is the most annoying one. What a shame? I have seen lots of waiters and bartenders cry over walkout tabs. Don’t expect some warm welcome next time you are here. I suggest, you don’t come back unless you want to be kicked out. !