RIP Girija Prasad Koirala?

One of the "biggest" news concerning the nation is the death of the long time politician Girija Prasad Koirala.

Well the big surprise is the way all of us Nepalese are taking his death. Let us consider for a moment. YES, he was a long standing politician who managed to become the Prime Minister 6 times. So? How productive was it?

Honestly, when you think of it, his tenures were normal. Like most other tenures of Nepali Politicians. They were all plagued by bandhs and strikes, security threats, corruption and even the massacre of the royal family. A round of applause for Mr. Koiraladid a great job.

Is it that we Nepalese are so blind? Is it that in death, every misdeed is condoned for?

We have to think of other politicians now. Will all of those corrupt politicians get the same respect when they die? We really should think of what they actually did in their lives. Directly or indirectly, they are responsible for the mess the country is in right now. Mr. Koirala is responsible too. We all remember the way he put his dear Sujata into a position using his contacts. It is quite safe to say that many more incidents did happen in his "fruitful" tenures.

It hurts me to learn today that many media agencies are calling him "yug purush" or "itihas purush". He really doesn't deserve those titles, and he really doesn't deserve the GRAND show of emotions of the Nepalese people. We can't just honor people for the length of their involvement in politics. We have to honor them for their deeds.

With all this media hype, I'm sure the international community are going to get the wrong impression. They will definitely be thinking of him as the superman saving Nepal. And, along with this, he will probably get the Nobel Peace Prize. It is not really something to be proud of though. Not us, who know the truth.

It amazes me how we Nepalese can be so forgiving.This is the only positive I take from all the recent happenings related to Koirala's death.

Rest in Peace Mr. Koirala .... Rest in Peace ... The Nepalese have forgiven you, I guess.

Is Nepal really THAT Gay, or is it just gay?

The whole wide world now thinks Nepal is the most gay-friendly place on Earth, thanks to this article in the AP about an offer by Pink Travels(owned by the gay lawmaker Sunil Babu Pant) to marry gay couples at the Everest.

The piece is interesting, but very misleading nonetheless. It makes Nepal sound like a free place where you can choose your sexuality without your mother crying, your extended family pretending you neverr existed, and friends making a hell of your life, which it is not. Unfortunately, the news has been picked up by many reputable sources, including MSNBC, Yahoo News, The Guardian, Washington Post, Daily Telegraph,  Seattle Times, Miami Herald, and OMGOMG Gawker too... It's going to be great for tourism, but it's not terribly honest.



PS: Whatsup with the pants of the dude in the picture[which, BTW, is from gawker. Someone at Gawker felt there was a picnic going in his pants... Hmmm, not sure, but to think like that, I'd soo have to be gay(Im not. Sorry?)

PPS: This is to notify all our readers AND contributors that we plan to be the MOST PRO GAY NEPALI WEBSITE there is, and our future posts will have content based on that. To the gayhaters: SUCK IT!!!

10 nominations?

This year's Academy Awards saw 10 films competing for the Best Picture award. This new system means that more diverse categories can now be represented in the best picture scene.

Okay, let's take Up for instance. The last animated film to be nominated for Best Picture was The Beauty and the Beast, and since then, Up is only the second film to be nominated for this category. Too bad for Wall-E. It could have been nominated had the new system been in effect last year.

I must include The Dark Knight of one of the "victims" of the five nomination system. Being one of the biggest grossing films of all times (and one of last year's best entertainers) it sadly couldn't make it even to the nominations.

Similarly, the 10 nomination system has opened doors for different genres including comedies, thrillers, and family dramas (not much of a surprise there, but still..) to compete in the race.

Add to that, this system has even contributed to making the academy awards a little more interesting. What I mean to say is that, even though, every year one or two films are heavily favored and predicted to win the award (like this year's The Hurt Locker and Avatar) , the fact that there will be five more competing movies, can have a significant effect in the outcome (take Crash for example, which one the 2005 awards, beating the odds which were in favor of Brokeback Mountain).

What's more? The economic advantage for films, of course! Once a film gets nominated for the best picture award, it comes out of the shade, into the limelight. The hype for the oscars is enormous, and the post oscar business will definitely benefit small films which are not much known before the oscars (and which do not have much of a chance winning the award!). I'm talking from experience. The other day, I went to a DVD store to buy the Hurt Locker, it was sold out!!

Well, the rest we shall see in next year's academy awards. There will be the cons along with the pros (like dilution of the greatness of the award and what not !!), but let's just stay positive and lay back to enjoy this change, what say?

Internet super-jerk proves that a Nepali can compete with Americans in being jerk in the internet, makes nation proud

Nepali commentors in the internet generally fall in two categories: either they are very respectful of the post and make their points clear civilly even though they may disagree with the author, or they are an incoherent rush of dirty words and filthy language, and do not have the ability to comprehend an 'argument', they can just shout.

Fortunately, a Nepali commenter called Dhruba has started a trend that is so common among Americans in the internet: appearing to argue logically and coolly, but in effect blathering and stuttering and getting very embarrassed when identified.

It started with the facebook group Be a Hero! Say no to water ballons. Zade-xpress wrote a post agreeing with the stuff posted in the groups page, and adding to the harassments faced by women in holi.

The original content, in the groups page was:

A week before Holi as I was standing before a school in my neighborhood someone dropped a 500 ml water plastic bag from a four storied building. Aimed at my head it landed on my feet. I frantically searched for the culprit and found no one.

A few days later another kid hit me with a water plastic bag on my forehead. He ran away as I called out to him.

Yesterday as I was walking to university at around 1p.m someone hit me with a water balloon. ‘Who did it?’ I asked .A young man sitting comfortably with his gang in a near by shop replied ‘I did, what will you do? ‘. I asked again and got the same answer. I picked up a pebble and threw at him. He got up, uprooted a bamboo stick used to bar the shop and beat me ruthlessly. ‘Do you know who I am’ he shouted. His gang members stopped him and one of them asked me to leave. I kept staring at him. A little crowd had gathered to watch-no one came to my help. I walked to the university catching my arm in pain.

My right elbow is swollen and I have bruises on my back. This is not some snippet of a feature film. This is what really happened. If you have a story to share please do.

Be responsible ! Do not play with water balloons or hesitate to help someone who has been a victim!

And to this, zade added her comments:

This is definitely not the first this has happened.  A girl who walks out of her house minding her own business, days if not weeks before Holi gets hit with a water-filled balloon namely ‘Lola’. A girl who retaliates back at the perpetrators is a rarer event. But a girl who dares to retaliate throwing back a pebble gets mercilessly beaten up by a bamboo stick is something I have, for one, heard for the first time.  Yes, there’s an apathetic audience who see everything but do not help.

and

The most disturbing part of this event however, is the fact that how members of the female sex are targeted by males regardless of their age. This is not to overlook the fact that men are targeted by females too, but NEVER at this scale.

and this(more of the post at the site)

I looked on because I study in the biggest private university in Nepal and have other things to worry about. I looked on because it’s not ME but a fellow student of the university.  I merely looked because I have no guts to stand up for anything.  And a mob of the likes of ‘Me’s makes this society I live in.

The comments are very understanding and empathetic. Except the aforementioned one:

Just get over it. Once a year we celebrate this festival with great fun and enjoyment and you guys seem to be pessimistic about everything….just because you got hit by a LOLA??????…I can understand how girls sometimes try to show that they don’t wan’t to hit when in times they are the ones who are wanting to be hit. Why don’t you try a different street/lane/abandon a day out for such days if you so frightened walking out. Why wouldn’t you do that? I know you want to be hit because then you will know that guys notice you..that makes you feel proud aint it? Just get over it and pen some good stuffs….don’t spoil HOLI’s glory, it’s once-in-a-year festival and you know it. I am against water balloons too but then i think of it again..and I see that it’s what makes festivals so fun-filled and enjoyable….that’s why it is anticipated everyyear…your getting hit with LOLAs is nothing a new chapter in history of Nepal..its a very common thing and very few seem to mind it but you….

I am soo proud of that dude. He's making the entire country known in the area of stupidity, and masochism. Probably had mommy issues as a child.

Expensive restaurants to get even more expensive

The effect of 14 percent inflation per annum will soon be visible in the menus of medium to ultra-expensive restaurants in Kathmandu. The Restaurant Association of Nepal has decided that restaurants will raise menu prices according to the increase in the prices of ingredients used.

Republica reports:

Top restaurants in the Valley are all set to increase their menu prices, stating that high rise in prices of popular commodities in the market have increased their cost of operations. They say they have no option but to raise their menu prices to meet their expenses.

Niroj Shrestha, manager of The Bakery Café, said they were holding internal discussions to increase the prices of popular dishes that they serve. "We will raise our menu prices by up to 15 percent within two months. This will help us meet our operations cost," he added. Shrestha said the eatery was operating in loss for the last couple of years as they have not raise menu prices since last year.

That means that a plate of momo now costing Rs. 150 will now cost around 180; a pizza of Rs. 300 could go upto 350 or even more. Soft drinks, now priced between Rs. 30 to 60, will probably be dearer by anywhere between Rs. 5 to 15, depending upon the establishment.

"The restaurant business in the country is very competitive. We are operating in loss as we haven´t raised our menu prices for the last nine weeks," Kedar Nidhi Pandey, manager of Hot Breads (Bakers and Confectioners) told myrepublica.com. He further informed that Hot Breads was preparing to raise its menu prices by seven percent.

Rameshwar Karki, manager of Alina´s Bakery Café, also said that his eatery was preparing to raise menu prices. "We are operating in loss for quite a long time, as the prices of major commodities that we consume have skyrocketed in the market in recent months," Karki said. He further added that the management committee of the restaurant was preparing to raise its menu prices by around 5 to 10 percent within three months.

OMIGOSH! Hot Breads too... Its all doom and gloom for the country now. At this pace, with the prices rising so fast,  jewelers will soon start selling them in small. This country has no, no future. The government should at least give a subsidy on momos, so at least we can hope for the future. Only moderately expensive Momo,  we'll miss you...<Sigh!>

Maobaddies and other commies to build The School of Hammer to crush the School of Rock

From Kathmandu Post:

If all goes well and the communists translate their commitment into action, a Marxist University will be established in Nepal. Some communist leaders in Nepal have taken the initiative for this cause.

“We have already started our groundwork in this regard and we are confident the university will see the light of day,” said Krishna K. C., Coordinator of the Proletariat Fund, a new fund established to collect money for the Marxist University and welfare of the proletariat. Both liberal and hardline Marxist have joined hands in this mission. Apart from this, they want to bring changes in the living standard of working people.

So the commies are making unicervities for their cadres to study in, so that they can chant chants about war and peace, freedom and slavery, ignorance and strength, while their children go to study in the best and the most expensive universities there are. FYI, there are the same people who tried to turn the knowledge of a gun-toting guerilla into equivalent of a Master's degree. They had proposed all their militia should be given certificate  equivalent to MAster's because they had fought for the people'. Even if they HAD, they certainly had NOT studied, but doublespeak, doublespeak. The good news now is, at least they now realize people need to go to Unicervities to get degrees, so that's a good sign.

The idea was mooted by Nar Bahadur Karmacharya, founder member of the CPN. “All are interested in it. They have also expressed commitment to support the endeavour,” said Karmacharya.

PS: Commie-red Karmacharya has an eighth-grade education, but he can solve problems only upto grade level five, becasue he has fought for the people. He will soon get a doctorate for warring for people.

Heads of various communist parties, from UCPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal to semi-under ground communist veteran Mohan Bikram Singh have agreed to this idea and so have civil society members. “For me, it’s a matter of pride to pave a new way to strengthen the communist movement in Nepal.” Padma Ratna Tuladhar said. Tuladhar granted Rs. 10, 000 when the organisers announced their ambitious plan. Around Rs. 2 million was collected on the first day of the announcement about establishing the new university.
Seven universities have already been established in Nepal. Then, why they are stressing on a new university? “The university will facilitate those who want to acquire wide knowledge of Marxism.” added K. C. “We are still discussing with senior leaders about the model and teaching method. But, it’s obvious that working class people have been targeted.

PS: Who is this 'civil society' and why are his views so important'???

Whaddup with the revolutionary leader?[the life and times of ms. Shrestha]

If you're wondering how the revolutionary leader Namrata Shrestha is doing, here's some good news for you, folks: she's good, but would be better if you would wipe that look on your face whenever you saw images of her, or the real her.

In fact, it looks like she's doing awesome. First, she was chosen to host the annual KTV awards, tjough that was changed when the superdouche sponsors threatened to pull out of the event if she hosted it.Still, at least she was working on something.

She's also working on a movie based on the life of former drug addict Ekta Mahat who was hooked into drugs by 14, and will play the role of Mahat in the film. The NGO Trend Nepal, which works for HIV/AIDS and drug awareness is producing the film.

The inauguration of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 also her her enthusiastic participation, and she seemed to have enjoyed it(no pun). With all the other celebs, and her friends, she said she would bring as many tourists as she can. She understands her power, that girl. She's probably made Nepal more famous than all the other celebs combined together can ever do. Yayy!

She is also the brand ambassador for a beach cricket tournament being organized by Riverside Spring Resorts, along with Malvika Subba. She's ben in public a lot recently, so she's probably healing from the trauma those infidels caused her. Yayy again!

BTW, she also enjoyed her holi quite a bit. Is this the moment the leader returns to her people, and then frees thew world from unwanted things?Hmmm.

Photos following.

Photos from Lexlimbu and Nagarik

The tale of two cafes[both of 'em mediocre]

Here's a not-so-brief look at two cafes in Kathmandu that have been reviewed by TKP, along with commentary on the reviews.

In just five months, Café Chops has created a niche for itself as an eatery that serves the most delicious Korean food as well as a wide range of continental cuisine. Despite being relatively smaller in space than the other bigger restaurants in the Capital, Café Chops has seen its popularity grow.

Errm. Yeah, whatever. If God can create Universe in a blink, why can't they become the place with 'the most delicious Korean food', right? Nope. However, what they can do is get a stupid gullible reviewer from some paper to come, feed her as much as she can eat, tell her tales, and send her happy and fulfilled. So, until now, all we know about the restaurant is that it serves Korean food, and its name is Cafe Chops.

Located at the corner of Mandala Street in Thamel, Café Chops still has the stars and bells left over from the Christmas celebrations hung on the walls and from the ceilings.   Simple and sleek, the whole restaurant is framed in wooden furniture in yellow hues, besides being bright and colourful with souvenirs and showpieces from different countries.
Run by Koreans, the restaurant only offers selected Korean delicacies to its clientele Kimbap and Bibimbap are its popular dishes. Kimbap is sushi served in Korean style, slowly becoming a trend in Kathmandu these days.

More Info here about the location. The place is wooden--not that 'natural wooden' wooden but 'polished shiny wooden' wooden. Which is fine, if you are a hungry wanderer in Thamel who wants to go to a genuine restaurant run by genuine(!) Koreans(presumably South Koreans). BTW, sushi is not becoming trend in Kathmandu in the foreseeable future; all those that had the misfortune opportunity of tasting it have generally expressed highly unfavorable views. In the WE DONT LIKE NO DAMN SUSHI kinda way.

Bibimbap, the main course, includes five different side-dishes. Besides the soup and the rice, eight different kinds of raw vegetables topped by poached eggs makes it a healthy meal for two.

Apart from its food menu, its long breakfast menu along with Illy coffee, tea, and shakes makes it a quintessential café. But what makes the place even more attractive is the free wi-fi internet service. That’s one reason why Café Chops is often visited by familiar faces rather than new faces.

Café Chops opens till ten at night with everything in its menu available the whole day.

So, there's apparently lots of rice, soup,vegetables and eggs. So Korean. Ooh, ohh, Wifi? Free? Okaay, now I am listening. What was that again? It opens till ten? So if you want free internet with (not free) Korean food, go to cafe chops.  You can surf the (free)internet wayy past your mommy allows at home.

And then there is this other coffee place Coffee Escape Company which apparently is literally a coffee company, or maybe it helps you escape if you drink it.

These days, there are many coffee shops looking to refresh tired city-dwellers across the Capital. What sets Coffee Escape Company apart is that its name really fits any bill you get when you are here.

Illy, an Italian coffee, is probably the second-most popular brand (following Nepali coffee) in the country today. And Coffee Escape Company serves this roast to delicious perfection.

The café has been in the scene for more than a year now, serving this particular Italian coffee. Initially visited by mostly foreigners, it has slowly reeled in local coffee lovers.

Italian coffee sounds interesting. Gotta go there, at least once.

The cosy café offers wifi and over 50 varieties of superb coffee. Open from seven in the morning till ten at night, it truly caters to the worst of workaholics.

Free internet. Nice.

Besides serving delicious espressos, mochas, lattes, and cappuccinos, there is also a list of Illy espresso cocktails such as Irish coffee, Vodka Espresso, and Baileys Cappuccino, for those looking for a little hardness to their blends.

On food side, you get wraps, sandwiches, and pasta for lunch and dinner. The Mexican menu does not fail to please either. Breakfast includes omelette, ham, bacon, accompanied with breads. For dessert cheese cake, chocolate, apple pie, ice-cream are the sins to die for for all sweeth-tooths.

So order your coffee, with or without additions, and drink it too. Winter suddenly gets better.

The choice of available coffee types is intriguing. And apparently there are types of coffee that'll get you dead-drunk. And they have Italian coffee. And free internet. And non-coffee item. And you'll have to mortgage your motorbike to for a big meal. Mediocre, but worth at least a try.

Images and original pieces from Kathmandu Post

PS: This was one of the last pieces of commentary on restaurant reviews. We will soon have our own restro-reviews.

Kathmandu is finally ready to watch Vagina in public[its a play, you perv.]

To support the movement for Women's Right's, Eve Ensler´s award-winning play ´The Vagina Monologues´ is going to be staged by V-day Nepal at Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi on March 7, from 6 p.m. onward. No Vaginas whatsoever will be shown in the show.

The event will also present a play of one of Eve Ensler´s Monologues, "Any One Of Us (AOOU): Words From Prison", a short documentary celebrating W-O-M-E-N, and a grand finale choir performance.

AOOU is a collection of stories from the raw voices of fierceness and honesty written by 15 women combined with writing from women in prisons across USA moving forward toward healing, understanding, and changing with the ultimate goal of using their writing and voices to impact policy, laws and treatment of imprisoned women. The script is entirely foretold by women locked up behind bars after numerous interviews. Men audience members could find themselves rather embarrassed at the play, and some might even laugh, even though it is as serious as it gets.

The play is directed by Eelum Dixit, and includes five actors including Seema Gurung, Arabinda Subedi and Lucy Sharma who will dare to do what only a few Nepali women(a certain awesome actress comes to mind) have dared do: talk about *thaat* stuff in front of everyone. And BTW, 'they will also try to reveal the deep connection between women in prison and the violence that often brings them there'. [republica]

The event is a not-for-profit charity show. The funds generated by the event will be contributed to Biswas Nepal, a strong local group working against women and girls trafficking and abuse.

The tickets cost Rs 1000 and are available at The Bakery Café, New Srinath Jewellers (New Road) and Lhasa Restaurant (Thamel). Dont bother if you were expecting something more from a show that has 'Vagina' in it.

Exaggeration and hyperbola dont a good coffee place make[good coffee does, though]

This one from TKP. It's mostly dross and full of fawning for the reviewed place, but is enlightening in some cases.

Café Kaldi, which opened last year in Thamel, has become one of the Valley’s most popular cafes today.

A truly international experience, Café Kaldi offers a number of Japanese coffees. Well-equipped with wifi and offering an addictively comfortable atmosphere, the café is a coffee-lover’s paradise.

Lies. It is not any popular than the cafe next door, and its international nature is no different from any other coffee place. Also, calling it a 'coffee-lover's paradise' is a gross overstatement intended to fill the lines.

“Nepali customers don’t not just want to drink coffee, but also eat great food,” says Sushil Thapa Magar, manager of the café, adding” We kept this in mind when planning our menu.”

From what he says, it is clear that although a large variety of international goodies are on the menu, the café aims to attract locals. And while there is no secret that the coffee menu is big, what makes it unique are the original concoctions it offers. Caramel Macchiato and Hot Kakuto Milk are just a few of the many new things to try out here.

Three-quarters of the review is over and no mention of the coffee. Instead, there's a quote by the manager. Hot Kakuto Milk reminds me of some cartoon character, and doesn't ring any bells for me, but Caramel Macchiato does sound interesting. I am not sure if its the exclusive there, because I have had something similar in yet another wonderful place in Thamel.

The food menu is equally extensive. Salads, burgers, momos- take your pic. The desserts- especially the chocolate waffle- is something you cannot afford not to try.

Café Kaldi opens from 7 a.m. till 10 at night and its manager boasts that there are some guests who spend their whole day here surfing the net over hot cups of coffee. Need a place to unwind over some sinfully good coffees; Café Kaldi is your haunt.

D'Oh Freee Internet... Okay, if you want internet in Thamel but don't want to pay the robbers in the cyber cafes there, Cafe Kaldi sounds like a good idea. Chocolate waffle should be good too, and the caramel thing. So 'haunt' this place for the free(?) internet, peps.

The Kathmandu Post

Eat Indian[the food, not the person] at Lainchaur

Sez TKP:

Something is peculiarly exciting in a new restaurant where large portraits of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor, and Mumtaz, his wife, greet you. This newly-opened fine dining place--Mela Restaurant and Bar at Lainchour--is beautifully designed and comes across at first glance as an amalgam of various styles of architecture and design.

I am sure it was said in all good humor, but do Nepalis really find dining in front of (tyrannical) Kings and Queens particularly exciting, specially one like Shahjahan who is up there in the top list of the Mughal emperors who killed the most people. But get the idea--Mela is an Indian restaurant with Indian theme, but gets confused with all the decorations, and forms a 'fusion'.

A mix of Mughal with a touch of traditional Newari architecture and design, Mela is bright and beautiful, with influences from across Asia. The owner, Pramod Jaiswal, wanted to bring alive the Mughal era of the past, but then rethought his decision, and fused a bit of Indian with the Newari style to give the place a different feel. Although a large place, it has been divided into several areas with private rooms for big families.

The bar is adorned with ghaitos from Bhaktapur and a wheel sits across the wall. Copper khakalos are suspended from the ceiling and this comes alive in the evening with the shadows playing around them.

A mix of Newari and Mughal? Hmmm, confusing decorations probably. Still, the word 'Bright' does strike a good chord...Nothing about the food or the service yet. Conclusion: it's not terribly exciting, and if you really have to write about the restaurant, it is a good idea to linger around the decorations, instead of talking about not-so-unusual food and service.

Serving mainly Mughlai and Indian cuisines with Nepali snacks, Mela is a welcome addition to enjoy Mughlai delicacies in the city. Its specialities being kebabs, biryanis, naans, and rotis, Mela has the largest variety of Afghani cuisine in town. Kebab Harabara is a vegetarian’s delight, with just one bite enough to get through to the succulent cashew nuts in between. Paneer Maharani, yet again a unique presentation of layers and layers of cottage cheese sliced into pyramidal shapes with butter masala gravy.

The Afghani Naan and the Rumali Roti were equally delicious, with cherries and cashew nuts spread on the top of the naan. This is an amazing treat for anybody who loves trying out pure Mughlai food.

Mela lives up to its name with a colourful atmosphere and multiple cuisines to lure you again and again.

'Mela is a welcome addition' is obviously a way to tell the readers that the place is no different from any other Indian Restaurant u=in town without losing the potential advertisement from the place. The piece mentions Afghani Naan and the Rumali Roti, which the place considers its specialties, are apparently pretty good(the writer of the original piece confirms this).

So, if you want to try Afghani Naan and Rumali Roti, go to this place. If you are near here go here. Else, there are better Indian restaurants out there.

The Kathmandu Post

If you were a King, you would't go here. But then, you probably would have lost your throne[restro review]

As a (very) frequent customer of Badshah's I felt obliged to add to a review of the restaurant that appeared in the Kathmandu Post. I have a pet name for that restaurant. C all me what you may, hut I like saying Bad Shah and then by inference, Paras Dai. Yes, my pet name for Badshah restaurant is Paras dai.

Are you looking forward to some great Indian food? From succulent Tandoori Chicken to mouth-watering Biryani, Badshah Restaurant and Bar at New Baneshwor can be an answer to all your wishes.

I usually dont think the place is so grandly, but it is pretty good. And yes, its at a convenient location, so all the better.

Don’t let the minimal interiors disappoint you. With a well-managed dining area and with an irresistible view of the Valley, Badshah is quaintly charming. The owner, Nil Badan Suwal, has tried to bring out the Indian traditional way of dining in a different manner. Although a large place, Badshah is divided into several sections--a faux zoo is recreated on the balcony with cute animal mannequins, while paintings of typical village life on the walls give the place a rather unique touch.

Despite being small(when compared to, say, Bakery Cafes or Alina's Cafe's) it can comfortably table and serve a hundred people in its two floors, though the service might not be very prompt. On a normal day, the service is pretty good and nothing like the Bakery Cafes.

Serving mainly Indian cuisine with Nepali, Continental and Chinese snacks, Badshah is a typical joint that serves Indian cuisine. Its specialities include its kebabs, biryanis, tikkas, and naans, but Badshah offers other exceptions Indian dishes as well. Aaloo Lajawab Pakiza (stuffed potatoes marinated in yogurt) is a tangy curry with a spicy yet sweet taste. Indian Platter is a combo presentation that comes with mutton and chicken kababs and tikkas made with various herbs and spices.

Badshah truly lives up to its name, and is definitely a good place to try out some Indian food, without being very heavy on the pocket.

It does serve all sorts of cuisines but only a super-idiot would go there for Chinese food. The menu is very heavily Indian cuisine inspired, and the theme of the restaurant is Indian. Even though all there Indian items are great(and verry heavy) there's nothing particularly spectacular about any item, though they make chicken items rather tender, unlike at most other Indian places. If course, it's not expensive--with all the competition just across the road in form of cafes and Indian and Chinese restaurants, it just cannot afford to-- it's not exactly fit for a King(or his spoiled son, for that matter). Despite that, if you are around Baneshwar and crave Indian Cuisine, this is probably the best place to be.
From The Kathmandu Post

Good on light Stuff[Thamel restaurant]

This was a commentary on a restaurant  review published in The Kathmandu Post.

Located in the heart of Thamel, Zaika is a restaurant with an innovative menu and a distinct style of architecture that will surely please even the most discerning of diners.

'Innovative' menu? Either  too expensive or interesting. Since it's in Thamel, definitely expensive, but there should definitely be rather bob-traditional items on the menu

Beautifully designed, Zaika interprets traditional Newari architecture with the modern, with its owner, Prakash Rana, individually choosing the fusion to give the restaurant a different ambience. The wooden flooring contrasted with bright orange on the walls makes the place even more attractive.

The oragey-wood look seems to have swept the place. Almost all the restaurants that aspire to be 'hip' in Thamel and Jhonche(Freak Streat for those freaks who dont want to forget a bygone era). Orange-and-wood look probably is interesting in this case though.

Although a large place, Zaika is divided into several parts, and every part has something new in style—little traditional masks are hung up on the huge wooden wall in one part of the restaurant, while the other parts are adorned by paintings depicting Newari culture and murals of temples.

Ooh, a large place in Thamel? I am already impressed. And the division of the restaurant into several 'parts' makes it even more appealing. Ambiance is good, so. The newari look's probably not too forced too, tiny lamps in cute little lamps can make even a hostel look appealing (hostels should dare to try that out.It's a new idea, after all). So, if you want to go to an indoor place in Thamel, this sounds like a god idea--until now.

Serving Indian, Chinese, Continental and Nepali snacks, the menu of Zaika incorporates traditional classic dishes and original new cuisines with a focus on both eastern as well as western flavours. Rana says the specialities of his restaurant are the Russian Salad, Tandoori Chicken, and its wide variety of sandwiches.

The restaurant is different in its presentation and taste of the cuisines from any other similar place. The Reshami Kababs with cheese toppings are sweet and juicy—just as succulent as they are meant to be. The Zaika Special Pizza, with its toppings of chicken, egg, and tuna, was reminiscent of the Newari dish Chatamari; however, it tasted as a pizza should taste. But the crème de la crème of the restaurant was the Chicken Butter Masala, its onion gravy and a cream serving on the top making it irresistible. Likewise, the Irani Naan was equally delicious, but the best part about the bread was the cashew nuts and cherry toppings.

Mmm...wide variety of sandwiches... It's a pity they dont have momos(so that 'innovative' was  intended for NO MOMOS HERE!!!) but 'a wide variety of sandwiches' does sound yummy, though I totally glossed over the Tandoori and Russian Salad. Every restaurant in Kathmandu claims to have the 'Best Tandoori/Chicken around' and on top of that, those who want to display finesse add some exotic-sounding names to the menu.

OKayy, now the description of Pizza and Kebab have sold me.  Zaika is probably a place to be even if only to try the 'innovative' items on the menu. One should be prepared though-- innovation is frequently very expensive, even by  Thamel's standards.

Food with history at unbeatable prices[too expensive]

Kathmandu Post had a review of Baithak restaurant(located in outrageously expensive Babarmahal Revisited) today. It reminded me of the time I was there...

Portraits of different Rana ministers hang on the walls. Traditional Jaipuri and Nepali architectures greet you as you enter. The wooden floors seem to be classic example of the numerous styles and designs of Nepal circa 19th century. Baithak Restaurant, at Babar Mahal Revisited, preserves the history of the past, and serves the finest cuisines in the present. Established in 1997, the restaurant changed owners in 2009.

So far so good. Agree with everything.

The owner, Samrat Pandey, brought in a breath of fresh air in terms of the restaurant’s ambience and taste. Baithak has been decorated with a fusion of Nepali and Indian architecture--little Jaipuri puppets, and designs carved on the walls and ceilings gives a rather spectacular impression of the restaurant. Even the dining area is unique: tables and chairs are placed like royal dining styles. The restaurant’s peaceful environment, with its lush green trees, and its outstanding service make Baithak the best place to treat oneself; a live cultural show in the evenings serves as a further bonus.

It's getting a teeny-weeny bit hyperbolic, but still essentially correct. It does look a lot more Indian that Nepali, but what with all the confusion about the birth of princes and princesses, you really can't tell the difference. Good to go, except the part about 'lush green tees' which in reality are 'unkempt bushes in flowerpots'.

The menu, which has choicest delicacies from all over the country, including momos, mriga ko sukuti, choila, and sekuwa, all of which are served on elegant silverware and crystal. Vegetarians need not worry, as Baithak serves quite a few delicious veggie dishes as well. The Thali is the main course, and a must have at that, and has equal portions of rice, dal, Jhane ko Saag, salads, pickles and meat curry. The Mriga ko sukuti (dried, spiced-up venison) is also a must try. Its taste, enriched by adding various herbs, is simply irresistible. One may not want to dine at Baithak, thinking it serves the same old Nepali food that we eat on a regular basis.

Mmmm...Momo<drool>....

Uhh, what was that? Oh yes-- the food's quite heavy, as is to be expected, and just the same Momos are not as good as they could have been. They show their royal stuff with lots of ghee in Dal, and pretty much everything else, and that might explain the shockingly high cost of everything there(I wont mention the prices, but be prepared a lot to pay for everything, including Momos]. But honestly, I wasn't there to eat. It was for the ambiance and the experience(while I was getting totallyripped off )

It offers the best in Nepali dishes, and eating there is completely worth it, even though it is quite heavy on the pocket.

'Quite Heavy' is SUCH an understatement. 'As heavy as a big fat elephant who eats lots of ghee and other greasy Indian foodstuffs' would be a more honest assessment. Having said that, it is a nice place for people with no concern for money(I/NGO, govt. employees, burn your the organisation's wallet for this: it's an experience) or a real liking for everything Indian pretending to be 'genuine' Nepali.

Republica asks Goedel what Goedel is about

Republica's The Week has an interview with former miss Belgium GOEDELE LIEKENS about several things, including what her magazine titled(what else?) 'Goedel' is about. The interview is lame and musty but the woman is hot.

Meet Goedele Liekens

Blog post makes interesting claims about Incessant Rains

I got this from Dhintang.com... To make the experience complete, I even got the comment and posted it here myself... Does it even make any sense?

Republica has been putting out a lot of flattering pieces about Incessant Rain Animation Studio . First, it was this piece titled 'Animation Studio Bags Hollywood Contracts', that really doesn't sound like it should be news. Apart from that the piece really does not talk about the studio getting more contracts. Instead, it rambles on and on about how talented the staff are,  how great it is, and perhaps how the writer, Dinesh Karki desperately wants to work for the studio.

A sample from the article goes like this:

When IRAS started in 2008, it had only 15 animation and graphic artists. At present, IRAS has 85 employees and it is showing no sign of stopping. "We are giving trainings and offering attractive incentives to recruit more, Kiran Joshi, CEO of IRAS, told myrepublica.com.

and

Though Incessant Rain charges higher fee for international companies, they are charging just a nominal fee for local clients. The company recently made an ad film for Ace Development Bank, where they animated one-horned rhino. Very soon they are making another ad movie putting Yeti as a character for Mercantile Communications.

also

Incessant Rain works on concept storyboarding, designs, layout, modeling, texturing, animation, lighting, special effects, post production and visual effects. Professional at IRAS work as character animators, modelers, rigging artist, effect artist, lighting artists, compositors and programmers are the compact constituents of 3D animation studio, according to Joshi.

Not THREE days after that bellyrubbing, there was this article called 'Hollywood Calling: Young Nepali 3D Animators' written by--you guessed it, the same writer. Almost as long as the original piece(which was actually quite long), this one gives no additional information and is actually more trashy than the original piece. And nowhere is it made clear how exactly Hollywood is calling. Continued after the image...



It sounds like it was actually meant to be a feature story, when it got out of hand and became this monster. Samples:

Chief Executive Officer of IRAS Kiran Joshi denounced the myth that the older generation has toward animation and its career scope.

"Interest in cartoon movies makes children creative and teaches many things," said Joshi who worked as the head of Digital Production/Visual Effects Supervisor at Disney prior to establishing IRAS.

'Denounce'??? Ooh, wow! More(this is how the article ends)...

Once cartoon fanatics and 3D animation lovers, the young breed have now become creators of such characters and have gone global with several projects of Walt Disney, Columbia Pictures, Sony and ABC channel.

And their success is thriving. IRAS´s team of 85 animators is preparing to create Nepali character in the world of cartoon and 3D animation based on Nepali folklores and myths.

The young team at IRAS is happy at their achievement and all of them shared that their families are also happy of their accomplishments and their profession. It´s a field that has a good income too.

According to Kiran, in the West a 3D animator can earn up to US$60,000 per annum. And since Nepali animators are working for international clients through IRAS, the scope of income is good, he says.

Now, there can be several reasons why Republica are so fawning over IRAS.

First, considering the competent PR Team IRAS has(and it has one, be assured), this could be its form of media onslaught against some potential competitors that could be coming. Or maybe they just want to heat up the Nepali market.

Second, perhaps Mr. Karki is awed by the awesome work conditions at the organisations, and is buttering them up? Then Republica is helping their man get another awesome job. Or maybe they just want to get rid of him, looking at the kind of writing he does.

And finally, and most obviously of all, Republica could be trying to reach out to a big Ad campaign that IRAS might be bringing. Keep your eyes and ears open for animation-related Ad campaign.

Photo: IRAS