Nepal Magic

Shangri-La of legend, novel and classic film is a real place, the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. This tiny country next to Tibet is home to Mount Everest and much more. From arts and handicrafts tours to trekking and mountaineering, the Himalayan kingdom has something for every traveler.

All Nepal adventures start with the flight into Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu. Spectacular mountain views give way to green, terraced hillsides and small villages of thatched homes as the plane makes it’s rapid descent. Immigration and customs clearance are easy for tourists; visas are issued automatically on arrival for $30.

Expeditions and tours start from Kathmandu, so you’ll need a base and a chance to recover from the long flight. The Yak and Yeti hotel, next to the Royal Palace, is close to shopping and the old city. If the Yak and Yeti’s $200 rates leave you wooly-headed, there are many options, from $2 per night guest houses to comfortable hotels for less than $100. Even if you don’t stay at the Yak and Yeti, stop for an exotic drink in their lovely garden or a roll of the dice at the Casino Royale. The Raj lives on too at high tea every afternoon in the lobby.

Walk into the old city of Kathmandu along a street that was the ancient trade route from India to Tibet. The city grew up around traders’ stalls lining that route, and the market is still in full swing. Fruit, flowers, spices, medicines, metal wares, silk and pashmina, incense, jewelry and more - the 2,000 year old bazaar churns with activity.

The bazaar opens into a complex of palace buildings, enormous temples, and interconnected open plazas. The old Palace Square rivals the best Venice can offer for elegance of design, baroque complexity, and majesty. But here the materials are simple brick and plaster, with elaborately carved wood. Every exposed wooden surface is carved with animals both mythical and real, flowers, religious symbols and gods and goddesses.

The house of the Kumari, Nepal’s virgin goddess, faces the palace. A small girl is chosen by elaborate rituals, and Nepalis believe the king’s personal goddess enters into the girl. From then until she reaches puberty she is treated as a deity. Each fall she confers on the king the right to rule for another year. In 1955 the then-Kumari dozed off during the ceremony, then blessed the crown prince by mistake when she awoke. Later that year the king died and the crown prince ascended to the throne.

North of the Palace Square, 15 minutes walk or a one-dollar rickshaw ride away, is Thamel, the trekkers and tourist neighborhood. Thamel resembles Harvard Square or The Haight, but on a dizzyingly vast scale. There are literally thousands of small shops selling handicrafts, clothing, expedition gear, music and much more. Mixed among the shops are hundreds of restaurants catering to every taste from Korean to Kosher, and scores of budget hotels and guesthouses. Darbar Marg, two blocks west is Kathmandu’s High Street, a neighborhood of expensive, classy shops and hotels, including the Yak and Yeti.

source : http://newsblaze.com/story/20080623222855chil.nb/topstory.html

MUMBAI: Fever FM has tied up with Nepal Tourism to promote Nepal in India through its on air programming. This initiative is to bring the flavour of another country alive on the station’s morning show. RJ Lokesh from Fever began his interactive journey in Nepal on 12 July, to jumpstart your mornings with bytes from Nepal.

A journey spread over two weeks in the neighboring Nepal is a once in a lifetime experience as summed up by RJ Lokesh from on site. “The entire country is like a picture postcard.” The excitement began the very moment he landed in Nepal. He had barely reached the hotel, when he realized that he was in midst of a traditional Nepalese wedding. An over enthusiastic RJ Lokesh was caught roaming around with a wide eyed curiosity but with an additional bulk of technical paraphernalia. The high point of the trip so far, was a special flight to the top of Mount Everest, with RJ Lokesh screaming in ecstasy on the phone for his listeners to hear.”

There is increased interactivity with the listeners in Delhi with whom RJ Lokesh is linking up every hour to get an update on what is happening in Delhi while he is on job vacationing!. The listeners are feeding Lokesh with Delhi buzz and Lokesh is drawing parallels between the two cities, comparing traffic at rush hours, colleges, youth lives etc. To top this all, Lokesh is carrying back personalized gifts for each and every listener he’s chatting up with.

Lokesh’s invitation to all his listeners in Delhi via a fun contest, where one lucky listener couple wins a holiday package to Nepal including air fare, everyday.

Says an excited RJ Lokesh said, “So far, I have brought Delhi closer to Delhites. It’s a thrilling experience to now bring the country of Nepal closer Delhites. I don’t think I want this sojourn to end.”

Nepal tourism’s Neeraj Dhawan said, “Radio leaves an element of fantasy and yet describes the destination with a story telling art. It has been a pleasure to associate with Fever 104 who are giving this fantastic reach. We are hopeful that this initiative will bring about a new way of promoting the tourism industry.”

Fever FM Vinay Manek programming head said, “This is truly a cross cultural innovation on radio. Balle Balle Dilli to Balle Balle in Nepal is a unique concept and the response from our listeners has been both touching and overwhelming.”

source : http://www.radioandmusic.com/headlines/y2k8/july/15july/fever.php

Nepal is a landlocked nation. It borders China in the north and India in the south. Defending its sovereign identity from these two giant nations is Nepal’s nationalistic strategy. But the most unfortunate fact is that majority of our political leaders are Indian agents. It is worthless to expect from these leaders to save our nationality and independence. Unless traitors and corrupt leaders dominating in the big parties are chased away, democracy and nationalism will not be secured. There is no alternative to parliamentary democracy in Nepal. But it does not mean that we follow Indian orders and perish Nepal’s identity.

The definition of Nepal’s nationality is to maintain balanced bilateral diplomatic ties with both the countries, China and India, based on democracy and by protecting its pride. Cordial people to people level relations between Nepal and India has existed since ancient times. We have to keep friendly relations with India due to our similar cultural and religious traditions. But sadly Indian congress, ever since coming to power has been striving to destabilize Nepal. India, through its intelligence agency ‘RAW’, has been found continuously involved in destabilizing our national identities - royal institution, Hindu Kingdom and national language, which were developed along with the ideology of national unity, security and national identity. RAW through its agents in the Nepali Congress, UML and Maoist parties is now pressing for autonomous federal states on communal basis.

Due to the open border, India has been masterminding various strategies to keep Nepal under her influence. Due to her continuous interventions her assistance and supports have turned into a curse. 58 years ago, in name of helping Nepal in establishing democracy she endorsed an unequal treaty in July, 1950. They urged the then rulers, Ranas, were promising them of the continued support for their regime. Four months later, she planned King Tribhuvan’s escape to New Delhi and kept Nepal under the influence of India through another document - the Delhi Agreement.

source : http://www.google.com/news?

Shangri-La of legend, novel and classic film is a real place, the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. This tiny country next to Tibet is home to Mount Everest and much more. From arts and handicrafts tours to trekking and mountaineering, the Himalayan kingdom has something for every traveler.

All Nepal adventures start with the flight into Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu. Spectacular mountain views give way to green, terraced hillsides and small villages of thatched homes as the plane makes it’s rapid descent. Immigration and customs clearance are easy for tourists; visas are issued automatically on arrival for $30.

Expeditions and tours start from Kathmandu, so you’ll need a base and a chance to recover from the long flight. The Yak and Yeti hotel, next to the Royal Palace, is close to shopping and the old city. If the Yak and Yeti’s $200 rates leave you wooly-headed, there are many options, from $2 per night guest houses to comfortable hotels for less than $100. Even if you don’t stay at the Yak and Yeti, stop for an exotic drink in their lovely garden or a roll of the dice at the Casino Royale. The Raj lives on too at high tea every afternoon in the lobby.

Walk into the old city of Kathmandu along a street that was the ancient trade route from India to Tibet. The city grew up around traders’ stalls lining that route, and the market is still in full swing. Fruit, flowers, spices, medicines, metal wares, silk and pashmina, incense, jewelry and more - the 2,000 year old bazaar churns with activity.

The bazaar opens into a complex of palace buildings, enormous temples, and interconnected open plazas. The old Palace Square rivals the best Venice can offer for elegance of design, baroque complexity, and majesty. But here the materials are simple brick and plaster, with elaborately carved wood. Every exposed wooden surface is carved with animals both mythical and real, flowers, religious symbols and gods and goddesses.

The house of the Kumari, Nepal’s virgin goddess, faces the palace. A small girl is chosen by elaborate rituals, and Nepalis believe the king’s personal goddess enters into the girl. From then until she reaches puberty she is treated as a deity. Each fall she confers on the king the right to rule for another year. In 1955 the then-Kumari dozed off during the ceremony, then blessed the crown prince by mistake when she awoke. Later that year the king died and the crown prince ascended to the throne.

North of the Palace Square, 15 minutes walk or a one-dollar rickshaw ride away, is Thamel, the trekkers and tourist neighborhood. Thamel resembles Harvard Square or The Haight, but on a dizzyingly vast scale. There are literally thousands of small shops selling handicrafts, clothing, expedition gear, music and much more. Mixed among the shops are hundreds of restaurants catering to every taste from Korean to Kosher, and scores of budget hotels and guesthouses. Darbar Marg, two blocks west is Kathmandu’s High Street, a neighborhood of expensive, classy shops and hotels, including the Yak and Yeti.

In medieval times there were three great cities in the Kathmandu Valley. One of them, Bhaktapur, was mercifully spared from being “developed”. It is a few miles from Kathmandu, but centuries away. Bhaktapur moves to the same rhythm it has for a thousand years. The craftsmen and farmers you will meet are doing as their families have for dozens of generations. In Bhaktapur the festivals and traditions are so old that people say the gods created them.

Pashupatinath temple complex is the holy-of-holies to Nepal’s Hindus, and the destination for many Indian pilgrims. The dead are cremated here, and their ashes are cast into the holy river. Here too pilgrims cleanse their sins by bathing in the same river. The central shrine, off-limits to those who are not Hindu, has a spectacular temple with a giant golden bull kneeling in worship. The riverbanks and surrounding hills are littered with sculptures rivaling any museum’s Asian art gallery.

Most visitors head out of Kathmandu for other adventures. Jungle safaris from two to four days feature elephant-back expeditions to watch wildlife, and jungle walks with naturalists. Accommodations are rustic but pleasant, with attached baths, all meals and a well-stocked bar. Older children are welcome for all activities, and one lodge has a separate facility for families with younger children, with a pool, ponies, and special activities.

Nepal is the most vertical country in the world, and the whitewater rafting is superb. There are one and two day trips and longer expeditions. Rafting companies provide all equipment and training, and professional guides. You can combine a short rafting trip with mountain biking, a bungy jump, or the new sport of canyonning, a combination of rock climbing and tubing through river gorges and pools.

source : http://newsblaze.com/story/

Shangri-La of legend, novel and classic film is a real place, the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. This tiny country next to Tibet is home to Mount Everest and much more. From arts and handicrafts tours to trekking and mountaineering, the Himalayan kingdom has something for every traveler.

All Nepal adventures start with the flight into Tribhuvan airport in Kathmandu. Spectacular mountain views give way to green, terraced hillsides and small villages of thatched homes as the plane makes it’s rapid descent. Immigration and customs clearance are easy for tourists; visas are issued automatically on arrival for $30.

Expeditions and tours start from Kathmandu, so you’ll need a base and a chance to recover from the long flight. The Yak and Yeti hotel, next to the Royal Palace, is close to shopping and the old city. If the Yak and Yeti’s $200 rates leave you wooly-headed, there are many options, from $2 per night guest houses to comfortable hotels for less than $100. Even if you don’t stay at the Yak and Yeti, stop for an exotic drink in their lovely garden or a roll of the dice at the Casino Royale. The Raj lives on too at high tea every afternoon in the lobby.

Walk into the old city of Kathmandu along a street that was the ancient trade route from India to Tibet. The city grew up around traders’ stalls lining that route, and the market is still in full swing. Fruit, flowers, spices, medicines, metal wares, silk and pashmina, incense, jewelry and more - the 2,000 year old bazaar churns with activity.

The bazaar opens into a complex of palace buildings, enormous temples, and interconnected open plazas. The old Palace Square rivals the best Venice can offer for elegance of design, baroque complexity, and majesty. But here the materials are simple brick and plaster, with elaborately carved wood. Every exposed wooden surface is carved with animals both mythical and real, flowers, religious symbols and gods and goddesses.

The house of the Kumari, Nepal’s virgin goddess, faces the palace. A small girl is chosen by elaborate rituals, and Nepalis believe the king’s personal goddess enters into the girl. From then until she reaches puberty she is treated as a deity. Each fall she confers on the king the right to rule for another year. In 1955 the then-Kumari dozed off during the ceremony, then blessed the crown prince by mistake when she awoke. Later that year the king died and the crown prince ascended to the throne.

North of the Palace Square, 15 minutes walk or a one-dollar rickshaw ride away, is Thamel, the trekkers and tourist neighborhood. Thamel resembles Harvard Square or The Haight, but on a dizzyingly vast scale. There are literally thousands of small shops selling handicrafts, clothing, expedition gear, music and much more. Mixed among the shops are hundreds of restaurants catering to every taste from Korean to Kosher, and scores of budget hotels and guesthouses. Darbar Marg, two blocks west is Kathmandu’s High Street, a neighborhood of expensive, classy shops and hotels, including the Yak and Yeti.

In medieval times there were three great cities in the Kathmandu Valley. One of them, Bhaktapur, was mercifully spared from being “developed”. It is a few miles from Kathmandu, but centuries away. Bhaktapur moves to the same rhythm it has for a thousand years. The craftsmen and farmers you will meet are doing as their families have for dozens of generations. In Bhaktapur the festivals and traditions are so old that people say the gods created them.

Pashupatinath temple complex is the holy-of-holies to Nepal’s Hindus, and the destination for many Indian pilgrims. The dead are cremated here, and their ashes are cast into the holy river. Here too pilgrims cleanse their sins by bathing in the same river. The central shrine, off-limits to those who are not Hindu, has a spectacular temple with a giant golden bull kneeling in worship. The riverbanks and surrounding hills are littered with sculptures rivaling any museum’s Asian art gallery.

Most visitors head out of Kathmandu for other adventures. Jungle safaris from two to four days feature elephant-back expeditions to watch wildlife, and jungle walks with naturalists. Accommodations are rustic but pleasant, with attached baths, all meals and a well-stocked bar. Older children are welcome for all activities, and one lodge has a separate facility for families with younger children, with a pool, ponies, and special activities.

Nepal is the most vertical country in the world, and the whitewater rafting is superb. There are one and two day trips and longer expeditions. Rafting companies provide all equipment and training, and professional guides. You can combine a short rafting trip with mountain biking, a bungy jump, or the new sport of canyonning, a combination of rock climbing and tubing through river gorges and pools.

Today even an armchair lover of the mountains can see them up close. Every morning the Mountain Flight takes people up for an hour of Mount Everest and the entire central Himalaya from 17,000 feet. For many it is the highlight of their trip.

Trekkers visit Nepal’s countryside, a timeless world where the rhythms of life and of walking bring peace. There are dozens of routes, and programs to fit anything from a couple of days to several weeks. Trekking agencies will arrange your trek in advance; most offer group programs, but the better outfitters can make individual arrangements, even for one or two people. Trekking costs vary from $40 per day to more than $100 per day.

source : http://news.google.com.np/news?

Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Saturday invited the Maoists to head the next government, nearly one-and-a-half months after the Constituent Assembly election.

Koirala, also the acting head-of-the-state, asked Maoist chairman Prachanda to form the new government during a meeting with the leaders of the three largest parties  the Maoists, the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (UML).

So far, Koirala’s Nepali Congress, was opposed to the idea of inviting the Maoists to form the new government. The Maoists have emerged as the largest political party in the assembly, and has bagged 220 seats in the 601-member house.

Nepali Congress leaders are still not keen to join the new government, to be led by the Maoists. The party has also put forward a set of pre-connditions for the Maoist leadership to join the government.

Prachanda is expected to present a proposal for the formation of the next government on Sunday at a meeting of top leaders, senior Nepali Congress leader and peace and reconstruction minister Ram Chandra Poudel, said. The process of nominating the 26 members to the house would be finalised soon, he added. “He (Koirala) has asked Prachanda to take initiation for a new government in accordance with the constitution,” Poudel said.

For the Maoists, getting the magic figure of 301 members in the Constituent Assembly would be the biggest challenge. Falling short by 81 seats, it would be difficult for them to woo support for simple majority as well. Like the Nepali Congress, leaders of the CPN (UML) have also expressed their unwillingness to join the new government. All CPN (UML) ministers have tendered their resignations from the interim government led by Koirala.

If the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) don’t join the coalition, the Maoists would have to depend on the Madheshi Janadhikar Forum for support. It has 52 members.

Moreover, the new government would also need two-thirds majority to pass the new constitution. The Maoists would not be able to reach two-thirds majority if the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) do not join the coalition.

The first sitting of the Constituent Assembly is scheduled to be held on May 28. The first-sitting would endorse the decision to make Nepal a republic and transform the members of the royal family to commoners.

source : http://news.google.com.np/news?

The word “hope” is definitely a very nice word in English language. The word itself arouses in you some sort of hope. For me as a journalist this word has always instructed to continue to hope. For others, I suppose, the word hope and the very materialization of the desired thing should be equally thrilling experiences indeed. However, it is altogether a different matter that not so many people get their hopes being realized. Some perhaps leave for their heavenly abode without enjoying the thing they desired and hoped for.

To hope is not a crime in my modest opinion. What is the harm in hoping? One is free to hope any thing under the sun immaterial of the end results. I think that the Nepal as a nation-state must include this word hope in its constitution that is yet to be drafted by our “august” politicians converged at the Birendra International Convention Center that has been names as the Hal of the “Constituent Assembly”.

I even suggest the government and the leaders of Nepal to make it mandatory in the constitution. One should be forced under the new amended constitution to hope. Failing to disobey the constitutional duties should be considered an “act against the state and humanity”‘. If we could do so will definitely attract the foreign tourists which has definitely gone down over these years. I am told that the foreigners are suffering from a sort of “depression” who could, if they are encouraged to come to Nepal, will begin hoping against hope that one fine morning they will be face to face with “hope”. This could also be a means to earn foreign currency.

There should be banners/hoarding boards hung in Kathmandu’s busy thoroughfares wherein the “benefits” of hope are clearly written. Those who do not read and write Radio Nepal and the Nepal Television must prepare programs so that the illiterate lot could understand the benefits of hope. In the process, the state can seek foreign funding for the effective propagation of hope in new but India managed and institutionalized republican Nepal.. Albeit, an effective and efficient propagation will make Nepal popular abroad. Rest assured.

Since 1950, the year when we the Nepalese freed ourselves from the shackles of the hundred and four years of the Rana oligarchy, we all have been hoping and hoping only that the golden days for Nepal will soon enter into from the back door. During 1950s, we hoped for a better system and indeed a better government. However, things were altogether different. We have had an India government where the Indian ambassador was a must for the so called Nepali cabinet to proceed for its functioning.

We yet again started hoping in the end of the 60s of a democratic and efficient government. The government then died a premature death partly because of its own inherent weaknesses and partly due to high Royal ambitions.

In the early 60s, we the Nepalese again prepared ourselves for yet another round of hoping. We hoped so many good and new things from the Royal regime. We continued to hope for all along the thirty plus years of the Royal rule. In effect we hoped much from the erstwhile regime until its collapse some eighteen years back.

Later a new set of leaders came in the early 90s and gave us further dose of hope. This set told us not to loose our Himalayan patience and keep the practice of hoping ad infinitum. Look the charismatic result: the entire nation is hoping and will continue to do so till the end of this material life.

Now we have begun hoping being fresh. The new Order has encouraged us all not to go against the rule: it says go on hoping. And as obedient students, we are hoping. Let’s hope once again because we have been told to hope by our new leaders.

Each and every drop of the Nepalese blood is accustomed now. It has already become a habit for us now to hope. We will continue to hope. This has already become a Nepali culture to hope. We will continue to hope come what may. In the process of hoping, we may leave for our respective heavenly abode and quit this material world but our sons and daughters will keep the process going. This is what I hope personally.

After all when our leaders have told us to keep on hoping and the new federal system indirectly has given us to understand that “we the people” must continue hoping then it becomes our benign duty to honor the instructions coming from above. After all we are here to elect our “people’s representatives” and when they order us to hope, we can’t dishonor their commands. How can we?

We the Nepalese people also hope that some corrupt officials, ministers, bureaucrats and more so some corrupt leaders are sent to the bars. What is the harm in hoping? Let’s hope that former minister Wagley, Joshi, Chataut and the ones involved in Dhamija and Lauda air scams, and above all the incumbent prime minister who is the real source of all the evils in Nepal are all behind the bars. The court that served penalty on bla…bla and bla is too hoping, as others are, that the accused ones would be sent to the jails time permitting. The entire process of hoping is free. It is toll free.

Finally, I request my Nepali brethren not to panic. Let us continue hoping even if it were hoping against hope.

To recall, the main culprit of the Dhamija air scandal is none less than the one who claims that he is made up of “steel”. Indeed, he is talking of the Tata steel that is an Indian product. No less interesting is that Koirala was born in Bihar where this steel mill is located. What a coincidence?

But will the new republican leaders dare to throw Koirala behind the bars for his countless faults that have caused enormous strain on the national exchequer?

We must collectively keep this extraordinary culture intact.

source : http://www.telegraphnepal.com/news_det.php?news_id=3561

The term ‘cultural extinction’ likely conjures up images of ancient civilizations in peoples’ minds-the Greeks and the Romans in Europe, the Aztecs and Mayans in Central America or the Byzantine Empire in the Middle East. Everyone knows these civilizations have met their demise, taking with them the knowledge and cultures of their worlds.

In today’s society, the idea of cultural extinction may seem a thing of the past. However, cultural traditions are lost throughout the world on a regular basis as the last remaining speakers of various languages die.

According to the National Geographic Web site, a language disappears every 14 days. At this rate, it is estimated that half of the world’s 7,000 languages will become extinct in the next century.

“Languages are abandoned when speakers come to think of them as socially inferior, tied to the past, traditional/backward, or economically stagnant,” according to Gregory D. S. Anderson on his Web site, livingtongues.org.

This trend could have disturbing effects on the rest of the world.

Disappearing languages affect other cultures

Many people feel that this issue does not affect them and become complacent to what is happening, but Professor Robert Wakefield, who teaches classes about these international issues, said he thinks it is important for students to be informed about events happening around the world.

“There is tremendous knowledge that is lost when a language dies,” Wakefield said. We lose information about all of the things these people learned-how they cultivated the earth and interacted with each other, as well as knowledge about plants, animals and cultural traditions, he said.

“Over time, as these languages die out, it squelches the rich diversity we have among cultures,” Wakefield said. “Diversity is important; it gives variety and meaning to our lives. We can learn from our differences.”

He said he is concerned about the great “sameness” that is spreading throughout the world.

“Unfortunately, it’s hard to keep people informed about this issue when we go throughout our daily lives and everything revolves around English,” he said. “People don’t know and don’t care.”

Students at BYU-concerned about the cultural drift

Many students at BYU, on the other hand, realize the danger that comes from language extinction. Elsie Pulupuna, a 20-year-old student from Tonga, majoring in International Relations, said she has noticed a change in her native culture as English influences are spread throughout the world.

Back in Tonga, the language is dying out in the island next to her home island, Pulupuna said.

“People realized that you can get more places with English, so they concentrate on learning [English] instead of their native language. Everything has become less traditional.”

Pulupuna said she worries about what these changes will eventually do to her culture.

“Language is a carrier of culture,” she said. “If this trend continues, the culture will die out eventually.”

On the other side of the world, in Nepal, less than 1,000 people now speak the language of Chintang. Dikshya Prasai, a student majoring in Mechanical Engineering, said she has not heard of this language even though it is from her native land; however, she is not surprised that it is dying.

“When I was really young, the Western influence started coming in,” Prasai said. “People thought it was more comfortable and stylish to wear these new styles of clothes. They started listening to English songs and watching movies from Hollywood and Bollywood. They started ignoring their own culture.”

Prasai said she has noticed in her country how one generation abandons the native culture and neglects to teach it to their children. The children never learn the traditions and eventually they become lost.

“It is really degrading to the Nepali language. Everyone inserts American words from movies and songs, and some of the original words from our language are not even used anymore.”

Solutions to the problem

There are many things students can do to stop this problem from progressing further.

“Students should keep abreast on what is going on around them,” Wakefield said. He recommends they become informed about the issue and develop a humanitarian spirit for other cultures.

Students can learn about other cultures and languages. Studying other languages will ensure that those languages will not die out. There are classes offered for 90 languages at BYU. Amazingly, this incorporates just over one percent of all the world’s languages.

“The most important thing is just to stay informed,” Wakefield said. “What people don’t realize is how much this affects us. Everything affects us.”

source : http://news.google.com.np/news?

At 8.40 am today, 77-year-old Min Bahadur Sherchan became the oldest person so far to scale Everest, beating the record set last year by 71-year-old Japanese citizen Katsusuke Yanagisawa.
Sherchan is a member of a six-member Senior Citizen Mt Everest Expedition 2008. The six-member team was supported by ace climber Pemba Dorje Sherpa. “We have got a message
that Sherchan has scaled the Everest and is in good health. He is coming to the Base Camp soon,” said Dr Surendra KC, a member of the committee formed to support Sherchan in his Everest bid. Sherchan was born on June 20, 1931 in Bhurung Tatopani of Myagdi district.
In a statement, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation confirmed Sherchan’s Everest ascent. It added, “So far, Sherchan is the oldest person to have climbed Everest.”
Other members of the team who made it to the top were: Bir Bahadur Gurung, Pema Dorjee Sherpa, Dharma Bahadur Rai, Sange Sherpa and Lakpa Nuru Sherpa. The handling agency of the expedition is World Summit Explorer Pvt Ltd.
Meanwhile, Chunu Shrestha, the 10th member of the First Inclusive Women Expedition, reached atop Everest today with two supporting climbers Da Gombu Sherpa and Pasang Wonchhu Sherpa.

source : http://news.google.com.np

Former prime minister and only living founding leader of the Nepali Congress, Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, has asked the parties not to abolish the institution of monarchy in haste.

In a statement issued on Monday, Bhattarai said abolition of monarchy could plunge the country further into grave crisis.

“The institution of monarchy can still play a role to unify nation’s culture and civilisation and protect national integrity and ethnic and geographical diversity of the nation,” said Bhattarai.

The statement further said, “Since no party has an absolute majority in the Constituent Assembly, only politics of consensus can bail the country out of the current crisis and that failure to work on consensus would endanger the existence of the nation.”

Similarly, home minister of the royal cabinet and chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Kamal Thapa asked the parties not to abolish the monarchy until a new constitution is promulgated.

Speaking at a function on Monday, Thapa claimed the CA should not take a decision to abolish monarchy in haste which can then invite political disaster.

source : http://news.google.com.np/nwshp