Namaste!

We would like to invite you to a cocktail party at the Tian Rui Chinese Restaurant & Bar at Thapathali, Kathmandu from 6:30pm onwards on Wednesday, June 11, 2008.

Please find the direction to the restaurant attached with this email.

On behalf of Bhaskar Bhattarai, Bimal Koirala, Kundan Khanal, Lava Kafle, Raj B Thakuri, Sharad Pokharel and Subodh Gurung

Yours Truly,

This email composed by Vishnu Kshettri was sent to whole set of teams that were during part of corporate life involved directly/indirectly in some of the projects.

Extremely sorry to say, for many of friends and team members we got :

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

Subject: Wednesday to live for!
Sent: 6/10/2008 8:28 PM

The following recipient(s) cannot be reached

and we feel sorry for typing wrong email address and for not being to call unofficially or verbally. We were negligent there. We will improve next time so nobody from organization misses such parties.

Anyway, it was a big fun with many new games played. Many Proposals and rejection offers were heard. Many were crying to release the pain and many more were laughing to release the excitement of the party. As soon as Thakur Gyawali entered the party scene, it started getting hotter. Other missing teams started jumping in who had to finish their jobs before joining the party. There was a huge hullabaloo. All started peeking in to see what happened inside the circle.Raj Thakuri won the game and got chance to propose to a Princess by becoming a Knight. Hitesh Karki became the Knight and proposed to another Princess by kneeling before her. We were mesmerized by this new play seen first time in the history of get-together and parties. It continued as the night slipped by and the moon started to shower its charismatic spell on party-makers.

It was a great opportunity to bind diverse teams into one place at one time and to recognize many faces previously unknown.

Many did not make to Party even though they received invitations.

Vishnu and Prashanta Shrestha had booked the place on Tuesday to make plenty of time and room for us.

The Chinese Cuisines were superb lest we are not used to the food quality of Chinese daily. The International Standard place, beautiful garden, and the rooftop with all are seen below in photographs that are not Edited at all.

Please right click photo, Save and put a comment on which photo you liked or disliked based on the photo number. If some volunteer is available, please put nice caption alongside.

It was a lucky day for Nepalese as the former King Gyanendra at last left his big Narayanhiti Palace making room for federal republic. The pictures below show eve of the moment when there will not be another such sunset, and the Statute of the First Shah Ruler of Kathmandu will never again witness his inheritors staying in Narayanhiti palace. “Narayan” is Hindu God’s name and “hiti” means water spout.

Just imagine your Boss giving a presentation riding a YAK…and that too in USA :-)!!

I saw this video in MSNBC and, it tickled my funny bone!! It has a mix of both entrepreneurship and humor, both which I want to pioneer

Its Casual Friday and Boss brings his pet YAK, and gives PowerPoint presentation while riding on it, that must be something ain’t it??

Check out the video to find out more…

When a loved one is taken

Are they spurned on by the

Greater Rattlesnake Mass Choir

With heart wrenching solos by

King Cobra

Do Mourning Doves

Cry out in anguish

Like humans

In need of a tender touch

What odd shapes

The caskets must be

The Right Reverend Praying Mantis

Leads the bereved flock on to glory

Warning them

About the awful dangers

Of Crossing The Road…

James R. Depp Sr, (c) 15 Aug. 1995

You must be surprised why I am sharing these things with you, after all why other people get interested what bike I am planning to get or what five people debates among them self. This things come as flash back last night when I was in queue to get petrol for my bike. Just in front of me there were two dudes in brand new bikes. Most noticeable part about these two bikes was number plates were marked as “On/Test”, a symbol of brand new bike. I asked when did they get there bike. They reply back “aja nai ho” (just today) and we are coming straight from show room to petrol queue. The next one added “Kee garne dai mandir jane nee petrol chaina” (no fuel to reach temple). Although this is not new thing for any Nepali but when I actually met someone who had already invested in bike still don’t know where to drive there is no road where to get petrol; it was not a normal condition for me. While in queue I was trying to sketch myself in brand new bike in a petrol queue. What’s the use of investment if we can’t get benefit? This is every day condition. A taxi driver was shouting, to get fuel to drive one hour taxi we need to be in queue for 10 hours how can we survive? Facing these conditions I thing debating about anything new is worthless the biggest challenge is to survive with what we have.

This is story of one day but here in Nepal only one thing is changing that is calendar, condition and circumstances remains same. Every day after 8 to 10 hours office, next round of planning begins where to find petrol and what is the power cut timing. Almost every evening we prefer to take path which covers maximum petrol pumps, taking least care of traffic and distance; in a very thin hope to getting a petrol queue. When a queue is spotted next moments start calling friends and get excited as for some time we don’t have to search for next queue. We are not getting anything free (petrol or electricity) in contrast we have to pay high price compared other developed country. Probably that is why one of leader never tired saying “21st century Mahan Nepali”.

When I reach home the television was on. The first thing that comes on mind was “Thanks god aja ta batti cha” then only focus changes on television story. An interview was going on about building new and great Nepal after CA polls. Changing the channels only speaker changes but everyone was discussing about plans and future but no one seems to focus on present conditions. At the same time the Indian channels were advertising about different brands of petrol and diesel. I was thinking, what is the use of Nepal if there is no one called “Nepali”. How can we trust 15 years plans of leaders who can’t solve day to day problem?
Even we are not allowed to be serious about such things. I had already dropped idea of new bike… and had started thinking about country. While these things are going in my mind someone knocked in my door and asked petrol payo?(got petrol ?) I said chaina (no). He added “barbad cha yar, what to do bholi bata gas nee chaina and without petrol in bike how to search for gas cylinder… ………….

All those who think they're cold and/or old, go to Ratnapark to organize a Nepal Band in protest - this is unacceptable.

Another hopeful day, hopefully

Thuds of approaching footsteps down below

See her crossing the road skillfully

Jeans and top: the usual cosmopolitan expression

Cascading rivers of burgundy on top

Subtle traces of burnt sienna in her complexion

Arrested by beauty, my senses get locked up

Hellos of varying decibels compete within

Unable to surface as words for her ears

She walks past below, next to the local inn

Intoxicated, I stand with love in arrears

She’s a beauty with pronounced contours

I lean forward as she walks away friskily

Bathed in romance, I sharpen my arrows

And, nearly fall off the window clumsily

She looks up and sees an awkward me

As, I pretend to gaze at the bustles of the busy day

I turn my eyes on her again carefully

And, see her smile, then turn and walk away

Saw her the other day on the bus stop standing

As I was returning from work in a merry stroll

Kept glaring at her lost in mindful philandering

And, almost fell into the approaching manhole

I joined the cooking class and there she was

She turned out to be my tutor and I her student

She taught me the fine art of cooking laws

But, I only learned geometry: curves and tangent

She asked me to prepare a soup in a pan

And, turned around to guide the other pupils

Eyes fixed on her I emptied the whole oil can

And, lit myself instead of the lentils

You think Mustang is the name of a place.

You look up when you hear an airplane.

You point with your lips or with your middle finger.

Whenever you meet someone you ask, "Have you had your food?" ( bhat khayao?)

You meet someone in a movie hall and ask, " Have you come to watch a
movie?" (cinema herna ayeko?)

You call all action movies " action pacck"

You meet an elder and he/she asks you, "When did you come back?"

You know the three Ds of partying. i.e- dance, drink and dangdung (fist/khukuri fight).

You think all festivals mean relatives playing cards and getting drunk.

You cannot drink without chicken chilly and momos.

You think chicken chilly and momo are nepali food.

You are crossing a one way street and you have to check both sides. ( daya
ani baya )

You get annoyed when people think you are from Naples.

Your relatives give you money whenever you visit them. ( even when you are 40)

When you see a pair of slippers upside down (ulta chappal) you have to
turn it around.

You don't cut your nails at night. (alas the devil might take You and your
family)

You feel you havent eaten if you havent had Bhath (rice).

You laugh at everything on Nepali TV but you still watch it.

You dont know that the buff you have been eating is actually short for buffalo.

You have been dragged to a mandir on saraswati puja so that you will get
good grades.

You are not allowed to hum or sing while eating.

Your grandmum doesnt let you whislle at night.

You cant date someone if you are not in love.

You have a problem following rules and standing in line.

You call anyone rajesh hamal(famous Nepali Actor) if he has a long back-hair.

You wait for someone going "tinaa-falaam-boraa-botttle" when you have
loads of beer cans and bottles,

You watch Korean movie and try to act like one,

You miss those mountains you used to see the moment you opened your eyes in
the morning..

You go out for lunch/ dinner/ whatever in a group and look at the menu for
half an hour and order the following:
1. momo
2. chowmein
3. fried rice
4. chicken chilli

You think of titaura and your saliva glands go wild!!

You think Toyota Corrolla is the no.1 car in the world!

You can sing this song… "super top, ma hun super top… ma luga lai seto
paarchu…"

You miss mango tart, wai wai, rara and hatichap chappal..

You are good at drunk driving, especially on motorcycles…

your conversation with any Nepali you just met always ends up being an interview to unearth the degree of association with this person. (eh…Ghar ka?? Lazimpat? Tyeso bhaye timile xyz lai chinchhau??)

- 90% of the time you end up knowing someone who knows someone who knows the person.
- The remaining 10% of the time the person is your relative.

- You owned a dog, or knew of a dog named Tiger.

- you think cats are evil.

- you feel obligated to pay for everyone else when eating out with your friends.

- you get a kick out revealing to some of your American friends that Kathmandu is actually a real place and not just a word invented to mean in the middle of nowhere (as in "from Katmandu to Timbuktu")

- you didn't know Timbuktu was a real place in Mali, Africa.

- your American friends ask you if you have climbed mount Everest.

- you probably haven't even seen mount Everest.

- your favorite Hollywood actress used to be Phoebe Cates

- you pronounce Phoebe Cates as "fobee cyats"

- You go crazy if you can't blow on your fingers after you touch your neck. Or who ever's 4. fingers that touches your neck. (Natra Gaand aunchha kya)

- You drive your friends crazy by touching their neck and running away before they can blow.

- You think you're better than Indians.

- you dislike India but can't live without their food and their movies.

- you pretend you can't speak Hindi.

- you think you don't have an indian accent.

- You are afraid to step on any paper, or pen (You don't want to piss off Saraswati and flunk an exam).

- you love the pungent, fermented smell of pickled bamboo shoots (tama) and dried and aged vegetable leaves (gundruk) + you are drooling at the thought right now.

- "Babu" is the default nickname for all male kids in the family since the last 10 generations.

Farewell Chicago

By Ayush Adhikari -Class-8 (13 Years)                                       

Horizon Middle School

Moorhead, USA

“Ah! Welcome, Mr. Jordan,” said a tall, young man with a black suit and tie. He seemed to look like the host of tonight’s show, with me as their guest of honor.

“Hello,” I replied and waved. He came closer and asked,

“How are you?” 

“All well,” I said with a handshake. 

“Where do I go?” I asked. He pointed to a fancy, green door, with a placard of my name “MR. JORDAN.”

“Thanks,” I said with gratitude, and went there.  “By the way Mr. Jordan, the show will start in ten minutes,” he said as I was walking. I nodded and proceeded.

When I went in, I saw some people. They looked like the “make up” workers. They instructed me and I followed.

Later when ten minutes had passed, the Moderator told everyone to get in position. It looked like the show was about to start. After the intro’s done by the host, he announced “Make your way for Mr. Michael Jordan.” Seconds later some worker told me to go. I was a bit nervous, but I proceeded.

I heard claps and cheers when I got there. The theatre room was very big with two floors. I was very amazed.

“Hi everybody,” I said with amazement, “And thank you all for being here. This really means a lot to me.” Many clapped and I heard some cheers.

Anyway, today I will tell you about the disastrous day in Chicago, the day where everything was falling apart.” Everyone was listening closely.

“It happened sixty years ago on the year 1871.”

“Two days before the fire, I was promoted to join the Chicago Fire Department. Since I was 6, wanting to be a part of the Chicago Fire Department was a dream come true. My Dad, Montgomery Borat Jordan would come home everyday from work, and bring back great stories about the burning buildings and the people that were involved in the fire. If it wasn’t for my dad’s inspiration I probably would never want to become a firefighter, and ever since those times, firefighters were my life.

When I got in front of the building, I looked up and felt as if it was going to fall on me. Minutes later, I entered with a deep breath and exhaled it when I got inside. I looked around and saw the reception desk, and went there. I was amazed by the space of the room along the way. When I got there, a blonde lady greeted me. “How may I help you sir,” she asked pleasantly “Well, do you know what time I meet Mr. Schauffer?” She looked down at a hand written paper.

“Last name please,” she asked.

“J-Jordan,” I said back. 

“Is it Michael Jordan?” I nodded.

“He will meet you now.” she called a worker, and he looked like a janitor. “Kevin, could you please show this man to the boss’s room.” “Sure, follow me lad.” He sounded Irish. I followed and we went through a very long staircase. I barely thought I would survive it.

When we finally got to the fourth floor, we headed to Mr. Schauffer’s room.  His fancy brown door had a golden door knob and a placard saying “Mr. Schauffer” on it. I felt light headed and felt shiver through my spine. I took a deep breath, and slowly moved my arm up. I knocked and waited. 

 ”Come in,” said a deep voice. I entered and the small old man was handwriting some things. I waited there for two minutes. He finally said, “Please sit, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No problem,” I said. I sat down on a comfy, wooden chair and I was given a handwritten form of where my station was. When he looked up and saw me, he said “You look like Monty’s boy?”

“Yes sir, I am the son of Monty Jordan,” I said as I gave him my handwritten form from college. Right after he looked at that, he took my form and said,

“Sorry, you don’t belong here.”

He took me to a room with a placard saying “HIGHER CLASS.” I was confused. A while later he said,

“Um, this is where you will be working. It is the place where our best people work.”

I was happy and emotional. This was my dream to work for the best class.

After I daydreamed, He took me in and showed me people building steam engines. I was also taken to an ace team named squad number six.

“Hello Michael, I am James Chamberlain the leader of squad six.” I was amazed, that I would get an opportunity to work with no one but Joe himself.

After I met squad six, I went home. I lived in the north-west part of Chicago, on a small brown house. When I got inside, I told this to my mom, and my sister. They were very proud when I showed this to them. They were so proud that they let me and my friends go to a pub.

Later that day, when my friends and I went to a pub to celebrate. We all got drunk. Don’t know how but did, and woke up with an astonishing surprise.

Smoke was practically everywhere, I was gasping for air, and I heard people shouting, screaming, but evacuating. It was like hell to me.

I didn’t waste time and got up. I tried to lead some people out of the building, but it was kind of hard. Lucky for me and some people, we got out on time. It was hard to say for the others who died. Anyway, when I got outside I looked up and saw something spreading, really, really fast. It was fire!

I was confused about what happened. All I could remember now was coming to the pub, drinking, and waking up with flames surrounding us everywhere. I tried to ask but the crowd was way too loud, and I was too busy dodging the great big flames of the fire.

As I was running away, I saw a lost family. They had two daughters and a baby son. This reminded me of my family. I had to see how they were. I thought for a while about how to escape and see my family. I knew where they were but the building blocked the road to my home.

As I was walking I heard rumors saying that the fire started at a family’s house named O’Leary. A cow pushed over a lantern and the flames spread, and grew bigger. 

After hours of escaping the fire, I reached my house, but I was too late. It was on flames. I hurried my way in and saw my sister on the floor half-dead. “Mi-ch-ch-ael” she said with a croaky voice.

I felt tears dripping through my eyes. She was touching my face and said,

“I am, I am…,” she said. Seconds later, she was gone from this world.

“Noooo!” I shouted as I was crying. At that precise moment I felt that life was meaning less. I was in a great shock and felt sad things that words couldn‘t even describe, but I had to run out for safety. Lucky for me I just got out on time. Unfortunately, the building collapsed, taking my mom and sister’s life with it, and all my collections and belongings had all vaporized into the air.

As bad as it was, the streets were unbelievable crowded. I had great difficulty just getting from one place to another.

So that day I spent my time escaping the fire with gloom and sadness with me. Long time later, I finally got to a safe place but collapsed with exhaustion of anxiety.

When I woke up the next day, I saw people surrounding me. It looked like the great fire had finally ended. I quickly got up and heard voices shouting,

“He’s alive, He‘s alive” and people were cheering.

When they led me outside, black clouds engulfed Chicago forever it seemed. Countless of people, including children and animals were homeless, and many died. It was very, very disturbing.

Fortunately, not all of Chicago was burnt down to bit. The north-eastern part was still okay, but unfortunately it took a while for them to get the news about southern Chicago. Many cities nearby helped us stop this fire but only the acid rain fully worked.

After I saw all this disaster and chaos, I left Chicago with some people and went to Ohio to study earth science, and tried to keep out of firefighting stuff as much as I could.

After forty years I came back to see Chicago, and the city was working well. I stopped at the area where my house was, and threw a flower, and coins there. I then went back to my house in Ohio, which was bigger and better but didn’t have the memory as my other house. Every year I visited my old burned house.”

After I finished my story, I saw whole crowd with emotion. Everyone was quiet and felt the pain I did. Even the nation seemed to do this as they heard me speaking on the radio. Minutes later, I bowed and everyone clapped really, really hard. And the cheers were really, really, really loud. I was very happy to share my experience to others. Suddenly someone in the crowd asked, “Did you ever see your mom?” “No I never did.”

“How old were you when you experienced this hard time?” “17 years old.” “Do you blame and hate the O’Leary’s for this,” I say no with convincement.

The host came in with background music. “I think that‘s enough question, but it must have been a very, very scary time for you.” I nodded and laughed with a bit of tears on my eyes. I waved and exited. They all clapped and cheered again.

Meanwhile on the back stage, I saw people giving me gift and things. “This is our support to you,” said a teenage girl. “Thank you I said,” and left for home. Many people along the way gave me a gift.

It is hard to think that your best dream can turn into your worst nightmare.