Can We Trust The Bible?

Absolutely. With our very lives! But it's not as easy as that. In apologetics, you have to give reasons.

The Bible is the foundational document of the Christian faith: how do we know that Christ is the only way to God? Or that Jesus died and rose? Or that He is coming back? It's from the Bible. It holds the highest authority over us on earth and is, by the Protestant definition, inerrant, infallible word of God. But can we trust it? Let's be honest, if we stake our eternity on the Bible, which we do if we trust Christ, we need to be sure that it's telling the truth! If the Bible is truly God's word, then we should read it, obey it, love it, cherish it and fully trust it. If the Bible is truly God's word, then to reject it is to reject God. So, what are the reasons for trusting the Bible?

I list four evidences: two internal and two external

The unity of the Bible

Hundreds of detailed prophecies

Details historical events

Abundance of archaeological evidence and manuscripts

The full article can be found in the July issue of ReIgnite. Check them out on Facebook.

Photo "Bajey Reading his Bible" by Neeraj Gautam

A Prayer by Bajey

Want to share this video. There is no edit whatsoever. Just fade ins. I'll let the man do the praying.

Towards Eternity

A morning at Pashupati Gate.

For some reason, this picture makes me stop and think for a while. I need to go back and take some more.

Dwanda ko Chapetama Nepali (Nepali in the midst of Conflict)

Dwandako Chapeta by saralisrael

Wrote this song way way back.

Ko - A Very Short Film

A Short Film prepared for Christmas.

Sun on the Sunflower

Took this on my way to college. Had been waiting for a while for the right light.

I'm back!

I'm back. Should start blogging again.

Here is a photo I took. A Dog in Bhaktapur.

Dobhase (दोभाषे): Yet Another Advancement in Nepalese Technology

When I stumbled upon Google Translate for the first time, I was amazed. Even though I couldn't read, I had my IM, Facebook statuses in Aranic, greek, Spanish; it was incredible.

But sadly, it didn't have Nepali translation and I always envisioned one which could.

Along came 'Dobhase': The English to Nepali translation tool.

Although it just has a vocabulary of 22,000 words now. The translation are pretty impressive.

Have a go yourself at http://nlp.ku.edu.np/lpdobhase/en/index.php

कुर्ची (Stool)

कुर्ची (Concept borrowed from onetimeblind)

सर्मीला – येशू। येशू। मैले तपाईलाई केहि ल्याई दिएको छू। हेर्नुस्।
(सर्मीलाले खुसी हुदैँ कुर्ची येशूको अगाडि राख्छिन्।)

येशू – ओहो! सर्मीला तिमिलाई यसको अर्थ थाहा छ? यो भनेको त तिम्रो जीवनको सबै निर्णय म लिन्छु।
(सर्मीला येशूको अगाडि हात जोड्दै)

शर्मीला – मलाई थाहा छ प्रभु। अब देखि तपाईले जे भन्नुहुन्छ। म त्यहि गर्छु।
(येशू दङ्ग पर्नुहुन्छ)

येशू – सर्मीला, म आज तिमीसँग एमदम खुसी छु। म बसौँ त?

स्रर्मीला – बस्नुस् प्रभु।
(केहि बेर पछि प्रेरणा र सितल एकदम हर्षीत मुद्रामा आउछे)

प्रेरणा – सर्मीला। सर्मीला। तिमी यहाँ छौ? हामीले तिमीलाई कति खोजेम।
सर्मीला – किन? के भो र?
(येशू ध्यान दिदै सुन्नुहुन्छ।)

सितल – सुनन। आज हामी फिल्म हेर्न जाम न? कस्तो राम्रो फिल्म लागेको छ। शारुक खान हिरो!

सर्मीला – खै। मलाई त आमाले जान दिनुहुन्न।

प्रेरणा – छ्या। तिम्रो आमाले थाहा पाउदैन के। सुटुक्क जाने।

येशू (सर्मीलाको कानमा) – हुँदैन।

सर्मीला – हुँदैन।

सितल (अच्म्म) – हँ?

सर्मीला – मेरो मतलब, भै हाल्छ नि। (अक्मकिदै)

येशू – सर्मीला?
(सर्मीला येशूलाई कुर्चीबाट धकाल्दै आफू पनि बस्छिन्।)

प्रेरणा – ल है। म अरु केटीहरूलाई पनि भन्छु। तर जानूपर्छ है।

सर्मीला (अब येशू र सर्मीला दुबै जाना कुर्चीमा।) – हुन्छ। Sure।
(प्रेरणा र सितल जान्छन्)

येशू – सर्मीला, यो तिमीले के गरेको? म त याहाँ खस्नै लागे।
(दुबै जाना कुर्चीबाट उठ्छन्।)

येशू – अगि मैले भनेको किन नमानेको?

सर्मीला – नमानेको होईन येशू। मैले नाई भन्नै सकिन। मेरो साथीहरू हुन्।

येशू – तर तिमीलाई थाहा थियो कि तिमीलाई तिम्रो आमाले जान दिनुहुन्न। त्यहि पनि किन जान्छु भनेउ?

सर्मीला (हात जोड्दै) – मलाई माफ गर्नुस् प्रभु। अब देखि म तपाईले भनेको सुन्छु। तपाई कुर्चीमा बस्नुस्।
(येशूलाई कुर्चीमा राख्दै।)

येशू – साँच्चै हो?

सर्मीला – साँच्चै येशू। साँच्ची।
(एक छिन पछि)

येशू – तिमीले आज त्यो ५०० रुपैँयाको नोट किन लिएको?

सर्मीला (नथाहा पाए जसरी) – कुन ५००को नोट प्रभु? (कुर्ची तिर बढ्दै)
येशू – तिम्रो आमाको purse को।

(सर्मीला कुर्ची माथि चढ्दै, येशूलाई ठेल्दै।)

सर्मीला – अब येशू, मेरो आमाको र मेरो भन्नु एउटै होनि।

येशू – तिमीले सोध्दा नि सोधेनौ। (अब सर्मीला येशू माथि येशूलाई हटाउन खोज्दै।) यो के गरेको?
(दुबै जाना उठ्छन्। सर्मीलाले कुर्ची बोक्छे।)

येशू – सर्मीला, तिमी मालाई यो कुर्चीमा चाहान्छौ कि नाई?
(सर्मीला येशूलाई कुर्ची दिन्छ तर आफ्नो हात हटाउदैन।)

सर्मीला – यो तपाई कै हो प्रभु। (कुर्ची एक छिन ताना तान हुन्छ।)

येशू – सर्मीला, तिमीले यो कुर्ची मलाई दिनेकी नदिने निर्णय गर्नुपर्छ।

सर्मीला – प्रभु, म निर्णय गर्न सक्दिन। (येशूले कुर्ची छाड्नुहुन्छ।)

येशू – तिमीले निर्णय गरि सक्यै।
(सर्मीला टाउको तल गरेर फर्कन्छे।)

समाप्त

translated by Saral

वर्तमान राजनितिक स्थितीमा हामी ईसाइहरूको भूमिका?

तपाईहरु अहिले नेपाली समाचार सुनिराख्नु भएको छ भने पक्कै पनि अहिलेको राजनितिक माहोल तनावपुर्ण छ भनेर थाहा गर्नु भएको हुनुपर्छ। निश्चय पनि नेपाली राजनितिले ठूलै फड्को मारेको छ।

सेना 'ईन्टिग्रेसन'को विबाद लिऐर प्रमुख सेनापति निकालिएर पनि प्रधानमन्त्रीले राजिनामा दिएर पनि, अझ नपुगेर प्रचन्डले आफ्नो 'जनसेना'लाई दिएको भाषणको भिडियो 'लिक' भयो। साच्चै, यति धेरै 'ब्रेकिङ न्यूज' यति छोटो समयमा नेपालको ईतिहासमा कहिले भएको छैन।

सबैको मनमा यहि कुरा छ, 'के नेपालको समस्याहरुको हल होला?'

यो 'नरमल' हो। यस्सो हेर्दा साच्चै राजनितिक द्वन्द र अस्थिर्ता कहिलै हट्दैन जस्तो लाग्छ। अब यस्तो बेलामा हामी ईसाइहरुको काम के हुन्छ त?

अलिकति 'हिस्टोरी' हेरौं।

निस्चय पनि पर्मेश्वरको नेपाल देशको लागि ठूलो योजना छ। येशूको बारेमा नेपालले थहा पाएको करीब ५० वर्ष भन्दा बडि भैसक्यो। (धेरै वर्ष अगाडिदेखि नेपालमा ख्रीष्टिएन थिए तर खास सन् १९५१ मा मात्रै प्रचारकहरूलाई नेपाल आऊन दिइयो) ठिक तथ्यांक त मसँग छैन तर अहिले नेपालमा येशूको बारे सुनेका र येशूलाई मुक्तिदाता भनेर ग्रहण गरेका धेरै छन्। यति छोटो समयमा नै पर्मेश्वरको धेरै राज्य बिस्तार भैसकेको छ। अनगिन्ती संख्यामा चर्चहरू नेपाल देश भरी नै खुलेका छन्। यो नेपालको लागि पर्मेश्वरको योजनाको साक्षी हो।

यदि हामीले ईतिहास केलाएर हेर्ने हो भने नेपालमा ईसाइहरुले धेरै दु:ख पाएका छन्। पञ्चायत कालमा ख्रीष्टिएनहरुलाई जेल हाल्ने चलन थियो। बाईबल बोक्नेदेखि लिएर, प्रचारक, अनि येशूलाई ग्रहण गर्ने सबैलाई सजाए दिईन्थ्यो। ख्रीष्टिएनहरुको काम खालि अस्पताल बनाउने अनि समाज सेवा गर्नेमा सिमित थियो। कसैलाई प्रचार गर्ने अथवा धर्म परिवर्तन गर्ने स्वन्त्रता थिएन। तर यस्तो हुँदा पनि पहिलो 'जेनेरेसन'का विश्वासीहरू(हाम्रा गुरुबा-आमा, बाजे-बोजु, बुबा-आमा) ले येशूलाई त्यागेनन् र येशूले पनि हामीलाई त्यागनु भएन। अहिले हामी जे छै त्यो यसै कुराको 'रिजल्ट' हो।

सन् १९९१ को जन आन्दोलनसँगै नेपालमा पर्मेश्चरको काम निकै बढ्यो। अहिले त नेपाल हिन्दू राज्य होईन तर नेपाल मात्र भनेर चिनिन्छ। गएको वर्ष मात्रै हामीले इतिहास मै पहिलो पल्ट ख्रीष्टमसमा सार्वजनिक बिदा पायौं।

यो सबै नेपालमा रहेका र नेपाल देशलाई बाँचेको देख्न चाहाने असंख्य विश्वासीहरुको निरन्तर प्राथनाको कारणले हो। पर्मेश्चरले हाम्रो प्राथना सुन्नुहुन्छ र उत्तर पनि दिनुहुन्छ।

मेरो पहिलो प्रस्नमा जाऔं। देशको यस्तो अवस्तामा हाम्रो काम के त?

हामीले प्राथना गर्न छोड्नु हुँदैन: यो निरन्तर रूपमा गरिरहने प्रथना हो। तपाईलाई पर्मेश्वरसँगको धन्यवादको, अर्ज विन्तीको प्राथना सँगसगै नेपालको निम्त अन्तर विन्ती प्राथना अनिवार्य छ। नेपालको उच्च ओहदामा भएकाहरू, देश चलाउने साँचो पाएकाहरू र आम-नेपालीहरूको निम्ति नै हामीले प्राथना गर्नुपर्छ, यो विश्वासमा कि, जे तपाईले प्रथनामा माग्नुहुन्छ त्यो पर्मेश्वरले गर्नुहुन्छ। यो पर्मेश्वरको हामीलाई प्रतिग्या हो। अझै, प्रभुको इच्छ्या यो देशमा पुरा होस भनेर हामीले विन्ती गर्नुपर्छ।

अर्को कुरा: हामी हरेश खानु हुदैन। संसारमा हुँदा दु:ख हुन्छ र अझ ईसाइहरूलाई त झनै पींडा हुन्छ। तर पनि हामीले याद राख्नुपर्ने , येशूले संसारलाई जित्नु भएको छ, र संसारको मालिकलाई, स्वर्ग र पृथ्वी सृष्टी गर्नु हुने पर्मेश्चरलाई हामी चिन्छैं र उँहाको छोरा-छोरी हुने अवसर हामीले पाएका छैँ। हामी हरेश खाने र डराउन पर्ने कुनै कारण छैन।

प्राथना गर्न नछाढ्नुस्। पहिलेका ईसाइहरूले भोगेका दु:ख र पर्मेश्चरले नेपाल राष्टको निम्ति गर्नुभएको कामहरूको सम्झना गर्नुस् र उँहाको प्रशंसा गर्नुस्।

साँच्चै नै नेपाल देशमा पर्मेश्चरले अझै ठूला-ठूला कामहरू गर्नुहुनेछ।

[note: The views expressed here are solely mine and should not be considered as a general Christian view or the view of my Church.]

'Andolan' for Shorter Pregnancy

by Atulya

I read an article of the “Telegraph” and was captivated by some of the simple points it presented.

In some ways, nothing has changed in Nepal. A big party has come in and an institution gone but nothing has really changed (for the good). We still have “Bandhs”, mountains of garbage in our streets, long queues in petrol pumps, autocratic leaders who lock respectable officers in their toilets and stubborn “heads” who still fight the 4 year-old “me-me” game to retain power. Is this the New Nepal our so-called-leaders had drilled into our brains right after Jana-Andola II? Or is it the same old (or even older) Nepal?

I waited. I thought. I thought that “they” would start their new-Nepal-building activities right away but there were no signs. Instead their focus was on the “much-needed” Constituent Assembly all along. I patiently waited for the Constituent Assembly and thought that things will start happening after it. I wonder how many centuries they will take to build “the new” Nepal they are always talking about.

One difference, one change that is conspicuous in this Loktantra era is the people’s approach in doing things. Andolan, a word that we hear every minute (more than we see Rishi Dhamala on TV). Let’s not go into the nitty-gritty about the thousands of Andolans taking place at the moment. Just wanted to let everyone know that the ladies are soon coming to the streets demanding a shortened pregnancy period of 5 months!

The article ended with a line which was simple yet so striking: The more things change in Nepal, the more it remains the same.”

True. Very true, isn’t it?

Andolan: A Nepali word for a form of protest which is usually accompanied by rallies and forced closure of services by agitating groups.

Photo: [Saral] Trying my best squeeze out something good from this country. A beautiful scenery from the foothills of Annapurna Nepal. www.leelau.net

Bandhs: A New and Improved Formula

[b-awN-dh] adj.;
Bandh, also a Nepali word meaning 'closed', is a form of protest. While often means the closing down of markets of a city for the day, there have been instances of the entire nation coming to a standstill.
From www.nepalbandh.com
by Shraman and Saral.
[shraman]There was a time when people were people, bygons were bygons and bandhs were bandhs. If one wanted to elongate study leaves and project deadlines, bandhs were the answer. When was the last time you stayed home, relaxed and watched a whole innings of test match cricket? And before you know it, those leisurely times are long gone (sadly).

If history serves me correctly, it was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who started this method of protesting 'non-violently'. The old man inspired and captured the hearts of millions of people worldwide: even the great John Lennon wore the same spectacles that Gandhi wore. The protesters in Nepal needed a tool to fight with and Gandhi gave it to them by his means of 'non-violent' protest.

But if all I've said is nearly true then why the hell is everyone doing nothing? Nepal is going down a deeper and darker path than before. The country that I so dearly love is being run by dish washers and porters! This humble and honest writer isn't blindly being discriminant. But any sane person would agree with me when I say that the keys to the country should be held by people who are at least well educated, don't you think so? With that said and done, the fact still remains that www.nepalbandh.com 's visiting rate has plummeted drastically. (You must be thinking, what? Is there a website like that? Oh, yes there is. And its updated daily.)

This crap ain't cool. [saral] Especially if you have that hot date (not the same people like here, they have a different problem) and now, the date is bandhed! Not exactly the right grammar but it makes the point. So, why even after the horrid torture and the 'wooga booga', adverse effects, of bandhs, do we need them today?

The answer is simple, we need to keep ourselves warm in the winter, and burning tires does it best...Nope, that's not it. At least not entirely. The correct answer would be fuel; Yes, petrol, diesel, petrol + kerosene, and every expensive 'accessory' that goes into our vehicles. A change it vital my fellow brothers and sisters, we need to change our life styles. No more, racing that jaguar..car..., or going for long rides to the countryside. Save fuel save money, environment...

So, where does Bandhs come in all this mayhem, well let me do some maths;-

Nepal needs 126000 kiloliters, yes kiloliters, of petroleum products in a month! And the demand is rising.

So everyday, the demand in the market is 126000/30 = 4200 kilo liters everyday.

One day of bandh, we save 4200000 liters, 2 days 8400000 liters, 4 days of bandh? You do the math.

So bandh's not all, grumble grumble, uff uff, folks, a few here and there does help. Plus, think how we will be contributing to stop global warming...! Its a small effort but it is an effort.

Like always, you don't need to have the same views as I do, after all we are all different creatures. Now if we all had the same thoughts, the world would be peaceful, wouldn't it?

Repost

Load-shedding Solution 1:- Filament vs. CFL Bulbs

A quick comparison between traditional Incandescent (Filament) Bulbs and the energy efficient Compact Florescent Lamp (CFL) Bulbs.

Incandescent (Filament) Bulbs
Average Life Span: - 1,200 Hours
Average Cost:- Rs. 50
Energy Used:- 60 Watt
Brightness:- Decent (Depends on Watts)

CFL Bulbs
Average Life Span:- 8,000 Hours
Average Cost:- Rs. 250
Energy Used:- 13-15 Watt
Brightness:- 5 times more Brighter than Filament Bulbs

Result:-
Incandescent:- 1
CFL: - 3

We can clearly see the benefits of using energy saving CFL bulbs instead of filament lamps or even tube lights (average energy consumption of tube lights is 40 Watts).

If the government is to distribute 5 million CFL bulbs by providing discounts or exchange offers, we can reduce the energy demand of Nepal by 200MW.

Currently the electricity demand stands at 804MW while the production is only 324MW and with 16hours/day power cuts, I think its high time 'we' start doing something rather than waiting for the government and putting all the blame on people other than ourselves.

CFL FTW!

The Unpublished Story III

...If you're planning to catch sunrise at ABC (why wouldn't you?) wake up at around 4AM; this should be easy if you dosed off early the previous evening. Leave everything except your walking stick and camera in MBC and slowly ascend toward ABC, don't hurry, there is a high chance you'll fall sick if you do. Then bit by bit, it'll start to brighten up. Look ahead and you'll see Annapurna South, it's a jaw dropping sight; the mountain will appear so big that you'll literally be able to make out the glaciers and the crevasses. At the bottom lie the hotels of ABC, enclosed by the Himalayas. A few steps and you should be there just in time to indulge on nature's show, something that can't be expressed in either words or film.

On the right is Annapurna I, behind Machhapuchhare, on the left is Himchuli and gloriously in front rests Annapurna South. Just a few minutes, and a dazzling scene will unfold… the sun starts to rise from behind Machhapuchhare, the first rays of the sun steeps the mountains, and slowly the peaks start to change colors.
Savor each moment like you're never going to come here again (fat chance!), bask upon God's glorious creations and even order the food to be sent outside. You'll soon realize that the camera isn't enough to capture the moment, not only because the mountains don't fit into your humble digital camera, but also because the brilliance cannot be captured; there are a million and one details that cannot be included in a print. Trust me, you just can't get enough of ABC but 10AM should be a good time to say adieu. If it seems like someone in your team will have to be dragged – tell them, but if you stay, who will brag about the trip to your folks?

After you get past that, descending is easy. You may feel a little ABC sick, but you've seen so much mountain and snow that you'll dream about it for another week. Skip, hop or run to MBC, clear the hotel bill and set for Bamboo or Sinuwa or even Chomrong if you're really ambitious. A good trip back can be a night in Bamboo then the next day to Jhinu via Chomrong. Jhinu or the Hot Springs is just an hour from Chomrong and en-route to Syauli Bazaar through the recently opened trekking route. There is nothing that beats a hot spring swim after a tiring walk. By six in the evening, you should be back in Pokhara, fresh from the springs. It's also a great idea to end the trip on top of a bus from Naya Pul to Pokhara, with the goats. If you manage not to fall off, it has the potential to wrap the entire expedition fabulously."

So that ends my journey to the valley within mountains. I hope you enjoyed it. Now, while you think about your trek to ABC, I'll be eyeing EBC - Everest Base Camp.

The Unpublished Story II

...If you've decided that you want to stay the night at Ghandrung, start early for Chomrong. Among all the days of the trek, this one was the most tiring and de-motivating part. To get to Chomrong, you'll have to cross the Kyumrung River and your task is to lose all the altitude you wrestled and sweated to gain the day before and then climb back up again to Chomrong. It doesn't stop there; this route is the most leech-infected trail in the whole trek. If it rains, it's party time for the beasts. So keep the ammo (salt) ready, or you're doomed.

Around five to six hours since you set foot from Ghandrung, you should be breathing in Chomrong's air. But it depends on how many pit stops you make. In our trek, we allocated one hour for leeches: sprinkling salt, pulling them out, and repeatedly glancing at our shoes and screaming. But once you reach Chomrong, you'll soon be laughing about the day and you're trekking enthusiasm will get a recharge. This was also my favorite place in the whole trek: there were numerous hotels with TV and hot shower, telephone service, and an unforgettable zoom-in view of Annapurna I and Machhapuchhare. And this is also the last place you'll see any residences. From here on, it's only the hotels and you. It would be a good idea to lighten your bag at Chomrong if you're planning to return the same way. From Chomrong to the next stop Sinuwa, it's the same old routine of going up and then coming down, although it's not as tiring as the day before. In fact, the trail from here is pleasing – fewer leeches, fewer steps and the feeling of being so close to the mountains livens your spirit. Sinuwa will be the last viewpoint for another day or so, the next will be at Deurali. But when you are in Deurali, you'll be so close to the mountains that you'll feel like you can touch them.
Two hours from Sinuwa is Bamboo and as you might have guessed, it gets its name from the bamboo forest that covers an area that you can span in about four hours into the trek. Along the way, you'll have to descend down a long fleet of stairs for about 30 minutes. As you skip down happily, remember the pain you'll experience when you return and repent. Don't leave Bamboo until you've had some lunch, there are a good many hotels and if you started at 8AM from Chomrong, it'll be exactly lunchtime.

Stop at Dovan from here. There are three hotels there and all of them have their own hydropower generator that provides electricity and a heavenly hot shower. If you've brought DVD's (which I did) – well, watch them!

Next day, start at the same time, and aim for Machhapuchhare Base Camp. Himalaya is just two hours form here and because there is some serious climbing to do, starting with fresh pair of legs always helps. You'll be walking through a dense forest and momentary peeks at the numerous waterfalls on the other side of the river will serve as your motivation. Meat isn't allowed on this route because of a holy temple here, and none of the restaurants here have meat in their menu. From Chomrong even mules aren't allowed to pass; but sheep, dogs and humans are exceptions.

On the way to Machhapuchhare Base Camp, have lunch in Deurali because it will prepare you for the striking change in terrain hereafter. The geography starts to get barren and rockier and the mountains inch closer to you with every step. And the view is all yours to enjoy without any rush – MBC is only one and a half hours, and ABC another two hours from here.

An important point to note, though, is that altitude sickness is a major problem on these trails. Symptoms usually start showing after about 2500 meters, which includes dizziness, nausea and difficulty in breathing. If any of this happens to you – descend! Having heaps of garlic, garlic soup and garlic pizza helps but remember that altitude sickness can get dangerous and can kill.

You should easily be in MBC at around three in the afternoon. As you get closer to MBC, stop looking up. When you get there, get a room, unpack, take a shower and put a blindfold on. When you are relaxed, go outside and take off your blind fold. Enjoy the most spectacular view of Machhapuchhare. If you turn around, you can set eyes on Annapurna I and when the sun is about to set, the sight is even more breathtaking. A cup of ginger lemon tea is always an added bonus.

Rage Against The Fuel-less Machines II

Its been ages since this humble writer wrote about the rising fuel crisis in the city of Kathmandu. (a.k.a Kats) But the lines are growing fat and long and the remaining fuel is dwindling faster than you can say "Dwi litre haal". In fact the fuel crisis has elongated so much that writers such as I are quickly running out of fuel crisis jokes. People just dont find things funny anymore. Only the ones that managed to get 5 liters of petrol the other night seem to crack a smile. Sajha should call the folks at Guinness World Records and apply for the spot of "the world's longest fuel line from a single pump". Maybe then, after receiving a cash prize from Guinness, our government will pay a little more money back to India and a little more fuel will enter the country. Even then scavengers along Mahendra Highway will have looted the tankers. Aside from those thugs, the greedy pigs who work for the NOC are the ones who should be whacked. The only people who are innocent are the ones who stay in line all night and dont cut it. That takes the total of innocent petrol consumers to 0%.

Its obvious that having only a fraction of the required amount of fuel is slowing life down in the city. Public vehicles are increasing the price as if it were a balloon that they could inflate not knowing when it would explode. But one must not be so pessimistic. Believe it or not, some people do make a fortune during such troubled times. The black market of fossil fuels seems to have boomed ever since the fuel crisis started. Thugs who steal fuel from bikes or loot fuel from the tankers have experienced a drastic increase in their daily income. Some idiots have reportedly paid up to Rs. 250 for one liter! Every time they see a man pushing his bike they give each other high fives ( much like two shorter and hairier Borats: UGH..!). Surprisingly the sale of roadside foods and drinks have also sky rocketed. Soda wala's, Badam wala's, and even those dirty carts having foods from Momos to chicken wings flock mercilessly along the line of bikes. Their usual menu:

We have:

Buff Sausage 15
Chickan Susage 20
Buff Mo:mo: 40
Mit Ball 20
Chij Balls 20

"Hijo rati line basera pani petrol napako haru lagi ispyesal dicscout upalabda cha."


Yesterday, Sajha Petrol Pump recorded it's largest fuel line. An estimate which was posted yesterday predicted that looting fuel from only 30% of the vehicles lining up for fuel there would fill at least one tanker. Nowadays people either spend their days staying in line or thinking about staying in line. Some of them also resort to stealing and buying from the buffed up black market, but that's a different story. Couples are increasingly showing up at Sajha. Dating in petrol lines have become the latest fad for the youngsters in Kats. It doesn't matter whose bike is in line, both of them have to wait anyway. To make matters easier, food and drinks are readily available at eye catching prices. For the older generations, Sajha petrol pump has become a social venue. Men and women above 35 are bound to meet at least a couple of relatives or old friends: a perfect chance to catch up on their 'guffs'.

Its amazing that big cc bikes still roam around the city, impervious of the crisis. A few days back a Suzuki GSX-R 750 and an XR400R were throwing each other mean looks and revving up their engines. But those two soon shut up as hundreds of people from the super long Sajha line started giving them stares. Clearly, now is not the time to waste fuel on egoistic street races, or soon you'll be pushing your sexy bike home, huffing and puffing it's name. Furthermore, the new Yamaha R1 with all its latest racing technology sure looks good but not as good as a Splendor with it's fuel needle right up at "Full".

Thanks to the vice president's "mother tongue" Kats is again going through a bandh spree, worsening the already depressing atmosphere-... (Further comments on this issue have been censored by "www.Nepal Hindustan Hamare Bharat Hi Mahan Nepali Janatantric Forum.com") In addition to this bizarre event, the Inspector from Pulchowk police station threatened 'thetechportfolio' that it would arrest it's two bloggers if it didn't include at least one sentence of Hindi in it's latest article since Hindi is also a langauge of Nepal from now on. So here it is:
"Abbe oye Dadaji, tujne teri maa ki doodh piya hai to nikal ja yaha se. Wapas Ja warne Jungistan mei dhobi khayega. Gilli Gilli Auppa"

XD

Read the Older Article Here

'Andolan' for Shorter Pregnancy

by Atulya

I read an article of the “Telegraph” and was captivated by some of the simple points it presented.

In some ways, nothing has changed in Nepal. A big party has come in and an institution gone but nothing has really changed (for the good). We still have “Bandhs”, mountains of garbage in our streets, long queues in petrol pumps, autocratic leaders who lock respectable officers in their toilets and stubborn “heads” who still fight the 4 year-old “me-me” game to retain power. Is this the New Nepal our so-called-leaders had drilled into our brains right after Jana-Andola II? Or is it the same old (or even older) Nepal?

I waited. I thought. I thought that “they” would start their new-Nepal-building activities right away but there were no signs. Instead their focus was on the “much-needed” Constituent Assembly all along. I patiently waited for the Constituent Assembly and thought that things will start happening after it. Almost three months have passed and these people haven’t even formed a government, I wonder how many centuries they will take to build “the new” Nepal they are always talking about.

One difference, one change that is conspicuous in this Loktantra era is the people’s approach in doing things. Andolan, a word that we hear every minute (more than we see Rishi Dhamala on TV). Let’s not go into the nitty-gritty about the thousands of Andolans taking place at the moment. Just wanted to let everyone know that the ladies are soon coming to the streets demanding a shortened pregnancy period of 5 months!

The article ended with a line which was simple yet so striking: The more things change in Nepal, the more it remains the same.”

True. Very true, isn’t it?

Andolan: A Nepali word for a form of protest which is usually accompanied by rallies and forced closure of services by agitating groups.

Photo: [Saral] Trying my best squeeze out something good from this country. A beautiful scenery from the foothills of Annapurna Nepal. www.leelau.net

A Hero's Side-effects

I was positive that I could glide my way in a Micro from Patan all the way to home sweet home. It was 2 in the afternoon and vehicles had run out of petrol; it meant no traffic! Pure bliss. But to my utter surprise, vehicles had started piling up from Kupondole itself. Now, I have been plying on this route for 5 years now and being quite familiar with the traffic, I immediately sensed something different; the vehicles started clogging exactly 75.5 meters ahead of the Traffic Jam point. Something is wrong I thought, so I ventured to walk till Thapathali in high hopes that the turn to Tripureshwor would be less congested...10 minutes of walk, smoke from Kerosene + Petrol + Diesel, dust, and the never alleviating stench of the Bagmati; I reach Thapathali. But still no vehicular movement; it was clogged like the drainage system of Kathmandu valley.

So I continued my stroll towards Tripureshwor, thinking how this was one of the worst day of my life, battered with CO2 and bruises I reached Tripureshwor what I saw angered me to the very core of my internals...

First it seemed like a rally of some sort, I saw the jeep decorated with the painfully bright 'Yellow' poster with 'Rumpum Noodles' moving at the pace of a snail. Then I moved closer, on the side of the jeep was the picture of no other than....Kamal Nepali (the 'monkey kid' who rescued a little girl from a 60-feet gorge).

*Steam out of my ears.*

Please, end this stupidity. What is Khulla Manch for?

Bandhs: A New and Improved Formula

[b-awN-dh] adj.;
Bandh, also a Nepali word meaning 'closed', is a form of protest. While often means the closing down of markets of a city for the day, there have been instances of the entire nation coming to a standstill.
From www.nepalbandh.com
by Shraman and Saral.
[shraman]There was a time when people were people, bygons were bygons and bandhs were bandhs. If one wanted to elongate study leaves and project deadlines, bandhs were the answer. When was the last time you stayed home, relaxed and watched a whole innings of test match cricket? And before you know it, those leisurely times are long gone (sadly).

If history serves me correctly, it was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who started this method of protesting 'non-violently'. The old man inspired and captured the hearts of millions of people worldwide: even the great John Lennon wore the same spectacles that Gandhi wore. The protesters in Nepal needed a tool to fight with and Gandhi gave it to them by his means of 'non-violent' protest.

But if all I've said is nearly true then why the hell is everyone doing nothing? Nepal is going down a deeper and darker path than before. The country that I so dearly love is being run by dish washers and porters! This humble and honest writer isn't blindly being discriminant. But any sane person would agree with me when I say that the keys to the country should be held by people who are at least well educated, don't you think so? With that said and done, the fact still remains that www.nepalbandh.com 's visiting rate has plummeted drastically. (You must be thinking, what? Is there a website like that? Oh, yes there is. And its updated daily.)

This crap ain't cool. [saral] Especially if you have that hot date (not the same people like here, they have a different problem) and now, the date is bandhed! Not exactly the right grammar but it makes the point. So, why even after the horrid torture and the 'wooga booga', adverse effects, of bandhs, do we need them today?

The answer is simple, we need to keep ourselves warm in the winter, and burning tires does it best...Nope, that's not it. At least not entirely. The correct answer would be fuel; Yes, petrol, diesel, petrol + kerosene, and every expensive 'accessory' that goes into our vehicles. A change it vital my fellow brothers and sisters, we need to change our life styles. No more, racing that jaguar..car..., or going for long rides to the countryside. Save fuel save money, environment...

So, where does Bandhs come in all this mayhem, well let me do some maths;-

Nepal needs 126000 kiloliters, yes kiloliters, of petroleum products in a month! And the demand is rising.

So everyday, the demand in the market is 126000/30 = 4200 kilo liters everyday.

One day of bandh, we save 4200000 liters, 2 days 8400000 liters, 4 days of bandh? You do the math.

So bandh's not all, grumble grumble, uff uff, folks, a few here and there does help. Plus, think how we will be contributing to stop global warming...! Its a small effort but it is an effort.

Like always, you don't need to have the same views as I do, after all we are all different creatures. Now if we all had the same thoughts, the world would be peaceful, wouldn't it?

Ex-King of Nepal Leaves Palace

In a press meet at the Narayanhiti Palace today, the former King of Nepal, Gyanendra Shah, delivered a speech about the monarchy in Nepal, his family and his 7 year as head of state. The press meet which was held at the Kaski Hall, the hall right after entering the main door, was over crowded by the press, both national and international.

The former King could be hardly heard among the 200 or so journalist in the room; the room was noisy and the media-men could literally be seen fighting among themselves for a better view and coverage of the Ex-King's speech.
The main things he mentioned was the Palace Massacre 7 years ago, his personal property and about his ancestors. The Ex-King stated in front of the 'rowdy' media men that his family had nothing to do with the Massacre and he was hurt that people blamed him for having a hand in it.
Also, he added that he didn't have any property or money abroad and that he would stay in Nepal.
The Media was allowed in the palace for the first time and many TV station covered the speech live.
As I mentioned earlier, the Ex-King's mother and grandmother are staying in the palace for now.

Photo:- KTV