Roaming around

Building Kathmandu

2011-03-10T05:53:00.000-08:00

Kathmandu is growing not only on its population but also on infrastructure development. No matter the problems are there like electricity (load shedding), drinking water (supply once in a week for 2-3 hours), traffic jam (reach destination on food than on car for short distance like of 4-5km), pollution... the building buildings are on high speed. This picture is showing the growing building heights in Kathmandu.

Knowledge desk?

2011-03-10T05:47:00.000-08:00

This picture is of a desk of one the reputed academic institute in Nepal. Students were busy on their exam writing. However on the observation, I could see this writing on the desk. I am not sure whether this is for cheating or for memorizing the learned information, it is not a good habit. If this is for bad intention, think what 'power tank' we are producing or getting in future.

Fungus grown food at departmental store in Norway

2010-12-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

I was shopping food and other items in a Rema1000, chain of grocery shop in Norway, I was surprised to see an item on rack with fungus grow. It was their with other items and how can the store not see such item and not remove where people are very much sensitive on food or other issues. I remember the issue of Nepal when 'Real' juice had such production mistake, all medias voiced for it and later even Indian ambassador to Nepal has to 'press down' the press by providing more advertisement to their media or through taking role artists on advertisement and so on. In Nepal or India, we try to hide the issue but in developed countries, they try to explore the mistake and try not to repeat again. I hope the problem of this fungus grow is with broken packet box, not with production system. The mistake might be due to store boy/girl who didn't see it while putting on rack. Advice to all whether you are in very good store or in street shop, check the item carefully. Special care should be given to check packet condition and its seal and expiry date.

Yumyum

2010-11-04T00:28:00.000-07:00

Fruits are best for health and taste and fruit salad is even better for appetite. If it is of tropical fruits, can you tolerate not eating it?

Housing colony in Kathmandu

2010-11-02T03:30:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of one of the housing colony in Kathmandu. Due to not planned housing, road and other infrastructure development, the city looks very haphazard and ugly. However, recent investment on housing has little bit helped to add a beauty of city plus other basic facilities like water, road, sanitation and so on. All colonies under development are focused on high story buildings rather than city environment. Recognize the colony picture below.

Lotus for Buddha

2010-10-30T03:47:00.000-07:00

There are different traditions of worshiping God. Like in Nepal, people offer flowers, food and fruits. Offering flowers is common in most of the religion and places. In Sri Lanka, especially for Buddha, people offer different color lotus. Some are white, some purple and some red.

A visit to Sri Lanka

2010-10-28T02:32:00.000-07:00

A month ago, I was visiting Sri Lanka for a office work. I like the place due to its greenery and a system developed for basic things like drinking water, education and health. I had an impression that the country must be in a painful condition due to thirty years of war but I didn't feel that after my visit. I got a feeling that if it would not have faced the war, it would have really become a 'pearl' of Asia a long back. Here are some pictures taken during my visit.

Scene from Kandy hill

Scene of early morning

Buddha Tooth Temple (Earlier it was a Royal Palace)

Kingfisher seen at Sri Lanka lake, Royal Botanical Garden (RBG), Kandy

Very beautiful orchid inside RBG, Kandy

Root network of a tree at RBG

A side view of Sigiriya hill

A view of Sigiriya hill from Sigiriya hotel

Wild berry from Nepal

2010-05-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

This wild berry's picture is from Kavre, Nepal. I don't know the scientific name of it but in Nepali it is called 'bhui yaiselu' meaning 'ground berry'. Some people also called it 'a berry of snake' but it is edible and some people even compare it with strawberry. If we look carefully, the seeds and wart in the fleshy fruit resembles to strawberry but smaller in size compare to strawberry. It is also round in shape where as strawberry is oval in shape. If you know the exact name and scientific name of it, share with me.

Godawari: Botanical garden Nepal

2010-05-05T06:24:00.000-07:00

On the occasion of Nepali new year 2067, I went to Botanical garden, Godawari, about 15km from Kathmandu city. I was thinking that the site will be very peace and beautiful with lots of trees and many flowers. However, there were many people than the number of trees and flowers. Though the season was flowering, there were very few flowers. Many people were having picnic (it is not allowed to cook inside but you are free to eat the bought food). I don't understand why the authority allowed to sell alcoholic drinks and food inside the park. Because of the sale, the park was dirty and having trash everywhere. You could see the the condition of the park through these pictures. The last picture still tells that the area is less polluted (lichens on the tree). Lichens are consider as indicators of air pollution and their number is high in unpolluted or less polluted areas.

Flowing water: peace of mind

2010-05-03T04:24:00.000-07:00

Flowing water is an inspiration for poet, writer, lover and all. How does it inspires human mind? Due to coolness, softness, cleanness, or its continuousness? I have no answer but there are very few people who don't like the flow and flow sound of water. You may not hear the rhythm but see the flow in these pictures.

Some flowers from Godawari

2010-05-02T03:58:00.000-07:00

Godawari, a place at the base of Phulchoki hill, a hill south of Kathmandu, also known for national botanical garden. The garden is of interest to research scholar and others to conduct research or to visit and enjoy the nature. I visited the site after more than ten years and could see that the site is very much crowded. It might be due to limited gardens and open space in the Kathmandu. Here are some flower pictures from the garden. I don't know the scientific names of them.

Hottest day in Kathmandu (206C)

2010-03-17T01:47:00.000-07:00

I was checking the weather condition of Kathmandu through the web page of meteorological forecasting division of Nepal, I got this page. I was very surprised to see the temperature of Kathmandu as 206°C. I am sure that the figure is wrong and it might be missing . (dot) in between 20 and 6. What happens if you consider the data provided by the division for your research if you don't notice the error in bulk or while taking average for long term data analysis. I hope some scientists will not claim that the Kathmandu got highest temperature due to 'climate change' for the mistake.

Traditional wooden pots from Nepal

2010-03-02T09:35:00.001-08:00

In earlier days, still today in few places of Nepal, uses wooden pots to store foods. Depending upon the size and shape of these wooden pots, they are used to store milk, curd, ghee and other food items. Now a days, wooden pots are replaced by metal, ceramic or plastic items. I don't know which one is hygienic and environmental friendly but plastics are definitely not good.

Hail stones hits Kathmandu

2010-03-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

While scientists are fightings with 'global warming', almost at the end of winter season, Kathmandu is hit by large amount of hail stones. It was windy night and all of a sudden, I hear 'pop' sounds above my roof. I came out of my room and saw white balls hitting hard to roof, ground and my flower pots. Oh! in a very short period of time, the amount of hail stone was so high that I have not seen before. It covered the streets, ground and everything within five minutes time. Enjoy the pictures of the same event occured just yesterday.

A visit to Manakamana Temple

2010-03-02T09:16:00.000-08:00

Few weeks back, I visited Manakamana temple. The devi is belived to fulfill the will of everyone. I don't know whether everyones will is fulfilled but I enjoyed the natural beauty on the way to temple and scenes from the cable car. Hope you will also enjoy the trip with these few pictures.

Sun through sunglass

2010-03-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

I was thinking to look solar eclipse looking solar eclipse needs special glass. In search of the glass, I got an idea of using camera, look the eclipse in camera screen. That was also a good idea to take picture of the moment. I took a stand and pointed to sun but it was so bright, my idea could not work. Then I must have a filter. I didn't have lens filter so I put my sunglass infront of my camera and looked the eclipse in my camera lens. I also took picture through the glass.

I like this picture as it has captured a flying bird.

Grass on sale

2009-11-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

When I was child, I had studied history of first Nepali poet, Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, where he has mentioned about 'grass sale'. However, selling grass is not common in many parts of Nepal even today. Some city farmers may buy grass for their cattle or hire some one to cut or fetch grass these days. Anyway, recently I was a old women selling grass. It was actually not for cattle nor the amount was large. The grass was 'dubo' (Cynodon dactylon) and sale was for worshiping gods. It is specially used to offer Ganesh God. Are the people so busy that they could not pick up this grass as it can be found any place? or there is no more open space for this grass to grow in Kathmandu city? I don't know how much the old woman could earn from this but it shows that the society is changing and reviving the history of grass sale. Check the green circle.

Yellow insect turn black

2009-11-01T08:03:00.000-08:00

Earlier I had a post on social insects. I was not sure whether they are ants or spiders. When I checked the site of the picture again, I was surprised to see those insects again but with different colour. They have turned black. How could be? I looked closely. I found that they have developed wings and long antenna. Because of the wings they looked black. Though they have wings now, they have not flied yet. I will keep my eyes on what change they will have next.

A Kathmandu's new building

2009-11-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

Kathmandu is getting new and tall buildings for different purposes. Commercial complexes are increasing rapidly so as apartments flats. The housing However, I saw a building at the heart of Kathmandu city for different purpose. While looking the outlook and its design, I could not believe in its purpose. However it is for that. Could you guess which building is this or what could be its purpose. For answer, scroll down.

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V

Bir Hospital.

Yes this is Bir hospital's new building being built at the south side of old hospital building.

Be social like these insects

2009-10-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

This is the picture of group of insects grouped in a colony. It was very interesting to see all the small insects colonizing themselves and getting close to each other forming a very smooth surface. When the move due to disturbances, individual insects can be seen but in some minutes they again come close together to form the colony. I don't know exact scientific or common name of this animal but if you know, let all know. The insect look like ants but I didn't check the number of legs to confirm whether they are ants or spider. They are lying in cemented wall.

Juju dhau - King of yogurt

2009-10-02T08:44:00.000-07:00

Bhaktapur is also famous for Juju dhau - Newari name for King of curd or yogurt. It is called dhai in Nepali. Earlier, the market demand of curd was fulfilled by the same brand name but there are many brands now. In the name of 'Juju dhau', locals also produce curd and market in the name of juju dhau. Like the tradition of making curd and selling in market, the tradition of carrying in shoulder - 'kharpan' is still practiced. You can see a man carrying curd (don't know whether it is juju dhau or other dhau) and looking for the buyers.

Newroad gate Kathmandu

2009-09-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

When I was child, I used to look at the 'New road gate' of Kathmandu turning my head several times. The reason for that was the four heads which were holding the structure. Now a days, I hardly look for that reason but I look for its history and craft. Today, when I saw it, I feel that the concern authority is not caring it much. The traffic has increased, population has increased who pass the gate but either coloring nor removal of herbs from the gate is clear indication of careless. See the condition yourself.

Sumeru parbat during mangal chauthi

2009-09-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ganesh is one of the most worshiped Gods among Hindus. Mangal chauthi is the biggest day of celebration in the name of Ganesh. While going for shopping, I could see a pile of sweets in front of a temple. I didn't know that the day was Mangal chauthi so with wonder I took these picture and later came to know that the cause of celebration later. I really feel to taste those sweets piled like a 'sumeru parpat' but could not dare to take as 'parsad'.

Everest beer and saddam hussein cigar

2009-09-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Last week, we had get together party. With fun most of us enjoyed Nepali beer 'Everest beer'. The beer with its name was supreme on taste though the alcohol percent was high (5% by vol) than normal beer (3%). Cigarette smoking with drinks is a habit for some friends. One of our friend took out 'bindi', we can call it local cigar, instead of cigarette. It was interesting to see the brand name - Saddam Hussein with a cute child picture. I don't know why the name is given with that name but the name might be common in the community where the product is made. It was just a local product for local people anyway. My friend might have bought the product to show the same to others.

Farmers protest for low price of milk

2009-09-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

Farmers are the feeders of world but sometimes they have to go for protest when their products do not get market or return price of their effort. In Nepal, farmers are keeping cattle and producing milk to sustain national market but due to strikes and low price for the product, they have to spill their milk in the farmland or in roads. Similar situation has been seen in other countries. For example, on September 16, 2009, Belgian milk producers have also pour about three million litres of milk on a field near the Belgian city of Ciney, in protest over a growing industrial dispute over low prices. European dairy farmers, fed up with low prices, gave out milk for free, blocked deliveries and prepared to throw away millions of litres of milk the same week in protests. Check how they protest with their available resources. It also shows the technology the farmers are adopting in the production or protest. The first picture is from Nepal and rest from Europe. The pictures are taken from internet.