Participant of 'Personality Development Schooling @ Royal Beach Camp 2007. Participant from Birjung, Ilam and Kathmandu. Ramhari Silwal (Director of Royal Beach Camp) briefing on river safty guides before participant proceed for river games. Team N, C and K competing for better score on a ‘Makeshift Raft’. Ramhari keeping watchful eyes on participants swimming in Trishuli. 'Night-Line'where we try to take participant back to basic of human senses. 'Rrossing the River' to test the creativity and ideas of teams.

tilled earth but barren kathmandu

Nimbus cloud hovered over Kathmandu sky but it dared not to drench me as I cycled towards British Council Library one evening to hear Manjushree Thapa. She was scheduled to recite some pages of her recent book ‘tilled earth’ that evening. Dusty roads and polluted air, reckless drivers honking, hip-hop generation speeding their pulsar like in hell, Kathmanduties seem on a big brawl to break civic law, it was total chaos picture. Every individual looks like dummies trotting, who forget to smile for ages. Many times I take time to watch people and try to read minds. Truly happy hearts are uncommon commodity. Indeed it is spine-tingling to wander into the “real” Kathmandu.

Nothing has been changed, neither British Council nor Kathmandu. Then I consoled myself calmly not to get irritated realizing this incomparable difference between Berlin (one of the most beautiful city of Europe that I recently been to) and Kathmandu (where I live with my hopes and dreams). I sighed to myself, ‘jay hos Kathmandu’ and sat in a vacant chair at corner of the library. I was an hour early of schedule so try to spend time surfing books in the library.
Manjushree Thapa, consider one of the prominent writer of Nepal. I read Thapa's book 'Forget Kathmandu: An Elegy For Democracy in Nepal' and her several write ups in various newspapers and it captivated me. I like her imaginative ways in investigating human parade subjectively. This is one reason, I got curious to hear her and get her new book 'tilled earth'.

That evening she read us, "Love Marriage". One of the longest stories in the book. Besides she also shared about her writing in the context of Nepal today. It was almost dark when I went back home owning a copy 'tilled earth' signed by Manjushree Thapa.

... and My Eyes Got Wet.

It was a weary day
Dreams drained,
life seems so bane.
Lonesome dusk;
An stranger asked,
* How was your day?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was no jolly me
Broken, lost and lonely
struggling to breathe.
Suffocated heartbeats;
A SMILE greets,
* How are you?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was a cyber world
Eyes tired,
I became so lull.
Monotonous life;
An email inquired,
* Are you taking care of yourself?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was a photo assignment
Moments captured,
drifted memories.
Dear old stories;
A guest offered,
* Do you want a glass of water?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was a lonely trip
Trails trodden,
crumbled destinations.
Melancholy walk;
A milky way above assisted,
* Are you lost?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was a selfish world
Heart numbed,
busy people.
Wounded feeling,
A loving sis from Korea cared,
* Do you need my hug?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was her birthday
Gifts and chocolates dumped,
wishes were frown.
All faked love;
A small boy phoned,
* Do you want to watch Art-attack show?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was a fleeting moment
Life's faded colors,
saturated pictures.
Wrong composition;
An innocent buddy expects my unborn baby,
* When is your big day?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was a dull dawn
Crushed sentiments,
Rain, thunder and storm.
Abandoned soul;
A stereo echoed a song
* "You are not alone"
... and my eyes got wet.

It was a Christmas Eve
Festive mood fouled,
False promises.
Church pitch dark,
A little sweet girl approached,
* Do you want to light one candle?
... and my eyes got wet.

It was a days-out camp
Faraway land,
peaceful night.
Mother Nature incarnates;
A shooting star sailed,
* Do you want to make a wish?
... and my eyes got wet.

Wet eyes, all tears,
Flood away my dark days
Bringing me sunshine
That never leaves me in the cold.

Auf Wieder Sehen Berlin!

Auf Wieder Sehen Berlin! See you again Berlin!

Yesterday it was a big day for me, a final day of my training on photojournalism here in Berlin and we had a nice cozy final ceremony. Program started with welcome speech by Ms Angelika And I had this pleasure to share special cookies (Lakhamari) to the chief guest, IIJB officials, teachers and participants, which I brought from back home. Dr. Ruediger Claus even quoted while we were about to toast Champaign, “You can find finest Champaign of the world anytime but you cannot find this special cookies Jitendra brought all the way from his home and from his heart, Cheers!!” And we all toasted Champaign with Newari Lakhamari. The Chief guest handed over the diploma certificates to all participants. And of course some photo session of the group then ceremony proceeded to delicious lunch. We all enjoyed such a lavish lunch with beer, wine and juice.
Receiving congratulation from Dr. Ruediger Claus, director of IIJB. Good wishes from Ms. Angelika Schulze. Mr. Georg Krause handshake for more solid confidence that I have in this passion of photography. Mr. Krause inspired me a lot and he's like a friend to me and his guidance was highly appriciated. With friends from North Korea Mr. Choe Han Il , Ms.Angelikaand Mr.Hong Myong Il. Giving souvenir “Statue of Buddha” to the Guest. Mr. Peter May who made this photojournalism training a difference. I have learnt so much from him and I enjoyed every single minute of his class. Since I am so quick to predict what to look for in pictures, he gave me the name ”Eyes of an Eagle” . I am simply moved by his depth of knowledge and wisdom in the field of photojournalism and I really really felt so honored to be one of his students. He definitely is one of my best teacher in life. Saying good-bye is always hard thing to do in life but we all were so happy to earn this new enthusiasm and confidence in us from the training.

Rain & Music Festival in Berlin

Berlin is a place on earth with full of festivals happening every month and yesterday it was another festival that rocked Berlin. More then 200 musical bands were gathered at various parts of Berlin city and preformed enticing music that made people to brave any bad weather. It was a cold rainy day but they proved their love for music coming out in the rain. Indeed Berlin appeals to music lovers of all genres. Well you have to be here to feel MUSIC that goes straightly to your heart. Some of my favorite days in Berlin were summer days, a downpour followed by sunshine and rainbows. And of course, walking on my own around downtown watching city life which always enthused my eyes. Well now it’s time to say good-bye to Berlin and I am full of words in heart. I wish I could express them all here but will do that in coming days. Once I back home. Indeed I have cashed so many wonderful memories and the positive vibe inside me to push the limit for rest of my life. Karina: A Friend from Potsdam, enjoying the thrill of music festival. Daphna very lively person with such talanted voice.

Some Highlights of Berlin

Samba Syndrom is a festival celebrating samba groups from across Europe, held at Berlin's Landesmusikakademie.
The Berlin-Müggelberge TV tower is the 31 meters tall base of a tower, never completed, in the Müggel hills of southeast Berlin, Germany. The tower base is currently used as radio relay link station.

The tower was originally planned as the TV tower for Berlin. It was to have a total height of 425 feet (130 meters) with an observation platform at 230 feet (70 meters).

After construction was started in 1954, a survey indicated that the tower would endanger aircraft on approach to the Berlin-Schoenefeld airport. For this reason, on 13 December 1955 construction was stopped The Victory Column: A 220-foot column topped with a gilt statue of the Goddess of Victory. It is located in the middle of the Tier-garten, a beautiful park in pre-war Berlin, which was almost completely destroyed during the war. Replanting was begun in 1949.