Ian Baker's Collection: Legal or Illigal?

1st National Rafting Championship

Last four decades rafters and kayakers have appreciated the white waters of Nepal from all over. The Nepali river guides have been prized for taming the wild Himalayan Rivers.

Yet, we have not produced one national team to represent Nepal in the international rafting championships. A core objective to this event is to build a national team that will represent Nepal in the forthcoming international championships. The other objectives are to raise awareness about rafting as a sport that is so easy accessible and that this can be a rewarding career option amongst the Nepali Youth. (Text Credit: Himalayan River Guide Association Nepal HARGAN)

'Youth Green Circle' Lunched

It's not 'Environment Day' 6th of June but a bunch of Youths yesterday organized 'Green Party' to lunch this project called 'Youth Green Circle' which aims to promote recycle culture to make this Earth a better place to live in. Band Neiipal performing

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.