I will call him Mr. Francis because that was his Grindr ID. I asked him to meet me at Patan Dhoka, but, en route from Bal Kumari, he lost his way a bit and sent me an ‘I’m running late’ text message. Guessing that he may be closer to the Square – because that’s where we were supposed to go anyway – I called him. And sure enough, he was. I spotted him sitting on the steps of the Harishankar Temple, across the palace complex, towards the southwestern part of the Square. I had never seen him in person before but he didn’t look very different from his pictures.

A missed call and a quick scan across the crowd, and a short walk towards Mr Francis as he reached for his phone. When I suggested we go to a bhatti, he amicably nodded his head, saying “Yea, can we eat?” But when we peeked inside the dim Chyasal room located within the neighborhood’s maze-like northern alleys, an older guy half-heartedly shook his head, glancing quickly at a mound of unpeeled potatoes and said “World Cup.”

Yes, it was one of those June mornings, kind of early – it wasn’t even eleven – so I had to come up with a second plan. “I don’t really eat much in the morning,” Mr. Francis was saying as we walked back towards the Square”, “So I am usually starving by this time.”

I hastily entered the ‘D Square Café’ behind Krishna Mandir. I had never been there before, so I was pleasantly surprised as we climbed up the stairs. The open-air top level had a great view of the Mandir. I decided to let him take the seat from which he could admire the intricate artwork on the gray stone monument. At an earlier point, he had mentioned that he wasn’t familiar with the area; perhaps he hadn’t had a chance to appreciate Patan’s architecture at such close proximity before. With that thought, I pulled up a chair, facing a TV mounted on the wall across the restaurant, where three waiters were stationed, enjoying soccer highlights.

“So your parents were OK with the tattoos?” I couldn’t help asking. He had a phrase inscribed on his chest, which peeked out of a V neck. There was another symbol on an arm; the third one was apparently on his lower back.

“No, my parents have always been very cool. It’s my older brother and bhauju who tend to be a bit more traditional at times.”

Mr. Francis was from Dharan, currently on a short vacation from Melbourne, where he was completing a diploma on advertising. When we started chatting on Grindr, he was some one hundred and twenty-six miles away. “Let’s meet when I am in Kathmandu next week,” he had typed.

He stayed at a flat in Bal Kumari during his Kathmandu stints. When I asked him about his future plans, he seemed uncannily relaxed, “I was actually thinking of returning last year, but my family and friends  nudged me to stay longer and try for a PR so I signed up for this short course.”

“I like Kathmandu,” he went on, “I lived here for a couple of years after my Bachelors in Singapore. Worked at an ad agency, had a boyfriend. It was fun.”

“Still in touch with the ex?” I asked.

“Nah. When I started to think about Australia, the relationship dwindled.”

“And your family? Do they know?” The inevitable question.

“Not yet, but soon. Once I am  fully independent.”

“So what’s your last name?” I couldn’t help asking.

That’s the first question that most Nepali boys tend to ask online, a question that instantly annoys me. So I am careful while posing it myself. With him, I was genuinely curious. His response – Parajuli – definitely surprised me. I must have seemed puzzled for a second; I must have searched his face for signs of Parajuliness – there was none – because he quickly added, “My mom is a Gurung; dad Bahun.”

Aah. That explained a lot of things. His features – Gurung nose, big Bahun eyes – had been hard to place, strikingly unique for a Nepali. The tattoos and how the parents were cool about it. As he spoke, I tried to imagine his upbringing in Dharan; went even further back in time and tried to picture his father and his mother, how they must have had to face certain obstacles in order to come together, the long explanations they must have had to provide to their sets of parents, relatives, cousins, friends; how their daily life was a testament to their open-mindedness.

I envied Mr. Francis a little bit. Not many Nepalis are privileged enough to be blessed with parents who have an inherent understanding and respect for diversity; having parents who are courageous, who dared to challenge traditional notions.

How Mr. Francis’ entire life must have been shaped positively by his parents’ non-discriminatory attitude. And by default, how enriching his life must have been. No wonder he likes Kathmandu; no wonder he doesn’t have strong preferences between staying abroad and returning home. No wonder Mr. Francis is so calm.

A father’s wound is passed on to his child, writer Cheryl Strayed said. If one’s parents don’t resolve certain issues in life, if they don’t heal themselves, the children inherit them. The children grow up wounded. But if parents face difficulties and work through their problems, they pass that knowledge to their children.

As I was thinking about Mr Francis and his parents, I noticed him checking his watch.

He had wanted an approximately 11- 1 hang out session as he needed to get home early to prepare for a party. Taking the hint, I gradually started to slow down the pace of our conversation, hovered on the surface of this strange lake instead of plunging probing questions. Focused on finishing the one bara, the two pieces of chhoyla and the scattered chiura that were lying on my plate.

“Tonight, I have invited a few co-workers from back in the days. Tomorrow, my group of gay friends. And Sunday, my straight friends,” Mr. Francis was saying. That’s why he wanted to be home by early afternoon. His style was a bit different than mine. I liked to mix friends. I liked introducing one set of friends to another, preferred smaller groups.

When I asked about the gay friends, he threw some names. But I hadn’t heard about any one of them.

“They are all younger. Two of them are together. I can’t seem to meet people my age.” Mr. Francis was in his late twenties. I was amused to learn about all these different cliques of gays. Back then, it was tricky enough, trying to get four guys to have dinner together. The city sure has grown bigger, more complex, so many layers of lifestyles, so many people.

“Well, most gays your age are probably out of Nepal. That seems to be the norm.”

“I guess,” he said, “Well, maybe I’ll come back,” he returned to an earlier theme. We left it at that.

As I walked back home, I wondered about Mr. Francis; I wondered whether he will really return or when. I could imagine being friends with him; or exploring something more. But it is also possible that I may never see Mr. Francis again.

We know what we should do in bed, or at least most of us think we do. However, sometimes we’re doing something completely wrong and we’re oblivious about it. And it’s annoying her to no ends. Here are a few things you should keep in mind

1. Skip Foreplay

This cannot be emphasized enough, foreplay is extremely important when it comes to pleasuring your partner. Spend some quality time to in getting her engine heated up. Think of it this way, would you drive you car without warming it up to its normal temperature on cold mornings?

2. Act like a Pornstar

First off, we really shouldn’t kid ourselves. What they do in porn movies is far from what your girlfriend or wife would want. Using her like a piece of meat and telling her she’s a filthy… well, that’s not going to get you any points in bed (exceptions may apply). You’re making love, not auditioning for ‘Filthy Ass Pirates 2’.

3. Being too timid

There’s gentle love making and then there’s boring love making. If you’ve made your commitment to be with the same woman (good for you), you need to make an effort to keep things lively. You don’t want to come off as a bore by being too timid. Don’t be afraid to take charge from time to time.

4. Ask Her to put the condom on you

It’s funny how people seem to see this as some sexy act. You’ve set the mood, rose petals on the bed, Marvin Gaye playing on the stereo, you ask her to put it on you… and she’s struggling to get the condom on you for the next five minutes. You’re just standing there waiting with your hands on your hips… aaand now she’s put it on backwards. It’s your monkey, cover it yourself. Also, it is your job to dispose of it after the deed.

5. Going over board

It is a good idea to try to spice up your sex life from time to time, but try not to go overboard. Don’t spank her so hard that she wants to turn around and punch you in your face. And don’t try to stick as many fingers in her as you can. She’s not a glove.

6. Slacking on the Grooming and Cleanliness

Many men make the mistake of neglecting their grooming rituals once they’ve hit the ultra-comfort zone with their partners. Avoid this at all cost. Firstly, it is always a good habit to keep clean. Secondly, you might make her feel taken for granted. Thirdly, you might not get all the benefits you could get if you’re nice and clean… if you get our drift.

7. The head push

She knows you want her to go down on you; you don’t have to push her head on it. However, once into the process, you can feel free to hold her head and maybe even go a step further and guide her. Of course that also depends on her liking.

8. Just Because You Finished First Doesn’t Mean It’s Over

Sex is NOT a race and just because you finished first does not make you the winner. It is quite the opposite in many cases. It’s just plain selfish. If you happen to finish first, which you will on many occasions, do your part to get her over the finish line too.

9. Biting her nipple

Don’t chomp down on her nipple like you’re trying to open a jello pack. Nipples are highly sensitive. They can’t stand up to chewing. Lick and suck them gently. Flicking your tongue across them is good. Pretending they’re a doggie toy isn’t.

10. Ask if she came

If you have to ask her if she came, you might as well assume she didn’t. Asking her if she came is rude and might make it seem like you’re rushing her. Ask her if she had fun, or if she liked it. In case her answers are a little unenthusiastic, get back to work.

11. Undressing her prematurely

As a rule of thumb, you should avoid doing anything “prematurely” between the sheets. She will have put on a lot of thought into that skimpy lingerie she’s wearing for you. Admire it, tell her she looks beautiful. Undress her slowly, reap the rewards.

Acne made your life miserable when puberty struck, but you were promised it would go away with time. But you’re already in your late 20’s (or older) and your skin still looks like a page from the Braille edition of Playboy Magazine. Adult acne is a very common problem. Here is Easy Cut’s take on its remedies.

One of the most important things in making or breaking your look is good skin quality. Everyone prefers good flawless skin, but not everyone is blessed with amazing genes. However there is no need to panic because a little extra care can bless us all with flawless skin! Acne is a common problem that plagues a lot of people. While there are products available in the market to alleviate acne a few household remedies and timely trips to the salon might be the most natural and effective remedy.

List of remedies for Acne:
1. A Fruity Solution
Do you like to relish on seasonal fruits? The beauty benefits of fruits like mango, guava and papaya go beyond consumption. In addition to its delicious taste, these fruits are really good for your skin.

a. Use a blender to create a mixture of either one of the fruits and apply it on your clean face as a face mask.
b. Let the mask sit for 10-15 minutes and thoroughly rinse your face. This will improve the overall texture of your skin by helping alleviate acne and blemishes. The antioxidant properties of the fruit will not only improve the texture of your skin, but also your overall well being.

2. Get your H2O
The simplest and often over looked aspect in the hustle and bustle of daily life is the amount of water consumed. Consuming roughly a glass of water during each waking hour is a good rule of thumb to follow. This will
help wash off the possible impurities in your system and limit acne and blemishes.
a. Another beneficial practice is to steam your face. This will open up your pores.
b. Then gently dab dry your face.
c. Always follow a facial steam with exfoliation or face mask.
d. Lastly always remember to wash your face every night before bed to wash away all the dust and dirt gathered on your face.

3. Do you exfoliate?
Exfoliating your skin occasionally is a good ritual to scrub off all the impurities from your skin and to get rid
of dead cells. In the process of exfoliation, you will get rid of dirt residue on your face that remains even after regular skin care rituals such as washing your face.

a. For a facial exfoliation create a mixture of lemon juice and sugar and gently scrub your face
b. Remember to avoid scrubbing eyelids, and thoroughly rinse your face after exfoliation.
c. After exfoliation, use rose water as a natural toner and rinse your face again.

Beyond this if you still notice acne on your skin, make sure you limit your consumption of oily food and wash
your hair regularly to avoid excessive natural oils from triggering acne. Along with all these skin care regimes, it is important to take care of your skin and keep it fresh and hydrated on the whole. In addition to keeping your face clean, regular trips to your nearest Easy Cuts for facials is a good way to maintain good skin care and avoid breakouts and acne. After all this, if you still see a pimple appear when you wake up in the morning then apply a little bit of toothpaste to let it dry out; however remember to wash off the toothpaste before leaving your house!

INTERIOR DESIGN CONSULTANT
Shraddha Singh,
In Your Space – Interior Designs
Pvt. Ltd., Golfutar
4379236 / 980376560
inyourspace.id@gmail.com

Find yourself feeling uncomfortable in your bed and don’t know why? There might be something missing from your bedroom to make it complete? If so, then it might just be the right time for you to refresh your sleeping space. Follow these simpl steps to set up your bedroom fit for a good night’s sleep..

1. Let There Be Light…OR wait, Never mind.

If the sun wakes you up in the morning it’s one thing if you prefer it that way, but if you’re waking up too early because of the light, it may be time for some change. Install heavier drapes or even double layers if necessary. If you are using blinds: opt for darker hues of blue, red, purple or even black as darker richer colors are relaxing and easy on the eyes.

2. Feeling the Difference.

As the largest piece of furniture in most bedrooms, your bed plays center stage when it comes to decorating. When was the last time you bought a new set of covers? It’s time to take advantage of the spotlight. Go all-out with a fully striped comforter, or take it down a notch with a solid spread rimmed with a gold border. Keep the pillows simple, in solid white, black or a bright color. You want your bed to attract attention, not raise eyebrows, so keep the sheets, bed skirt and blankets solid, to avoid too much of pattern overload.

3. Do You Hear What I Hear?

Do you live with kids or pets? Do you live on a busy street? Can you hear your neighbor’s activities even when lying in bed? If so, then you are looking at a sound crisis! You can look at how your walls and windows are layered and insulated. You can remodel them to be thicker and your walls can be covered with plaster or certain sound proofing material / wall paddings available in the market to limit noise.

4. Creating a “Night Nest”.

A “night nest” is a way of setting up your room to fit all of your sleeping needs. Make sure you have a nightstand or table at an arm’s reach that can provide you with insomnia essentials (like magazines, earplugs, dim lamps etc.). Things to keep out of your night nest may be hard to give up. These include televisions, laptops, alarm clocks, radios, and ceiling lights. A station for these should be set beyond reach from the bed in the room.

5. Invite Yourself to the Party!

Decorate your bedroom with personal items like pictures, posters, special knickknacks that inspire you and make you feel warm. While selecting from the color palate, go for soothing, sleepy colors, not bright ones. If you like a warmer, darker feel go with browns, dark reds, or purple. If you like a more spa-like atmosphere, go with blues dark gray, or green!

Basically, hard work describes someone who gets his/her job done on time irrespective to the external conditions. A highly desired quality, yes. But here’s something to ponder about, what are you working hard on? Are you just working really hard or are you working hard at the right thing.

Working hard on the wrong things does not make someone successful. Too many people work hard at making sure that they’re doing things right, but fail to consider first whether they’re doing the right things. For instance, your efficiency at bottling caps might be unparalleled at your office and you’re diligent in screwing those babies on. But if someone comes along with a mechanical contraption that screws 60 bottle caps per minute, you’re screwed. You may be better at screwing caps than the other person, and essentially you are doing things right, but the other person is doing the right thing by finding a way to do it better.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT BIG IN LIFE, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD… OR SO YOU’VE BEEN TOLD.

Some signs that you may be working hard at the wrong things:

• You work hard throughout the day, but at the end of the day you wonder if what you’ve done really made much of a difference.
• You work hard but don’t feel like you get the recognition that you deserve.
• You work tirelessly but it rarely feels like you accomplish much of anything.

Personally I am very lazy. When it comes to getting things done, I don’t regularly finish my work before the deadline (I rush things at the 11th hour and manage to get it done within the deadline).

It’s not something to be proud of. I am sure a lot of you have read this quote on social media by Bill Gates (Not sure if he really said this or not).

“I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” – Bill Gates

What he probably meant was he prefers people who work smart to people who work hard. Work smart is the term I learnt from my first boss Mr. Rajan Maskey (MD, Espace Studios). He used this term to tell us when we were working without an end goal or working too hard to get something done which was not important.

HOW?

• Be Organized: Being organized helps you get your work faster. You can start with changing your “To-Do List” to “Today List”. Momentum fuels motivation so focus more on quick wins rather than making long lists.
• Prioritize: Prioritize your work with the help of the never failing priority quadrant. If you follow this chart, you will get all the important work done. Remember delegating to the right person at the right time is what needs to be focused.
• Stick to 9 – 5: People think if you work overtime, you are a hardworking person. I think people who work overtime are the ones who are slow and are really bad at time management. Stick to 9 – 5 (or 10 – 6) and be productive & efficient at that time.
• Invest your time to learn: Education/ learning starts at school but it never ends. You can learn so much from different sources. You can learn from your co-workers, your boss and even from your juniors. It not only enhances your knowledge but also helps you develop a healthy relationship with your organization.
• Attitude: Attitude definitely is the invisible attire you wear everyday. Your attitude defines you and influences how people judge you. If you have a cooperative attitude, it makes it a lot easier for you to get your work done easily and effectively. It’s called reciprocity. If you are a helpful person, its more likely that people will help you when you seek help. Respect others, that is your first step to earn respect.
• Awareness: Keep yourself aware about your organization and your working environment. Know what is required of you and work towards using your environmental resources to the most effective and efficient in order to reach the desired goals. Be aware of what your capabilities are, the available resources you have and how you can use technology to your benefit.

Keep yourself aware about your organization and your working environment.

What I have realized personally is that working hard on something not important will add stress, anxiety, strained relationship, lack of mental balance, dissatisfaction and decreased productivity. Be smart, work smart for better health, satisfaction, better self-esteem and productivity.

Of course, it is important to strike a balance between working hard and working smart. If you’re looking for shortcuts to produce subpar quality of work you might be confusing “working smart” with “working just for the sake of it”. Remember, before you can work smart, you need to learn to work hard.

Massive spools, roof tops, meat and sunburns punctuate the Nepali kite flying culture. The kites aren’t just paper squares drifting aimlessly in the sky. Each kite has a purpose: to take down as many kites before going down in a blaze of glory, and the men on the end of the thread and spool mean business.

Kite flying has been a tradition that has been around for many years, and every Dashain the beautiful skies are bespectacled with colourful kites and the rooftops with enthusiastic kite fliers. This year too, we can’t wait for the kite flying to begin. If you’re new to the scene though, here are a few basics that will help you get the spool rolling.

*Beginner’s Tip: If this is your first time, you can be sure your kite will act a little awry. If you want an obedient kite which does not give you trouble while flying, tie a long piece of paper, movie reel or plastic on the bottom of you kite so that you have easy control over the kite.

HOW TO ACHIEVE LIFT OFF

Getting things started can be difficult at first, and getting your kite afloat can be a pain. Here’s how you can get about it.

1.Have someone to help you tee off the kite. Ask them to hold the kite by the corners, tail side down, and wait for your signal.

2.Wait for a moderate breeze to come in and then signal your ‘kite holder’ to gently toss the kite into the air.

3. Let the breeze carry the kite into the sky and let the thread unroll from your spool.

4. If the breeze is too light and the kite begins to dip, reel-in the thread to make the kite soar up and let go of the thread again as the kite catches air.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHILE FLYING KITES

Kite flying can be exhilarating, to kids and adults alike. But before you go bounding into the roof tops with your kite, here are a few things to consider before you get at it.

Acrophobia

Because there are so few open fields left in Kathmandu, people are obliged to fly kites from roof tops and balconies. The higher you are the better. But that also increases the risk factors involved. Check your surroundings and be aware of where the boundary walls/ railings are. If there are no railings, seriously consider finding a different location to fly your kite from.

Be aware of hindrances in your surroundings like washing lines, flower vase and other objects. Also don’t let children as well as adult sit or stand on the balcony wall. Safety first.

Entangled

For those living in the urban jungle of the major cities in Nepal, electric wires and poles are a serious hazard for kite flyers. While flying kites it might get tangled in trees, cable lines, telephone lines, electricity lines and other network cables. It is better to let go than break your limbs falling off a tree or worse getting electrocuted from live wires. Even the best kite flier sometimes ends up with their line in a tangle so don’t get frustrated if it happens to you too.

The Burn

When you spend hours in the sun, you’re most likely to get sun burnt. And it hurts. Make sure you’re wearing the right protection to prevent being toasted. Apply sunscreen lotion properly and wear a hat and preferably full sleeved clothes.

Dehydration

Make sure you drink lots of liquid while you’re flying kites in the sun. And no, beer does not count. In the heat of the moment, there is a likeliness of dehydration.

Compiled By: Samyukta Dawadi

For those who are lucky, cataracts happen to you late in life; you go through a minor surgery and wear an eye patch till that heals. However, an appalling number of people end up losing their eye sight due to cataracts. According to the statistics, of the 95, 765 blind people in Nepal, 62.2% account cataracts as the cause (as of 2011).

Taking into consideration this fact and the shaming irony of the availability of world class services in ophthalmology in Nepal, Anthropose could not have come into existence any later.

Anthropose is Nepal’s first for-profit social-good sunglass company. For every 10 pairs sold of their product, they will provide a free cataract surgery to a person in need. Their association with Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology and Dr. Sanduk Ruit ensures the quality of the services that are provided.

“We believe only donating is not the end to the process. We, in complete collaboration with Tilganga conduct Outreach Eye-Surgery camps in rural Nepal. We plan to make our buyers a part of the camp, so that we can create change throughawareness and also maintain transparency through direct participation of the end buyer.”

Suraj Shrestha, CEO and founder of Anthropose, shares his thoughts and tells us more about this one of a  kind for-profit-social-good company.

1.Tell us about your team.

Our core team comprises of 5 people me, Amun Thapa, Prakiran Shrestha, Sodhan Manandhar and Subal Chitrakar. Nirmal Sharma Chaulagain looks after the supply chain, and then we have Ramesh Sharma Chaulagain as our Senior Procurement Manager and Abhijit Mool as our Marketing Officer. we are just a focused, fun and change-driven group of friends who happen to be working together.

2.Where does the production take place? How is it done and who designs it?

Our current product line were manufactured in China using high quality acetates, stainless steel and CR- 39 lenses which are polarized, UVA and UVB protectant, anti-scratch and anti-reflective. Our products are FDA and CE approved. Currently, we work with our manufacturer’s design unit to come up with our sunglass ranges. However, we are hopeful about establishing a design unit here in Nepal in the near future.

3.Will you be coming out with new models?

Yes, definitely. Our new product line is already on the design table.

 An appalling number of people end up losing their eye sight due to cataracts. It often made me think, how sad it was for me to have to use a reference of two other countries to introduce my own.

4.What inspired you to get this venture started?

Wow! I could go on and on talking about this. Haha. During my graduate studies abroad, I realized quite a few things about how Nepalese youth viewed “opportunities” in Nepal. To keep it simple, some thought Nepal didn’t have enough opportunities that matched their caliber and some were pretty happy with their lifestyle abroad, all the while when youth labor force were departing the country to middle-eastern countries for the same reason. The point being “Opportunity” in Nepal. I am an optimist, I believe. I saw opportunities, but if the youths didn’t act on creating opportunities, one-day opportunities would definitely be a rare commodity.

Its needless to state the fact that Nepal has always had many other social problems (including youth-emigration) that needed to be addressed.

Also, our identity as a nation.

During my graduate studies, whenever I introduced myself, it was obvious that they ask me where was I from? Naturally my response would be “Nepal”. It wasn’t a commonplace for people to know where Nepal was. So, as clichéd as this response may be, I’d reply “The country where Mt. Everest is” or if not “ The country where Lord Buddha was born.” Often times, people still seem confused. Then, I would have to refer to India and China. It often made me think, how sad it was for me to have to use a reference of two other countries to introduce my own.

There was a dire need of a solution that all the while solving existing social problem, created opportunities to grow & advance and was sustainable & scalable to create an identity. Hence, ANTHROPOSE.

5.While planning this out, was the social aspect the main component or was the business aspect that came in first and the social aspect a business strategy?

Well, we believe nothing works in isolation. Everything is a part of an eco-system. We saw a balanced relationship between the “social” aspect and the “business” aspect of the model. They cannot be viewed as separate entities but two aspects sharing a symbiotic relationship instead.

6.As a new business, what obstacles have you faced?

Although, Anthropose is relatively new, after co-founding and running SastoDeal for almost 3 years now, we’ve found our way to overcome primary obstacle that any new start up would have faced. However, since the idea of a “for-profit social enterprise” is still a new phenomenon worldwide, people are inquisitive about our business model, but that isn’t exactly an obstacle.

7.What is the most challenging aspect of running a social business and what’s the most fun and rewarding?

In Nepal, I’d have to say the disturbed attention of government towards social issues and regulations that deter any private sector organization to work with a social motive has to be the most challenging aspect of running a social business. The government should promote, facilitate and encourage an environment with proper regulations in place where not only social enterprise but also youth empowerment could bloom. The “CHANGE” that it brings along is the most fun and rewarding. The joy of overcoming a problem while working with like-minded and fun people is always a bonus.

8.What were the toughest decisions you had to make regarding this venture?

Probably, selecting our manufacturing partner was the toughest decisions we had to make while executing this venture because like we partnered with the best to execute our surgical camps we wanted the same to be true for our products as well.

9.We know you guys have an awesome team. What is an average workday like for you in the office?

On an average workday, you’d see us gathered in the office the very first thing in the morning. Discuss our agendas for the day over some black, sugar-less coffee. And, after that, the action begins. Haha! At the moment, we are busy with our promotion and awareness campaigns. So you’d probably see us meeting a lot of people, a lot.

10.What was the best piece of advice you ever got and what was the worst?

Once Dr. Sanduk Ruit, while I was in conversation with him, told me “It’s a good thing that you are doing, babu. Keep it up”. So probably, “Keep it up” is the best piece of advice I’ve gotten so far. As for the worst one, I don’t think I’ve ever gotten one.

11.Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

I really like what Artlab is trying to do with and in the art-scene. Their vision towards art really impresses me. While I am talking about art, I think Fuzz Factory Productions too are marking a niche for themselves.

12.Do you think that entrepreneurialism is something you’re born with or is it something thatcan be learned?

I believe, if you really want something, it can be learned and nurtured.

13.What would you advise entrepreneurs starting out today?

I once read, “The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” – Michel Angelo

14.What’s next for Anthropose?

Well, Nepal surely has its fair-share of social problems that needs to be addressed. And, we have our eyes set on couple of them. We will definitely let you know when the right time comes.

Arguably the most popular baddie of Kollywood, Sunil Thapa has established himself as a superstar in Nepal. Best known as ‘Raate Kaila’ from his iconic role in the 1989 movie ‘Chino’, he has earned himself everlasting popularity as a beloved antagonist. But he might have to cozy himself into a whole new avatar with the release of ‘Mary Kom’. So what does Nepal’s favorite badass have to say about his start in Bollywood, his career in the Nepali film industry and a massive comeback in Bollywood again? We’re about to find out.

A white ’97 Mitsubishi Pajero drove into the driveway and came to a halt. Inside were three men. One sat on the driver’s seat with a stern look on his face and checked to see the rearview mirror. Another sat behind him; a scruffy man with small eyes, scraggly mustache and a chin beard. A visible scar ran across his jaw line. The third man, was who I was supposed to meet.

A pair of black imposing combat boots emerged from the passenger door that stood ajar and the towering figure of Sunil Thapa stepped out of the vehicle, pushing the door wide open as he did so. He pulled out a cigarette between his teeth from a bulky golden coloured cigarette case that stood apart from the rest of his dark attire. He was much larger than the two of his compatriots, taller and better built. His round face was decorated with wrinkles and he had little hair except for a shadowy white beard that encircled his mouth. Yet he didn’t look terribly old; maybe it was his piercing dark eyes that gleamed from the fold of skin under them or the way he reached in for his jacket which he slung over his shoulder while walking over to the patio. Whatever it may have been, Sunil Thapa fit the bill of a certified baddie.

“IN THE MEAN TIME SUNIL THAPA WENT BACK TO DOING WHAT HE LOVED: PLAYING PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. ”

However, before he made it big in the film industry, he was a photo journalist working for a weekly magazine called JS (Junior Statesman) Magazine. During his time with JS, he was sent to Bhutan to cover the Bhutan Coronation in 1974. Little did he know, his life wouldbe taking a completely different direction very soon. While at the coronation, he happened to meet the legendary actor Dev Anand who was a guest of the Queen Mother. Dev Anand immediately took a liking to Sunil and discussed the prospects of getting him to appear in one of his movies. Taken aback by the surprising proposal, it took a bit of coaxing from his friends to encourage him to take up Dev Anand’s offer.

One thing led to another and Sunil found himself in Bombay preparing for what most likely promised to be his first movie. ‘Ek Tha Raaja’ a movie based on the famous tale of Robin Hood began shooting; Sunil would be playing the role of Robin Hood’s (played by Dev Anand) friend. Sadly, the shooting of the movie got canceled after the first week and the production was cut short.

Nevertheless, this opened up a new door for Sunil, one which he never thought existed. After the shooting  was canceled, Dev Anand introduced Sunil to his elder brother: director/producer Chetan Anand. He was cast in a role in the director’s upcoming movie called Saheb Bahadur and Sunil faced the camera, thereafter, for the first time on the 6th of September, 1974.

But the movie took a long time to release; so in the mean time Sunil Thapa went back to doing what he loved: playing professional football. He began playing for ICL Bombay Senior League and Orkay’s Sports Club. He drifted from the movie business and got more and more into sports. It wasn’t until 1978 that he was steered back into the movie business. It happened during his trip to to Madras from Bombay to watch the 5 day Test series between India and Pakistan. India won the series on the fourth day which gave Sunil one day at hand. Because he was free, a few of his friends got him in touch with another big name in directing in Bollywood: K. Balachander who liked Sunil Thapa once they got talking. He offered Sunil a role in a Telgu movie which he was directing. No sooner had Sunil accepted the offer, he got an even better one from the same director. An actor who had been cast for a role in K. Balachander’s movie Ek Duje ke Liye fell ill due to jaundice and the director offered that role to Sunil Thapa. The movie went on to be a hit in Bollywood and Sunil Thapa also got a lot of recognition from the movie.

“IT WASN’T UNTIL HIS SON’S 43RD DAY THAT HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE HIM IN HIS ARMS. ”

Now, where most people would have gone around looking for more opportunities after such a break in the budding industry of Bollywood, Sunil Thapa decided on laying low. “I felt that if I was really a good actor, people would come to me. I really wasn’t up for searching for opportunities. Plus, I had my football,” says Sunil Thapa.

So, he picked up where he left with his passion for football. On his trip back to Kathmandu in 1986, he met Biswa Basnet who was making a movie in Nepal called Anyaya. Although the movie was never made, Sunil considers this the moment that kick started what was going to be an illustrious career in the Nepali film industry. Although, during the shooting process, Sunil Thapa met Shiva Shrestha with whom he would later act in a movie called Sanjhog.

During the next few years a number of things happened. Sunil Thapa got married to his wife in Kathmandu and the couple went to Bombay. He also worked in a couple of movies with a lot of big names, one of which was Ravikant Narayan who is considered the maker of big names like Mithun Chakrobarty and Jitendra. As time went by, some time during his stay in Bombay, he received a call from Shiva Shrestha and Biswa Basnet with the proposal of a role in the movie Chino. Sunil Thapa fell in love with the role and flew back to Kathmandu to begin his work in what would be a defining moment in his career. However, his dedication to his work had to withstand several tests from this point onwards, which he took in stride.

His wife gave birth to a son in Bombay, but because of his tight schedule Sunil Thapa was not able to go see his son after his birth. It wasn’t until his son’s 43rd day that he was able to take him in his arms.

“But you see, this is part of the package. Show business is not as glamorous as it appears to be. If you’re seriously into it, you better pull up your socks. If you’re looking for your 15 minutes of fame, do us a favor and get out before you ruin the industry,” says Sunil Thapa with a stern expression in his voice.

TNM: You seem to be really serious when it comes to your work.

ST: Yes, and you have to be. If there is one thing I learned from my 40 years in acting it is that you’re not going to amount to anything in this industry unless you buckle up and dedicate yourself through and through. There are times when you’re cheezed off with people, but you have to suck it up and do what you have to do. You have to take the director seriously, whether he/she is new or old. He is the captain of the ship. I don’t spare anyone who’s fooling around on the set. Professionalism is important. I don’t let anything come in the way of my work, that’s why I forgo many of our social rituals when it interferes with work.

TNM: Was that your credo right from the start?

ST: Yes, discipline has always been a priority. There is no festival for us, no weather for us. You have to bear everything and you have to make a lot of sacrifices. When my son had jaundice, I didn’t go to see him. I called the doctor and asked if there was anything wrong and when he told he was okay, I was back to work. Yes, it was difficult. But it is part of the job. Although it does get the better of me sometimes. There was this one incident during the shoot of Chino where I had fractured my finger. So, like a smartass, I would take off my plaster at the doctor’s every morning, get the shoot done and re-plaster my finger in the evening.

TNM: Chino was a massive success. What followedafter Chino?

ST: Well, I flew back to Bombay to my wife and kid. I did a couple of movies there. But Chino became a massive hit. So big that not sticking to the Nepali film industry seemed like a mistake.

TNM: And you left Bollywood? Just like that?

ST: I didn’t have much choice, did I? I was swamped with so much work. I must have done over 200 movies. Actually, I did get an offer to work with the Markanda Brothers for a tele-series in Zee TV called Commander. They wanted me to be in India 20 days a month, but I had to decline because I was busy with my work in Nepal.

TNM: Most would have jumped at such a chance.

ST: I was given an earful from my loved ones about that. But I loved what I was doing. The Nepali audience loved me and I loved my job. I wasn’t looking to going anywhere anytime soon.

TNM: But you made it back to Bollywood, and in style too. Tell us about how Mary Kom happened.

ST: On the 5th of April 2013, I got a call from the casting director of Sanjay Leela Bhansali Production. They wanted me to audition for a role in their upcoming movie which fit me perfectly. They sent me a couple of scenes which I had to act out. The role demanded that I play the role of a boxing coach. A few of my friends were with me and they helped me make the entire thing as professional as possible. We went to a gym to record the audition and sent it over to them. By the 9th of April, I was told that I was doing the movie and asked me to come down ASAP. I was able to reach Bombay on the 27th where I first met with the director Umar Kumar.

TNM: What sort of preparations did you have to go through for the movie?

ST: It was extremely extensive. T he shooting only started in June 17th but the entire month of May and up till 14th of June we had to go through a lot of preparation. From dialogue reading to workshops, we had to get everything right. To fit in for the role of a boxing trainer, I even had to go through a daily training regimen of 3 hours. Then we had to think of an appearance that would suit the character. I showed them my getup for my movie Rudraksha, but it was too similar to that of Sanjay Dutt in Rudraksha. So, I started to grow a beard which I wasn’t sure of. But it looked great in the end.

TNM: How different was the shoot from what you were used to?

ST: It was really different, not only from how things went in Nepal but from what Bollywood was like in 1979-78. Things were done extremely professionally. The shoot started on June 15th and went on for 25 days. We used to shoot 12 hours every day. I had to get out of the house 1.5 hours early to reach the set every day and 1.5 hours to get back home. That’s 15 hours of the day gone. In the remaining 9 hours, there was little I could do. I stopped smoking, I stopped boozing. But it was really fun. It was extremely professional.

TNM: Do you like your new look? Personally I think it really suits you.

ST: Having that beard and moustache for 13-14 months was a pain. The first thing I did after the shoot ended was shave it right off. But I kind of began liking it again so I grew it back.

TNM: How does it feel to get back into Bollywood?

ST: It feels great. I love representing Nepal to the best of my abilities. The people all over the world, who care to ask, will know that a Nepali person is representing himself in the movie. It is a great feeling. It is a part of a bigger picture because I think in the movie Barfee too there was a Nepali person who played Ranbir Kapoor’s friend. His mane was Bhola. Wilson Bikram Rai was supposed to be playing a role in Ashutosh Gowariker’s mega series for Star Plus. But because Wilson was caught up in other commitments, he wasn’t able to take up on the offer. Nevertheless, these are good signs for Nepal. My role is a small stepping stone for the entire Nepali movie industry.

Pig feet don’t rank amongst the most appetizing things in anyone’s books, but that quickly changes once you taste this foodgasmic beauty. A dish that perfectly embodies the Darjeeling style of cuisine, the Pork Khutta ko Achaar is a comfort food you could get used to.

Boiled pork feet cooked to perfection with a mix of amazing spices, this is more of a curry than an achaar. A bowl of this goes best with black daal and rice with a tarkaari of your choice. You could also pair it up with laccha paraatha or plain roti if you don’t want anything else interfering with the taste of the khutti.

It is the perfect blend of chewy pork band savory spices that will have you salivating just thinking about it. A must try if you’re a fan of the Darjeeling style of cookery.

Available at:

Kathmandu Handle Bar,Baluwatar

Ph: 4428778

If you’re thinking of giving this dish a try, give the good folks of Handle Bar a day of prior notice.

Aila: The Real Deal

The aila is generally made from millet and is a clear or slightly cloudy liquid. It is a necessary component in many Newari rituals. It is the strongest amongst the lot and you can tell that by the very smell of it. If it feels like you’re downing a shot of lava, it’s probably a good batch of aila. CNN has placed Nepal’s ‘Raksi’, or aila, in World’s 50 most delicious drinks.

THE TEST: Quality aila will burn with a bluish flame and when poured from an Antee, the steady flow of the alcohol from a height will create bubbles in the container it is being poured into.

Best Served In: A sanlicha. A small flat clay bowl used specifically to serve aila.

Goes Best with: Spicy choela or an entire samaybaji set.

Chyang/Thon:

The Rice Beer Probably the most loved drink of all, the white cloudy drink is a pleasant mix of sweet and sour. Because it is so mild and good on the palate, consumers of the drink show tendencies of having one khola (bowl) too many. But mind you, it does pack a punch. It is basically a beer made by fermenting rice in a barrel. This too is a part of the Newari and Tibetan/Sherpa culture. Newari farmers (Jyaapus) make it during the rice planting and harvesting season and use it in various cultural and religious events. The Sherpas incorporate it into almost all of their rites and rituals.

Best Served In: Newars use a larger version of a sanlicha to serve the drink during the festivities. It is also commonly consumed in brass bowls or mugs.

Goes Best With: Close friends and a hot summer day sitting on a sukkul.

Tongba: The Slow Burner

This one comes straight from the Eastern hills of Nepal. You’re served with cooked fermented millet which you make yourself by pouring hot boiling water onto it and letting it brew. Traditionally served in a wooden vessel, greased with yak butter when not in use, the drink is sipped through a wooden straw.

Once you’re done, you can refill the vessel with hot water for up to 4-5 times. As you increase the number of refills the tongba will get stronger as the millet gets soaked, reaching its peak around the third refill. By which time you will be feeling the buzz that will keep going for a surprisingly long time.

Best Served in: A traditional wooden vessel called tongba or “dhungro”.

Goes Best With: Cold weather inside a restaurant with green curtains.

Karrthon: Thick Beer

Probably the most difficult one to get your hands on, the Karthon is usually prepared by the Jyaapu community during the winter. It has a thick muddy texture and is an acquired taste for a majority of the people. However, it does posses the potential to give out a lovely buzz.

It is prepared by putting steamed brown rice to cool on a sheet of special paper. This is then covered with straw and dried in the sun for 5-6 days. The dried product is mixed with beaten rice then ground up and fermented in a clay vessel for 1 month, stirring in timely intervals.

Best Served in: A large sanlicha or a glass mug.

Goes Best with: A lot of sitan(snacks).

Hyaun Thon: Sweet Red Sensation

Hyaun thon is not as popular as  its allies and falls amongst the more exotic of the drinks from the Newari brewery. It is the refined product of the karrthon and is red in colour. Because it is so refined, it can be very strong so you should drink it in moderation. It can be stronger than the dreadedaila, which speaks for itself.

Best Served in: a sanlicha.

Goes Best as: the last drink of thenight to finish things off. Just one small serving should do.

On her arrival to Kathmandu, she shared her thoughts with her team members. Greeted with a positive response, Sattya Media Arts collective decided to come up with Kolor Kathmandu, a project to liven up art in Nepal. It was simple, to create 75 murals representing each of our districts. When you look at it now, you will agree that it was a job well done.

In the beginning, there were 12 international muralists that started things off. The group of international artists consisted of a popular German street artist duo, Herakut along with 25 local artists, Kolor Kathmandu started by painting 25 murals in Baluwatar, Shankhamul, Bhotahiti, Jawalakhel, and other parts of the town and moved on to the other districts.

While some artists focused on landscapes, others chose to depict social stigmas and problems faced in their districts. Anish Bajracharya’s piece named ‘Bara’ in Bhanimandal, for example, pays homage to the popular Newari lentil dish which shares its name with the district. In the mural, he incorporates the Gadhimai festival held in Bara every five years. Another mural- this one named ‘Doti ‘- tells the tale of the district’s hardworking farming women, the fishes from its Karnali River and its jungles’ tigers. At first, there were a few sceptical locals who doubted their initiatives and their ideas. But that changed when they started seeing the young artists’ passion at work. And when the huge monotonous white walls transformed into intricate works of art, the sceptics turned to admirers.

This spurred the team to do better and work harder, and this was important as their task was not easy. Finding apt, visible walls and then getting the owners of the walls to agree to let some random artists paint over them was no walk in the park. Once that was sorted, the work would have to be completed within the promised time. Despite several challenges, the team remained persistent and focused on their work at hand. Social, financial and political barriers arose, but Sattya persevered. And their hard work paid off, and they were able to bring colour to the bland walls of Kathmandu, doing justice to the colourful life of the city.

To bring a just end to their entire project, Sattya Media Arts Collective organized ‘Kolor Kathmandu ko Katha’; an exhibition of the photographs of their murals. The event took place at The City Museum, Durbar Marg from August 14 to August21. According to the team, this particular event was organised to bring all the murals spread across the valley to one location and to keep the spirit of Kolor Kathmandu alive.

Still, there are many walls that could do with a coat of colour and creativity, and there were a lot of questions raised about the possibilities of Kolor Kathmandu 2. The team has decided to take a respite for the moment, but we will definitely be amongst those who will be waiting for the chances of seeing them back at work.