We often dismiss the reality that we’ve been hurt in order to appear tough or because we don’t know how to handle the reality of dealing with harm in a relationship. With time I have learnt that I need to honour my experience—just as I honour all the good things in life, I need to acknowledge the bad. Letting myself experience empathy and compassion for my hurt has helped me to heal and prepared me to truly forgive. Forgiveness is not simple or easy; it is a process. We often tend to mouth outward forgiveness. In reality this is really a wish to forgive, a wish to be done with the pain, or a wish to act as we should. But this quick and easy forgiveness, like most quick and easy solutions, does not stand the test of time. I have come to understand that just as we change the oil in our car, water the plants, wash clothes, feed ourselves, read books, and repeat a bizillion other things… life is partly the repetition of valued processes. Why not forgiveness? Until the next issue,
i see it
editor’s pick
Life is not only about the choices you make, sometimes some choices will be made for you…
Charu Chadha
I grew up with the adage—forgive and forget and I believed in it for a long, long time. I practiced it consciously until I was deeply hurt again… and this time the pain stayed because somebody broke my trust into a million painful shards. I have forgiven the person… I think I have… at least I know that I do not wish any bad to befall this person; there remains not an iota of vengeance in my heart. But every time I think of this person and what has been done, I cannot help contain the rush of emotions that fill my being—deep hurt and restlessness from within… and that got me thinking—I say that I have forgiven, but have I really done that? Because if I had then there would be no hurt, there would be no pain, there would be no sense of wrong doing or betrayal. Is the adage all wrong? I worked on my emotions for a long time, thought about it night and day… I needed the answer. I had to know whether a closure is possible at all. After much contemplation, I know now that you must not forget... you need to remember, and work on the pain, and in doing so begin the journey to real forgiveness. When you forgive you do it for you, not for the other. Forgiveness is a gift you give to yourself. It is not something you do for someone else. Forgive and forget is a myth. You may never forget but you can choose to forgive and move on. I feel that remembering helps, because it takes away the feeling of hurt little by little each time you remember… and helps you forward in your journey to forgiveness. In order to truly forgive somebody you need to acknowledge the fact that you have been hurt. For many of us, this is the hardest part of forgiving somebody because we cannot admit that we have been hurt.
the w ay
Is it possible to forgive and forget?
Corporate Associate Editor
I have always believed that destiny is a matter of choice not chance… that we bring into our lives what we want and choose, not what is preordained for us. But now I have come to understand that some times, some things ‘will be’ because they are meant to. One story that always fascinated me, even as a child, is of the little bird and the God of Death… In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Garuda is a guardian of Lord Shiva. A tale is told about how once, perched on Mount Kailash, Garuda noticed a tiny bird. He was struck by the contrast between the majesty of Kailash and the delicacy of a beautiful creature, a little bird seated on the arch crowning the entrance to Shiva’s palace. Garuda wondered aloud, “How marvellous is this creation. One who has created these lofty mountains has also made this tiny bird—and both seem equally wonderful.” Just then Yama, the God of Death appeared, riding his black buffalo. Garuda noticed that the gaze of the Master of Death briefly fell upon the bird, but then he continued on his way into the abode of Shiva. Since a mere glance from Lord Yama presages death, Garuda’s heart was filled with pity for the tiny bird. He gently picked it up and flew off with it clutched carefully in his powerful talons. He took it far, far away to a deep forest where he gently placed it on a rock beside a rushing brook. Then he returned to Kailash and assumed his customary position at Shiva’s gate. When Yama emerged from his consultation with the Great God, he nodded to Garuda in recognition. Garuda took this opportunity to ask the Lord of Death, “Just before you went inside, I saw you notice a little bird. You seemed to have a pensive expression on your face. May I know why?” Yama answered, “When my eyes fell on the bird, I saw that soon it would find its death in the jaws of a great python. But there are no such serpents here, high on Kailash, and I was briefly puzzled.”
swadhwa@vow.com.np
Garuda was left marvelling… this time at the inevitability of the process which is karma.
may 2011 Volume 7 | Issue 8
beauty Beauty Tips 26 Lux Say goodbye to dark underarms!
28 28 30 62
Lakme makeup tips Go Bold! Make a statement with bold lip colours... Beauty Q & A with Dolly Singh Sunsilk hair expert Accessorising hair the right way! My Beautiful life Shreejana Rana tells us about her favourites
savor
45
Summer
Special‌
Because the SUN is back with a SHINE!
60 Woman to Watch Her sweet life Nisha Adhikari
T he p o w e r t o c r eate cha n g e
may 2011
regulars 13 The way I see it 13 Editor’s Pick 19 Let’s Talk 20 My Cup of Tea
Children on the streets... Whose right? Whose responsibility?
34 Hold My Hand 38 Relationship
Are you too busy to spend time with your parents?
64 Reflections
To be heard...
66 Secrets of the Soul
Attaining inner peace
76 VOW Sex Rules
42 career & finance Fair & Lovely Guidance 40 Career Tackle the Green-Eyed Monster in you!
41 42
Career Q & A with Dr Niti Rana Woman at work That Midas touch! Megha Chaudhary Shakya
Bulletin 72 Health Mental Health with 72 Q&A Dr Sharad Man Tamrakar
Understanding pet behaviour... Pet Q&A with Dr Saroj Yadav
need to break...
male menu was the last 36 When time a girl made you cry?
your metabolism
flabby arms! Be sleeveless ready...
80 Animal Anecdotes
child care bad habits in 32 10 children that you
health, fitness & nutrition Health Feature Q & A with 68 Foods 72 Medical that increase Dr Neil Pande 70 Exerfile Say goodbye to
7 Khoon Maaf or looking for love in all the wrong places and clueless about sex
Dr Bharat Rawat Dr Ruchi Saxena Dhakal
78 79
Well Being Celebrity Workout with Sandesh Exercise that works! Fitness Q & A with Sandesh Palungwa Limbu
entertainment 24 I spy Quiz & Polls 82 VOW Are you falling into the envy trap?
84 91 92 94
VOW Spices Flick Picks Your guide to happening movies and music Musical Conversation Man of Music Samuel Strouk New Spark
vow Cover Look
Publishing Committee Managing Editor/CEO - Shalini Wadhwa Editor - N P Shrestha Corporate Associate Editor - Charu Chadha Photo Editor - Sanchit Lamichhane
Editorial Assistant Editor - Poonam Maharjan Reporters - Evelyn Moktan, Samridhi Rana, Pramila Rai
Art & Design Designers Bindu Kumar Tandukar, Anup Man Shrestha
Art & Design Support Senior Designer - Bikram Chandra Majumdar She's got the oomph! She is hot, beautiful and grounded. Turn to page 60 to know more about Nisha Adhikari Photographer: Rajiv Shrestha Make-up & Hair: Ritu Pradhan, Tel: 9849274583 Wardrobe: Hangers Cover design: Bindu Kumar Tandukar All editorial enquiries should be sent to Charu Chadha at GPO Box: 2294, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal Fax: (977-1) 4782100, Email: editorial@vow.com.np All advertising enquiries should be sent to Charu Chadha at GPO Box: 2294, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 4780450, Fax: (977-1) 4782100, Email: marketing@vow.com.np
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Pokhara Office : Pokhara, Naya Bazar Tel: 061-538913, Mobile: 9856026572 VOW
is published monthly from Kathmandu, Nepal by Speciality Media Pvt.
Ltd., GPO Box: 2294, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal. Tel: 4780450, Fax: (977-1) 4782100, Email: vow@vow.com.np The contents of this publication may not be published in any form whatsoever, without the prior written consent of the publishers. All materials©vow. A note to readers The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of VOW. Authors
may have consulting or other business relationships with the
companies they discuss. While every precaution is taken, no responsibility is assumed for the return of unsolicited material. All opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect on the publisher. The contents may not be reproduced in any form without the prior consent of the publisher. All rights reserved. Publisher – Speciality Media Pvt Ltd CDO Regd. No 33/061/62 Printed by Jagadamba Press Pvt Ltd Tel : 5250017, 5250027(Fax) Pre-press (CtVP) by BiG CtP House Pvt Ltd Tel : 4036219 Distributor: Kasthamandap Distributor
Subscription & Distribution Manager - Raju Singh Bajiko Executives - Radhya Shyam Gambanjar, Rakesh Prajapati
Support team Chief Accountant - Birendra Dhoj Shrestha Executive-Accounts - Jaya Prakash Shrestha Editorial Secretary - Abish Bhattarai Secretary Administration - Alisha Shakya
If men could be Mr Mom, they would truly respect women!
I'm a working mom and I live in a joint family. I have to give equal preference to my small kids, family and my career. Sometimes I get hopeless while balancing my duties. But when I got the April issue, I felt refreshed—I felt like I've got the divine power to tackle with any given situation. After being mom for the first time, I realised the hardship my mom went through for bringing me up till this stage. My respect and care towards her has been increasing dramatically ever since. When I went through My Cup of Tea, I realised that if men could actually get pregnant, they would at least understand the woes of women… the agony of child birth. I guess then men would truly respect women and never undermine them in any way. It's really sad how some people forget their moms and their contribution once they grow up. Anyways, Happy Mother's Day to everyone! – Ishwari Dulal Ace Institute of Management
I discovered what freedom means to me
March issue of VOW was magical. I loved reading My Cup of Tea where men and women from various walks of life talked about what freedom meant to them. I totally agree with most of the participants when they said it's really an individual's inalienable right to be free to achieve their dreams and explore themselves, and that every right comes with a responsibility. I guess it was really an apt subject to discuss in a country like Nepal where women are not able to enjoy their freedom. Next, I knew the importance of forgiving, thanks to your relationship column. Similarly, Shanti Udas's interview was an inspiring one. In conclusion, by going through the March issue of VOW, I discovered what freedom means to me, learnt how I can benefit myself by forgiving people, and understood that every woman who is fortunate should help those who are less fortunate. – Pooja Dahal, Kapan via email
All letters on this page recieve a gift hamper from Foot Fetish, foot and body treatment. Tel : 4700701
Thank you for holding my hand...
Problems are a part of our lives, but the other side of the coin is that life is beautiful and amazing too! One gets confused and hopeless when there is a problem in their life and they don't have a single person to share it. And perhaps that's the reason why Hold My Hand in VOW is so dear to me. Believe me, I repeatedly read this column every now and then. Many times, I have been unable to stop my tears when I read the problems. Meanwhile, every solution offered by Shalini and Charu has brought a smile of relief on my face. This column is really helpful, supportive, encouraging and practical at the same time. You have been able to analyse the problem from every small corner and offer a practical solution to it. You neither hesitate to say, 'you are wrong' nor actually make someone feel guilty for being wrong. Indeed you are the best friend. The best one for all generations. For all genders and for all classes. Thank you very much. Thanks a lot for holding my hands, for being there for me and lending a shoulder whenever I want to cry. – Shrijana Adhikari, via email
The best letter on this page has won a Meal Voucher for two (excluding beverages) at Krishnarpan, a speciality Nepali restaurant at Hotel Dwarika’s.
My Cup of
Tea
Come host our next session of
My Cup of Tea Tell us what you want to talk about & who you’d like to invite.
Let’s discuss issues, exchange notes or
simply gossip send us an e-mail at editorial@vow.com.np
Please collect your gift from the VOW office, New Baneshwor Tel: 4780394 subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 19
Date: 18 April Venue: Dwarika's Hotel Participants Tarak Dhital, Children Rights Activist Krishna Thapa, President, Voice of Children Bhuwan Raj Chataut, President, Life Awakening Foundation Sumnima Tuladhar, Executive Coordinator, CWIN-Nepal Archita Pant, Researcher, Sexual abuse, and Consultant, CWIN-Nepal
Children streets… on the
our car comes to a halt at the Thamel crossing and a couple of ragged, hungry-looking kids run upto your window pleading for money. Completely unaware of a circumstance as this, you are taken aback… you offer them a rupee or two and shoo them away. Or rather you are too familiar with such situation and make sure the windows are properly closed at junctions like this so that you can ignore them. A little further, you see a group of children with drowsy eyes sniffing dendrite, and you think "What the hell!" or maybe you are so used to it, you are no longer bothered! In any case, whether you are guided by your "sympathy" for their poor condition or "disgust" for their dirtiness, they continue being around you—crying bhok lagyo on the overhead bridge, sniffing glue in half consciousness around Thamel, picking rags in Baneshwor...or in Ratnapark waiting for opportunities to pick pockets! And this, despite a number of organisations—both at national and international levels—working for their welfare! Forget about the standard of living, hundreds of thousands of children across Nepal are forced to live on the streets and are subjected to exploitation, abuse and violence each year. They are trafficked into abysmal prostitution rings, forced into ceaseless violence and recruited into many other forms of modern slavery, and worst still, a number of paedophiles are roaming around with unspeakable intentions! Therefore, the questions arise—aren't these children entitled to the 'Children's Rights' promised by the state? Whose responsibility is it to ensure that the children living on the streets have a "normal" childhood? What is our role? In this edition of My Cup of Tea, we invited a few individuals working on the issues of children and their rights to get a peek into the street children's psyche, to learn what they and the organisations they are affiliated with have been doing to address the issue, and understand how each of us, instead of being indifferent, could actually help the street children nurture their childhood and ensure them a better future. Here's what they had to say…
20 | VOW | may 2011
©VOW photofile/Sanu Raja Maharjan
? t h g i r e s ? y t i Who l i b i s n o Whose resp
Tarak Dhital
As we speak of street children, the first thing to note is that they are children too, and that whatever rights children living under "normal" conditions are entitled to, they have an equal share in it too. The children's rights basically have four pillars—Right to Survival, Right to Protection, Right to Development and Right to Participation. Even in our constitution, the issue of street children has been given due space and concentration, citing articles like all children have the right to get a name, birth registration, education, nutrition, access to health facilities, those in risk have the right to get special facilities from the state, etc. It has also been mentioned in the Act that abandoned children should be sheltered in children homes established by the state. So analysing from the legal perspective, all children are promised of all the rights they would require to grow into a wise adult, but these rights are limited to legal documents only. There are of course national and international non-government and volunteer organisations working for the welfare of these children, but the help reaches out to such a small number that it makes very little difference. Of course different organisations have been working successfully towards protecting at least some of their rights, but until and unless the state becomes responsible towards removing children from the streets and placing them in better conditions, the issue of street children will not find a permanent solution. I believe that the non-government organisations should collaborate with the local government to manage the kids on the streets and prevent more from joining them. Since the street children have a complex psyche, only the will to rescue them is not enough. One should have proper knowledge and experience in dealing with and understanding the children, and since the various organisations working for the welfare of street children have that expertise in them, they should collaborate with the government's taskforce. While the state should acknowledge its responsibility for creating an environment to nurture healthy citizens, every individual should also understand that a child's right is an adult's responsibility.
"Child's right is an adult's responsibility."
Archita Pant
Street children are exposed to many things at a very early age. A kid who is hardly 10 years old will have had a sexual intercourse irrespective of whether it is with a girl, a boy, a third gender or an adult. We conducted a research on sexual abuse on street children last year. One of the major findings was that street children, especially boys, are the perpetrators (abusers—physically or sexually) themselves and also the victim at the same time. Meaning, one day, 'X' peer of the group may abuse 'Y' and the next day some other peer may abuse the same 'X' again. While abuse happens within the same group, they are also very protective about one another and that is a very good quality about them. Also it is stereotypically thought that only foreigners are paedophiles, but researches, including the one I conducted, show that even Nepali and Indians could be paedophiles. Likewise, unlike what most people believe, money is never a matter of concern for them. Most of them work as ragpickers, pick-pockets, pimps or middlemen in sexual or illegal trades. When a small kid joins a group to feel protected, the older boys of the same group assign work to the new ones. The level of every cluster differs from the other as per location but wherever they live they become territorial. They have very strong survival and protective instincts. They know they have to survive so whatever mechanism is available to them they use it. So I personally would like to discourage begging at all costs—they could look hungry and sympathetic, but the money you give to them usually won't get spent for a good purpose. A kid, depending on his addiction, can sniff around six tubes of dendrite in a day and you could just be helping them buy one!
"Discourage begging. By offering them money, you could just be helping them buy a tube of dendrite!"
subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 21
Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN) does not rescue street children anymore. After working vigorously for 20 years, in 2000 we decided it was high time to move ahead from drop-in centres and shelter programmes to full-fledged empowerment of the street children already living at CWIN. We have pioneered in many street children related programmes being the first child right's organisation of Nepal. We are now empowering around 100 children through various activities with life skill and vocational trainings, small entrepreneurship funding, fighting drug addiction through rehabilitation, and job placements with many organisations within our network. However, most of them don't want to work under anyone—they want to be their own 'maaliks' because they love their freedom and independence. Some of our successful interventions have seen young people establishing a business or an organisation of their own. One of them is Raju Kunwar who is the co-founder of 'Children and Youth First (CYF)'. He was the man behind CYF's idea, I believe. I remember the first time he came to our drop-in centre, he was a small boy of around nine years. Then he lived in our transit centre and later moved on to start his own paper craft business. He also underwent training in dramatics and travelled with a drama team to different parts of Nepal to raise awareness about the issues of street children. Today he must be in his midtwenties, and his is just one among many successful stories of a former street child rescued by us. When we work with street children we work with a realisation that they are much more exposed to the outside world than those who grow up at home. Conventional approaches do not work with them. So we organise various outdoor activities for them to enjoy. In May we are conducting a dance therapy programme with as many street children as we can cover. A professional Nepali dance therapist based in London is coming over. The kids will be hip-hopping, b-boying, locking and popping‌ we are hoping this to be a successful programme. One of our past activities was rock climbing which the children enjoyed thoroughly, and unlike in most cases, they sincerely abided by the rules too. But whatever the activity, all we aim is to create an environment wherein these children can nurture their dreams of becoming 'someone' in the future.
Sumnima Tuladhar "We aim to create an environment wherein children can nurture their dreams of becoming 'someone' in the future."
Bhuwan Raj Chataut "Children are an integral part of the society and somewhere we are responsible for the life they lead."
The establishment of Life Awakening Foundation (LAF) has only been around five months. LAF's mission is to enhance the quality of one's life. One of our main focuses is to enhance the quality of life in children at risk, of which street children are an unavoidable fraction. However, being in nascent stages, we have only done a few programmes with them. We are comprehensively studying the areas we can intervene in before practically working on it. We are also studying data and statistics collected by Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB) and CWIN among others. Being a trained yoga instructor, I will be teaching yoga emphasising on 'yoga nidra (sleep learning)' at a child care home called Prayas Nepal soon. The concept is yoga education with a message of celebration. This is the first time we are doing this programme with children. Activities like teaching them good habits, learning through music and music therapy will also be included. This programme will help us contemplate our strategies further. Studies say that the most sensible psychological growth of a child takes place within the first seven years of his/her life. It is a sensitive phase determined by factors like the relationship between the child's parents and the environment at home. If the child experiences unfamiliarity towards these issues and becomes unable to build a relationship with his/her parents, such situations could lead them to the streets. The streets become a place for them to be free individuals and plan things with a like-minded group of children. Our idea is to start an integrated rehabilitation centre in such a way that they do not run back to the streets. Having said that, we understand that it is also a very challenging task to attract them and gain their trust. Children are an integral part of the society and somewhere we are responsible for the life they lead and that street is not the place they would have opted to live on.
Krishna Thapa At Voice of Children, our main aim is to reunite the children on the streets with their family, and we design a step-by-step plan to reach our aim. First we go and interact with the children on the streets, try to build a rapport with them and earn their trust so that they open up and tell us their stories. In the meantime, we encourage them to visit our dropin centres wherein we facilitate various learning and entertainment activities they can participate in. While we respect their decision to come and leave anytime upon their will, with of course some restrictions on what they can eat, what time they can come/leave, we also encourage them to come to us regularly and share with us any problem they have, their ambitions in life, their areas of interest, etc. And I tell you, these children on the streets, who are often labelled 'dirty', 'uncivilised' and 'vagabonds' by the 'civilised', are smarter than an average child. Ask them about their ambition in life and they will give you all the details about it… some of them are rather unrealistic, but we never tell them so. In fact we try and make them believe that we have full confidence that they'll reach there someday. Once they get convinced to leave the street and start life anew, we send them to a rehabilitation centre to get rid of all the physical and mental abuse they have faced while living on the streets, but under one simple condition that they let us know about their family. We contact their family, and in a year's time prepare both the child and his/her family to live in harmony again. In case the children genuinely are abandoned ones, we send them to shelter homes. To the children above the age of 16, we provide vocational trainings and place them in different companies based on their expertise. However, although it sounds like an easy thing to be done, the success rate of the rescue of street children is very low. They are so used to being free that they can't accept any kind of restriction. Therefore, the best way to solve the issue of these children is to find out the core reason why they are landing on the streets. We have found that in most cases, they have fled from their family because of lack of care, peer pressure, unplanned migration from remote areas to cities, etc. If we can actually go to the remote areas and educate the parents and children about the hazards of migrating without a purpose and the importance of good family environment, I guess much can be done to prevent additional children landing on the streets. Also to those who are already on the streets, as responsible and 'civilised' citizens of this country we can at least change the way we behave with them… let's stop using foul words on them just because they look ragged and dirty—treat them like any other child, or don't respond to them at all. Last but not the least, never give them money. Discourage begging!
"Stop using foul words on street children just because they look ragged and dirty. Treat them like any other child, or don't respond to them at all."
Text» Poonam Maharjan and Samridhi Rana Photos» Shankar Bir Byanjankar subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 23
i spy it's party time
launa abha ta kehi garaun
under my hat
Rukmangat Katuwal
C K Lal Yogendra Shakya
power nap...
I've got the blues
Pradeep K Shrestha, Padma Jyoti
Sugam Pokharel
the future is ours...
gossssssip...
ŠVOW photofile/CC/SL/NP/SRM/SB
the taste of victory
Nepal football coach, Graham Roberts 24 | VOW | may 2011
Renasha Rai, Nisha Adhikari
one for the camera! peekaboo...
DJ Raju, Hricha Thapa
Manisha Koirala, Sneha Rana
live life queen size
dum maro dum (got the beat but not the pot)
colorful grooves
Manavi Dhakal
Sushma Karki
go green!
love bites
Nalina Chitrakar, Sanjeev Mishra
Karishma and Binod Manandhar with daughter subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 25
Say goodbye to
dark
underarms!
The sweltering heat and the bliss of a slight breeze… yes, summer is here. However don't hesitate wearing spaghetti tops or going sleeveless just because of your embarassing dark underarms. Here are some quick and easy tips to ensure you enjoy the best of summer clothes without apprehension. There are quite a number of women who face this problem which comes with the baggage of awkwardness and apprehension. Like most women, you want to wear tank tops and sleeveless dresses without hesitation. But dark and patchy underarms might be stopping you from total comfort and confidence. It can be quite an embarrassment socially to move around with dark armpits or underarms, especially when it goes hand in hand with itching and body odour. But worry not, VOW is here to help you!
Why your underarms turn dark and patchy…
• Accumulation of dead skin cells • Friction from tight clothing • Excessive sweating • Improper cleaning • Shaving • Strong usage of deodorants
Quick remedies…
Here are a few quick and easy tips. A little bit of dedication and patience will ultimately help you bid farewell to dark underarms!
Two easy to do home therapies
Make a paste using one tsp of lime juice, one tsp of cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric powder. Apply it on your armpits and rinse after 20 minutes. An effective remedy for dark underarms, you should use it at least four times a week. The lime juice helps get rid of excess grime or sweat, dead skin and even helps to whiten that part of your body. Cucumber juice helps in calming any chaffed skin and turmeric aids in reducing any skin discoloration. Make a paste made of one tbsp curd, one tsp gram flour, a pinch of turmeric and a tsp milk. Apply on your underarms. After it dries, rinse with cold water. Curd and yogurt are both extremely effective in treating discoloured underarms as they contain several vitamins that help prevent as well as treat skin damage. (Tip: Use unsweetened and unflavoured curd.)
You can also:
• Rub lemon slices under your arms and wash thoroughly. • Apply coconut oil or any oil with Vitamin E and wash properly. • Use anti-fungal powder. • Rub a freshly cut, thin slice of potato on your armpit for about 15 seconds and then wash off with water. • Mix rose water and sandalwood powder and apply on your underarms.
Exfoliate:
It is a good idea to exfoliate to get rid of the dead skin cells that have built up on the armpits. A loofah or a scrub is useful too, so whenever you step in the shower, give yourself a good scrub. Be firm but gentle.
Skip hair removal creams:
Such creams contain chemicals that darken the skin when used for a long period. Waxing would be a better option than either shaving or using hair removal creams.
Wear cotton:
Cotton and linen clothes are better than those made from synthetic materials. Synthetic materials tend to irritate the skin and make you itchy.
Deodorants:
Always use a good quality deodorant.
Go
Q&A BEAUTY
It's been a year that I have been wearing contact lenses. Whenever I apply eye make-up my eyes get irritated and ultimately I have to remove the makeup. It's been a long time I have given up applying eye makeup. Is there any way I can apply shades to my eyes without having them irritated? Please help. – Shraddha, 27 Dear Shraddha, wearing contact lenses need not interfere with wearing makeup. Here are some easy ways to keep your eyes healthy. First, become familiar with the ingredients in cosmetics that cause irritation and know which products to look out for. Here are a few tips that will help you choose the right products. • Look out for quality products. You may have to spend a little more for a quality product. • Examine the ingredients. Choose products that are fragrance-free and oil free. • Choose water-based mascara (not waterresistant or waterproof). Avoid any mascara with fibres, like those that claim to build lash volume. • Although liquid, cream and gel eyeshadows are best. Pressed shadows are acceptable too. Do not use loose powder eye-shadow. Avoid frosted varieties. • Choose and oil free eye makeup remover. Avoid anything creamy. • Replace makeup every 3-6 months. Replace eyeliner and mascara every three months. I hope the above information will prove useful to you, and I trust that you will enjoy bright colourful eye makeup without any irritation. proprietor of Dolly’s Exquisite Creations, will answer all your beauty and make-up queries. Email your questions to Contact her at 4445080.
Bold!
Make a statement with bold lip colours…
We have seen amazing models in bold new lips all over the runways for spring/summer 2011! But are you scared to try this look? If you are, don't be! It's only makeup, it'll come off! Bold colours can be a challenge for anyone, and if not applied well, can look cheap, flaky and tacky. Before you even consider wearing a bold lipstick, consider the occasion and the reason you are choosing this particular bold colour. The key to wearing a bold lipstick is to apply it properly so that it stays even and stays put.
A few tips:
• Choose your shade of bold lipstick. While choosing, reconsider the brand of the lipstick—do not choose price over quality when buying your bold lipstick (or any other cosmetic for that matter!) • Take a lip-liner that matches your lip shade and trace the edges of your lips, make sure your lines are clean and precise. Fill in your lips gently with the lip-liner. This will hold your lipstick in place. • Take your lip brush and dab your bold lipstick out of the tube. Gently apply the lipstick, using the brush. Take your time and make sure you have filled in the lip-liner completely. Be especially careful not to let any pink from your inner lip show when you close your mouth. You can also apply it straight from the tube, but this is risky as it often results in a smudgier, harder-to-control look and can run over your lip-liner. • Next, blot your bold lipstick carefully using a tissue. Use a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover to straighten out any smudges at the edge of your lips.
Completing your look
• If you opt for a high shine, glamorous look, use a clear lip gloss. Apply the gloss to the middle of your bottom lip and press your lips together for a subtle shine. • No matter how you choose to wear a bold lipstick, your eyeliner is very important. While you should keep the rest of your makeup quite subtle, as the lipstick is the statement, you need a strong eyeliner to balance out your face. Use liquid eyeliner and keep the lines clean and bold.
Important Tips
a. A good way of making sure you do not have lipstick on your teeth is to put your index finger in your mouth and draw it out slowly. Any lipstick on the inside of your lips will stick to your finger and you should be fine. b. Not everyone can wear bold lipstick and it is not appropriate for most occasions. Bold lipsticks are a very daring makeup choice and draw attention. Done tastefully, bold lipstick can be impressive but it is not a day-to-day look and improperly applied can look tacky.
Accessorising hair the right way! Fashion is not limited to our clothes or shoes. We can take it a notch higher with accessories—especially for our hair! From the runways to celebrities and even the streets, we can take inspiration and perk up our look for the day or night. Whether you have short hair or long, a simple hair accessory can instantly upgrade your look, all in a matter of mere minutes!
Hair accessories that are in! • • • • • •
Headbands Hats Antique clips Barrettes Scarves Flower and feather hair accessories
Ok so now you know what is trendy at the moment but before you start pulling out the headbands and the hats, take a moment to read and understand how it should actually be done. Because a few inches here and there, can turn you frumpy or fabulous.
Note: Keep in mind the shape of your face as well as the length and texture of your hair while accessorising your hair.
Headbands
There are different styles of headbands to choose from. You can wear thin headbands or wide ones or even twist a scarf. It does not require hard work and looks amazing. Slightly back comb your hair to stop it looking too harsh. You can wear it with your hair tied in a bun. You can pull off a hippie bohemian look by parting your hair in the middle and wearing the headband around your head, on the top of the forehead. Leave your hair hanging by your ears and create volume by pulling a bit of your hair up around the headband.
Hats
Think Ashlee Simpson Wentz, Sienna Miller and Nicole Richie. They are among some of the celebrities who rock the hat trend. You can take a few pages out of their books and style yourself. Fedoras, Berets, Newsboy hats—they do it all. And with such élan! However, be weather appropriate whenever you don these hats. For example, a beret would not suit a hot sunny day. You could try the fedora instead.
Antique Clips
If you have a pretty antique clip or something you inherited from your grand mom, then it’s definitely time to flaunt it. Leave your hair in loose waves for that great feminine look. When worn with a chignon, it leaves a great result. Ensure your hair is not tied up too tightly when you wear them.
Barrettes
Stop thinking about barrettes as just something to secure your hair with. There are pretty looking barrettes available in all colours, shapes and sizes. If you are planning to accessorise your hair with a barrette, make sure it sculpts the hair in a flattering shape around the face and is then secured.
Scarves
You can put your scarves to more use than simply wrapping them around your neck. You will get a bohemian look with it tied as a headband. Of course, you will not tie them around your head with a big bow in the middle of the forehead!
Feathers
If you do not find it weird to walk around with a feather in your hair then it can be a great accessory. However, it should be used in moderation and worn on the side of your hair. It is an absolute no-no to wear it in the back of your ponytail.
Flowers
To avoid looking like you are holidaying in Hawaii, make sure you place your flower at the right place. And the right place would be lower than the ear in the back of the head on a bun. Never wear it too high on the head as it is passé and gives an old-fashioned look.
Things to remember
• Do ensure that your outfit is in coordination with your accessories. You can wear something romantic and accessorise with a sweet clip or a flower. • A headband would look most amazing on a face that is heart shaped. • Frame your face with layers of hair and put your hair up with an accessory on the side. Looks best on a square or broad shaped face. • Girls with oval or long faces can accessorise the side of their head and add volume to the texture of their hair. • Clean hair is a must. After all, hair is the foundation around which you build your look.
child care
10
bad habits in children that you need to break…
Every child has some bad habits and these could be different from child to child. Psychologists say that often bad habits are just a coping strategy—children might fall back on this behaviour when they are stressed, bored, tired, frustrated, unhappy, insecure, or falling asleep. Many of these bad habits are calming and soothing techniques for toddlers. However, they are bad and need to be broken as soon as possible. How about trying to replace bad habits with positive ones?
Below is a list of 10 most common bad habits in children and why you should break them… NOW! Nail and cuticle biting: Nail and cuticle biting or picking
is a concern of infection and recurrent bleeding because hands are in constant contact with so many objects. Help them break this habit because it makes the child susceptible to infections as their immune system is still in the process of strengthening.
Nose picking: It is a little disgusting and is one of the most common bad habits in children (and some adults). Mostly, it starts when the child is disturbed by an infection or an allergy in the nose. Picking causes more irritation to the nose and may create a vicious cycle and is also the most common cause of frequent nosebleeds.
Hiding things: For some children, playing with goods is not
Hair pulling: Children love hair and they especially love pulling at it. When a child is bored, s/he wants to relax by pulling others’ hair. It could be relaxing for them, however, it is very annoying and painful for the one whose hair is getting pulled. Firmly tell your child that it’s something unacceptable as soon as you notice him/her doing it.
Finger sucking: In general, this habit shows up during infancy
and goes away after a few months. It could take a year as well but if your child continues this habit, it might be the reason for his/her unshapely front teeth. It could also lead to a number of infections—especially when children suck fingers without washing their hands properly.
enough—they also love hiding them. Unfortunately, they do not tell you where they hid it unless you ask them to show you where s/he saw it last and they will lead you. Not breaking this habit soon will lead them to steal things from friends and others in the long run.
Using bad words: Children love repeating the things that
TV addiction: Watching TV is not a harmful thing unless
home and throwing objects are fun for them. But since throwing objects—no matter how small or big—can cause accidents, it’s only better if you break this habit before they hurt themselves or another person.
it becomes an addiction and they deny switching channels for parents, or create a scene when switching it off. You need to break this habit because TV addiction can falter your child’s concentration level, take a toll on his/her physical health as a TV addict tends to idly sit in front of the TV and is less active. It may also affect him/her mentally due exposure to of sex and violence on screen.
Teeth grinding: Many infants grind their teeth and it occurs
mostly while they are sleeping. It begins in the sixth month, while the baby starts teething and it should stop once s/he has permanent teeth. If this habit continues as the child gets older, it may lead to dental problems. 32 | VOW | march 2011
they learn. Especially, they repeat words that they are not even supposed to say at all. Forbidden things are exotic and it’s up to you to make them understand why swearing is not good.
Throwing objects: Children love playing with anything at
Fiddling down below: Growing children are particularly amused by their privates and often tend to reach down there and explore. While this is quite normal and will pass with age, some children are obsessed about it. Your child doing it in a public place is embarrassing, but apart from that, it could also lead to various infections. Tell them clearly why fiddling down below is a bad idea and that they should instead tell you if their privates are itching or if they want to get rid of some irritation down there.
Development Awards: Announcement for the intake commencing in academic year 2012 Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) & Australian Leadership Awards Scholarships (ALAS) The overarching goals of Australia's Development Awards are: to develop capacity and leadership skills so that individuals can contribute to development in their home country; and to build people-to-people linkages at the individual, institutional and country levels. Development Awards include Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) and Australian Leadership Award Scholarships (ALAS). ADS in Nepal are available in two categories. Public sector category (75% - government employees) and open category (25%) for Masters and PhD level of study in bilaterally agreed priority sectors. The scholarships aim to strengthen human resource capacity and to contribute to improved service delivery and development outcomes in Nepal. ALAS are academically prestigious awards offered to high achieving candidates. ALAS is an open scheme. Candidates from government as well as private sectors are eligible to apply. To be successful, candidates must have the potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform, development and governance in their home countries and the region. ALAS are available for Masters and PhD studies. The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is pleased to invite applications for the 2012 intake.
Priority Sectors: ADS o o
Health, Education, Economics, Environment (including Climate Change, Water and Sanitation), Gender & inclusion, including disability, Public Policy / Administration / Financial Management, Agriculture / Forestry (including livelihood and food security), Law (including human rights) Business Administration (for Government public servants only)
ALAS Disability, Disaster risk reduction, Economic growth, Education, Environment, Food security, Gender equality, Governance, Health, HIV/AIDS, Pandemics, Human rights, Infrastructure, Regional stability, Rural development, Water and sanitation To ensure equity and broad participation, AusAID encourages women, people with disability, ethnic minorities, people living in rural areas and members of socio-economically disadvantaged groups to apply.
Eligibility requirements Applicants for both ADS and ALAS must: 1. be a citizen of Nepal and be residing in Nepal; 2. have a minimum academic IELTS overall score of 6.5 or above (with no individual band less than 6) or a TOEFL paper-based test score of at least 580, or a TOEFL Internet-based score of at least 92. IELTS or TOEFL test must have been completed no earlier than 31 August 2009; 3. have completed with good grades a tertiary level qualification at least equivalent to an Australian Bachelor degree; 4. have at least three years’ work experience relevant to a nominated field of study; 5. not already be following a course of study at a university abroad; 6. not have held a scholarship for study outside Nepal in the 24 months preceding the application; 7. not be a permanent resident or have applied or in the process of applying for permanent residency in Australia; 8. not be married, or engaged to be married to a person who holds or who is eligible to hold Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residence status. In addition, applicants for Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) must be less than 45 years of age on 1 January of the year of the application. Applicants from the public sector for ADS will require nomination from the Ministry of Finance (MoF). Successful candidates will commence studies at an Australian institution from January 2012. Recipients of scholarships are required to return to Nepal for two years after completing their studies. They should also be willing to actively participate in the Australia Awards alumni program.
To Apply: Applications are open from 11 March 2011 and close on 31 May 2011. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online at https://oasis.ausaid.gov.au. Applicants should first read the country profile, applicant handbooks and instructions on how to apply at www.southasiascholarships.org. Please contact the South Asia Scholarships Program (SASP) Office if you require assistance. Hard copy applications will also be available if required from the SASP office and will need to be submitted by 5pm 31 May 2011 by post to: South Asia Scholarships Program (SASP) GPO Box – 8975, EPC - 2359 Thadodhunga, Dhobighat, Patan – Kathmandu / Nepal Further information: For more information or to access a hard copy application form, please visit www.southasiascholarships.org Email: info@southasiascholarship.org Telephone: (977) 1 5520345 Mobile: (977) 98490 37278 See also www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar or www.australiaawards.gov.au
hold my hand I think I am in love with my best friend’s girl I'm writing this to you because I do not know who else to turn to. I am 19 years old and have a best friend who is less like a friend and more like a brother. He's that dear to me. I do not know if I'll ever find a friend like him in my lifetime. From last year, he liked one girl… he was practically obsessed with her, talked about her all the time. I was just acquainted with her but I treated her with respect as she was cool and pretty. In fact I had a huge crush on her best friend. I wanted to establish a friendship with her best friend but her best friend refused straight away as she already had a boyfriend. Now the girl my best friend liked finally accepted his proposal and since then my best friend is running high. He loves her to death and he's extremely protective of her. The three of us started to hang out a lot, and slowly I started to get closer to her and she started to know me more personally as well. I still liked her best friend but I don't know when my best friend's girl had also made a special place in my heart. And then I started noticing her absence and how greatly it affected me. I also found that the intensity of my feelings towards her best friend have lessened by the day. When those two girls were together, my eyes would automatically roam towards my best friend's girl. The more time I spent with her, the more addicted I became. It took a great deal of energy to admit that I was in love with her. I was in denial for a long time, but I had to accept the truth. Meanwhile, I can't betray my best friend this way. She means too much to him. At first, I was happy for her because she had such a caring person as him to look after her. I just told myself that I would love her from a distance and never confess my feelings for her. But these days, it's getting harder and harder. I promised myself that I would keep away from her to curb my feelings but every time she's near I'm magnetically pulled towards her. I always hover around her 34 | VOW | may 2011
Shalini Wadhwa
sub-consciously. I try to stay away from her, but I always come back. She's like a drug and I seem to need her all the time. I'm desperately addicted towards her. I can't think straight because she has clouded my mind. I can't reason with this situation. I want her even though I never can. I have my best friend to think of. But I love her so much, it hurts. This pain can't let me think clearly. I've tried distracting myself by hanging out with other girls, blasting my stereo when it gets too much but my attempts have proved futile. I search for her in every girl. My best friend says that his girl is really hurt because I've been avoiding her and acting strange near her when she thought we were good friends. How can I tell her what she's doing to me? Sometimes I wonder if she senses my love for her. I wonder if she knows that she's the object of my affection. When we talk, it's like I've known her for a long time. Some kind of unexplainable force seems to bind us together. In this vacation, my best friend is going abroad and with great deal of trust he has asked me to keep my eye on her while he's away and make sure that she is alright. I'm in dilemma. If I spend anymore time with her, I'm not sure I can handle it anymore. I've no more resistance left in me to hide my feelings. His absence during this vacation terrifies me. Please, please, please tell me what to do. I'm terribly unhappy. I can't go on this way. Please tell me what to do. Thank you. – Neal You are a good guy and you have done well to ensure that friendship comes first. And at 19 years of age, things do feel a bit overwhelming, and you have handled yourself very well.
Charu Chadha
The thing that you must consider with a great deal of focus and honesty is what are you really after… are you really in love or simply obsessing over what you can’t have… are you ready to lose your best friend over a possible infatuation… does this girl reciprocate your feelings—has she ever given you the slightest indication that she is interested in you besides a little harmful flirting that most young people casually indulge in… even if you were to get together with this girl, would you still be with her five years down the road… were she to leave your best friend for you, would you trust her with all your heart not to do the same to you? Life is fantastic—full of opportunities, exploration and adventure… and at 19 you have just begun your journey. There is so much to see, accomplish and experience… so many new people to meet. From your letter it feels as though everything else in your life has taken a backseat besides your best friend and his girlfriend… move on. Take small steps like wanting to hangout with just the boys which includes your best friend at times. As for the vacation bit, find something you can do away as well… go on a trek or find a part time job. Nobody needs to be looked out for… your best friend’s girl must have a family and a life before she met your best friend, she’ll do just fine! Simply understand one thing—if she is meant to be with you, she will—there are forces beyond time and reason that work in bringing people together. And if she isn’t, then this is a chance for you on the journey of life to do the right thing as a good person. Take care!
Is he really the right person for me? I am 19 years old and a workaholic. I love to be busy. I like a guy who is studying Chartered Accountancy. We both like each other and are committed in our love for each other. But somehow I am not able to be as frank and easy as couples are in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. We talk everyday. My whole family likes him besides my elder brother. He is a nice person, but I am afraid that if my brother comes to know of our friendship, I may lose him. This scares me. I truly love him and I want to spend my whole life with him, but I am afraid that if anything happens to break us up, I won’t be able to handle it. He is rich, handsome and intelligent but he lacks romance and doesn’t know how to express himself. Sometimes, I wonder how a person can be so loyal and dedicated to everyone... he is the perfect example of a husband material. Despite all this, I am confused whether he really is the right person for me? PLEASE HELP. – name withheld What does love mean to you… you need to ask yourself this question very seriously. If you were truly in love, there would be no real confusion about whether he is really the one for you. Being educated, handsome, nice, dedicated, intelligent are great qualities to have in any person… but these are not necessarily the measure against what you want in your life partner. You have used the term "perfect husband material", and somehow it leaves us thinking whether you have set parameters in your life which constrain you. For example, someone wants to become an artist but does not choose to study Fine Arts because it looks like a frivolous, non-serious choice, whereas if you say you are studying Commerce or Science, you will be looked at as someone who is more competitive and ambitious. We don’t know if this example works for you, but this was the truth for very many people we know who chose to do things and live a certain way because it would project their image in society in a more inclusive way. You must understand that love is much more about giving than it is about receiving. Do you love this man because he is rich, handsome and intelligent, or do you love him for himself—his dreams, his care, his aspirations, the way he makes you laugh, the little fights and the making up, things you do together and want to do together, things that make him who he really is. Take a step back and give yourself a real hard look—are you in this relationship because it fulfils you and makes you loved and cared for, or simply because he fills the criteria of being a possible good husband? Only you know the real answer. You are only 19 and there’s a world of opportunities and explorations ahead of you. Find and pursue your own dreams first. Please ensure that you complete your education and at least gain a year of work experience before you think of marriage and motherhood. All the best. Send your questions to editorial@vow.com.np
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male menu
When was
the last time a girl made you
cry?
Some of us cry at the smallest things, and there are some of us who do not cry as easily. But most of us do carry the belief that Guys don’t cry, or rather, they shouldn’t cry. However, contrary to what we commonly know, there are things that trigger a man's tear glands. So what makes a man cry? Better still, we asked a few guys when was the last time a girl made them cry... Captain Vijay Lama The last time I cried because of a girl was two years ago. My daughter, Akansha, left for the UK for her further studies and though it was not the first time she was leaving home (she had been to places for her school trips many times earlier), she had never been away from home on her own. I did not cry when it was time to say goodbye at the airport but during dinner in the evening, I felt really emotional. I was sad because I realised that my daughter was now grown up and independent, and that she would never be the same person when she came back. Those thoughts made me emotional and tears came rolling down my face. It was difficult to finish my dinner, to say the least.
Manzil Manandhar,
Creative Director, Creative Design Works I don’t actually cry that much (not because it is considered unmanly)… I’m not just the “crying” type! However, last year, my girlfriend, or rather our love, made me cry. Actually she lives in Pokhara while I live in Kathmandu and we need to frequently travel to meet each other. Last year she was here for a five-day visit and it was a very short time to really spend time together and also visit places. Every time we are together, of course I am extra happy, so as the five days came to an end and we had to stay apart again, we were both upset and feeling miserable. On the last day, I woke up earlier than usual to drop her at the airport. When we reached there, I felt very restless and unhappy when I thought about how it would be many months before we met again. After I returned from the airport, I cried.
36 | VOW | may 2011
Jems Pradhan, Musician Last month (February) was my elder daughter, Kitty’s birthday. I had ordered a cake from one of the most reputed hotels in the city. When the cake was delivered, I found that it was not what we had in mind. Frankly, I was extremely frustrated when I saw what the cake looked like. I was afraid my daughter would be disappointed with her birthday cake. This made me very angry and after the birthday party was over, I could not help shedding tears because I had ruined her special day!
DJ Vital Well, it was the year 1992 and I was very young. I was watching the film, “Ghost”, all alone. Demi Moore was absolutely brilliant and I was awestruck by her performance. It all felt very real to me. I was already feeling very emotional throughout the film. But then the scene where Demi Moore sees the ghost of Patrick Swayze at the end of the film just did it for me. There was no way I could prevent tears from rolling down my face. That film still manages to make me emotional.
Pratul JB Rana, College Ambassador 2010 Basically I am not much of a cry baby. I am a fun loving guy and never very serious about most things. However, it’s fairly easy to remember the last time a girl made me cry. It happened a few months ago. I was in a relationship but I was not very serious about the girl I was with. On the other hand, I knew she was deeply in love with me. She made every effort to make it work but I did not reciprocate equally. And then, the day came when she decided that it was over. She sang the song Fall For You by Secondhand Serenade, and sent it to me. It completely changed the way I thought about her and our relationship. It made me very sad and I actually cried. Now every time I listen to the song Gone in September by Mike Posner, it reminds me of how I used to be back then. I think all guys need those few drops of tears to wake up the human inside, because that particular incident has really improved me as a person. Now I know what it is that I want in life. And I would like to share something with everyone. If you like someone, just let them know and never let them go. Because one morning you might wake up realising how much she really loved you, but that very day she might be waking up with someone who already knows it…
Text» Pramila Rai Photos» Shankar Bir Byanjankar
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relationship
Are you too busy to
spend time with your
parents?
Here’s how you can make them feel special… It is human nature to take others for granted—especially those who are very close to us. As we grow up and get busy with our studies, friends, parties, work and business trips, we tend to ignore and fail to realise the importance of our parents, while they are always there praying for our success… for our wellbeing. Generally, when most of us do realise their importance, it is either too late or much time has been lost. Below are a few tips on how you can make your parents feel special despite your busy schedule and responsibilities. If you want to make your parents feel special, the first thing to determine is their likes and dislikes. Determine their
favourites. Figure out the basics like whether they prefer eating out or love home-cooked meals, if they would enjoy watching movies or cheering for their favourite football team. You could also find out if they have any hobbies.
Now from the list of their likes, figure out if there’s something that all three of you like. When all of you are free, plan
on the common activity that you figured out from the list. If you have any siblings, include them too. It will make each member of the family happy at the end. If you are not free, plan to be free for at 38 | VOW | march 2011
least an hour and do something small. For example, you can start a discussion about current affairs or eat together at the dinner table and discuss how your day has gone. In fact you can make “Dinner together” a rule in your family where you could not only relish fresh home-made delicacies but also talk to each other about your day.
If you have something you really want to do or like but only one of your parents is interested in that, do it with that person. You can plan something else with the other parent for the following day or week. For example you could take your mother for a shopping spree or to a beauty salon while you could accompany your father to an action thriller movie.
At times when you need to travel for work, make sure that your parents clearly know where and for how many days you are travelling. Always make it a point to call them at least once a day to ensure that all is well on their part and let them know that you are doing well too. When you are back, don’t hesitate to pour down the details of the travel, show them your travel pictures, and always carry small (if not big) but meaningful gifts for them.
Show respect to your parents at all times. It brings great happiness to parents to see that they are respected by their kids. There’s no amount of money that can equal receiving respect. When you show them respect, you are giving them a priceless gift that makes them happy and proud. Also be grateful. Showing gratitude to your parents for everything they have done for you brings happiness to them. Even if their upbringing is less than perfect, you still owe them your life!
Always remember important dates like your parents’ birthdays and anniversaries. No matter how busy you are, remain with them that day. Give them a special treat… a surprise one is even better! Plan ahead so that the special day is not messed up.
Tackle the Green-Eyed Monster in you! Consider this: At your workplace, a co-worker is nice to you, never fails to help you, and always speaks well of you at every possible occasion. However, you can’t help but be angry at her, look out for any possible flaw she might have or grin at the smallest mistake she makes. Try hard as you may, you can’t understand what drives you to behave and feel the way you do. Have you gone through such experience? If yes then it is time for you to understand why you do it! The best and possible answer to this corporate crisis obviously has to do with several emotions, in particular—Envy! Emotions are a powerful instigator of behaviour and envy, the unmentionable emotion is perhaps one of the most pervasive and powerful of all the disruptive emotions that affect our corporate environments. We are not accustomed to talk about envy in polite society or in our workplaces. Yet it is there, woven within the fabric of the organisations, and it affects employee moods, organisational morale and culture and, ultimately, it is one of the causes of employee disengagement and productivity loss.
Situations triggering envy
There are many reasons for envy to manifest itself in the daily theatre of the workplace. Some commonplace situations triggering predictable envy are: • Competing for scarce resources or limited budgets • Vying for important assignments • Coveting attributes and qualities a colleague has that another lacks is another understandable possibility in the frailty of human nature, and • Losing a promotion to someone better qualified Many of these situations are normal occurrences and cannot be avoided. They are a part of the workplace scenarios and many managers have, at one time or other, witnessed a manifestation of these situations. But there are two overlooked triggers for envy that may very well be an 40 | VOW | march 2011
insidious cause of much discontent and disruption in the workplace.
1. Envious of her closeness to the boss!
It is safe to say that many organisations have an individual who has a great deal of personal power that is often not associated with any position function or high level title—it comes from what is often referred to as “having the boss’s ear”. All employees, except perhaps the hapless newcomer, sense that anything that is said within earshot of that individual will automatically be relayed to the boss—worse still is the fear that it will be relayed with personal filtering and self-serving interpretations. This naturally causes others to envy the person’s power and closeness to the boss and results in a climate of apprehension and distrust of the individual, and by extension, the leader.
2. Envy when a new “top gun” is hired…
Another common scenario is associated with the hiring of new “top guns”. Here when a leader joining an organisation inherits a number of long-term employees. In due course, the leader hires additional employees who are often perceived to be more liked by the leader because they were hand-picked by her and are viewed as more in line with the leader’s ethos and style. The existing employees are still well treated but there are subtle nuances in the leader’s behaviour towards the newcomers that signal that the newcomers are viewed as more valuable to the team. The leader is seen spending more time with them and is generally more complimentary and supportive of anything they do or say.
In meetings, for example, she will more readily support ideas and suggestions by the newcomers, will represent them more favourably to upper management and give them more visibility in the company.
How to battle those envy moments?
For those who cannot get rid of envy at workplace or anywhere else… here are some useful tips that will help you get over your green-eyed monster!
• Stop it, ASAP. Halt as soon as you
become aware of your envy. Do not, on impulse, make actions or adopt attitudes that work against yourself.
• Focus on your own unique qualities. Make
the most of what you have, and enjoy it! Learn to like what you have, and believe in yourself. A solid belief in one’s own abilities increases life satisfaction by 40 percent!
• Extend your comparison. You may feel
envious of your friend or your former co-worker who’s now working abroad, living in a foreign city, and earning quadruple your salary. What you don’t know is that s/he may actually be lonely and overworked—and that you’re actually better off.
• Spend time with the person you envy. Yes,
you read it right. When you associate with those you envy, you come to see the whole of their lives, not just the parts you covet. You might discover that they have flaws and weaknesses elsewhere.
• Turn off the TV. Watching too much
TV can triple your hunger for more possessions. It reduces your personal contentment by five per cent for every hour a day you watch.
Q&A CAREER I am 23 and doing my first year postgraduate studies. I started working as soon as I graduated from high school. Since then I have been juggling work and studies and have been able to balance both pretty well. I scored really well in my Bachelor's despite working full time. My performance at work has been well appreciated too. At this point, however, I am finding it really difficult to balance work and studies thanks to my added responsibilities at work, and more extensive course of studies. I am very happy at my work and can't think of quitting it altogether, but I understand that my education is equally (or may be even more) important. Please help me decide. –Sahana Kafle It is great that so far you have been able to balance work and studies and find both rewarding but things do not remain the same. Everything changes—one's situation, one's ability to cope and also one's priorities. Therefore figure out exactly what is more important to you. For this you have to introspect and ask yourself some hard-hitting questions and then come up with some honest answers. We all know that education is very important. In fact once you are better educated, more lucrative work opportunities will come your way. There is also a deeper confidence, a better understanding and a sense of maturity that comes with good education. So at your age, it might be wiser to concentrate more on studies. However, if you do not want to quit your job, perhaps you could request your boss to decrease your work-load, so that you can devote a little more time and energy to your studies without feeling stressed out and over-burdened. That way, you will be able to pursue your studies while continuing with the work you enjoy. One other aspect to consider is how to improve your daily time/life management. I recall being in a similar situation myself where I had to handle my responsibilities at three organisations, pursue higher studies, look after my home and children and still have some free time to connect with friends! My own experience has taught me that "the more you do, the more you are capable of doing". So gear up, do not be afraid of hard work and go for it! Dr Niti Rana, professional
trainer and motivator and director of The New Era Career Development Institute, will answer all your career queries. Email your questions to editorial@vow.com.np Contact her at 4471957.
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woman at work
That Midas
t ouch!
Megha Chaudhary Shakya is the Director of Norvic International Hospital and the owner of Midas Day Spa & Salon. She started Midas two years ago in the hub of Kathmandu, Durbar Marg. A year and some months later, she came up with the idea of getting Midas to tie up with one of the most successful hospitals of Kathmandu窶年orvic International Hospital. A master stroke indeed, since the yoking of healthcare and lifestyle is the latest worldwide trend.
42 | VOW | may 2011
Megha Chaudhary Shakya
Director, Norvic International Hospital and Medical College and Managing Director, Midas Day Spa & Salon
For Megha, it helps that she belongs to a family that has contributed immensely to the country’s health, business and education sectors. She has been meticulously following the footsteps of her business magnate father Basanta Chaudhary for whom business is a way to improve the social condition of his country. As he succinctly puts it on his website: "I believe that society is there for me and therefore, I must exist for society." VOW had a tête-à-tête with Megha Chaudhary Shakya to know about her work and life. Here’s what she had to say... Etc Fitness: I do not exercise as such, but I follow a healthy diet and routine. Books: I am not really into reading books. Fashion Icon: Stella McCartney
I am taking care of Norvic…
I have been working for the hospital for seven years now, and I have seen it grow. Norvic International Hospital was started by my father, and as a director, I am responsible for managing all the departments and taking the necessary decisions.
I wanted to be an Interior Designer…
When I was much younger, I wanted to be an Interior Designer. Even while studying in India, I was never interested in working in a big company. I still do a little bit of designing—designing my rooms and things like that; but gradually, I started focusing on my father's business.
Starting a career under my father did not come easy…
My father trained me in a very different way. He made me start as a Management Trainee which was an entry-level position. I had to go to department heads and learn under them. It took me a number of years to get a feel of the business, and gradually I was given more and more responsibility. Finally, after years of training, when he thought that I had acquired enough business skills, he promoted me to the post of director of this hospital.
Dad-daughter joint venture...
Midas is a venture that I started two years ago. Previously, we were getting many requests from patients to build a spa at the hospital. Some of our patients have been bedridden for long, and spa services provide a holistic approach to the process of healing through basic manoeuvres like massage which is a technique to increase blood circulation. Initially, we used to bring our spa staff all the way from Midas in Durbar Marg. That is when the idea of having a spa right here in the hospital sparked off and I thought, why not?
The Midas touch
The spa offers facials, manicures, pedicures, and dry as well as oil massages. We use organic products at the spa. However, spa treatments are provided only after seeking the doctor's advice. In fact, not only the patients but the doctors too visit the spa, mostly after an exhausting day at work. We also have foreign patients usually opting for dry massages. The spa and salon is open to everyone, but the services at the hospital are a little limited than what we offer at the spa in Durbar Marg.
Present ventures
Besides the hospital and spas, I am
involved in our nursing college, Norvic Institute of Nursing Education located in Maharajgunj. It is a new venture that we started two years ago.
Focus: a medical college
Talking about future ventures, the medical college is our main focus at the moment. We are also expanding our nursing college and seeking affiliations with universities outside Nepal which will also help us in facilitating quality medical and nursing courses within Nepal.
I like to sing and dance…
I have always been into music, dancing and extra-curricular activities. I did my Bachelors in Indian Classical Music, in India. I sing only for fun though…as a hobby.
It feels nice to be married...
It feels nice to be a married woman. However, I do not really find much difference in me as a person just because I got married. I have known my husband's family for a long time, so adjusting to a new family environment wasn't even an issue. But of course, I do feel a lot more responsible now. Text» Samridhi Rana Photos» Shankar Bir Byanjankar
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Summer
Special…
Because the SUN is back with a SHINE!
To celebrate the sunshine and the smiles it brings, VOW presents to you with an issue dedicated to summer. Read on to know what the fashionistas of K-town love doing on long lazy afternoons, the looks they'll carry, their fitness mantra and many things in between, followed by VOW's ultimate list of books and movies to enjoy, tips to look cool this summer, secrets to a glowing skin, fitness fads that'll keep you in shape and also a few mocktail recipes for you to beat the heat!
©VOW photofile/Rajiv Shrestha
Bright sunny days, warm, sultry nights, sleeping with the windows open, listening to crickets chirp outside, drippy ice-cream cones, watermelons, mangoes, bright colours, light clothes, sunglasses and flip-flops, long cool showers, swimming… there are endless things to brag about this HOT season! Any why not, summer is the time when the sun is back with all its shine!
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Summer
Get a peek into a
fashionista’s summer Lifestyle survival steer! Lisa Mukhia
Managing Director, Foot Fetish
My look for this summer Day wear: Light and short dresses, jumpsuits, skirts with tank tops, flipflops, and for the first time I am getting the hang of ballerinas so looks like I am going to wear a lot of them this year! Evening wear: Tube dresses or long flowing dresses paired with a nice pair of heels and a clutch. On weekends: Shorts with loose tops or big tees, paired with converse or flip-flops.
Summer hairstyle: A neat bun or a smart ponytail. Summer drink and diet: I am a foodie so no diet plans for
me. I do avoid carbs as usual and try to eat more fruits like watermelon and papaya. I normally don’t drink much water so I force myself to drink fresh lemon water every morning, and I do drink a lot of lemonade and iced tea during summer.
Fitness: I am a health freak and continue with my health regime the whole year round. It includes jogging, Yoga and some floor exercise every morning. I don’t have any particular exercise for summers. I don’t swim a lot, in fact I rarely swim but I don’t miss my exercise. Summers are better since it's perfect weather every morning and I am not freezing.
My summer indulgences are… Wearing
On a hot summer afternoon... I would usually be working,
One thing I have been coveting this summer… a long nice vacation in Europe or wherever
but if it’s a weekend I love travelling out of the valley or go on a picnic with friends, or chat up while drinking iced tea or lemonade with the girls.
cute little skirts and shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, picnics, going for walks outside the valley, drinking chilled white wine, not having to dread waking up in the morning, pleasant afternoon outdoors, getting a tan, big shades…
as long as there is sun, sand and parks.
Indira Joshi Singer
My look for this summer: Bright coloured dresses for get-togethers with friends during the day, long figure-hugging gowns for parties and mix and match clothes with funky accessories for the weekend. Summer hairstyle: Neat buns! Summer drinks and diet: Lots of fruits and plenty of water and fresh fruit juices.
Fitness: For a struggling artiste like me, running here and
there for work keeps me fit. However, during summer, swimming helps me stay fit.
On a hot summer afternoon… I love watching movies or listening to music while drinking fresh fruit juice.
My summer indulgences are… shedding off layers and layers of clothing, savouring ice-cream, hiking with friends and travelling to new places. One thing I have been coveting this summer… shoes, shoes and more shoes! 46 | VOW | may 2011
Kohinoor Dahal CEO, AB Picture Company
My summer makeup and look
I am not seasonal about makeup. However, at times my mood guides me and at that particular time if the universal brand called ‘COMPLIMENT’ comes my way, then that may stick around for a while as a trend. Orange is probably the colour of the season for me. In fact comfort is all I care for on any occasion. I just follow my instincts.
Summer drink and diet
Low carbohydrates, lots of greens and plenty of water
Fitness
Fitness is a mind game for me. I am way past my size zero days therefore ‘don’t worry, be happy’ is the fitness routine I follow.
On a hot summer afternoon… I would call a few friends
over for lunch and chat endlessly.
My summer indulgences are… staying indoors and indulging in home decor and alterations.
One thing I have been coveting this summer is… actually my man surprises me most with my must-buys. All I need
to do is think out loud!
Samyukta Rana Director, Universal Supply Agency
My look this summer…
Well, the look for this summer in Europe and the US is slacks and long flowing tops for day as well as for parties. These again are one of my favourite outfits as you can be comfortable in them and also look elegant and classy if worn with the right accessories. I also love wearing feminine, flowing flowery blouses with jeans, or flowing dresses which are not too loud in terms of colour.
My tip for a glossy mane…
Hair is a vital part of us and we should keep it shining and clean by indulging in regular hair spas and oil massages as we tend to swim a lot (at least I do!).
Summer drinks and diet
I normally eat lots of fruits and green vegetables and drink lots of water in order to keep myself well hydrated during summers. I also stay off deep oily fried foods as much as I can.
Fitness
I make sure I workout at least four times a week and enjoy a class of zumba every few days to keep fit.
On a hot summer afternoon… I love basking by the pool
with a chilled mojito!
My summer indulgences are… holidaying in cities with beautiful beaches, spending lots of time relaxing by the pool as well as having a good swim after a good workout during the afternoon!
One thing I have been coveting this summer…
is the frosted pink Dior bag... I have fallen in love with it!
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Summer
Lifestyle
My mantra for great hair this summer… I try to avoid blow-drying during the summer. My hair dries wavy so I enjoy the wavy, natural look. I also avoid excessive product. I am all about sleek high ponytails if it is really hot and my hair is acting out.
Summer diet and drinks… I do not believe in dieting, whether it is summer or winter. I am lucky that I happen to love salads, leafy greens and lean protein. I eat when I am hungry and never deprive myself. During the summer, I naturally gravitate towards drinking a lot of liquids, like iced ginger tea, etc. Fitness: The gym keeps me fit. I run three to four times a week for 30-45 minutes, and do light resistance exercise if I am feeling ambitious.
On a hot summer afternoon… I share a chilled beer with a loved one.
My summer indulgences… I am passionate about travelling and discovering new places. This summer’s indulgence would be a trip to New York—it comes alive in the summer and buzzes with so much energy and excitement. I love to sit in outdoor cafes for hours, sip something refreshing and watch the world go by. I also love parks. There is nothing like taking a picnic in a park and playing summer sports all day long.
Cecile Shrestha
One thing I have been coveting this summer… sandals, wedges and… more sandals!
Event Consultant, Human Rights Watch
My look this summer… I am a fan of simple, classic style. White t-shirts and jeans for the day, mini-dresses (chic but not too short) for parties, cotton summer dresses for night time romance, and light cardigans for the evening breeze. I also love sequins and enjoy fun accessories—colourful cotton scarves and bangles! Sunglasses are a key though!
Usha Khadgi
Miss Nepal 2000, Proprietor/designer, UR Stylish Boutique
My look for this summer Day wear: It would be jeans and t-shirts, or a colourful hip length tee with leggings, or divider pants and loose fitting tops. For parties: On formal occasions, I wear light and simple dresses, gowns, chiffon sarees and light embroidered kurtas. Whereas for family gatherings I would go for a colourful attire in red or magenta with heavy jewellery. For an evening out with my husband: Since my husband likes me in casual wear, I would go out with him in jeans and tops!
Summer diet and drinks… I prefer maximum fruits and fresh juice—especially sugarcane and mausami, tomato soup, rotis and l love to have rice in mornings. Finally yes, lots and lots of water!
48 | VOW | may 2011
Srijana Jyoti Media Co-ordinator, Jyoti Group
My look for this summer Day wear: I would pick a cotton dress, or quarter pants with comfortable and light shirt/ t-shirt or an all time favourite jeans and a t-shirt or kurti! For parties: I would opt for chiffon or georgette sarees with not too heavy embroidery in colours like pink, purple, blue or green. For an evening out: I would pick a long cotton dress in black or floral prints
My tip for a glossy mane… If you are going to be out in the sun I would recommend a hat, a scarf or an umbrella. The easiest hair treatment which can be done at home without having to visit any beauty parlour is a hot oil treatment, which includes warm oil massage for 20 minutes and then wrapping your hair with a towel dipped in warm water, followed by a regular wash. Summer drinks and diet… Summer is the time
to indulge in a variety of fruits, but the best is water melon! For drinks, I prefer iced tea, black tea or just plain water.
Fitness: I play with my children in the garden, learn dancing on XBox Kinect and occasionally go for a swim with my family. My summer indulgences are… taking my
children to Kurintar or Park Village Resort on a weekend, enjoying Friday evenings with my friends, having a get together in the garden, and to spend late nights in the balcony sipping unique cocktails prepared by my husband, Saurabh!
One thing I have been coveting this summer… Lots of lots of summery dresses…
Fitness: I do yoga thrice a week for 15 to 30 minutes since I already have a toned body. However, I do stretches every day.
On a hot summer afternoon, I would…
Love to sip iced tea with honey and mint.
The best thing about summer is… that you get to wear colourful stuff, and walk anywhere in bindaas style!
One thing I have been coveting this summer… a pair of wedged
heels in black.
Top hottest women spring summer fashion trends 2011… From animal prints to polka dots, patterns are the trend this summer. Mix in rich tones and rough-hewn extras for an earthy appeal. Think of dresses that fall like shimmering water in the evening and high-waist pants with elegant blouses by day. Maxi dresses, lace, beadwork and tassels, stripes, jump suits and play suits, distressed jeans, cropped tops, bell bottoms… with cat eye sunglasses, kitten heels or clogs are very, very in! 10 fashion colors predicted to be the most popular in 2011 are
Violet
Aurora
Turquiose
Fusion Coral
Tomato Puree
Tuscany
Amparo Blue
Pink Champange
Dried Herb
Eucalyptus
Top 4 Makeup Trends for Spring – Summer 2011 • A soft smoky eye takes your regular, daily eye shadow and bumps it up a notch. Create a smoky look by wearing more of your usual heather, gray, brown or green shadow and applying it into your crease and down along the edge of your eye. • Orange, matte shades are the hottest lipstick options for Spring 2011. Find a non-shiny, non-shimmery lip color in a coral or red/orange shade. Find a shade that works with your skin tone and make sure to keep the rest of your makeup simple. Concealer, black eyeliner and mascara are just about all you’ll need. • Bright, show-stopping colors are the latest for eyeshadow colors. Look for reds, purples, blues and greens. Make sure to apply eyeshadow primer. • Natural blush, in golds and peachy pinks, give you that sun-kissed look like you just got off the beach. Keep the rest of your makeup simple – a light coat of mascara, one natural shade of eyeshadow, clear lipgloss.
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Summer
Lifestyle Hairstyle I want to try out this summer…
I am thinking of experimenting by cutting my hair very short. Maybe a short, messy hairdo!
Summer drinks and diet
I eat high fibre food which includes veggies, beans, whole grains, chicken and fish. I drink two glasses of milk every day, plenty of water and green tea. An apple or any kind of fruit is a must in my daily diet regime.
Fitness
Reetu Pradhan, Makeup artist My look this summer…
Since summer is the season of colours, I would definitely go for bright colours. White is my all time favourite coloured and you will see me in white a lot this season. During the day you can find me in denim shorts and a white or any other bright colour top. Slip into any sandals or slippers and I am ready to go. For parties I would wear a very elegant dress which complements my body and personality. And if I have a date in the evening I would opt for a breezy flowy maxi dress or a harem pant with a pretty top and accessorise with something bright and colourful.
Renasha Rai
Choreographer; Proprietor, STEPS STUDIO
My look this summer…
Summer means bringing out my cotton skirts, half pants, capris, white t-shirts, etc. I pair them with comfortable heels and wedges, and sunglasses. When I attend a party you will often find me in a one-piece dress and high heels. I do not wear too much jewellery. However, during dinner parties, I like to wear long gowns that have a little bit of shimmer and shine and I accessorise with a nice pair of earrings.
Hairstyle I want to try this summer… I am interested to try a short hair cut this season!
Summer drinks and diet
I love drinking iced tea and apple juice. Watermelon and cranberries taste absolutely delicious and fruit salads are my favourite. And yes, summer is no fun without sundaes.
On a hot summer afternoon… I love going for a swim, drink juices, or watch a nice movie.
I love summer because… I get to wear all my favourite clothes, the days are longer and hence I get more time to work and also spend time with my family and friends. One thing I have been coveting this summer… nothing in particular, but I think investing in cotton wear is a must for everyone. Photos - Shankar Bir Byanjankar
I workout at least five times a week throughout the year. Also my runners (Reebok easy tone) keeps me going!
On a hot summer afternoon… I
would definitely want to go to the beach if I was in Australia. However as we don’t have any beaches here I would go to some nice resort or hotel for swimming.
One thing I have been coveting this summer… sunglasses from D&G,
GUESS, VOGUE and PRADA, because these are the brands I personally love and I just cannot get enough of them!
Out of Pandora’s Box
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Tips on looking cool on a hot day!
Summer is here, and it’s also the time when we can try multiple looks with new hairstyles, clothes, accessories, makeup and a ‘cool’ attitude. Be playful. Go ahead and start your summer makeover. We have some tips below…
Sun glasses: Summers are incomplete without sunglasses. Wear sunglasses that suit your face shape. Get yourself a hat and match it up with a nice pair of sunnies. But do not be a blind trend follower, be individualistic! Bangles, toe rings, finger rings, ear rings… we love them all: All these
trinkets are in this season. Get away with any colour or type—bohemian, elegant or edgy. Try thin golden, silver, or chunky colourful bangles. Weren’t we made to adorn them, after all?
Play with colours: Colours like white, tones of brown like khaki and beige, light tones of peach and pink are great for hot weather because they keep you cool. While they are super fun to accessorise, it also softens your look. Naturally beautiful! Sailor Stripes and floral prints: If you love sailor stripes, it is
your sailing summer. Sailor stripes have never been so hot, and now you can get sailor striped shoes, tees, shirts to channel the sailor girl in you. And while everything is in full bloom, why shouldn’t you be too? Pick out a floral dress or a high-waist floral skirt and pair it with a fitted beige tank top.
SPF lotion: Keep a SPF tube in your bag. The bad-for-skin UV rays are powerful, and you do not want black marks on your skin, premature wrinkles or freckles either. Make sure to reapply every few hours, and do not forget to slather on your hands and legs too! Makeup: Summer is full of
pleasures—but melting makeup, sliding eyeliner, and super sticky lipstick are not among them. In hot weather, applying your makeup should be as minimal and comfortable as putting on your favourite tee and flip-flops.
Water: Water and original fruit
juices are the best drinks to keep you hydrated in the hot sun. It keeps your system cool and of course, the cooler you feel, the better you hold your attitude! Avoid carbonated drinks.
Croc shoes, loafers and flip-flops: If you absolutely love the
sheer comfort of these toy-like summer shoes, then by all means wear them peppily. They actually look cute on a pair of summer shorts or anything loose and airy. They are super comfortable, and very good on a hot day as they have air ventilation ports to keep you cool. Flip flops with sequins and flowery patterns are in too!
Wedges, clogs: Wedges go well with casuals like denims. If you are not a fan of neutral hued clothing in general, opt for a pair of neutral wedges and you are good to go! Similarly, clogs look stylish and almost go with everything.
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A lazy summer
bookshelf! This summer grab a couple of books for the long lazy balmy afternoons and the cool welcome evenings. From new popular ones to long loved, well thumbed classics we have recommendations that you are sure to love. Happy reading!
Movies
to watch on a hot summer afternoon…
Too lazy to venture out in the heat? Grab a bucket of popcorn, a tub of ice-cream and play some of the movies we have listed below. It’s sure to pass away a lazy summer day in a jiffy!
Chick lit
We all love a good romance. Most of the so-called chick lits are peppered with witty, funny damsels, sharp suited hunks and whacky plots. • Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding • Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic series. • Almost Single by Advaita Kala • PS I love you by Cecelia Ahern • The Year of Living Famously by Laura Caldwell • Conversations with the Fat Girl by Liza Palmer • Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks
Revisiting the classics
Some things are timeless. Like these books. As many times as you read them you only love them more. • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee • David Copperfield by Charles Dickens • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott • Wuthering heights by Emily Brontë • Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen • Books by PG Wodehouse
Miscellaneous
Some books are funny, some are sad. You read some for pure entertainment and some you read to learn. • The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender • Karnali Blues by Buddhi Sagar • The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees • House Rules by Jodi Picoult • Chhapamar Yuwatiko Diary by Tara Rai ‘Anamol’ • My Feudal Lord by Tehmina Durrani • Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts • Budhha’s Orphans by Samrat Upadhyay • The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer • Love In The Time Of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez 54 | VOW | may 2011
ROMANCE
Below are 10 of the most endearing romances on the silver screen. They are funny, they are cute, they are sad. And we have loved them all. • • • • • • • • • • •
Pretty Woman Roman Holiday When Harry Met Sally 50 First Dates 500 days of Summer No Strings Attached A Lot Like Love Love Actually Autumn in New York That thing you do Titanic
FOR THE CHILD IN YOU
Watch them alone, or with friends. Better still, watch them with younger children and feel their delight. These movies will remind you of your childhood and shade your day with nostalgia. • • • • • • • • •
Finding Nemo Big Daddy Little Miss Sunshine Mary Poppins Home Alone (Series) Up Kung Fu Panda Ice Age (Series) Ratatouille
RANDOM SELECTION
We have films from all genres here. This is a mixed bag with a little bit of action, a little bit of comedy, some history or just plain fascinating. Just pick the ones you might like and enjoy. • Kaagbeni • The Gods Must Be Crazy Series • The Bicycle Thief • Die Hard • The Godfather • It Happened One Night • Private Benjamin • Shutter • Schindler’s List • Alice in Wonderland • 127 Hours • Four Weddings and a Funeral • King’s Speech • Black Swan • The Tourist • Into the Wild • Lord of War • Enemy at the Gates • The Green Mile • The Social Network • Living Las Vegas • Pulp Fiction • Before Sunset • The Hangover • Saving Private Ryan • The Pursuit of Happiness
Summer skincare…
To avoid skin from sun rashes, dryness, devoid of shine and dehydration, here are some useful home made face packs and remedies to give your face that lovely glow.
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Enjoy these
Fitness Fads
this summer!
Get FRESH!
• Mix ¼ cup of cool water with two spoons of rose water. Wash your face with this water and get freshened. • Make a paste of an apple slice and apply it on your skin. Wash after a while and you will experience a fresh and clean face!
To get that GLOW
• Make a paste of ½ cup of carrot pieces and add four spoons of raw milk in it. Apply this paste to your face and wash after 20 minutes with cool water! • Apply papaya paste on your face and massage it in a circular motion for 10 minutes and wash after ½ an hour with lukewarm water! • Mix one spoon of honey with egg yolk. Apply this paste to your face and wash when it becomes dry. • Mix two spoons of badam powder and two spoons of curd. Apply this paste to your face and wash after 10 minutes first with milk and then with cold water. • Ice cubes made of one part milk and three parts water makes the skin glow beautifully. • Soak five dry dates in water, then smash it and add milk powder. Apply this pack on your face and wash off when it becomes dry.
IMPROVE your skin texture!
• Mix carrot paste, milk powder and sugar, and apply this paste to your face and wash after 20 minutes to improve your skin texture. • Mix gram flour with curd along with a few drops of lemon juice. This pack helps to remove unwanted tan very effectively. • Apply cucumber juice on the face to tighten skin pores. • Juice of all citrus fruits when applied on the skin acts as a natural bleach! • Mint leaves when crushed and applied on the face help prevent acne. • Applying raw potato juice all over your face helps reduce blemishes on the skin. • Mix together two spoons of watermelon pulp, half spoon of honey and 1½ spoon of fullers earth, and apply evenly on your skin. Watermelon face pack cools your skin naturally. This excellent coolant in summer removes sun burns easily.
IMPORTANT TIPS Water is the best cleanser! Try to drink as much water as possible every day. If you’re not a huge water fan, add some slices of lemon, mint leaves or any citrusy fruit to add some flavour. A good skin care routine always helps. Remember to cleanse, tone and moisturise every morning and evening. Try to exfoliate at least once or twice a week. You can make a home made exfoliant by mixing some natural yogurt and crushed almonds together. Apply to the face and gently rub in. Try to also use a face pack once or twice a week.
Ugi: The Ugi is kind of like a stability ball, a medicine ball
and a stuffed animal, all concurrently. The ball comes in loads between six and twelve pounds and a video that teaches you of the Ugi ball 'how to do a variety of exercises' all during a 30-minute workout. The ball is good for exercising pretty much every part of your body without your having to worry about getting bored.
Tae-Bo: When you talk about fitness fads you cannot
miss Tae-Bo—a mix of martial arts and boxing created by Billy Blanks. One of the most effective home workout fads, Tae-Bo brings the heat and intensity to melt that fat off your body.
Zumba: Zumba craze has taken the world by storm
especially among women. The fitness programme created by Alberto “Beto” Perez features South American dance moves, energy and excitement to make the kilos melt away.
Pelvic: These days, pelvic fitness is all the rage in gyms.
This fitness fad is a piece of the puzzle for overall joint stability. This core plus floor-style exercises which include kegels are incorporated into group classes and is considered as an important part of any strengthening programme.
MAT: Muscle Activation Technique (MAT) is making its
way to fitness centres rapidly. Why? Because MAT bridges the gap between rehabilitation and training. This programme identifies weak muscles that have improper neurological connections and repairs those connections through exercise, allowing muscles to stabilise the joints and reduce the joint stresses that lead to arthritic conditions.
iPhones: The Nike Training Club application in iPhones is
a good thing for you to start and get in shape. This application is really a zero cost one. It comes filled up with nearly a hundred distinct workouts that are created for the sole purpose of helping you irrespective of your fitness level. The only things you will need is time and training depending on your current fitness level, then just follow the instructions that the application gives to you. Listen to the music on your phone while also hearing your trainer’s advice and, the more workout routines you do, the more achievements you are going to unlock and the more useful this application is going to become.
Wii Fit: Most of us know that it is not truly possible to get
in shape just by using a Wii Fit game but the honest truth is that even the little bit of exercise that you can get by using Wii Fit is much better than not getting any exercise at all. Not only is there the Wii Fit, you can also find other game titles for the Wii like the XBox 360 especially with a Kinect as well as the PlayStation 3. There are all kinds of ways to get in good shape by playing a video game, just take a look at The Biggest Loser for Wii, Dance Party for XBox Kinect, Get Fit with Mel B for PlayStation 3, Wii Cheer, Punch Out and more! subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 57
savor
Summer
Drinks
Beat the heat with these cool summer drinks
ŠVOW photofile/Nibendra Pradhananga
Mocktails
Minty Lemonade Ingredients: Mint - 10 leaves Sugar - 2 tablespoons Lemon chunks - 5 to10 Lemon juice - 5ml Ice- 8 cubes Menthe Syrup (Peppermint) - 5ml Soda Process: Crush mint leaves, sugar and lemon chunk in a bowl and put them into a glass. Then shake lemon juice, ice cubes and menthe syrup properly in a mixing glass and pour it into the glass. Top it with soda and garnish with lemon and mint leaves. 58 | VOW | march 2011
Summer Delight Ingredients: Fresh apple - 1 Grenadine Syrup - 5 to 10ml Ice - 8 to 10 cubes Orange juice - 30ml Mango juice - 30ml Process: Blend all the ingredients in mixer, pour it into a glass and garnish it with fresh fruits.
Fruit Fantasy Ingredients: Guava juice - 60ml Mango juice - 60ml Grenadine Syrup - 5ml Blue Curacao - 5ml Process: First pour mango juice in a glass. Then add guava juice. Top it with Blue Curacao and garnish it with your favourite fruits.
er H
woman to watch
SWEET LIFE
NISHA ADHIKARI actor
I am racing against time as usual, this morning. When I reach the studio, it's abuzz with remixed music from the 80s and it's definitely energising. The enthusiastic faces of the crew adds an extra zing to the much-anticipated shoot with tinsel town's new-gen actress Nisha Adhikari. We make ourselves some coffee to freshen up and gear up for the shoot. Finally Nisha Adhikari comes in, looking charming and sexily-sweet in a short blue summery dress and flats. She apologises for being late, greets everyone, and in seconds, starts getting ready for the tub-thumping shoot. As the makeup and hairstyling get done, and as our photographer Rajiv Shrestha starts capturing her frame by frame, she tells us that once any shoot begins, she can go on and on, enjoying every bit of it. As I watch her communicate with the camera like it's her best friend, I fully agree to why she says so. After the fun-filled shoot, Nisha chats with VOW about beauty, summer, love, Hangers, and many things in between… 60 | VOW | april march 2011 2011
STYLE
Style is a reflection of one’s persona. You may or may not be fashionable, but style is a form of expression through your get-up. It is a personal thing.
FITNESS
A must! I was not a fitness freak as such, but now I have realised that there can be no excuse for not being fit (laughs). I hit the gym regularly and also take care of my diet. I take inspiration from Jharana Thapa who has toned up really well from how she used to be; she really fascinates me. From the newer generation, it's Sahana Bajracharya. She is well toned and fit.
iPad
Oh it is such a blessing! It is one of my favourite gadgets. I am addicted to it and love its features. I can just download a book and read it while I am free or post my schedules and plans anytime.
HAPPINESS
Happiness for me is spending quality time with my family and friends; it’s also about a lot of work, work and work. Simple things in life like satisfaction and peace of mind mean happiness to me.
LOVE
Love is inevitable and I cannot survive without it. Love and emotional attachment makes the world go round.
BEAUTY
For me, inner beauty counts more than external beauty. However, it's also a combination of both. The basic ingredient of being a good human being is what makes a person beautiful.
SUMMER
Fun, hanging out with friends, flats, colours, chilled drinks, long drives, travelling to places like Kurintar with friends…a lot of things. Summer is fun!
HANGERS
Me and Sahana put up this clothing line exhibition and titled it “Hangers” where we also promoted native fashion designer, Tenzin Tsetan Bhutia’s accessory collection. This was our first business venture and we felt very proud, especially on the first day when we put the clothes and accessories on display. Our motive behind bringing affordable and fashionable clothing lines like tfnc London and Wall G here was to induce a fashionable and trendy sense of clothing amongst the masses. So
when people go shopping, I want them to remember tfnc London and Wall G just because they are tempting pick-me-ups. When I went to do a crash course in film-making in New York, I was awed by the liberal fashion sense there. I analysed the marketing strategies and I thought to myself if I could open an affordable fashion store in Nepal. Then one day, when I and Sahana were talking over coffee, we decided to start the venture on partnership. tfnc and Wall G had already approached Sahana to be their face in Nepal and that is how we started with these designers. We pulled off the exhibition one month later. The first exhibition was a soft launch, but next time it is going to be grander. Those who want to check the clothes out can still contact us though. TextÂť Samridhi Rana PhotosÂť Rajiv Shrestha Courtesy Wardrobe : Hangers, Shoes : Envy - Tel: 4224241
subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 61
my beautiful life
Latest splurge
Colombian emerald and diamond earrings from Anuj Jewellery, Mumbai
Shreejana Rana Project Director Hotel De l’ Annapurna
Current perfume Jean Paul Gaultier
She slips effortlessly into the various roles of daughter, wife, mother, social entrepreneur and an ardent supporter of women’s economic causes and her fight against heart diseases. Shreejana Rana is a strong, focused woman who believes in working hard and living her life, cherishing every moment. Here she shares with us the things that make her life beautiful…
My life is beautiful because…
loving I have the support of my do. I g hin ryt eve in d ban hus
Current Cell phone Blackberry
Style manpletra ,
The most beautiful moment of my life...
Keep it sim but add one ‘wow’ item, be it a piece of jewellery, a shawl or a handbag!
when my daughter, Keshy a and my son, Satyajot were born.
p Skincare & nMskiakn.eu I use an
actually I do it at home. I have a personal beautician.
Current watch Rolex
Collections of Lain Singh Bangdel and Laxman Shrestha’s maste rpieces
Style icon
Workout
Late Princess Helen Shah
I have combinatio wash, MAC Ayurvedic soap for face ne Semonin An moisturising cream and night. For for s Oil ial Balancing Essent oisture erm Sup ue niq Cli use makeup, I for iser min Makeup with Liquid Lu e Fac d nde Ble ue foundation, Cliniq and iser xim Ma Lip h wit C Powder, MA MAC shades Dazzleglass for lipsticks and s. dow sha of brown in eye
For nails, skin and hair treatment, I go to...
Favourite hand-me-down
Zumba
Favourite designers
Diet secret Lots of water
Oldest item in my closet
My maternal great grandmother’s bracelet with an enameled butterfly.
My aunt Maharani Bhavana Singh who creates the most beautiful mukesh sarees
In my hand bag, I always have
Shopping destination
Lots of cloves and hand sanitiser.
I’m addicted to
London
A movie that I find very stylish Breakfast
at Tiffany’s and Hare Rama Hare Krishn a (the song Dum Maro Dum w as shot at Fish Tail Lodge, our sister-property in Pokhar a)
iPad2
Ideal vacation spot Koh Samui
– Pramila Rai
reflections
To be
heard...
Lisa Gautschi (Yogatara)
Contact her at Isha Institute, Jawalakhel yogatara108@yahoo.com
64 | VOW | may 2011
We each have a story. In fact, we each hold many stories. Some of them are joyful and uplifting. Some of them are accounts of heart ripping grief and despair. Yet we all have them. And in sharing our stories we recognise our common ground. Beyond gender, beyond caste, beyond religion, beyond race… It has taken me time to write this story. It is one that is difficult to relay, and one for which words do not always come easily. But I know that it is a story I share with many other women, and even with many men. Two months ago as I was walking home mid-evening I was assaulted by two young men. It was load-shedding time and the alleyway was pitch black. I know my alleyway—its twists and turns, its rocks and potholes—by heart. It is part of my neighborhood. It is my home. I had been talking on my mobile phone with my girlfriend who lives around the corner and had noticed the two young men when I passed them. Within a few metres of crossing them I sensed a presence close behind me. I turned in time to see one young man, wearing a black mask and cap, lift an empty beer bottle over his head. The next several minutes were a blur
My mentor in spiritual psychology would repeatedly remind his students that one of our most basic needs as human beings is the need to be heard. The healing power of counselling lies in the simple act of one person listening to another’s story, without interruption, but rather with full presence and compassion. To be heard in such a way is to be acknowledged. It is testament to having value and to being alive. of repeated beatings to the head and the rest of my body. The young man did not hold back. Rather he struck with full force. He never tried to steal anything off of me, nor touch me in any way. He simply beat me as much and as hard as he could. It is incredible to me, now looking back, how strong our survival instincts are. I had often wondered if I would be able to scream if attacked in such a way. When I was 21 and was sexually assaulted I had been unable to scream for help. Even after the man assaulting me had taken his hand off my mouth, my voice remained paralysed. Silenced. And although I did eventually manage to escape the worst of the assault I had lived haunted with the frustration of not being able to defend myself as much as I could have. This time however, the moment the bottle came towards my head, a fierce, guttural cry erupted from deep within. There was no conscious, logical thinking behind it. The noise simply came. Ancient, raw… of pure instinct. The cry was as strong and as ragefull as the blows meeting my head and
body. The scream kept flowing forward even as I clearly and logically made sure to get the man away from my head in order to not lose consciousness. The scream continued as he continued to beat me when I went down to the ground, and as I eventually managed to get up and run into my neighbor’s courtyard. The scream persisted even after the men had escaped on their motorbike, even as I stood alone waiting for people to come. Screaming. The scream was a sound that seemed to be moving through me, of its own accord. Full. Resounding. Defiant. Alive. It was the sound of rage and exhaustion... a voice saying “I have had enough”. I will no longer stand to be someone’s punching bag. I will no longer be a victim. I will no longer be silenced. I will no longer accept the lewd stares and sneers of young men as I pass them. Boys who are my son’s age calling out “sexy bitch” to me because I am a woman. And because I am white. A white woman. I have chosen to live in a culture in which I blatantly stand out as a blond, blue-eyed, light-skinned woman. It’s sort of hard to ‘blend in’, no matter how hard I try. I do not know what it feels like to be a Nepali woman, nor, for that matter, anything other than what I am. And in making the point of race here I do not imply that I was assaulted specifically because I am non-Nepali... although I am certain it played
into the situation, as did many other factors, including the fact that I am a woman. Gender. Race. Caste. Creed. Religion. Sexual orientation. There are too many parameters by which to be separated. Before I settled in Asia I never fully understood what it felt like to be a racial minority. A gender minority, yes. But I had not understood the discrimination my Haitian, Jamaican, Filipina and Indian girlfriends had spoken of. The exhaustion of always having to defend oneself… to explain oneself… the frustration always, no matter how hard one tries, of being excluded. Because of the colour of my skin, the shape of my eyes, or the pointy-ness of my nose! For 15 years I have lived in this country. I have learned the language, embraced the culture and lived as many Nepalis do. I have been a ‘buhari’, a ‘bhauju’, and a mother in this culture. I do not work for an international organisation, nor do I earn dollars, euros or any other foreign currency—assumptions that often stick to me like glue. Yes, I have been privileged to grow up in a culture, and in a family, in which women have more rights than in many other places. And I do not take that for granted. And yes, I could return to my country to live. But that is not the point. The point is that as the world becomes increasingly globalised, and as Nepal
tries to move into a more equal and representative political-social paradigm, the borders that we have created as human beings to differentiate ourselves in an attempt at identification, are going to be challenged. Our identification as a certain caste, as an ethnic group, as a gender and of a religion. How do we find our identity through our heritage and roots without discriminating against others? How do we move beyond our assumptions of others that hold them at bay? Perhaps it is in telling our stories. In hearing one another. Truly. With full presence. My experience of this assault was indicative to me of times of change. Five years ago I was never afraid to walk alone late at night in Kathmandu. Now, I would not do so, even at dusk. Times have changed. And so has our society here. There is an undercurrent of deep frustration, of suffocated anger. Of generations of oppression and repression. Of dreams squandered. This is not unique to Nepal at all. But what, are we going to do, as a people, to move through and beyond these destructive tendencies? When and how are we going to stop using gender, race, caste as weapons against one another? I often wonder about the young man who assaulted me and what his story is. I, for one, am ready to listen.
subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 65
secrets of the soul
ATTAINING
INNER PEACE
Date: 12 April, 2011 Venue: Hotel Ambassador Host: Sadhana Keshava, Complementary Healer Participants Deepesh Paul Thakur, Advocacy and Communication Director, NVIN Luna Shrestha Thakur, Founder Director, Change Fusion Nepal Monita Gopal, Educationist Karishma Agrawal, Trustee, Pranic Healing
From the moment we are born into this world till we die, one of the main purposes of our life is to attain inner peace—consciously or unconsciously! As we grow, some of us find inner peace on the path of the materialistic world, while some of us seek amity in spiritual schools, leaders and faith—it differs from individual to individual. In this session of Secrets of the Soul, we have tried to take a peek into what the participants' idea of inner peace is. Sadhana Keshava
Accepting that all of us are selfish brings peace regardless of whether someone is spiritual or materialistic. And inner peace—bliss, happiness or contentment—is something everyone ends up looking for in life one day or the other. Very often we, individualistic people, don't want to do something we don't love. However if we do it with pure love and passion, it will surely give you peace because when there's ultimate love you don't really care or get attached to the result of what you do… you just blissfully enjoy the process of it! Sadhana Keshava, a graduate of California Hypnosis Institute of India, is a complementary healing practitioner. Contact her at sadhna62@hotmail.com
66 | VOW | may 2011
"To get to inner
peace, one must learn to forgive and let go." I identify inner peace as being at peace spiritually. To me, they are two different things, spiritual peace and peace in the real world. By peace in the real world I mean the surface peace. Spiritual peace can be found through meditation and faith. If you have faith in God and your spiritual teacher, no matter what problem you are facing, help is always available. I think you should carry a strong faith within you. However, it's not necessary that everyone should feel the same way. Karishma Agrawal You have to do things with certain faith and belief, otherwise it won't work. The luxuries of life like money, security, family and friends won't give you complete happiness unless you are content from within. And without being happy, you can't attain inner peace because they are interrelated. I am only at peace when I am happy, and I consider that a person can only be happy when s/he gives happiness to others. The same is with love and respect. You can't expect to be loved and respected without you giving love and respect to someone. Of course it's reciprocal, but you should never be afraid to make the first move. Personally, I get my inner peace when I feel loved by everyone. To get to inner peace, one must learn to forgive and let go. Holding grudges in your heart will never benefit you. Accept people as they are, accept the circumstances and the situations. When you accept the other person, there's no conflict and both of you end up being happy. Slowly you will find peace within you. I also believe that a person can only be prosperous if s/he has good health, good wealth, shares a good relationship with everyone and is spiritual at heart, all at the same time. Without spirituality, inner peace is incomplete. Spirituality for me is to know yourself, your soul and the purpose of your life. God has sent everyone with a purpose in this world… a particular responsibility. Once you begin to understand yourself, your purpose in the world also becomes clear to you. Thus, you find your inner peace.
"When you smile, the
world will smile back at you and yet again you
will smile!"
Deepesh Paul Thakur
"I have experienced
profound peace but not
always!"
For me, there are three basic domains that relate to inner peace. First is your relationship with God or Superpower. Secondly, it is all sorts of relationship that you have in your surrounding... with your spouse, friends, family and colleagues. And thirdly, it is the acceptance of reality. Personally speaking, yes I have profoundly experienced inner peace sometimes but very often I fail to attain the same because these are the moments when I cannot accept things around me… I can't accept reality! I am a person with certain aspirations in life and I have certain expectations from my loved ones. So when they fail to meet my expectations, I obviously don't feel happy. When I am not happy, how can there be peace? There are times when I have fought and argued with my friends and family, not being able to forgive nor forget! What I feel is that when you can't and don't accept the reality or your relationship with others, automatically your spiritual wellbeing with God tends to become tainted. When you have a dialogue with God, you have to be yourself, pure and in a position to really say that you are wrong—it's called acceptance. But one's ego does not let you be in that situation to accept that you can also be wrong at times. And I do believe that faith and spirituality strengthen you. God is very important for one to attain inner peace in this chaotic world.
For me inner peace is something I feel—the feeling of contentment, happiness and the realisation that things are okay. Life is such that we do have our ups and downs and it is not always possible that things will be what we regard "the best" all the time. However, I do like to believe that whatever happens, happens for the best. I am also very grateful to my family and good set of friends who have helped me get this feeling of peace because their love and support have always helped me. Another thing, I would like to suggest
Monita Gopal is that when you make mistakes or have a misunderstanding with someone, you simply accept it and don't ever let your ego come in between. Clear and finish it up and move forward in life, because this is something that really helps out and gives you peace. Nonetheless, you also need to have faith in yourself, believe in yourself and in God in order to be at peace. At the end of the day, peace is happiness and contentment that you feel within yourself. I believe that spiritual schools or gurus are there to guide you on the path that leads to inner peace. It is up to you whether you want to take one of these paths or you want to find it your own way.
Luna Shrestha Thakur
"I did try meditation once. I failed. It just did not
work for me." Inner peace is a debatable subject. I cannot really say whether I have found it, attained it, but I am firm in my belief that I have found peace. So far, my life has taught me that balance is the most important factor while looking for peace and happiness in life. Everyone knows that life is made up of good and bad times. It is common for us to lose our peace and happiness during bad moments but then when good things ultimately happen we forget all those bad times. What we have to remember is that the difficult times will pass by some day. We have to have faith and stay grounded. With patience, we need to pray and then actually do something to get rid of that difficulty. But inner peace or spiritual peace is something I have not experienced and I don't have an interest in. This is because we live in the "real" world. I differentiate between the peace I feel and the so-called spiritual peace because I associate spiritual peace with meditation, yoga, following a particular spiritual guru and the way the monks live. However, we live in a completely different world where most things are competitive, fast-paced, where we face problems, live with our families, hold jobs… here we have numerous things to bind us. But there, I presume, they lead a life immersed in prayers and meditation. No relationships or social values bind them. Thus, as I do not relate to that life, I do not believe in that world. Instead I find myself happy and at peace when I dance, read a good book or when I talk to my best friend. These are the things that make me feel happy, calm and peaceful. Text – Evelyn Moktan and Pramila Rai Photos – Nibendra Prahananga subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 67
health feature
se
Foods that
increa
your
metabolism
When we have trouble losing or putting on weight, our metabolism is at blame. The good news is that there are things you can do to increase your metabolism so that you burn more calories, replace fat, and get more energy. One basic rule of thumb is stick to things that are low in fat, always choose whole grain bread over white, choose dark, green, leafy vegetables and drink at least eight glasses of water in a day. The other inevitable thing you can do to get your metabolism up and going is to work out. Exercise will diminish body fat and increase lean muscle mass.
M-booster foods (and drinks), you should start loving…
Green tea:
Green tea is the main source of epigallocatechin gallate, known better as EGCG. This healthy catechin speeds up your brain and nervous system, causing your body to burn more calories.
Low in fat and packed with protein, beans keep you full for long.
Broccoli:
The pro-biotic cultures found in yogurt help regulate your digestive tract.
Broccoli contains a highly effective metabolismboosting team of nutrients, calcium and Vitamin C. Calcium acts as a metabolic trigger, while Vitamin C helps your body absorb more calcium.
Almonds:
Oatmeal:
Yogurt:
Almonds’ essential fatty acids help raise your body’s metabolism. Just don’t overdo it because they are also very high in calories.
Coffee:
Because your body takes a long time to break down the fat-soluble fibre in oatmeal, this healthy food lowers your body’s insulin level and speeds up your metabolism.
Coffee has caffeine, which does give you a boost. Just ensure that you do not exceed two or three cups a day, or you risk a host of side effects, including irritability and jitters.
Soy milk:
Apples:
Add some zing to your daily cup of tea with this tasty spice to help your body metabolise sugars more effectively and maintain steadier blood sugar levels. Cinnamon can also help lower your cholesterol.
This low-calorie snack is high in fibre and helps you stay full for longer.
Spinach:
Popeye was right about one thing—spinach can help make you strong and healthy. In addition to speeding up your metabolism, it is a great source of antioxidants, magnesium, potassium, iron and Vitamin C.
68 | VOW | may 2011
Beans:
Fortified soy milk is loaded with calcium, which helps boost your metabolism.
Cinnamon:
Eggs:
Eggs have a great deal of quality protein and should be a part of every person’s diet. It is probably one of the best foods to speed up your metabolism.
exerfile
Say goodbye to
flabby arms! Be sleeveless ready... Summer is here and we are sure you want to look your best in pretty dresses, tank tops and swimwear. If you are avoiding short sleeves or sleeveless dresses due to flabby arms, it’s not anything that regular exercise won’t cure. So what are you waiting for? Follow the steps given below and you will be sleeveless ready!
1
STEP
Stand straight with your legs open at shoulder’s width apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing upwards. Bend your elbows towards the shoulder and exhale, then come back to the first position and inhale. Required: Three-four sets
STEP
Stand straight with your legs open at shoulder’s width apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with palms facing upwards. Now open your arms straight to the side and raise them upto your shoulder’s level. Next bend your elbows making an angle of 90 degrees and exhale, then unbend your elbows and inhale. Focus on the biceps.
2
© VOW photofile/Sanu Raja Maharjan
Required: Three-four sets
3
STEP
4
STEP
Stand straight with your legs apart at shoulder’s width, holding a dumbbell in each hand with your palms facing downwards. Now bend your elbows and lift it up to your shoulder’s level and exhale. Then come back to the first position and inhale.
Stand straight with your legs apart at shoulder’s width. Hold a dumbbell in your right hand. Now raise your hands above your head and bend your right elbow behind your head while exhaling. Support your right elbow with your left arm and slowly raise your right hand while inhaling. Repeat eight times and then change hands.
Required: Three-four sets
Required: Three-four sets on each hand.
70 | VOW | may 2011
5
STEP
Slightly bend your right knee and stretch your left leg to the back, your body slightly inclined forward. Place your right palm on the right thigh. With a dumbbell in your left hand, bend your elbow and raise it to the level of your shoulder. Then, while concentrating on your triceps, extend your elbow to the back and exhale. Repeat eight times and then change sides. Required: Three-four sets on each side..
6
STEP
Slightly bend your right knee and stretch your left leg to the back, your body slightly inclined forward. Place your right palm on the right thigh. With a dumbbell in your left hand, bend your elbow and raise it to the level of your shoulder. Then, while concentrating on your triceps, extend your elbow to the back and exhale. Repeat eight times and then change sides. Required: Three-four sets on each side..
7
STEP
Lie down flat on your stomach with your legs straight together. Bend your knees and cross your legs, and slightly bend your elbows with palms firmly placed on the floor for support and raise your torso a little. Next straighten your elbows while exhaling and then come back to the first position while inhaling. Required: Two-three sets Note: One set = Eight repetitions Hisako Utsugi is an America Fitness Aerobics Association (AFAA) and Japan Aerobics Fitness Association (JAFA) certified aerobics instructor, as well as a certified yoga instructor. She is also an exclusive instructor at Lalit Mandap Hardik Club. subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 71
health bulletin
Q&A MENTAL HEALTH
Q&A HEART
One of my best friends recently lost her husband in an accident. She has a three-year-old daughter. After his death, she looks very stressed, cries a lot and hardly socialises. She’s obsessed about him and says that she can’t get him out of her mind and life. She only talks about him. She is adamant that he’ll come back, which is impossible. I know she’s going crazy. What should I do? I can’t see her go insane. –Archana, 33 Let me assure you first and foremost that she is not going ‘crazy’ or insane. She is suffering from “Grief Reaction”. Loss of a loved one is a big negative life event for anybody, and in your friend’s case it’s even worse because she is left with a young daughter. When somebody dies from an unexpected event, it always becomes a preoccupation in the mind of the near ones if s/he could have done something to avoid the accident. Some go to the extent of feeling sinful and self-blame for the death, and are guilt ridden for remaining alive. In your friend’s case, though the symptoms are very severe, they are not disproportionate and incongruent to the degree of stressor involved. Our usual social bereavement rituals help people in grief to get out of it slowly, but in her case it would be wise to get help from a mental health professional where a particular kind of psychotherapy called ‘Grief Work’ is done to bring her out of misery quickly and minimise complications. If the symptoms last for more than a month to the point of disrupting her daily functioning then she definitely needs to see a psychiatrist as it points to a deep underlying vulnerability. After she recovers from grief she might still manifest ‘anniversary syndromes’ for a few days in a year at times like birthdays of her daughter or marriage anniversaries, when she might get deluded with the preoccupation of her husband’s imagery and memories.
I am 5.4 feet tall, weigh 62 kilos, and have high blood pressure. I don’t smoke and I exercise for 30 minutes twice a week. I am very conscious about including vitamins, especially the ones best for heart health and blood pressure, in my diet. I avoid red meat and fast food, and my regular meals basically include bread, cheese, crackers, etc but I generally tend to include too much salt in my diet. My doctor has advised me to lessen the intake of salt, but I can’t help it. Will it affect my heart health? – Sanchita, 21 Hello Sanchita, hypertension (HTN) or high blood pressure currently affects over 1.5 billion people in the world. However, high blood pressure at the age of 21 needs proper assessment. Kidney, thyroid and some other diseases can result in high pressure and will need appropriate care. About 20 to 25 percent of adults in Kathmandu are likely to have high blood pressure. HTN is the biggest risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. Globally, seven million people die every year because of high blood pressure. Many of these deaths could be prevented by eating less sodium. High salt (sodium) consumption is the cause of HTN in about three out of 10 adults. The average daily salt intake worldwide is approximately 9-12 grams per person. WHO recommends maximum intake of 5 grams of salt a day. About 75 percent of the salt we consume is already on the readymade food we buy. Up to 80 percent of the sodium we consume comes from processed or packaged food and food we eat at restaurants. If salt intake is reduced by half, it would save approximately 2.5 million deaths a year from strokes and heart attacks worldwide. So you NEED to cut down on foods high in sodium! These are cheese, chips, coated chicken, noodle snacks, olives, pickles, prawns, salted nuts, salted fish, sausages, smoked meat and fish, soy sauce, table sauces, canned meats, etc. These are rich in salt and should be avoided. Remember that we are eating to live, not living to eat!
Dr Sharad Man Tamrakar,
Neuro-Psychiatrist at Norvic International Hospital, will answer all your mental health queries. Send your queries to him at editorial@vow.com.np Contact him at 4258554/9851007474.
health bulletin
Sleepy People Overeat
A recent study conducted by researchers at the Columbia University suggests that people who get too little sleep tend to overeat. And sleepy, hungry people don’t make wise food choices, find Marie-Pierre StOnge, PhD, and colleagues at New York Obesity Research Centre. The researchers claim that short sleep may make people more susceptible to overeating, and that one should always keep this in mind when trying to manage weight. St-Onge and colleagues kept 13 men and 13 women in a controlled environment for six days on two separate occasions. During one visit, they spent nine hours a day in bed. On the other visit, they were allowed only four hours of bed time. For four days, all of the men and women were kept on the same diet. On the fifth day, they were allowed to 72 | VOW | may 2011
Dr Bharat Rawat,
Executive Director and Consultant Cardiologist at the Norvic International Hospital, will answer all your heart queries. Send your queries to him at drrawat@norvic.wlink.com.np
eat anything they chose. On that day, people gobbled about 300 more calories when they were sleepy compared to when they were well rested. Most of those extra calories came from fat, especially saturated fat. Women were especially vulnerable to overeating when sleepy. Tired women ate 328.6 extra calories, while tired men indulged in 262.7 extra calories. Women were more likely to choose fatty foods when tired, but men tended to choose the same amount of fat.
Ten years in a desk job can double bowel cancer risk even if you go to the gym!
Here’s bad news for those who sit in front of a computer all day at work. A new study has suggested that spending 10 years or more in a desk job almost doubles the risk of bowel cancer, even if you regularly keep fit or go to the gym. The findings highlight the dangers of modern working patterns, where large numbers of employees are desk bound for hours at a time. The research also backs up earlier studies which showed men who sit down most of
Q&A TEETH
Q&A HOMOEOPATHY
Is it true that tooth decay will occur even if one keeps teeth perfectly clean, eat and drink appropriately, use fluoridated toothpaste twice a day, floss teeth after eating and rinse with mouthwash? – Henny, 15
I have been diabetic for about eight years now. I am totally dependent on insulin. I have been hearing that Homoeopathy has a real cure for diabetes. Is it true? It would be a great help if you could guide me. – Ramesh, 44 Dear Mr Ramesh, diabetes is growing at an epidemic rate in the modern society. Familial predisposition combined with physical inactivity, stress and diet and lifestyle can lead to diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is due to lack of insulin production, while Type 2 is due to improper utilisation of hormone insulin due to which the body is unable to digest sugars and thus blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Dietary restrictions on sugars and starch along with exercises are a must in management of diabetes. Exercises, like walking, help muscles to use the extra sugar in blood. Medications are required when these interventions are not enough to control the blood sugar. External insulin is given when medications are not enough to regulate blood sugar and provide for the deficient insulin in the body. In my personal observation, Homoeopathic Constitutional Remedy, which is selected on a deep study of ailments, physical and mental makeup, helps in achieving overall health. Holistic health, at physical as well as mental level is expected after a correct choice of homoeopathic remedy. There are also specific medicines for diabetes like Syzigium Jambolinum, Jaborandi, Uranium nitricum, and a few others may be selected depending upon the individual case presentation. Gradually the need for anti-diabetics may reduce as blood sugar begins to appear within acceptable limits. But, the time needed for this change cannot be predicted and hence, while homoeopathic medications continue, one must continue their regular course of anti-diabetic medications or insulin as prescribed.
If one does all the things you have mentioned, the chance of tooth decay is very much minimised. But, if the tooth itself is weak or one already has existing deep grooves and fissures, or the care has not been optimal in the past, or if there are poor filling margins, the chances of tooth getting decayed is still high. Saliva also plays a major role in preventing decay. If one does not have optimal saliva, the buffering of the acid and remineralisation of the teeth are hampered. Besides, if one gets acidic reflux (heartburn), there is a chance of more demineralisation of the teeth. The best thing to practice is to add one more point to your list—a regular visit to the dentist, where s/he can monitor and take care of the situation before disaster strikes.
Dr Neil Pande,
General Dental Practitioner at Healthy Smiles, will answer all your teeth queries. Send your queries to him at neil@smilenepal.com
Dr Ruchi Saxena DhakaL, Consultant Homoeopath at Karuna Healthcare, will answer all your homoeopathic queries. Send your queries to her at
drruchi@holisticswasthya.com.
Contact her at 4017511.
the day at their jobs are 30 percent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than those with very active occupations. Diets high in fat and red meat, as well as lack of exercise, are thought to be among the main risk factors. But the latest study, by a team of experts at the University of Western Australia, show long periods of physical inactivity during the day could also be a major risk. The researchers spoke to 918 bowel cancer victims and compared their working patterns with 1,021 cancer-free volunteers. They were quizzed on their job history, lifestyles and levels of physical activity. The results showed employees who spent more than a decade in sedentary jobs were 94 percent more likely to suffer a tumour in an area of the bowel known as the distal colon. Researchers also found sedentary working patterns increased the chances of cancer of the rectum by 44 percent over a 10-year period. They said their findings suggest no amount of leisure time activity can offset the harm done from long periods of sitting down on the job, which is thought to lead
to increased blood sugar levels and damage insulin production, both of which have been linked with the development of bowel cancer. It could also be that it leads to inflammation deep inside the body, another known risk factor for tumours, the researchers said. The findings are published in American Journal of Epidemiology.
Eat for your smile
Not enough healthy fats in your diet may lead to too few teeth in your mouth. Harvard researchers found consuming DHA (a type of omega-3 fatty acid found in white tuna) can lower your risk of developing periodontitis, a common gum disease, by 20 percent. The scientists believe DHA may discourage the growth of bacteria that attack gum tissue and may also reduce inflammation-related tissue loss. So, eat 85 grams of white tuna a week, the amount used in the study. subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 73
sex rules
7 KHOON MAAF OR LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES AND CLUELESS ABOUT SEX The film is a black comedy with a mature theme exploring the darker side of love and sex. Not the most palatable subject for the populace at large fed mostly on a lot of golmaal. The nuance of 7KM based on a variety of negative character traits especially in men, sexually or otherwise is not for the naïve and definitely not for the under 18s. I say this more because of the depiction of sexual violence and murder in the film rather Susanna almost matching Liz Taylor in her parade of husbands. I did however hear young children giggling in the back seats and a few gasps from the accompanying adults. Probably the best
Dr poonam thapa,
Sexual Health Expert and Life Coach, will answer all your sexual health queries. Send your queries to her at editorial@vow.com.np
Can’t blame the beautiful, loving and positively lusty Susanna! After all, the story was set over half a century earlier and is about a woman raised by a doting dad and a bunch of house-help in a scenic but sleepy little town in India. I mean what’s a girl to do when stuck with a bullying gimp, a juvenile junkie, a poetic sadist, a covert polygamist, a foot-fetish snorer and a menacing seducer who also happened to be a thief; all duplicitous sons of…? Nepal can do about sexuality education for the younger masses! Sorry for saying this but I was quite offended with the parents rather than the children. Can’t they see the film’s been given an adult certificate? Just after my first article came out towards the end of 2009, by mistake VOW gave out my private email. I have pretty good spam filters in my computer but that week it felt like there was a virus attack. It wasn’t; only a lot of genuine curiosity and worry. Sex sells, we all know that, but the kind of questions I received and I’m happy to say proved that sex also matters greatly at any age. A year later, I was starting to get a bit bored with this column, when my younger son who was visiting said half seriously, half jokingly “You can’t quit now, all the girls know me as the son of the woman who writes the first sex column in Nepal, and I love it”. His friend added “Can you imagine my dad reads the column, it’s come up at the dinner table a few times setting off a lively debate, but it’s cool”. To top it all, just the other day a friend of mine laughingly said, “I was at a party and a woman, you know her, she was slightly senior to us in school, commented that Poonam must be crazy, kasto jathabhabi lekhchha chhyaa, key gareyko hola”. In my line of work you come across all sorts but very few, even the older generation these days, think ignorance is bliss! Take my father for one—he tells me I should really write in Nepali, bless him. According to him this kind of knowledge for women (and men) is worth it these days (unlike L’Oreal’s hair dye or whitening creams, if I may add). I was supposed to do an article on sex work but I pushed it to the back burner because the email exchange
76 | VOW | may 2011
below with a particular reader that later included her sister, was too good and pertinent to let go. Reader: I watched 7 Khoon Maaf yesterday, and I was really disturbed to see the characters played, especially the one by Irfaan Khan. Me: I watched the film too and Neil Nitin Mukesh and Irfaan Khan were great as characters in a fiction but I agree they would be disturbing in real life. The other four were more obvious but unless you had read the short story beforehand, the metaphor behind the concept of bride of Christ (nun, celibacy and Susanna’s own possible death) came as a surprise. Reader: Neil Nitin Mukesh was openly horrible so how he was with his wife in private was expected. Irfaan Khan on the other hand was a very soft-hearted guy during the day when he’s in his Shayar avatar, and at night he’s so violent with the heroine in bed—beating, scratching and biting… is that some kind of a disorder? Me: The character of Irfaan was definitely suffering from a psycho-sexual problem that is psychological rather than physiological in origin. Often there is a mutual relationship between the two. The questions I answered on disability (VOW, April 2011) were physical in nature affecting the psychological state of a person. Irfaan’s character was just the opposite and while it could be a sexual disorder, the answer is that it is too complicated to answer in a simple way. What I can say is that his behaviour was very wrong only to the extent that Susanna was an unwilling partner and his actions hurt her not only physically but mentally. So for want of a better phrase—yes he was the bad guy in this particular case. You will
be surprised to know that sometimes even publicly docile women can want rough sex. So it is not just a male thing. Reader: Is it sexual extremism or something? I and my sister, both on our mid-20s watched the film together and we were both petrified. Can we spot such a man violent in bed—prior to marriage? Me: I think I have said this before in one of my columns—sex is about the mind and how it’s all in the mind. When you date someone, you can usually tell but it is not foolproof. In my experience there are two fields of study where moral relativism (neither completely right nor wrong but more contextual) seems to pervade more than most—i.e. Sex and Revolutions. It’s hard for me to say why you were petrified without knowing the actual situation. One man’s (or woman’s) meat is another man’s (woman’s) poison and even this saying has time-space dimensions along a dynamic continuum. I’ve probably confused you even more? Reader: I’m really more scared than confused. My sister is about to get married and it’s an arranged one. I am concerned for her. Me: You and your sister are more scared than confused because what you saw was very different from the norm. The difference from the norm can be as easy as indulging in a fantasy (fanciful and improbable, like the sensuality bordering on sexual feelings between Susanna and her protégé), to a bit of kink (the wannabe rock star with his wig, lingerie and strange girls), fetish (obsession—as with the foot with the policemen where he chose to completely overlook vital clues in the murder case), to sadism (giver of pain as our poet and the major) and/or masochism (receiver of pain over and over as our Susanna). Regardless of where you find yourself on the sexual spectrum the problem is not the state itself but the over-indulgence in that state to the detriment of a relationship which can arise because of inequality between the sexes, lack of mutual consent between two adults and misunderstanding of sexual expectations. Having said that, different sexual states have always existed and societies evolve over time in what is acceptable or not just as we are doing now. The Marquis de Sade (from whom the term sadist is derived in the English language) was imprisoned for his antics in the 19th century and until the 1960s a woman could divorce and still keep her wealth in the case of sodomy (anal penetration). Since the last 30 years the UK authorities are slowly but surely understanding sadomasochism (S&M). It’s not outlawed any more in most countries of the west, rather there are strict regulations—i.e. consenting adults
can spank or handcuff but you can’t break skin. If you do, the victim can haul the perpetrator into an embarrassing court trial. You can imagine how careful couples are in having their fun! The deviation from the sexual norm is offensive only to the extent the person involved thinks it is offensive for her/himself. Paedophilia (adult predatory sex with a minor), a sexually deviant behaviour, is frowned upon in many western societies these days. Yet in premodern societies young girls were married off against their will to much older men in the name of culture and tradition (until recently even in Nepal but dying out thank God in urban areas and hopefully in rural too with time). In short even perversion is a relative concept depending on where you are in the world, the level of personal and social development you exhibit, what you enjoy and what the partner or society/law will accept or not. Sister: May be it’s the post-effect of the film or the fact that even family and friends talk about it without knowing what Irfaan’s behaviour was, except to say how bad it is. We can’t get this poet character off our mind. Me: Look on the brighter side of it. S&M and especially the extreme form like the kind you saw between Susanna and her poet is rare. So don’t dwell on what you saw or give in to the films power of suggestion but focus on what I am trying to say—knowledge will dilute the fear of the unknown such as an arranged marriage. Do read my previous columns because at some point or the other you will face many of the issues that have been discussed. Sister: I read your articles. I mean who doesn’t? Everyone reading VOW reads your articles… seriously. And well, I must say I am real nervous about this whole thing… marriage, sex, a complete new environment and I know my future husband but I don’t really know what to expect… Me: That’s very kind of you, thank you. Just reading an article on your own is passive. Why don’t you and your sister make time and actually talk about the issues that is really bothering you. Sitting and analysing your situation and referencing what I have written with someone you can trust and have confidence in, will bring greater understanding. Just try it and do it a few times so that your comfort level to talk about sex increases. It gets easier to open up once you actually do it. Try seeing your fiancé more often if you can. If you have certain sexual fears, why not bring it up? Don’t reference the film however. Reader and her sister: OK we will. However could you please elaborate a bit more on sadomasochism?
Me: How often have you seen or heard an adult tell a child I am beating you up or verbally abusing you for your own good? When a parent or a teacher hits a child, it is never ever for the child’s good but more for the adult’s own pleasure in giving and receiving pain. In the case of a child, causing her/him pain is always abuse of power and authority, while with adults there is such a thing as consent in the privacy of the bedroom, married or not. If you can grasp this you are now beginning to understand sexual S&M as we know it today. Sexual S&M (that you saw in the characters played by Irfaan Khan and Priyanka Chopra) is the active seeking of pain and suffering for the purposes of sexual arousal and gratification. The origin of S&M is debated but is usually rooted in childhood experiences. You see the violence and domination mostly in people who have been brought up to feel very guilty about enjoying sex and are told it is dirty and/or a sin or have suffered from some form of physical, sexual or mental abuse, where the victim becomes the perpetrator. Most of us resolve our bad experiences as we grow up, a few don’t, especially not without help. The film’s story indulges in a bit of stereotyping. The poet, for that matter even the decorated army officer, both had psycho-sexual disorder that would need serious psychological and sexual therapy. They could be cured through cognitive behaviour therapy or anger management training or at least become less dysfunctional (like obsession with porn) or controlled with medication and tagging like paedophilia. Dating, love and romance, sexuality education and good sex help people to learn over time about each other and adjust to different demands in a relationship. Usually when you date you learn to tell to some extent and can exit a relationship more easily. In a marriage it is harder to get out and that does not mean one should kill but then it would not make for a good story would it? Reader: Thank you. My sister and I talked into the wee hours of the night. I even shared the email you’d sent to me earlier and took out the back issues of VOW. She has asked me to convey her regards to you! As we talked, we were excited, nervous, doubtful, happy... and I guess she is readier now than she would have ever been. Me: Initially when I started the column, I wanted it to be more than just an agony aunt type of thing. Having this dialogue with you and your sister has given me new ideas for this column, so thank you too. subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 77
well-being
Celebrity workout with Sandesh
exercise that works!
jump squat
celebrity of the month
Raj Ballav Koirala, Actor Height 180 cms Weight 75 kilos Diet: Normal Nepali food Current exercise: I don’t work out regularly, but I practice yoga everyday. Aim: I would like to work on my shoulders, wings, thighs and ab areas. Medical history Years back, I strained my left elbow.
Stand straight with dumbbells in both hands, position your feet about shoulder width apart and slightly out-turned, shoulders should be squared, palms facing in.
1
Push off with your legs (jump up) so that your feet are slightly above the floor, land softly on the balls of feet first and then the heels. Repeat (12-15 times)
3
© VOW photofile/Rajiv Shrestha
TiPs
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Squat-bend at the knees, easing your hips back until your thighs are parallel to the floor
2
Sportswear courtesy:
NIKE Durbar Marg, Tel: 4221451
Q&A WELL–BEING
Twenty one
Hi, I have been working out for the past four months to lose weight and tone my body. I was advised by my trainer to work out in a moderate pace for maximum fat burn. I have been regularly training for five days a week but I’m not seeing any significant results. I do one hour of aerobics in the morning and mild walk three times a week. I have lost just two kilos so far. I want to reach my goal faster than this. Please advise. – Rekha Gurung, Pokhara
This routine consists of a three range motion, half up, half down and full. Stand straight with dumbbells in both hands, palms facing forward, shoulder squared, knees slightly bent.
1
Half-up: Lift the dumbbells half way up (midpoint, elbow) and lower it to its original position (seven repetitions).
2
Half-down: Hold the dumbbells at shoulder’s height, lower it to the midpoint and lift it up (seven repetitions).
3
Full range: Lift the dumbbell from the bottom position to shoulder height and lower it (seven repetitions)
4
Figure 4 variation 1 Lie flat on your back with your legs in the air in a figure ‘4’ posture, and your hands by your ears for support.
2
Diagonal
Curl your right shoulder towards your left knee without lifting your buttocks.
3
Hi Rekha ji, you need to understand that exercise alone can’t help you reach your goal. You need to seriously consider and include other aspects of healthy lifestyle like proper diet, rest and habit management. It is true that the exercise industry gave out some partial information in the early days like there is a magic fat burning zone for exercise which involves working at around 60 percent of your maximum heart rate. The theory was that keeping workouts at this moderate level means your body burns off the maximum amount of fat for energy. It is a scientific fact that at moderate level, the body uses a higher percentage of fat for fuel. But it’s also true that the body uses the highest percentage of fat for fuel when it is completely at rest. And we all know that you don’t get slim by lying down! The fact is when it comes to weight loss it is the total energy expenditure that counts, or you need to manage your energy balance. To lose excess kilos you need a negative energy balance. For example, you jog on a treadmill for 20 minutes (moderate pace) and burn around 150 calories. Do the same 20-minute run at the fastest pace you can sustain for this period and you burn 300-350 calories. It’s obvious that the harder you work, the more calories you expend. It does not matter what percentage of these calories are fat. What matters is the total calorie deficit (negative energy balance) you have created. When your body doesn’t have enough calories to sustain all its daily activities, it turns to just one source of energy—stored body fat—and that’s what we want it to do! I would recommend you to include 20 minutes of weight circuit after your aerobics. And change your mild walk into brisk walk or jog/run. Try running or jogging for a minute, then brisk walk for two minutes and repeat. Good luck!
Double
Straighten your right leg and curl your legs towards your ribcage as you curl your shoulders forward. Switch legs and repeat.
1 Sandesh Palungwa Limbu
Perform 10 repetitions of each diagonal and double crunch and switch sides.
2
a certified professional fitness instructor, founder of RAGE Fitness, also specialises in mixed martial arts. He will answer all your fitness queries. Send your queries to him at ragefitness@live.com subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 79
animal anecdotes
Understanding
pet
behaviour...
Acceptable pet behaviour has now become an essential part of pet rearing. Nowadays many pet owners are conscious not only of their pet’s medical problems but also if they have any behavioural abnormalities. Here are four of the most frequently asked questions related to pet behaviour in our hospital. The answers might benefit you too!
Do dogs use their ears for communication?
The importance of ears for communication is marked in those breeds that have floppy ears. You can easily notice that a confident dog keeps its ear in forward position while an intimidated dog often draws back its ear tightly against the head. This is a big sign for the opponent that it is not in mood for offence. But dogs with erect ears have poor ear communication for these purposes.
Is neutering really linked with any kind of behavioural changes?
Neutering decreases the level of aggression in both the sexes but in male it also makes them less likely to roam. Besides, many diseases can also be prevented by neutering, so always discuss about these things whenever you take your pet to a vet for a routine check up.
Do dogs dream?
It is now established that dogs also undergo periods of Rapid Eye Movements (REM) sleep similar to human beings during which dreaming occurs. Therefore, dogs do dream. During dream most of the dogs twitch, and their legs move and sometimes they also bark. REM occurs within half an hour of sleep and recurs at intervals. It is also very interesting to know that young puppies appear to dream more, because they experience only REM sleep in their early months and many puppy owners believe that they didn’t bring in a healthy puppy.
Can a dog become jealous?
Jealousy is an emotional surge both in human and dogs. This emotion is particularly evident when a dog finds its best friend neglecting it in favour of a newly adopted pet, a newborn child, or a spouse. The dog’s behaviour may be to act depressed and sullen, or in a few cases, aggressive. The best preventive measure for this is to make an effort to spend a bit more time petting or playing with the dog. You can even take the dog for walks, or call it to you for a treat when it least expects it. The result will be very fruitful and your dog will happily accept the new addition in your family.
Q&A PET
Dr Yadav, senior veterinarian
at Animal Hospital and Research Centre, Subidhanagar, will answer all your pet queries. Email your questions to sarojyadav641@hotmail.com Contact him at 4480005
80 | VOW | march 2011
I have three pet dogs—a Labrador, a Dalmatian and a curly, long haired dog! I found the last pet a year ago. She was a very sick mutt, having mange, worms and a couple other problems that I had to take care of. Gradually, she recovered and was in good health but now she is sick again. With my financial crunch, I forgot to give her timely vaccinations. I want your help. Is it too late for me to go back and give her the shots? Will the vet start all over again or give her a different type of shot? I even want to get her spayed—what’s the ideal age? – Dhimbung, 22 Vaccines are very important for the prevention of many diseases. Therefore, most of the vaccines are repeated annually throughout the animal’s lifetime. But if someone misses the annual shots, it is given anytime in between and followed accordingly. For spaying, most of the vets prefer to do it before the onset of oestrus period as it is proved that when a female dog is spayed before its first heat, the chances of getting mammary tumour is reduced by nearly 50 percent. Nevertheless, there is no ideal time for spaying. You can take her for a surgery anytime while she is in sound health.
quiz and polls
Are
fthealling into you
envy trap? 1
Did you congratulate this person for his/her achievement?
3
a) Yes b) No
2
How did the news of his/her achievement make you feel? a) Happy b) Indifferent c) Disturbed
82 | VOW | may 2011
Did you worry that superiors might devalue your own achievements as a result?
Think about a person in your organisation who is at a similar level and with whom you often compare yourself. Think about one of this person’s recent accomplishments. Then answer the questions below.
5
a) Yes b) No
4
When was the last time you gave public credit or kudos to this person? a) Last time s/he had a success b) Don’t remember c) Never
Do you sometimes catch yourself obsessing over how much status this person has? a) Yes b) No
6
Imagine that this person has suffered an embarrassing public failure or professional loss. Does this make you feel sad, indifferent or happy? a) Sad b) Indifferent c) Happy
Scoring a- 0 a- 0
b- 1 b- 1
c- 2
4.
a- 1 a- 0
b- 0 b- 1
c- 2
5.
a- 1
b- 0
6.
a- 0
b- 1
1. 2. 3.
c- 2
EVALUATION 7-9 The green-eyed-monster
lives! While your selfawareness is admirable, your burning sense of envy is almost certain to cause you (or others) grief at work, if it hasn’t already.
4-6 You are a moderately envious person – a bit of competition
with work colleagues is often healthy, but be careful you don’t cross the line.
2-3 With low envy levels you get on with your colleagues and are pleased when their work is recognised. Sometimes you wish people would appreciate you more, but hey – the important thing is that everyone is happy, right?
0-1 You have attained the Buddhist mind-state of mudita – you
constantly rejoice in the good fortune of others. Either that, or you are in total denial.
What’s your go-to summer hairstyle? a. b. c. d.
Down and loose — 12 A bun — 19 A ponytail — 43 Short and snappy — 26
a) 12% d) 26% b) 19%
c) 43%
Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. Like it or not, the geologic time scale tells us that no species lasts forever. How do you think humanity will go extinct? a. Superbug. We’re going to accidentally or intentionally help breed a sickness that we can’t cure. b. We’ll be around until the sun dies. Here’s to five billion more years! c. A giant asteroid will slam into Earth, creating a huge fireball that burns most of the world’s forests and setting off the most massive earthquake the world has ever seen, rendering the Earth uninhabitable for the few remaining survivors. d. I have no idea! Voice your opinion in our poll and make your choice count. Send your answers to editorial@vow.com.np or simply log on to website www.vownepal.com
subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 83
spices Glory of Bhaktapur-Step II
The Art School organised a joint art exhibition titled, "Step II" by a group of emerging young artists from 9 till 18 April at Jhaurbahi, Bhaktapur. The exhibition showcased the traditional art of Bhaktapur in a contemporary style. Uttam Prasad Baidhya, President of Bhaktapur Chamber and Diwan Chandra Dhaubadel, President of BTDC inaugurated the event.
Soiree with Hemant Rana at the Radisson
Rock Sitarist releases three new albums
Rock sitar lover Bijaya Vaidya released three new albums on 8 April. The musical evening took off at Patan Museum after Jean-Charles Demarquis, Ambassador of France to Nepal inaugurated the event. The event was organised by Mu'az Entertainment in collaboration with Alliance Francaise, Kathmandu. The music is a fusion of rock and eastern classical and Nepali sounds.
24 Intrade organised a musical evening with the sensation of the superhit song Laija re, Hemant Rana and his band. The evening of 24 March, kick started with songs by the band and ended with a groovy DJ session by DJ Vital. Wiz Entertainment managed the event while emcee Reema Bishwokarma kept the hall alive with her vibrant energy. The event was organised for the welfare of orphans.
Women in Art
Siddhartha Art Gallery held two exemplary exhibitions titled, 'Rare Asian Textiles' and 'Female Substantive' by Barbara Adams, US born Nepali citizen and IIsa Brittian, female artist from UK respectively on 8 April. Barbara exhibited a private collection of Asian textiles ranging from China to Bhutan, Uzbekistan, Tibet, Thailand, Palestine, Assam, Ladakh, Dolpo, Terai, and Himachal Pradesh. Altogether 45 rare textiles were showcased beautifully. It was informed that the proceeds from the sales of the textiles will be used to fund her social services initiatives. Similarly, IIsa's 44 captivating paintings focused on the female body in subtle colours. John Tucknott, British Ambassador, inaugurated the event.
The changing climate
A documentary titled The Silent Sufferers of Climate Change by Sunita KC was screened at the British Council on 22 March. The documentary focused on showing how women are directly and indirectly being affected by the inevitable changes of the climate. It also showed how women from all regions are equally affected because they are the ones who are directly responsible in their households for water, firewood and sometimes even farming. Most women lack awareness as to why they are suffering and hence, the title, explained Sunita KC.
Classic Diamond Jewellers' fashion show
Set in an amazing backdrop with stunning models from Nepal and India, Classic Diamond Jewellers showcased their collections from casual sets to cocktails and bridal jewelleries at the Timeless Paragon Fashion Show held at Hotel Yak & Yeti on 16 April. The highlight of the event was Bollywood actress Minissha Lamba walking the ramp in the bridal collection by Classic Diamond Jewellers.
Upgraded to Top Gear
On the evening of 18 March, Vijay Motors launched the new Top Gear Privilege Card which is an upgrade from the previous Opel Club Card. Besides continuing with all the services and discounts that the Opel Card had been giving out to its customers, Top Gear Privilege cards offers new privileges. Vijay Motors' customers will be able to enjoy the benefits provided both at Vijay Motors as well as the several other partner establishments. With the new Top Gear Card membership, customers can benefit from the Rs 10,000 worth of services and products as well as discounts at more than 30 partner organisations. A unique feature of this card is that every female customer will be assisted immediately if faced with a flat tyre!
84 | VOW | may 2011
4th Image School Photo Challenge
On 19 April, Nirman Shrestha was declared the mega winner of the 4th Photo Challenge based on the theme "Wedding" in a programme organised by Image School at Tripureshwor Party Palace.
Arden spreads wings!
Arden The Beauty Point has opened up its first branch at Kupondole. The salon provides hair cuts, make up, manicures and pedicures. The proprietor, Rajesh Ghimire, who has six years of experience and has trained in India and Thailand, has included training facilities, but the classes are only available for professionals. He opines that in this way the talent and expertise that is already present in the industry will be further sharpened and honed. Actress Manisha Koirala and makeup artist Sneh Rana were chief guests on 16 April.
Book buzz at Ramalaya
Quixote's Cove organised the launch of the second edition of Book-a-Bee: A children's book special on 9 April at Ramalaya. The book launch was accompanied by a fundraiser event hosted by Sapana: Company of Dreams, which is the country's first contemporary circus company. The collections from the event are to go towards supporting the Esther Benjamin Trust. The event was a treat for children who enjoyed showing their creativity and listening to stories.
Nature through lens
The exhibition titled "Nature through Lens" was held from 3 to 6 April at Nepal Art Council in which 550 photographs from 204 photographers competing in Wildlife Conservation Nepal's annual photography competition were displayed. The competition was held in five main categories—Flora, Fauna, Landscape, Macro and Human Interation with Nature, with a special focus to Climate Change. Nirbendra KC won the grand prize for his photo titled "Refraction". Sanu Raja Maharjan, photographer of VOW and the boss won the first prize in the Macro category. The competition was judged by eminent photographers—Mani Lama, Raj Bhai Suwal, Nripa Dhoj Khadka, Deepak Rana and Neil Eschenfelder from the University of Utah.
subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 85
spices Change Fusion Nepal declares the winners of 2011 fellowship
ChangeFusion Nepal (CFN) announced its 2011 fellows on 19 April at DECC. CFN has been helping local youth to direct their vision and skills towards social entrepreneurship. Seven winners were declared from the 25 short listed fellows from around Nepal. These seven fellows will now start working on their individual business ventures that CFN has been guiding them upon, making them job creators instead of job seekers. The fellows will be supported with seed loans, regular mentoring for a year and occasional follow-up after the first year. The fellows for this year are Lali Tamang, Krishna Dhakal, Bijay Dewan Rai, Prakash Acharya, Thakur Lamichhane, Sita Adhikari and Sushila Tamang.
Nepali New Year Celebration at Hotel Radission
Launch of Epil- Stop Mousse
Sky Brands Nepal launched its new product, Epil-Stop Mousse, on 24 March. Noted film director Tulsi Ghimire and Miss Newa 2010, Sujeena Shakya inaugurated the new product. Epil- Stop Mousse is a hair remover spray with a number of great features. It aims to provide the user with soft and moisturised skin. You can wipe it off after you spray it on the area you need to epilate. It acts as a good and painless substitute to shaving and waxing. Easy to use, it takes only a total of seven minutes and can be used even on sensitive areas.
Teen Art Competition
AmarJyoti Foundation, a social organisation established in the memory of Late Amar SJB Rana to identify and encourage individuals with creativity and talent, organised a Teen Art Competition on 16 April in which 30 teenagers expressed themselves via water colour. Sagar Samal for his portrayal of the significance of education in the drafting of new constitution was declared the winner and bagged a cash prize of Rs 15,000. Similarly, Sonam Tamang and Anamika Gautam won the second and third places and bagged Rs 10,000 and 5,000 respectively. Anjan Lama, Srijana Gurung and Hira Bahadur Shrestha were presented with consolation prizes. Artists Ramesh Khanal, Bidhata KC and Niti Joshi Shrestha were judges of the event.
ŠVOW photofile/Sanchit/Nibendra/Sanu/Shankar
Nikita wins Miss Newa in Pokhara!
86 | VOW | march 2011
Amongst 14 contestants, Nikita Shrestha won the Miss Newa title organised by the Newar society in Pokhara. She also won the title for Best Talent. Prashansha Shrestha and Nisha Prajapati won the first runner-up and second runner-up titles respectively.
Concert for the EVERYONE Campaign-Every Child Matters EVERYONE is Save the Children's global campaign to accelerate countries achieving Millennium Development Goal 4 to reduce child (under the age of five) mortality by two-thirds. 1974 AD as an artiste ambassador for Save the Children have been supporting child rights through public events. On 9 April, at Moksh, it was yet another of their efforts towards raising awareness about why every child matters and how everyone has a role to play.
Brick by Brick for a clean and green Kathmandu
On 9 April, the BrickClean Network kicked off its campaign to promote clean and green bricks by organising a public event titled "Brick by Brick". Around 8000 passers-by and invitees admired the exhibition of photographer Achinto's mesmerising portraits of brick workers, enjoyed an enthralling performance by Kutumba, live music by Samsara Chakra and a contemporary art performance "Every brick has a story" by Karl Knapp. The main highlight of the event was a stunning flashmob with over 100 dancers promoting a simple message-'Buy clean and green bricks’.
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Ingredients
Pot-roast Duck Breast Aniseed Glaze with water chestnut and Cous Cous For ten serving Duck breast 150gr each 10pcs Duck comfit 600gr Water chestnut 200 gm (1 can) Pearl Onion 100 gm Cous cous (soaked/ cooked) 10 big scoop Fresh Asparagus Potato Puree Diced peppers Chopped parsley Chopped Shallots Sliced button Mushrooms
200 gm 600gr 175gr 5gr 50gr 100gr
Carrot Julienne Cabbage julienne Chopped Bacon Round spring roll sheet Duck Jus or thick stock Star anise Fresh Chopped Thyme Brussels sprout leaves. Crispy fried Tomato skin Duck fat
100gr 100gr 100gr 10 pcs 400ml 10gr 2 gr 250gr 20 pcs 250 gm
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Preparation Method: Prepare filling type mix, adding half of the chopped duck confit and chopped thyme.Sauté the shallots add bacon then cabbage, carrots. Taste the mixture, add seasoning if required and add all the remaining duck confit. Reduce the veg mix to syrup with 100ml duck jus and season to taste.When mix is cold make into crescent shaped or fold as money bag shape and tie with blanched green onion /leeks leaves.Reduce the duck jus infusing with star anise, should not over flavour Sauté all the remaining ingredients (veg) with duck fat, garlic and keep on side. Pan fries the duck and ensures the skin is crispy.Fry the potato in duck fat till golden brown.Place all prepared a compliments in one platter and set along with duck breast, Cous Cous and remaining stuffs in one platter garnish with fresh herbs and fried tomato skins. We can Present the product as per own ideas and presentation style.
Yuba Raj Pokhrel, Chef Culinary journey started from India (Chennai) Worked in various Hotels such as Sheraton, Park Plaza,Park Inn in India The Kohinoor – under Fabulous Paradise SDN.BHD- Malaysia Executive Sous Chef in Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu,Nepal
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Water for Elephants Director: Francis Lawrence Cast: Robert Pattison, Reese Witherspoon, Christoph Waltz, Hal Holbrook (as the older Jacob) Genre: Drama Adapted from author Sara Gruen’s novel, Water for Elephants shows us life in the circus during the depression era. The film stars Robert Pattison as Jacob Jankowski who muses over his life in a circus where he took care of the animals. He is a veterinary student who has recently been orphaned and he joins the circus by chance after he stumbles upon the circus inhabitants in a train. The circus struggles to survive by moving from one town to the next. The film is about love, not only between Jacob and Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) but also love for Rosie, the elephant, who is very difficult to train until Jacob finds a way to connect and teach her. However, the presence of Marlena’s husband August (Christoph Waltz), the dangerous and domineering animal trainer, spells doom for the lovers and others in the circus.
music
21
Artist: Adele The British soul singer is back with her second album, 21, a complete treat for all of us. The winner of the 2009 Grammy for the Best New Artist, she has songs that take singing about love and heartbreak to a completely new level. The first track in the album, Rolling in the Deep is about the end of a relationship while in the other beautiful tracks like Someone Like You she sings about moving on and in Rumour Has It, she lambasts the guy who cheated on her. Adele’s powerful voice is what draws the listeners in. This album comes after her phenomenal album, 19. She has acquired a mature edge in this album and shows us that age is not simply the factor to account for maturity.
subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 91
©VOW photofile/Sanu Raja Maharjan
Man of Music K
ROU T S L E U SAM
magnetism when nted musician, Samuel Strouk has sheer tale ely em extr an and ive, act attr ng, Tall, you he was 14, he chose sical journey by playing the piano. When mu his ted star uel Sam , five At s! form he per . This 30-year-old and experimenting with this instrument ing play n bee s he’ e, sinc r eve and tar the gui ous bands, in different a thousand shows, either solo or with vari n tha re mo ed form per has n ma ch Fren ce, Cuba and Nepal. ng classes for budding students in Fran taki n bee has he , ides Bes rld. wo the of parts and Jigmee Sherpa, noted Nepali musicians Hari Maharjan with d rate abo coll st arti en driv this , Of late çaise in Kathmandu. ali Trio”, on 18 February at Alliance Fran Nep psy “Gy , cert con live the in ing perform z in the Nepali Jazz scene. And it was quite a show, creating a buz lodic preferences... er and composer to know about his me VOW caught up with the guitarist, sing 92 | VOW | may 2011
How would you describe the music that you play?
Honestly speaking, I play very complicated music. My music ranges from Tango to Classical, Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, Latin, Hip-hop, and Acoustic. I don’t have specific musical roots; however, my father played the saxophone and the piano. During my initial days into music, a lot of people influenced me, like the music of Django Reinhardt, Jimi Hendrix, The Roots, Jay Z... And they still continue to inspire the music I play.
Which is your music alma mater?
I graduated with Honours from the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris (CNR), France, in Classical Guitar, and from the CNR of Montpellier, France, in Chamber Music. So far, I have been improvising by learning from other musicians on every occasion I get.
What difference have you found between the jazz scene of France and Nepal?
It is much bigger in France. Jazz has been in Paris for a long time, whereas it is quite new in Kathmandu. I think Jazz has been here for just about a decade and is still growing with fresh ideas from young Jazz enthusiasts. There’s a lot of joy in playing Jazz here…the response from the audience is overwhelming— this sort of response from the audience in Paris is rare. So, it’s really nice to play here.
Collaboration seems to be a running theme in your career. Why do you feel it’s important to play with so many different people?
Playing with different musicians broadens your insight, and brings out new ways of thinking and approaches to music, which in turn, gives you a new personality. And also you get to know important and interesting point of views of every artiste you work with. I believe that with music, you get to enjoy a unique spirit in unison; most of all, you don’t always get the chance to perform such meaningful shows all alone, without actually collaborating with talented musicians from the world over.
You are active all over Europe, the Americas and Asia. It seems like word is getting out. Do you feel like you are making progress?
Progress? Yes, I hope so (laughs). What I feel at the same time is that it does not always mean that going to different places indicates that you’re progressing. It is also about the level of music and the people you are playing with. For example, once a renowned musician invited me to play with him in one of his shows. It was overwhelming, but since I was really not ready to actually collaborate with him, I had to turn him down. Just playing with him for the sake of it wouldn’t mean “progressing”, would it?
Tell us about your current band, Sam Smala… In North Africa, the word “Smala” means family and evokes the feeling of warmth that family inspires. Sam Smala is like a family of musicians who play their own songs. We are five of us—Guillaume Marin on bass, Quentin Braine on drums and percussion, Mathias Levy on violin and guitar, and Serena Fisseau doing the vocals. Sam Smala is inspired by Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, and world music. Our music is a fusion between Jazz and world music and we firmly believe in sharing our musical spirit with everyone. For further details, log on to www.samsmala.com
Your most memorable moment while performing live?
I vividly recall the performance of Cuban and Gypsy Jazz
fusion during the International Music Fair, “Cubadisco”, in May 2007 in Havana. The performance was too enchanting where we (French and Cuban musicians) played so beautifully in a wonderful auditorium.
What do you prefer—solo performances or in a band? And why?
In a band, because I do not like to perform alone on stage and/or travel alone. In a band, you are exchanging your views with others, sharing, playing and travelling together which makes the whole thing more joyous. The best thing is, when you are performing in a group, you are not alone, and everything— happiness or nervousness—is shared!
What is the one thing you do and don’t while performing live?
Well, while performing live, I always make it a point to watch my musicians play. And I never answer my cell phone while performing live. (Mischievously grins)
Musically, where will we find you in the future?
In Paris and New York! I will be travelling mostly between these two cities. As for my musical tours, I will be on the road in Reunion Island in May and in India in June. And later in October, I will be teaching as the Guest Artist-in Residence at Columbia College of Chicago, USA for a week on “How to make fusion with World Music” programme.
Samuel Strouk is playing on Luthier music corporation's strings
Your favourite Nepali musical instrument:
Flute. I have four of them. I have been playing it since last June! Your favourite hangout here: In Kathmandu, it’s Jazz Upstairs and Boudha. Abroad, I just love the beaches—Havana beach! The guitar I play… is a Hermanos Conde “media luna” A26. If there were no guitars or piano, I would be…
playing percussion! I read… non-fiction books on economics, human rights issues! I watch… French films, and films of Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton! I like the colour… Blue because I see the oceans and I like water! I am… sanguine, friendly, and respectful to everyone! I munch… honey and almond cake baked by my mother, and relish dal bhat too! Text» Evelyn Moktan subscribe online: www.vownepal.com | VOW | 93
new spark
Fly to Airport Hotel Kathmandu Just two minutes’ walk from Tribhuvan International Airport, and you are at the Airport Hotel Kathmandu—a luxurious, ‘home-away-from-home sort of place. This four-star hotel has 55 suites, all elegantly furnished and well-equipped with all sophisticated amenities. And an even better deal is that it all comes at an affordable price! Within its premises, you have the Revolving Restaurant, The Lounge Bar and Atrium Café—now you know where to step in right after stepping out of the Kathmandu airport! Sinamangal, Kathmandu Tel: 4112636, 4112637, 4462973, 4462974
Get your smile back!
Your health is in your hands! MCKS Pranic Healing Nepal Trust is a one-stop solution to all your physical, mental and emotional problems. Pranic Healing is a ‘no-touch no-drug’ therapy that deals with the body energy or aura to get rid of several problems. Founded by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, this contemporary therapy is easy to apply and can be rapidly learnt to deal with ailments, especially simple ones. The Trust also offers various courses such as “Achieving Oneness with The Higher Soul”, “Spiritual Business Management”, “Pranic Feng Shui” and “Kriyashakti” in the form of step-by-step methodology on aspects of good health, good relationships, financial stability and spiritual evolution. So, here’s where you can find a way to holistic life!
Oro Plus Dental Clinic is one of the newest dental clinics in town. This clean and spacious clinic is run by two veteran women dentists, Dr Jana Mathema and Dr Pratibha Pradhananga Shrestha. It provides you with some of the best oral and cosmetic dentistry services in town. Pulchowk Open: 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday to Friday Tel: 5009251
© VOW photofile/Sanu Raja Maharjan
Second Floor, Kamaladi Complex, Kamaladi Open: 10 am to 6 pm (Closed on Tuesdays and Half day on Saturdays) Tel: 4242673, 9841275653 (Karishma Agrawal)
Natural wear
Are you tired of seeing and wearing the same brands, or do you want to simply look even more chic and different? Perhaps you could try out the outfits of Karuna Natural Wears. It’s all about ready-to-wear clothing for men, women and kids, and accessories made from natural fabrics—hemp, bamboo, cotton, linen, ramie, silk, soya, banana…in different compositions. The collection here is original, simple, classy, unique and mostly about smart cuts. Definitely worth a wear! Lazimpat, opposite Jazz Upstairs Open: 12 pm to 8 pm, Sunday to Friday Tel: 4427282
Foodmandu.com your meal is just a click away Are you a ‘never-leave-your-desk’ kind of person frequently turning to your computer to bring you food? If yes, then Foodmandu.com is the site for you. The site has a list of some of the most happening restaurants and hotels—you just fill up the delivery details online or place your order over the phone! And lo, the food has arrived! For further details, log on to www.foodmandu.com or call 4102588 – Evelyn Moktan
96 | VOW | february 2011