Kathaputali: One-of-a kind horror movie
The Nepali horror feature film entitled ‘Kathaputali’ is slated for a 2019-end release. Kathaputali is a periodic horror feature film entirely based on terrifying Nepali horror myths and rituals. According to writer and executive producer of Kathaputali, Sampada Malla, “The story revolves around a fantasy kingdom where the rulers are tyrant dictators who sexually assault innocent women for pleasure and kill them.” These dead women in turn create an interesting plot of revenge against their perpetrators, resulting into terrifying horror elements. Kathaputali’s Producer Prithvi Rana Magar says, “I wanted to produce a film that would leave a lasting impression in the audience’s mind. It is something that we have heard of, but never seen in any Nepali horror film.” Kathaputali stars big names in the film industry like Gauri Malla, Mithila Sharma, Karma Shakya, Shilpa Maskey, Usha Rajak and Subarna Thapa.
Brewing in Budhanilkantha
Café Mocha at Budhanilkantha (yes, you read that right) is a proper, posh coffee shop that has opened its doors in an area where finding freshly ground filter coffee was impossible until now. Located on Budhanilkantha Road (opposite Big Mart), the café serves freshly-brewed coffee along with a variety of other non-alcoholic drinks including but not limited to mint lemonades, flavored lassis, milkshakes and mocktails. A limited option of alcohol is available too.
The tourists visiting the hills of Shivapuri and locals alike had long needed a change in their palates from regular restaurants selling instant coffee and momos. Café Mocha comes as the much-needed upgrade to dining in the Narayanthan/Budhanilkantha area. The regular crowd at Café Mocha all day long proves that.
THE MENU
Chef’s Special:
- Smashed avocado toast
- Sausage
croissants
- Cheesecake
Opening hours: 7 am to 8 pm
Location: Budhanilkantha
Cards: Not accepted
Meal for 2: Rs 1,200
Reservations: 981-2709797
Quick questions with Salin Man Baniya
Q. What do you like the most about your fans?
A. My fans are my mood-boosters. Their warm messages, love, respect and support keep me going even when I am having a hard time.
Q. If you had only one day left to live, what would you do?
A. Spend the entire day with my family and loved ones.
Q. An advice that has stuck with you?
A. “It is not about what happens to you but about how you react to it”. This has taught me to be mindful of my actions.
Q. Your alternate career choice?
A. Since I belong to a business-oriented family, I am involved in business and see myself becoming one of the top businessmen 10 years down the line.
Q. Did you always want to be an actor?
A. No, I never thought of becoming an actor. It just happened!
Q. Your best and worst purchases?
A. Best purchase is my car. I can’t think of anything I regret buying.
Q. What would you like to say to aspiring actors?
A. Make sure that the script you select has good content. Be mentally and physically prepared to take what it requires to be in the film industry.
Q. Are you someone who likes to live in a happening city or its quiet outskirts?
A. I prefer quiet outskirts because I am someone who is constantly looking for my own space. I always seek for a more peaceful environment.
It's time to go wall climbing in Kathmandu and Pokhara
Astrek Wall Climbing in Kathmandu
Located at the heart of Kathmandu, Thamel, Astrek boasts of Nepal’s tallest climbing wall of 50 feet. Open every day including on holidays, there are 20 different routes for all experience levels. For those who enjoy a full bodied climb, you will love the two bouldering walls that this place has. The walls are also sheltered from sun and rain, and there is a backup generator in case of power cuts. While there, you can enjoy some food and a fully stocked bar in the Club House. If you thought it could not get better, you also get free Wifi and access to a music system. On weekdays, you can climb for Rs 700 and on weekends, for Rs 800, which includes climbing, shoes and harness rentals. Call 014419265 for more information.
Pasang Lhamu Sports Climbing Center in Kathmandu
This gym/physical center at the Shankha Park in Dhumbarahi also has an amazing wall climbing gym. At just Rs 400 for males and Rs 350 for females, you get rope, helmet, harness, delay device and shoes. If you love wall climbing, taking a membership would be wise; monthly membership costs Rs 4,500. Since 2002, the center has been promoting rock climbing in Nepal and even training aspiring Nepali mountaineers on advanced techniques. So if you are looking for something fun and adventurous to do without going away from Kathmandu, this is just for you! For more information, call 014015515
Psycho Block Wall Climbing in Pokhara
Located in Kahare Chowk in Pokhara, this place might be small but it is very well built and built with many levels and routes. Opened by Guillaume, who is French, you can also learn techniques of rock climbing for Rs 1,500 (inclusive of climbing gears). Every Wednesday evening, they host a climbing game night that you can enter for Rs 500. Open from 9 am to 7 pm, the hourly rate for wall climbing here is Rs 350. Call 980-8100679 for details.
Neither water nor electricity for landless squatters
By Keshar Rokka/ Ganga Khadka | Gulmi
Small shacks with thatched roofs that can’t stop rain water from seeping in. There are 10 of them on the sides of the Madan Bhandari Lokmarg. Each shack is home to about a dozen people. As many as 50 squatters belong to the same extended family that lost their houses and belongings to a flood about a decade ago. Their neighbors, who have well-built houses, get running water and electricity. The neighborhood, which is about a 15-minute walk from Simaltari Bazaar, Gulmi, has a joyous vibe during festivals.
However, in the squatter settlement of Malika rural municipality, access to electricity is a distant dream. The residents, all of whom are Dalits, cook, eat and sleep before sunset. Many eke out a living by doing manual labor. Children are not able to study properly. Girls get married (and pregnant) at an early age.
Between 1999 and 2017, the residents of this settlement have voted four times to elect their representatives. Right before elections, politicians visit the settlement and make lofty promises of bringing water and electricity. But once elected, they forget their promises. The squatters say that many political leaders have pledged to resettle them in a better place and even provide them with land certificates, but they have been empty promises.
Right before elections, politicians come to our settlement and even spend the night here. But all these years, our problems have fallen on deaf ears
Pom Bahadur BK, 46
“During elections, the candidates come to our shacks and even spend a night here. But all these years, our problems have fallen on deaf ears,” complains Pom Bahadur BK, 46. He laments that he has to go to a nearby river to quench his thirst. Although there is more than enough water in the neighborhood, residents of this settlement do not have access to it just because they are squatters.
Gothi BK, 63, says that people in her settlement face many challenges, especially during festivals or when they fall sick. “My husband passed away over 25 years ago. I have four kids. Because I get a widow’s allowance from the government, I manage to make ends meet,” she says. She recollects the times when she was sick but could not go to the hospital because she had no money.
Local youths here have been unable to find a reliable source of income. They express regret that nobody in the village trusts them with a loan that they can invest.
Rit Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of the rural municipality, says public land is being steadily encroached upon. “Not all residents of the settlement are landless squatters, only some. After data collection and verification, we will shift them to an integrated settlement,” says Thapa.
He adds that although there are no specific programs in the current fiscal, policies to improve the lives of the squatters will be introduced in the coming year. “As we have plans to resettle them, we cannot build additional infrastructure in the settlement,” says Thapa.
Maintaining unity in the ruling NCP won’t be easy
One year after the formal unification of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Center), the new Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has only now finalized the chiefs and secretaries of its 77 district committees. Party leaders hail this as a major achievement toward full-fledged organizational unification. However, there is still considerable dissatisfaction in the party over the decision-making of its top leaders, and organizational issues at the local level are yet to be settled. This is happening against the background of growing public frustration with the functioning of the communist government. Kamal Dev Bhattarai talked to Shyam Shrestha, an analyst of left politics in Nepal, for his insights.
How do you evaluate the federal government’s performance thus far?
Latest data show the country’s Gross Domestic Product is growing by 6.8 percent, a definite increase from previous years. So the size of the national economy has grown. In terms of economic stats, the government is not so weak. But expectations with this government were high because of its two-third command in the national parliament and because of the ruling party’s effective control over six of the seven provincial governments. The NCP made big promises in its election manifesto and people are judging it on that basis. Another basis of evaluation is how the government is handling the country’s key priorities. These two bases give us grounds for objective analysis. For one, serious problems have emerged in the implementation of federalism.
What problems are you referring to?
The first problem is related to budget allocation. Provincial and local governments cannot fully exercise the rights bestowed on them by the constitution if they face a funding crunch. They are short not only of financial but also of human resources. Provincial governments were not given enough financial resources. In last year’s budget, 71 percent was captured by the central government even though the center does not have many rights. Only 29 percent of the budget has been allocated to provincial and local governments. The allocation is not compatible with federal structures, with a center without many rights keeping more than two-thirds of the budget. This has created a serious problem in the implementation of federalism. Similarly, the government has failed to mobilize enough staff. The provincial government does not have the right to mobilize the police forces, and provincial level home ministries are without any role. The constitution, on the other hand, envisages powerful provincial governments.
What is the state of the local governments?
They are not doing well either. Let’s take the example of education. Local governments are empowered to exercise rights related to education but the center is recruiting the teachers. Recently, the National Education Commission submitted its report to the federal government. The commission has outlined areas that need to be separately implemented by federal, provincial and local governments. It has been over three months since the government received the report but it has not been made public yet. This is a centralized, anti-federal mentality. Party co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has himself expressed displeasure at this state of affairs.
Is it because those in power now are not committed to federalism?
This is a reality. Earlier, KP Oli used to say publicly that federalism was not his agenda. But now that he has become the country’s prime minister, the onus is on him to implement the constitution. British Prime Minister Theresa May campaigned to remain in the EU before Brexit, but she now has the responsibility to implement it. The same applies here. Sincere and effective implementation of federalism is the prime minister’s political and constitutional responsibility.
You mean PM Oli himself is not honest about the implementation of the constitution?
Yes. There is inadequate budget for the effective functioning of federal structures. The center has monopolized the budget but development expenditure is low. Most of that budget will be spent at the end of the fiscal. The NCP manifesto promised radical change in agriculture by ensuring irrigation facilities. The manifesto also states that the country will be self-reliant on food within two years. But the budget allocated for agriculture has been slashed by more than half. This shows the true intent of our prime minister. Farmers are getting very low prices for their produce and yet consumers are overburdened. The government has failed to lessen the role of brokers who are capturing the market. Another problem is that the NCP base is the lower and lower-middle classes but the government is serving the interests of the middle and high classes. It seems unaware of the class it represents and how it should function to keep its constituencies intact.
In a separate context, a year after formal party unification, NCP leaders claim to have settled disputed issues. What do you think?
Top leaders did not take unification seriously. Party unification does not mean two leaders coming together. First, there should be ideological unification. Second, there should be amicable unification of organizational structures. They announced party unification despite differences on ideology and organizational structures, which was a blunder. Now they are facing the consequences. They should resolve both ideological and organizational issues through serious discussions.
But you could argue ideological coherence was never their priority and that unification was just a quick way to get to power.
Yes, ideology is not their priority. There has been no discussion or debate on party ideology after unification, even though the two parties came from separate backgrounds. The Maoists glorified the armed insurgency and they believed in bullets. The UML prioritized the parliamentary front. One party glorifies the 10-year-long insurgency while another condemns it. They need to think of how to bridge this ideological gap. Still, they have huge differences, which is why Maoist leaders still talk about Janabadi Kranti (People’s revolution) while former UML leaders adhere to the parliamentary path.
How do you see the NCP? Is it a communist or a democratic socialist party?
It would be a big thing if the NCP could be a democratic socialist party. That would be revolutionary. In many Scandinavian countries run by democratic socialist parties, the government is responsible for education and health. Norway, Switzerland and Denmark are not communist nations but their governments nonetheless look after senior citizens, and health and education. In our case, Dr. Govinda KC has to stage a fast onto death to improve the health sector. KC, who belongs to the bourgeoisie, is demanding health reform and the communist government listens to him only at the eleventh hour. It is a matter of shame for the government. The constitution clearly mentions that health and education should not be left in the hands of businesses. The government puts on a mask of communists but it is pushing a capitalist agenda in practice.
Even in capitalist countries, the state takes the responsibility of health and education. Political ideologies are immaterial. But in Nepal crucial areas such are health and education are captured by businessmen while the government looks on helplessly. This is not the working style of a communist government with a two-third majority.
Do you think the unification will last?
If they do not take immediate steps to resolve ideological and other disputes, unification will be in grave jeopardy, for three reasons. First, ideological and other backgrounds of the two parties are different. Second, there is growing dissatisfaction over party functioning. Third, even top leaders are saying that justice has not been done. There are complaints that a few leaders exercise a monopoly. Madhav Kumar Nepal’s command over the party is strong as he served as its general secretary for more than 15 years. Similarly, Bam Dev Gautam and Jhala Nath Khanal also have a strong hold. Maoist ministers are not happy with PM Oli. The ideological as well as organizational issues remain unresolved. The organizational structure is becoming more complicated. There also are questions of intra-party democracy.
How do you assess the supposed power-sharing formula between Dahal and Oli?
There may be a dispute as Oli is not ready to step down easily. The party is not working according to a system, and there is a bureaucratic mindset. If a communist party functions in a bureaucratic way, it centralizes power at the upper level and creates anarchy at lower levels. Only a participatory approach will sustain unification. The way the party is currently functioning will deepen dissatisfaction among the rank and file, ultimately leading to a split.
There are reports that top leaders are ganging up against Oli.
This is because of Oli’s own behavior. I see the possibility of big changes in internal alliances. Dahal, Nepal, Khanal and Gautam have all suffered at Oli’s hands. If these four leaders come together, there would be a change in power balance in favor of this alliance. There are high chances of such an alliance and PM Oli fears this. The power balance is unstable. If the four leaders come together, Oli, already in a minority in the politburo, will face the same situation in the Central Committee and other organizational structures.
Now, the party is like an alliance of different factions, which are based more on differing interests than on ideological differences. Now they are united only because they are in power and disunity could throw them out of power. There are many ways to sustain party unity but senior leaders don’t seem serious about it. So it will be hard to keep the party unity intact.
Is the rift between Oli and Dahal widening?
Yes, due to some pressing issues related to federalism. Similarly, there are reports that PM Oli has not given much importance to ministers of former CPN (Maoist Center) and constantly interferes with their work. Minister for Education Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, Minister for Industry Matrika Yadav and other ministers have expressed dissatisfaction over the PM’s working style.
It's time to jump in the cool swimming pool in this hot weather!
Swayambhu Recreation Center, Kathmandu
If you are looking for a quick swim for a reasonable price, this deal is for you. The entry fee for this swimming pool in Swayambhu is just Rs 350! If you want to get a membership, the monthly charge is Rs 4,500 and you can go for a swim anytime. If you wish to learn how to swim, they have coaches who will give you a full swimming course for Rs 9,500. The pool is open from 6 am to 9 pm. Of course, you can first go around Swayambhu stupa, and visit this recreation center later for some rest and a refreshing splash!
Hyatt Regency, Kathmandu
At Hyatt Regency, you can enjoy not just the pool but also admire the lovely gardens and the beautiful ambience. A day at the 25-meter swimming pool here costs Rs 1,500 for adults and Rs 1,100 for children. If you wish to get membership card for swimming at the Hyatt, it will cost you Rs 22,000 a month. When you swim here, you forget that bustling Boudha is right around the corner. The pool is open from 7 am to 8 pm. Give your body this cool treat this summer!
Shangri-La Village Resort Hotel, Pokhara
This is just about the perfect swimming location in Pokhara. With such a beautiful ambience and eye-pleasing view, swimming in this pool is guaranteed to be very relaxing. You can see the beautiful Annapurna Range from this resort. The prices are affordable too. It will cost you Rs 1,000 a person for an entire day in the fancy pool. If you want to get a monthly membership, you pay Rs 8,000. The pool is open from 7 am to 7 pm every day!
Palatable pizzas from Pokhara
The no-less-than legendary Pokhara Pizza House has had a branch in Kathmandu for a couple of years now. With its pizzas priced at just Rs 300 a pop, its luscious offerings are already winning the hearts of the Valley’s food connoisseurs. Popular among budget tourists and locals of the Lakeside area, the Pokhara Pizza House’s Kathmandu branch at Dhumbarahi serves the same fire-wood pizzas they’ve been selling since 2009. The mid-sized, decently priced pizzas can be eaten at the quaint little venue, ordered online or via phone, and the delivery is free.
We recommend you visit the place though, with its exotic placement in the middle of a small plateau formed between Dhumbarahi Chowk and Sukedhara. You can gulp on some chilled draught beer at the joint too.
THE MENU
Chef’s Special:
- Firewood Pizzas
- Chicken Wings
- Draught Beers
Opening hours: 11 am-9 pm
Location: Dhumbarahi
Cards: Not accepted
Meal for 2: Rs 1000
Reservations: 014377722, 9851240267
