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The Belgian Waffle Co. Nepal 

This international company that has 300 branches worldwide entered Nepal market just a year back. But because of the rich taste of their waffles and affordable price range (Rs 190 to Rs 390), they have already made a name here. Not only do they serve their waffles in Thamel and Durbar Marg in Kathmandu, they also have an outlet in Lakeside, Pokhara. If you want waffles served at your event they will send their catering team, so that you get freshly baked, hot and crispy waffles. If you visit one of their outlets, we recommend you try their signature waffle Rocky Road, which is also their most-loaded waffle with an ice-cream base.

Waffle Love 18

If you are around Basantapur and want a quick bite, go to this place to also satisfy your sweet cravings. Try their King Croffle, Sinful Temptations, Sweetest Revenge or Kitty Katti Crunch which they say taste the best. You can get waffles here for just Rs 200 to Rs 300. Along with a great ambience in the crowded street of Basantapur, you will have friendly staff welcoming you. They also offer wide range of beverages to go with your waffle.

Mike’s Breakfast

This American restaurant in Lazimpat (next to Shankar Hotel) also serves fluffy waffles. The Healthy Waffle here is Rs 425 and served with seasonal fruits and yoghurt on the side. If you are health-conscious and want to have healthy waffles, you might want to try this one. As the name of the place suggests, go for some breakfast there for a good start to your day. The greenery and freshness of this place is sure to energize you.

Chicken Station

Yes, they also serve yummy ‘Great Belgian Waffles’. You can get a variety of mouth-watering waffles for Rs 130 to Rs 320. To cater to the growing demand for waffles, they now serve waffles from their Jhamsikhel, Thamel, Whitehouse, Shankhamul and Chakrapath outlets. If you visit these outlets by May 22, you get a free Belgian waffle for every Hot Wings you buy. So hurry!

World of Waffles

World of Waffles is a quick-service restaurant known among waffle lovers in Nepal and they claim to be the first ones to introduce waffles in Nepal. This dessert outlet has presence in City Center and Labim Mall in Kathmandu, Central Mall in Biratnagar and Mahendrapul in Pokhara. Price here starts from Rs 120, and varies according to the toppings of your choice (They have plenty!). You must try Nutella Nudge when you visit, which is also their best-selling waffle.

Coco Waffle Café

This cozy dessert shop in Bansbari looks straight out of an Instagram feed. The restaurant not only specializes on waffles, they also serve delicious bakery items. Especially their chocolate cupcakes will keep you coming back. Here, you can get waffles, which range from sweet to savory, for Rs 210 to Rs 340. They recommend their Roast Banana waffle with a scoop of ice cream. Give it a shot.

 According to Wikipedia, the only international airport currently in Nepal was established in 1949, officially inaugurated in 1955 by King Mahendra. In 1957 the grass runway was replaced by concrete, and the name Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) given in 1964.

 Since then it would appear not too much has changed. In 1992, there were two major disasters. The first involving Thai Airways Flight 311 when all 113 on board lost their lives. The second came only two months later when Pakistan Airlines Flight PK268 crashed with 167 lives lost. In both cases, the investigation pointed to ineffective radio communication between the ground and flight crew.

At that time there was no instrument landing system (ILS) in place, and it was only in 1994 that licensing of air traffic controllers was introduced. In 1998 an ASR/SSR radar system was inaugurated, funded by the Government of Japan that has supported many safety features ever since. But the challenges presented by the location of TIA remain.

We all have a love-hate relationship with airports, right? Therefore anything an airport authority can do to make the journey more bearable is appreciated. So, leaving mountainous terrain aside, let’s look (as I promised you last week) at the services provided to customers at the TIA. Let’s start with departing passengers. Those family members, friends or tour guides who have come to see off their loved ones must say their goodbyes at the entrance. No opportunity for that final hug inside the building. Just a very public farewell on the roadside. And don’t bring the family car with you—no stopping please!

Finally out of the airport, where is the transport? No airport buses, no signposts for public transport.

On receipt of your boarding pass, travel upwards to complete an immigration form (for departure?), and through passport control. Where the computer may or may not be working (which is probably why we need those immigration forms). Experienced TIA travellers will not head toward security yet—knowing there are not enough seats at the gates for everyone. Very experienced TIA travellers will know there is a restaurant upstairs (don’t be confused by the Business Class Lounge sign) run by the Radisson Hotel. (Please keep this secret!) Security negotiated, hunt for a seat at your gate and wait until it is your turn to either walk across the tarmac or be bussed 60 metres. Ignore the laughing tourists.

And if you came to Nepal for adventure, well the adventure starts, sure enough, at Arrivals. Inside, unsuspecting tourists mill around looking for the ‘correct’ counter or struggle with machinery designed to smooth the visa process. Eventually stumbling through immigration, be prepared to have your carry-on luggage scanned because who knows, the country you just left might have a less intensive security check (eye roll). Then the fun really begins.

Wait endlessly for your luggage to appear. Hopefully you arrive at a time when there are not too many planes landing, taking up the two baggage belts, mixing the luggage from one flight with another. Your luggage might be unceremoniously dumped on one side, so check the floor also. Luggage tags will be inspected on exiting the airport. How many newbies actually kept their luggage tags?

Finally out of the airport, where is the transport? No airport buses, no signposts for public transport. And haven’t we been told prepaid taxis are more expensive? But best just cough up for a prepaid or face a long walk to the new car park or main road where you can try to negotiate a rate which will probably be more than the prepaid cab was anyway. Welcome to Nepal!

 The Nepali adhunik (modern) genre of music has a long legacy. Evolving with the establishment of Radio Nepal in 1951, the genre got its name when Nepali composers and singers started recording their songs with the addition of Western instruments to the existing Eastern classical compositions. The harmonium, tabala and madal were accompanied by violins, pianos and guitars to create this unique genre which has become so popular over time that the use of any or all Western instruments and orchestration have been naturalized.

 Big names like Narayan Gopal, Gopal Yonzon, Arun Thapa, Tara Devi and Bhakta Raj Acharya started this musical legacy, which was then carried forward by singers of the newer generation like Ram Krishna Dhakal and now Pramod Kharel. The vocals, always rooted to Eastern classical, and the complex arrangements created with careful juxtaposition of melodies and harmonies, make the adhunik genre easy to listen to but difficult to create.

 Although still called ‘modern’ Nepali music, adhunik is a not a popular genre among our youngsters. The complexities and the level of musicianship required is such that very few musicians enter this realm of Nepali music. But among the larger population, adhunik songs are still high in demand. While most young musicians are making pop, rock and rap music, there are a handful of musical prodigies who have taken the adhunik inheritance into their hands.

 The 33-year-old Ajar Jangam is one such prodigy. Like most youngsters, he also started with pop and rock music. “But I found my true calling in singing adhunik songs and gazals,” Ajar says. “Those are the kinds of music I grew up listening to and my voice also matched the texture required for these genres.”

 Ajar grew up in a family that is the very emblem of modern Nepali music.

 Ajar grew up in a family that is the very emblem of modern Nepali music. His father, Prof Deepak Jangam, is a legendary music composer and educator who has worked with the likes of Narayan Gopal, Ananda Karki, Deepak Kharel, Pakistani gazal maestro Ghulam Ali and even composed music on Late Queen Chadani Shah’s lyrics. Among his evergreen hits are “Gajalu Ti”, “Kina Kina Timro Tasbir”, “Euta Manche Ko”, “Yi Halla Haru Hun” and “Yati Dherai Maya” to name a few. His list of memorable Nepali songs is so large that if you listen to a FM radio station for a whole day, you are bound to hear one of his songs.

 Ajar’s mother, Prof Dr Beny Jangam Rawal, is a researcher and scholar of ethnic Nepali music. She has written numerous research articles and publications on Nepali music and is considered an authority in the history of Nepali music.

 Coming from this ‘musical’ family, it is natural to assume Ajar’s road to success was easy. Not so, avers Ajar. “I wanted to independently start my career but the pressure of the family name was immense,” he says. “I then started taking part in music competitions and also winning some awards. I wanted to prove myself, I guess.” Ajar also recounts instances when he had to miss opportunities or refrain from trying something new to protect his family name.

 But that did not stop him from creating a name for himself. Ajar kept studying and practicing music to become one of the most successful, young adhunik singers in the country, also winning many accolades on the way.

 A big moment in his life was when he won the “Record of the Year” and “Best Vocal Male” titles at the Hits FM Music Awards in 2015 for his song “Jindagi Le Hisaab Magcha”. The nominations included the ‘Who’s who’ of the Nepali music industry but the youngster nonetheless managed to woo the jury with his mature vocals.

 Ajar is one of those musicians who believe the art should always be greater than the artist. In today’s heavily commercialized music industry, he relies more on his skills than in creating showy facades. The genre he is dedicated to might be deemed old but he has kept himself updated with the latest advents in music technologies. He is well equipped in the art of recording, arranging and mixing as well. Not only does he excel as a musician, Ajar is also a national level gold medalist in gymnastics and represented Nepal at the 16th Asian Games held in Guangzhou in 2010. He had to retire for health reasons soon after the event and has since kept his focus strictly on music.

 For Ajar, music is not just a business but a devotion he has dedicated his life to. With a Master’s in Music from the Tribhuvan University, he is also pursuing a PhD in Music as well as teaching collegelevel students.

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After six weeks of pitched battles all over India, the Indian Premier League—the biggest and the most-lucrative cricket franchise in the world—is coming to an end. The May 12 final is slated for Hyderabad, even as one finalist is yet to be decided. With a win in the ‘Qualifier’ on May 8, Mumbai Indians have made it straight into the final while Chhenai Super Kings, despite their loss to MI, get to play Delhi Capitals on May 10 for a place in the Hyderabad final. Our editorial team at APEX couldn’t talk enough about IPL in our lunch breaks and coffee times and we assumed our readers would be interested in taking the rollercoaster IPL ride too. So we asked a few of our readers their favorite teams and their best IPL moment, ever. Here’s what we got.

Niraj Thapa

Chennai Super Kings

I am a huge admirer of Mahindra Singh Dhoni, the CSK skipper. The way he handles pressure situations as well as his teammates, and the way he builds confidence in players and even fans, are just outstanding. Have always been a huge CSK fan. For me, their return to the IPL in 2018 after a two-year hiatus was an overwhelming moment.

Madhu Karki

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Our own spinner Sandeep Lamichhane’s IPL debut is my favorite moment so far. Sandeep debuted for the Delhi Daredevils in a match against Kings XI Punjab in 2018 and managed to get 2 wickets in the third over. Amazing stuff!

Binita Gurung

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The match between RCB and Kings XI Punjab this year where AB De Villiers scored a 44 ball 82 to decimate KXIP. ABD rightly won the man of the match.

 Dipendra Khadka

Delhi Capitals

The match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals on March 30 this season. KKR chased and when the match was tied at 185 in 20 overs, it went into a super-over. DC managed to win the match when its strike bowler Kagiso Rabada managed to bowl out the in-form Andre Russel with a perfect yorker.

Krishna Thapa

Chennai Super Kings

The second match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals this year when Kagiso Rabada, in an excellent display of pace bowling, managed to get the dangerous Robin Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik to help his team to victory against KKR for the second time this season.

Binod Neupane

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The 2016 record-breaking stand between Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers where they scored a total of 229 runs between them to give opponents Gujarat Lions a target of 249. Each scored a century and in return RCB managed to bowl out GL for 104 runs, which marked the highest margin of defeat in IPL—144.

Gokul Atreya

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The 2016 season when RCB reached the finals after producing one of the best comebacks in sports history. Having won only two of the first seven matches, they were almost knocked out from the league. Then they went to win six of the next seven and qualified for the finals, which they lost by a narrow margin to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Abhishek Mishra

Delhi Capitals

I never forget David Warner’s scintillating form as a T20 batsman in the 2014-2015 series. Always felt like he would make a big impact in the future. Over 800 runs and an average of 60 is no joke in an IPL season!

Raju Khadka

Kings XI Punjab

The match between KXIP and Delhi Capitals this year when KXIP’s IPL debutant for the season Sam Curran struck three times in a row to claim this season’s first hat-trick. His over also turned the table for KXIP who were on the verge of losing the match.