Tbilisi Diary

Georgia Map

It was
around 3 in the morning, we were still on the plane hoping to land at the Tbilisi International Airport very soon. We were trying to see how Tbilisi would look like from the plane window. Until a couple of minutes, before we landed, we were not able to see anything outside except darkness. However, we started seeing sloppy and tilted lights which were coming from mountains. We could see some lights coming from bit higher altitude and some from lower levels. It was because the plane was making turns as a preparation for landing and it was also because Tbilisi is surrounded by mountains.

Memorable Antu

I have had many training that I conducted and facilitated for various target groups in Nepal. Majority of those training took place either in hotels or training centers, mostly in urban areas whether it be in Kathmandu valley or outside. However, training in Antu of Ilam was of unique experience in my life. The last time, I was in Antu was in the 2009 with friends working for IOM Nepal. After 4 years, I had an opportunity to be at Antu danda of Ilam for a mediation training in February 2014.

It was just a bad day

When one is discriminated for being a Nepali..
 

People talk about special days in their lives and they try to cherish the best moments of their lives in such occasions. These memorable days are unique in the sense that they do not come every day. These special days show up only once in a year. And that is the reason people try to make it even more special and treasure it. Marriage anniversary is one of such occasions during which the married couple try to make best of it so that they can remember it for long. They not only celebrate between two but also rejoice it with family members and close friends' circle. However, the first anniversary has its own utmost importance and value for a married couple.

The Development Set

The Development Set


by Ross Coggins

"Excuse me, friends, I must catch my jet


I’m off to join the Development Set;


My bags are packed, and I’ve had all my shots


I have traveller’s checks and pills for the trots!

Ghandruk, at the foothill of Annapurna: Knockin' on heaven's door

By NEERAMESH

Having bit experience of outside world tour, we always had plans to go for trekking in Nepal to feel and experience the beauty of Nepal. So, here it came. We made it. Our first trekking in Nepal. Where, how and when? Our first plan was to go to Rara lake in Mugu district. But unfortunately, we had to defer it since we could not get the plane tickets. It was bit frustrating that it is hard to get plane tickets for Nepali citizens since the travel agencies have opportunities to charge more with the foreigners. We Nepalese are treated as outsiders in our own Nepal since they get more money from the tourists. It is also similar with some of the hotels in Kathmandu. When we approach for the hotels, they directly ask us whether it is for a Nepali or a foreigner and if we say, it is for a national then the answer is no. And they proudly tell us, "SORRY it's only for the foreigners."

Travelling Blind

http://www.ekantipur.com/2011/03/21/oped/travelling-blind/331229.html
Published in 'The Kathmandu Post'
21st March 2011

Travelling Blind

In recent years, the trend of Nepalis leaving the country for foreign employment has significantly increased. After Nepal plunged into civil war in 1996, the number of migrant workers going overseas increased tremendously. According to the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, approximately 650 migrant workers from Nepal leave for various labour-receiving countries everyday, with an estimated 2.27 million Nepali migrant workers already engaged in foreign employment services—a majority of which fall into the category of unskilled labourers.

Technological Revolution

Time and tide wait for none. I still remember the day when I bought Konica film camera, my happiness knew no bounds. It was in the year 2005 that I went to US and I took lots of pictures with the same camera until I bought a new digital camera. I printed all the pictures and sent them to Nepal for memories. I have photo albums with those printed pictures which give me blissful tour of my life every now and then. Now, we are in a digital era and after digital cameras were introduced in the market, the printing pictures got diminished. I no longer print the pictures.