Le Restaurant

It has been three days since we returned to Nepal. I was hoping to get some mental rest here and catch up with some backlot and work planning for the coming peak season. However for the last 2 days, we were somehow trying to settle back into our life here and suffering from fatique at the same time. Hence we did not achieve much in terms of work but spent more time talking to family and staff.

Today as we woke up at 6:30am (nepal time), we decided to take a break from the usual routine and have our breakfast at Annapurna Hotel – our usual hangout for coffee breaks and occasionally breakfast. We took time to catch up with the local news and political development while enjoying our favourite croissant and cappucino.

Next we hopped on to our grocery shopping at Bhat Bhateni, the Kathmandu’s version of Carrefour. Feeling drained after our intensive rounds from the first to fourth levels of the mall, we stopped by Le Restaurant for lunch. I ordered our favourite Chicken Wings On Fire, Spaghetti Bolognaise and two ice lemon tea. The chicken wings have been on my order list since I discovered it in my few visits last year. What’s so special about it? The flavour, the presentation and THE CHILLI. The ice tea was a pleasant surprise.I believe it’s the sweet lime (used commonly here for drinks) did the trick. It gave a subtle frangrance to the otherwise plain ice tea. That,coupled with aesthetics, made the drink really ‘cool’ (pun fully intended). The Spaghetti Bolognaise was very well done in my opinion but alas, we were quite full after the chicken wings and could not enjoy the wonderful pasta. If you have the chance to come here, I’ll recommend their coffee. It always makes my afternoon relaxing sipping a well-made cup of coffee and catching up with a copy of the Nepal Travel Trade Report.

Well, it was back to work after lunch.

As always, I look forward to my next visit to Le Restaurant.

At the Art Exhibition

With Sock Hoon with her painting Mountain Country - Nepal

We attended an art exhibition at the Tanjong Pagar CC today. A good friend of ours Sock Hoon, who travelled to Nepal with a group of good natured aunties in 2006 under Deepak's arrangement, invited us to view the showcase of water colour paintings. It's interesting that she has chosen Nepal as her subject in her various paintings. Her showcase included Village Girls, Nepalese Boy, Pottery Worker, Old Lady, Flower Seller, Street Smoker and the one in the picture, Mountain Country - Nepal. We met up with her teacher Adelene Tan who was really friendly and graceful. I liked Sock Hoon's painting of Village Girls which was printed on her invite card. Deepak and I bought the painting. I reckoned it would sit nicely in our new office.

Naturally Nepal Evening

Nepal Tourism Board and Singapore Women Everest Team

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) organised a trade event on 12 June 08 themed as "Naturally Nepal Evening". The event facilitates the networking between Nepali tour operators and Singapore travel agents. The hosts included Ms Ujjwala Dali from NTB Nepal, Mr Deepak Shrestha from NTB Singapore, Mr Ashok Pokharel from PATA/NATO Nepal. Guest speaker Mr Swami Honorary Conul General of Nepal was invited to give an opening address at the event. Members from the Singapore Women Everest Team (SWET) turned up at the event and was warmly received by the hosts.

The event allowed intimate B2B discussions and the audience was given an overview of Nepal's tourism scene through a slide presentation and video viewing.

TTG Asia reports the event as follows:

Nepal NTO set to woo Asian visitors

Karen Yue, Singapore (2008-06-13)

THE Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) has embarked on a sales mission to Chiang Mai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Penang to promote Nepal as a travel destination.

This follows the new-found political stability in Nepal, which has injected an overall sense of confidence among the tourism players.

The Himalayan city recorded over 500,000 international visitors in 2007, up 27.1 per cent from 2006, and saw improved air access through nine new international airlines serving the destination.

Asian cities contributed excellent growth in visitor numbers for Nepal in the past year. China took the lead with an increase of 120.9 per cent, followed by South Korea at 78.7 per cent and Singapore at 70.1 per cent.

Nepal-based Shangri La Tours director and Nepal Association of Tour Operators vice-president, Mr Ashok Pokharel, said even in the uncertain times of the country's elections in April, bookings dipped only a mere three per cent.

At present, Silkair, Flyyeti.com, Royal Nepal Airlines, Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Etihad Airways, Jet Airways, GMG Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines fly direct to Tribhuvan International Airport in the capital city of Kathmandu.

NTB has also introduced a range of soft adventure tours, such as hiking, jungle safari, cable car rides, butterfly watching and flights around Mount Everest, for the average traveller.

Dedicated pilgrimage and meditation tours have also been introduced through partnerships with monasteries across Asia.

After almost six months of preparation for this event, we are glad it closed on a good note with publicity from the trade press.

Heart to Heart

I found this card in Deepak's luggage. It was given to him by FMSS students. They are such great kids full of big hearts. I know Deepak was able to reach out to them in their Nepal service learning trip as he is genuinely passionate about giving these children the best of their experience. He wants them to understand that they are very lucky human beings to be provided a conducive environment and that they should not take education for granted. Just look at what the kids in Nepal have. Not much in terms of material but a simple heart and thirst to learn. I believe both countries benefited from their interaction. And I hope we are able to do this for as long as we can. Deepak has taught me the meaning of life. It is about giving when you are able to and always give my 101% best in everything we do. It's interesting what the kids have to say...

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On behalf of Team C

Thanks for being such an encouragement and blessing to each of us and also touching out lives so greatly. Also, thanks for your smileeach morning which brightens our day always. Thanks for being there! We really appreciate you. You are very patient and indeed have a heart for the students in Nepal. Thanks for setting a good example for us to follow! And showing us the true meaning of service and compassionand sacrificial love. We love you and we'll miss you. Please visit us often!

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On behalf of Team B

We want to wish you the best in all that you do and may you fulfil your wish and desire to improvethe schooling system in Nepal. We want to thank you for taking such excellent care of is and ensuring that all of us are fit and healthy and have enough to eat. Thank you for your patience and kindness.MayGodbless you in all that you do and please visit us in Fairfield soon! :)

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On behalf of Team A

We would like to say a big THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. We really appreciate the amount of effort you have put in to make this trip a very memorable one. You have been a teacher, a guide, a companion and a friend at all times to us. We would like to wish you all the best for you and your family. Hope you will carry on this great work for the education of Nepali kids. Dhanyabaad, God Bless! Always in our love you will remain.

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And this is from me : I am so proud of all our work and effort.

Thank you for showing me what is selflessness.

The trip of a lifetime

Today, Deepak returns from Sabah after one week of school trip to scale Mt Kinabalu with Christchurch Secondary. Today is the second time since April that I have seen teachers and students returned from a trip with a life-changing experience.

What really touched me was the bond between each individual with Deepak. The depth of friendship was unmistakably strong. I did not make it for this trip but the lovely card pieced together by Mui Kiang told me the memory of this expedition holds a special place in everyone's heart.

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"Hello Mr Deepak :) thank you for helping me climb to the peak of the mountain. And thank you for helping me feel warmer when I started crying. This is my best trip ever!

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Yo!Mr Deepak! You totally rock man! Thank you for the so many things you have done. For always smiling. For always asking whether the food is good although you always get the same answer. For picking me up when I fell, literally. For always doing your best in whatever you do. For being great!

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Thanks Mr Deepak. You are the best! our kindness, kind-heartedness has made me realise that we need to be caring and sympathetic. You are my model!

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Hi Deepak, thks for making this Mt K trip so enjoyable. Your great service, generosity and great knowledge has really made the difference. I also want to learn fromyou in the way you handle such situations.

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Dearest Deepak, this is definitely the most complete and best Mt K trip I have experienced in my 3 trips to Sabah. Your 1st class service and hospitality is the highlight of the entire journey. You have spared no effort to ensure that we get the best. You have made me look forward to climbing Mt K in 2009 and stirred my interest in Nepal. Thanks a million for all your help and generosity during this trip. Really hope we will be able to work together again soon.

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I would like to thank you Mr Deepak for helping me climb the mountain. I'll support you all the way Mr Deepak!

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Deepak, thanks for everything! Indeed it is great having you as our guide! Learnt a lot from you! Look forward to another trip with you! May God bless you with doublefold of blessing in everything you do!

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Mr Deepak thanks for your help and support. You are really a great person. This is my best school trip out of Singapore. Thanks for everything. Stay happy. And thanks for the jacket! It really helped me to keep warm. May god bless you!

Ten Nepali women summit Everest

Very few people might have imagined that women from various geographical locations of Nepal could summit the world's tallest peak- the Everest- and that, too, together in the spirit of inclusion.

Ten Nepali women involved in the First Inclusive Women Sagarmatha Expedition did it, conveying a message that Nepali women are capable to overcome such tough challenge.

All the expedition members led by Susmita Maskey reached the top of the Everest this season.

The women team members were felicitated on behalf of people of Kathmandu on Friday amidst a ceremony. They were felicitated as per the Newari tradition. People from various parts of the city welcomed them with vermilion and flowers as they arrived in the city on a vehicle. Later Maskey said that they could step on the highest peak of the world due to best wishes of the people all over the country. Talking to Nepalnews, she said they would promote women expeditions to increase the number of women in this field.

The first women journalist to summit the Everest and a team member, Shaili Basent said her confidence level was enhanced with this success. Pemba Dorje Sherpa, who guided the team to the top, said he found it easier to lead the Nepali women to the highest peak than the foreigners. During the program, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said Nepal witnessed two historical events this year—one the declaration of country a republic and success of inclusive women's team to summit the Everest. "So, we have to celebrate both events with a great joy," he added.

Source : www.nepalnews.com

Into Thin Air

I picked up this book recently and could not put it down since the first page. I thought perhaps it may intrigue those of you who have always wondered what it takes to venture out to Mt Everestand attempt to summit.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster is a bestselling non-fiction book written by Jon Krakauer. It details the author's May 10, 1996 ascent of Mount Everest, which turned catastrophic when eight climbers were killed and several others were stranded by a 'rogue storm'. The author's expedition was led by the famed guide Rob Hall, and there were other groups trying to summit on the same day, including one led by Scott Fischer, whose guiding agency, Mountain Madness, was perceived as a competitor to Rob Hall's agency, Adventure Consultants.

In the book, Krakauer writes about the events leading up to his eventual decision to participate in an Everest expedition, despite having mostly given up mountain climbing years ago. Initially, Krakauer, being a journalist for adventure magazine Outside, stated that his intentions to climb Everest were purely professional. The original magazine story was to have Krakauer climb only to base camp, and report on the commercialization of the mountain. However, the idea of Everest grabbed him and reawakened his childhood desire for climbing the mountain. Krakauer asked his editor to put off the story for a few months so that he could train for a climb to the summit. From there, the book chronologically moves between events that take place on the mountain and the unfolding tragedy which takes place during the push to the summit. In the book, Krakauer alleges that essential safety methods adopted over the years by experienced guides on Everest are sometimes compromised by the competition between rival guiding agencies to get their clients (some with little or no mountaineering experience) to the summit. One of the most dramatic and well-known stories in the book is the experience of Beck Weathers. Comatose and twice left for dead by other climbers, Weathers suddenly awakened after more than 12 hours of lying in the sub-zero temperatures. In spite of horrific frostbite on his hands and face, Weathers got to his feet and staggered into camp. Every climber was shocked at his survival, and after a dangerous high-altitude helicopter rescue, Weathers made it off the mountain alive.

Enjoy reading.