Topics:

• Wildlife and Birds of Nepal
• Geese and Crane Migration over the Himalaya
• Cliff Honey Hunting
• Bird Life of Koshi Tappu

Every Thursday… 6PM or by appointments only.

Minimum 6 peoples.

Contact the front desk-office

About the speaker:
Mr. Rajendra Suwal is a well-known wetland conservationist, ecologist and bird tour expert. As Nepal’s foremost pioneer in crane conservation and President of the Lumbini Crane Conservation Center, he has contributed to the preservation of wetland flora and fauna and led many research expeditions.  His wildlife reports and feature articles are also a major contributor for the Biodiversity Profiles of Nepal. He has led several filming expeditions for the BBC Natural History Unit, National Geographic, NHK and national TV channels.

Some say there are two kinds of life: Life you learn with and the life you live with. At long last, the sovereign people of Nepal have told the world, in finality, that they have learnt and have now de­cided to live the life of their independent choice. November 8, 2006, will go down in the history of Nepal as perhaps the most momentous day, not for what it has brought but for what it hasn't — re­morse, deceit and hopelessness. In every important turn of history, otherwise, Nepalese were either left in the lurch or promised something that wasn't there. Enough was indeed enough, and in came the wave that in one fell swoop overturned the regressive legacies which have their roots somewhere else, not in Nepal. The people of Nepal have spoken.
The historic Baluwatar accord promis­es a fresh beginning for the people all over Nepal — to act and achieve anew. The threshold of peace and prosperity is no doubt higher than hitherto. Crossing it requires extraordinary resolve and courage. The heroism with which the proud people of Nepal dislodged the en­trenched entourage of thugs seven months ago can now be applied to give a fair deal to the poor to grow and a fair chance to the rich to share. As the Grand Old Man of the Himalayan politics, G P Koirala, said on Wednesday: The six-point peace agreement is the victory for all. Nobody has suffered defeat those who feel they have been defeated should know the perceived setback can actually be transformed into a realisation, a reawakening — to do better. Just mull over this thought: Some defeats are more triumphant than victories.
The first important step has been taken. The road ahead, however, is long and arduous. The outline of a real nation-state has been drawn. Yet, the Nepal of millions' dream is still miles away. The men and women who already are leading or those who will be called upon to do so in future must never lose sight of the stark geopolitical realities — not necessarily compulsions per se. They should clearly and consistently understand that days of jingoistic nationalism are over. That Nepal is well within her legitimate right to pursue her enlightened national interest is beyond dispute, but she need not in the process pinch the sensibilities of others. And as long as Nepal remains steadfast in her determination to develop, politically and economically, without hurting the interest of others, there is no reason why international goodwill, irrespective of which party is in power, should not be forthcoming. Common-sense is the key.         — Editor

"Thamel has changed a lot today. Around ten Years back, more than seventy percent of people visiting Thamel used to be foreigners. But today, the scenario has been totally opposite"

Why do you go to Thamel?
In  answer,  Bigya  Pradhan,  a graduating student of Campion College, replied, "Thamel is the place where I enjoy my freedom. Visiting Thamel helps me get out of my   frustrations   and   monotony. Besides, it's the best place in town to have fun. Young generations today seek freedom, music, food and enter­tainment. So there's no doubt that Thamel provides you with all what it takes to define luxury."

Thamel, a quick look in the rough guide to Nepal, will reveal much that is there to know about it. When the ' sun sets down in the capital city of Kathmandu, Thamel and its lifestyle rises up. One of the popular tourist venues in Nepal, Thamel is a com­plete package wherein people have an access to seamless varieties of foods, stacks of books, unlimited drinks, affordable hotels, and groove along the street beats and enjoy till late into the night.

In the early 1970s, most of the tourist guesthouses were at Jhonche - the internationally notorious Freak Street inhabited by the Hippies in and around Basantpur - while Thamel was outside the proper town planning boundaries of Metropolitan Kathmandu. Thamel was a backwater then where night fell right after five in the evening.

But during the mid-1970s, Kathmandu Guest House was estab­lished by Kama Sakya - now known as the "Father of Thamel tourism" -and family in a wing of a former Narsingh Rana palace. With that, other hotels and restaurants were gradually raised at Thamel. Thamel starts at the south at a little place

The "Uptown" called Thamel now called Thahiti ("downtown") Tole.
"Thamel has changed a lot today. Around ten years back, more than seventy percent of people visiting Thamel used to be foreigners. But today, the scenario has been totally opposite. At present more locals are found in the streets of Thamel than the tourists," says Namgyal Lama, president, Thamel Tourism Development Committee (TTDC).

"There's been a rumor that the charms of Thamel have degraded now. I agree that there's been a lot of complaints regarding Thamel and about the visitor's security. But that doesn't end Thamel's magic and value. It's still regarded as one of the best places for the tourists in South Asia," adds Namgyal.

But what attracts the people?
Elvis Robertson, a tourist from Canada, says, "I've hardly seen a place like Thamel where one can actually taste foods of almost fifty different countries around the world. Besides, the bars at Thamel have more or less all the cocktails to accompany one's evening. Live band performances, folk dances, traditional cuisines, good place to stay and adventure sports are what tourists are always looking after. And Thamel is one such place in Nepal where one can get all these facilities under a single roof."

For instance, if you are wonder­ing how Nepali folk songs would sound, the Nagarkot Dohori Saajh Restaurant will satisfy your inquisi-tiveness. Likewise, Helena's is popu­lar for its classical and architectural pastries. And if you desire to take a sip of the best cappuccinos, then Himalayan Java is the perfect place to pop in, at least once. Besides, for drinks, Maya Pub, Rum Doodle, New Orleans, Tantra are some the hap­pening places at Thamel. And to sat­isfy your awesome appetite, Road House, Kilroy's, G's Terrace, Ying

Yang and Les Yeux Restaurant are some of the popular hangouts, amongst others.
Apart from music and food, Thamel has equally been a hotspot for the adventure tourists. With that distinction, different trek centers at Thamel have been offering whitewa-ter rafting, bungee jumping, rock climbing, kayaking and trekking for those who dare to enjoy these brave-heart sports. Newly opened massage centers, meditation centers and dis­cotheques have equally attracted both the tourists and locals today.
And how about reading books at Thamel? According to Dipak Agrawal, an Indian visitor to Nepal, Thamel is a booklover's delight.

"The easy pace of the booksellers lets you look for whatever titles you want in the shelves," says Agrawal.
With small bookshops piled one after another, almost all kinds of
books such as children's, religious, historical, traditional, geographical and fictional are found in Thamel. So if you have the patience to spend a whole afternoon in a corner shop looking for the books you desire, the picks of the pack choice are really yours in and around Thamel.

Overall, apart from all the com­mercialization, Thamel is still a native Newar residential community with heaps of ancient culture as well as modernization. With the houses clustered with several roofs, the streets of Thamel are vibrant and lively. So gone are the days when one had to just dream about Times Square in New York or China Town in San Francisco or Soho in London or River Seine in Paris, Thamel has all what your lifestyle requires. And when it's about enjoying your life to the utmost, money is something that matters not, actually - at least in Thamel.

BY AVASH KARMACHARYA