Monkey temples and momos

Until recently there was only one reason to go to Swyambu, now there are two. The next time you go visit the famed Monkey Temple make sure you include eating at Momo To Go: Monkey Town in your plans. There are three most excellent reasons to stop by this little one roomed nook—the momos, the dapao, and the taipao. All in the ‘dumpling’ family, it’s like being introduced to momos, the father of momos, and the grandfather of momos. Yes, they’re all lovely delicacies stuffed with delicious meats (or vegetables) and then steamed, but each has its own distinct characteristics. The momo comes in the tried and tested Tibetian style which we all know and love. The dapao is an item that I have only seen in a select few restaurants in Kathmandu, it is considerably larger than momos with a thicker layer of dough. And finally, the taipao is an item that is new to me—even larger than dapao it has half a boiled egg inside and comes with a side of buttery garlic soup. Yum. Each dish is available in veg, chicken, pork, or buff and you can choose to have it steamed, kothey, or fried. The price of the items vary depending on the filling and how you want your dish prepared but given the most expensive item on the menu is a staggering Rs 120, you won’t have to reach too deep into your pockets when it’s time to pay the bill. The only real difficulty you’ll have at Momo To Go is deciding how much of what to get—which is all the more reason why the half-plate option is so appealing. Get a mix of different meats prepared in different ways and taste the difference. To keep the foods even more exciting there are three aachars which add to the already incredible food items. If you don’t have high tolerance for too much piro there’s the mild but tasty momo-cha type of achaar, if you’re bolder there’s the ground red chilli paste, and if you like to add fire with flavour to your food, you can opt for the fried and diced dried chillies. All three have won my highest approval. If stuffed and steamed is not your preferred food, there are options of Sausage and Alu Dum—yes, the menu is rather limited but given the eatery is only a month old, there is much time for the menu to expand. But in the meantime, go there, get a plate (or two) of momos, and get them while they’re hot because depending on the time of day you might be hard pressed to find a seat—or worse, the momos will be sold out.

World Peace Pagoda

The World Peace Pagoda is situated at pokhara balanced on narrow ridge high above Phewa lake, the brilliant-white World peace pagoda in pokhara is a massive Buddhist stupa which was constructed by Buddhist monks from the Japanese Nipponzan Myohoji organization. Besides being an impressive sight in itself, the shrine is a vantage point which offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range and pokhara city.

It is located on an island in Phewa Lake, stands the Barahi Temple. A visit to the island near the center of Lake phewa is often included on tour packages in the area, and is certainly a must for anyone visiting Pokhara. Set in stunning surroundings, many find Barahi Temple a peaceful place to relax, especially after canoeing across the glistening waters of Phewa Lake.

Ilam farmers keen to invest in cash crops

Farmers in Ilam have been increasing investments in cash crops in a bid to increase their incomes. They have been putting money individually and in groups in tea processing, kiwi cultivation and vegetable farming, among others. Farmers started putting more money in cash crops after the Commercial Agriculture Alliance (CAA) under the Commercial Agricultural Development Project started providing subsidies to farmers in 11 districts of the Eastern Region. In order to increase the value addition of agro products, 18 different projects are being operated with an investment of around Rs 38.17 million. Locals have invested Rs 23.34 million while the CAA put up the rest, according to Durga Mani Neupane of the CAA. There are seven cooperatives, six processing centres, one farmers’ group, two tea gardens and two business firms under the project. Among the projects in operation are 13 related to tea, two related to commercial vegetable farming, modern bee keeping, kiwi nursery, commercial ginger farming and commercial turmeric farming. Investment in agriculture has been increasing due to the possibility of higher income through agricultural production and farmer’s inclination towards modern agricultural practices. “Farmers are keen to invest in projects as they are being operated as per their demand,” said Rana Bahadur Gurung of Eco Tea Producers Cooperative. Since the farmers have made investments too, there is transparency and effective implementation of the projects, according to Ananta Rai of the CAA. “Farmers have been able to get various utilities at cheaper prices because of their association with the project,” said Rai. There are six projects related to infrastructure development operated with the joint investment of the village development committee and local people. Two tea and vegetable collection centres, four road improvement projects and a nursery of large cardamom sapling are being operated. “Also, a tea factory is being constructed with an investment of Rs 2.9 million,” said Padam Tamang, secretary of the Tea Farmer Cooperative in Fakfok, Tinjure.

Nasa rover touches down on Mars

The US space agency has just landed a huge new robot rover on Mars. The one-tonne vehicle, known as Curiosity, touched down at 06:32 BST (05:32 GMT) in a deep crater near the planet's equator after a plunging through the atmosphere. It is going to look for evidence that Mars could once have supported life. A signal confirming the rover was on the ground safely was relayed to Earth via Nasa's Odyssey satellite, which is in orbit around the Red Planet. The success was greeted with a roar of approval here at mission control at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The mission has even already sent its first low-resolution images - showing the rover's wheel and its shadow, through a dust-covered lens cap that has yet to be removed. A first colour image of Curiosity's surroundings should be returned in the next couple of days. Engineers and scientists who have worked on this project for the best part of 10 years punched the air and hugged each other. The descent through the atmosphere after a 570-million-km journey from Earth had been billed as the "seven minutes of terror" - the time it would take to complete a series of high-risk manoeuvres that would slow the rover from an entry speed of 20,000km/h to allow its wheels to set down softly. After the landing, the flight director reported that Curiosity had hit the surface of Mars at a gentle 0.6 metres per second. "We're on Mars again, and it's absolutely incredible," said Nasa administrator Charles Bolden. "It doesn't get any better than this." The mission team will now spend the next few hours assessing the health of the vehicle (also referred to as the Mars Science Laboratory, MSL). This is the fourth rover Nasa has put on Mars, but its scale and sophistication dwarf all previous projects. Its biggest instrument alone is nearly four times the mass of the very first robot rover deployed on the planet back in 1997. Curiosity has been sent to investigate the central mountain inside Gale Crater that is more than 5km high. It will climb the rise, and, as it does so, study rocks that were laid down billions of years ago in the presence of liquid water. The vehicle will be looking for evidence that past environments could have favoured microbial life. Scientists warn, however, that this will be a slow mission - Curiosity is in no hurry. For one thing, the rover has a plutonium battery that should give it far greater longevity than the solar-panelled power systems fitted to previous vehicles. "People have got to realise this mission will be different," commented Steve Squyres, the lead scientist of the Opportunity and Spirit rovers landed in 2004. "When we landed we only thought we'd get 30 sols (Martian days) on the surface, so we had to hit the ground running. Curiosity has plenty of time," he told the BBC. Initially, the rover is funded for two years of operations. But many expect this mission to roll and roll for perhaps a decade or more

Now support staff mandatory for trekkers

Tourists treveling to any trekking destination will have to take at least a support staff with them from September. Government officials say the decision has been taken for the safety to tourist.

According to a recent policy decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs, tourists, who want to trek solo in Nepal, must hire at least a porter or a guide, Trekkers traveling in groups are already required to take the service of government registered trekking agencies.

Trekking Agencies Associationof Nepal has welcomed the decision and urged the government to include the decision in the Tourism Act for effective implementation. “The decision will helps promote Nepal as a safe destination for tourists at a time when international media are questioning the safety of foreigners in Nepal,” Mohan Lamsal, general secretary of Langtang National park along with some other cases of disappearance of trekkers have created negative image of Nepal in international market. according to Lamsal. Rana Bahadur Khadka, first president of TAAN, said the new policy decision means all the trekkers will have to take the service of government registered trekking agencies. He said this will control illegal operation of trekking business.

According to trekking operators, the new policy change will increase budget of FITs by only around $10 per day. “This is a very nominal amount and it won not affect tourist arrivals.

An increasing number of traders have been going to Jiri to procure potatoes prompted by rising demand in Kathmandu. Most of the farmers here have kept stocks of fresh potatoes in anticipation of buyers with businesses in Kathmandu.
Sita Jirel, a farmer, said that they had been approached by traders who buy potatoes and dispatch them to the Kalimati vegetable market in Kathmandu.
Farmers start collecting and storing potatoes at Varanda from mid-June. Almost every household in Besiswara village have been storing potatoes at their homes. Saila Tamang, a trader who arrived in Jiri to purchase potatoes, said that demand for potatoes from Jiri is so great that they are sold out in no time.
According to Sita, the potatoes produced in Jiri are very tasty probably because of the high altitude. “They cook in a short time and become soft,” she added. Sita has sold 2,000 kg of potatoes so far.
Likewise, another farmer Shova Jirel said that they could have sold all their output but production was lower compared to last year. Both white and red potatoes are produced here.
Red potatoes are considered to be good for mixing with other vegetables. Tamang said that demand for red potatoes was comparatively high. Farmers are selling potatoes at Rs 22 per kg. However, they are unaware of its price in Kathmandu.
Tamang said that they take potatoes from Jiri to sell them at the wholesale market in Kathmandu. Around 100 tons of potatoes were sold outside Jiri during the two month period of June-July.
District Agriculture Office chief Yubaraj Pandey said that potato production had decreased due to the late arrival of the monsoon this year.
“Mid-May is the time when potatoes are formed in the roots. So rainfall is expected during this period. Since, there was no rain, production fell,” he said. Farmers from other places like Shailung, Gairimudi and Kalinchok have also complained that they couldn’t produce potatoes adequately this time.