Category Archives: Nepal 2012 / 2013

Update form Nepal Part 4

Posted on January 25, 2013 | 11 comments

Meeting Bashundhara and Meengma

I have to admit this blog has given me more than what I had expected. And this time in Kathmandu I was able to meet two of my fellow bloggers Bashundhara from Nepal mero maya and Meengma from iScribble.

I met Bashundhara with her better half and it was so nice to have a great conversation with someone who I have never seen and met before. The only common platform we had was our blogs but we still felt like friends who had know each other for so long. Thanks guys for the momo :). And all the best with everything.

Bashundhara

I also met Meengma with his better half and again I was surprised how comfortable I was with both of them. We had a great conversation and a good time together.

I hope to meet all of you again.

Spending the day with my MIL

AS I mentioned before, I am at my parents’ house now but I still meet my in-laws from time to time.

The other day I went shopping with my MIL as she wanted to buy me some stuffs. It was a great day out. We stopped at a pote shop as well as many other places.

momo

Then we went to a restaurant for lunch where we had pizza and momo. Finally we went back to AS’s home and spent more time together.

pizza

I am so glad to have MIL who understands me and tries her best to make adjustment for me in her life. I do understand that there is a generation gap between us and it is not easy all the time but I am glad that she is trying her best and I am doing the same as well. Happy to be part of my new family.

Visiting the dentist

It is my ritual to get my teeth cleaned and checked every time I come to Nepal. After the wedding it has been even easier as AS’s cousin and her husband are both dentists. But this time I did a big mistake and left the check up till the last minute. And unfortunately this time I have to do more than just the cleaning of the teeth. One of my teeth has decayed and if possible they wanted to do a root canal but due to lack of time, I am just getting it filled, Hope I won’t have any problem with my teeth in Sydney.

Being sick

We have been so careful about food and water in Nepal to avoid getting sick. Also we are taking wheatgrass juice as well as supplements to make sure that we are not sick and in bed for days so we don’t waste our limited time in Nepal.

Unfortunately even with all the care, the other night I became really sick. That day I had lunch at my mum’s friend place and dinner at AS’s house. So for the whole day I didn’t eat anything from outside but still my tummy was unhappy and I vomited at night. I was so scared as I kept on vomiting which looked like food poisoning and it was making me weak.

As it was the middle of the night I was alone in my bathroom and had no energy to even call my parents. Luckily, my dog was with me and he kept on barking when he saw me sick that my mum came to check. I was so glad to have my mum’s care but I was really missing AS as well.

my dog

Love you mum so much and thanks for nursing me back to health. And lots of hugs to my dog who loved me so much too.

I am fit and fine now but I was really scared for a while when I was vomiting nonstop.

Inviting in-laws for dinner at my house

As I keep on saying, a marriage is Nepal is not just between two people but it is between two families. So it is normal for the families to invite each other over for a meal.

My parents had invited my in-laws for dinner the other day and we had a great time. My BILs also joined us and it was so nice to see both the family enjoying each other’s company. They do meet often when we are not it in Nepal as well.

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Posted in Kathmandu, Nepal, Nepal 2012 / 2013

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Celebrating AS birthday in Nepal

Posted on January 21, 2013 | 8 comments

I always wanted to celebrate AS’s birthday in a special way but last few years we were never in Sydney to have a lavish birthday party for him. AS’s birthday falls at the end of December and we always have a holiday around that time and so we are away from Sydney. I always feel guilty that I celebrate my birthday with a bunch of friends invited while his last two birthdays were celebrated by just the two of us if we don’t count the random strangers in the restaurant.

But this year he had a very special birthday and I am really happy about it. First of all we were in Nepal during his birthday which made it extra special.

On 28 December, me and AS went to a restaurant called Transit and celebrated his birthday. It was a special dinner for both of us and we indulge in snacks and pizzas. They had a live band playing some nice classic English songs so we had a great time.

transit birthday (2)

As the owner of the restaurant was someone I knew, I arranged a surprised cake for him and he was really happy. It was just a piece of his favourite double chocolate cake.  Also he got complimentary drinks on the house. And that was just a start of his birthday celebrations.

Celebrating AS's Birthday

transit birthday (3)

As I have mentioned many times before, Nepali calendar is different than English calendar. In Nepal, birthdays are not celebrated by date but by teethi (according to position of moon and planets). So he had his teethi birthday again after a week of his birthday as per the English calendar. That day, we celebrated his birthday in the traditional manner.

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birthday puja (1)

His mum prepared puja and sagun for the birthday. In the morning, he sat down and his mum performed the janmadin (birthday) puja. First gods including Lord Ganesh were worshipped. Then, tika was put on AS’s forehead as blessing. It was followed by sagun (egg, bara, chicken, fish) and gifts from his family. It had been more than a decade since AS got to celebrate his birthday according to Nepali tradition so it was a happy moment for all of us.

AS birthday (2)AS birthday (3)

AS birthday (4)AS birthday (1)

That evening, we had ordered a cake. So with his brothers and parents we cut the cake. It was his favourite rich chocolate and we all loved it too 🙂

Then, we went to a restaurant, 8 degrees with his family to enjoy the rest of the evening. The place was not too busy so we enjoyed our time there. The food was flavoursome. It was a great day for AS as he was spoiled with gifts and wishes the whole day.

treat for AS family (1)-tile

treat for AS family (5)

Then the next day, we went out again to celebrate his birthday and this time with my family. We took my parents, my brother, SIL and little nephew for lunch to celebrate in a Newari restaurant called Falcha. The food was hot and spicy there but all of us were happy to enjoy each other’s company. My nephew enjoyed his outing as well. We had a good time and my parents and my brother also had a gift for him.

treat for my family (1)-tile treat for my family (2)

Overall I am super happy since AS got to have a great birthday in Nepal. I also spoiled him with many gifts and I feel good that he enjoyed his time here in Nepal with our families.

I wish him all the best for rest of his life. Love you dear.

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Posted in Family, Nepal, Nepal 2012 / 2013

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Update from Nepal Part 3

Posted on January 20, 2013 | 10 comments

Skinny and photogenic

90% of the people I meet in Nepal told me that I am too skinny and I need to put on some weight. I am not underweight so I am happy with it and as you all know I try very hard with exercise and healthy food to maintain my figure but most people in Nepal have their own ideas about my weight.

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In the beginning I used to get annoyed about it but now I am so used to it that I ignored all these comments with a smile :). Also if you look around Kathmandu, most gals are either similar weight like mine or even skinnier than me so I have no idea why they think I need to put on weight. I have a feeling being married is one of the factor.

Anyway I am learning to just ignore and concentrate in good eating habit no matter what people say. Also AS is on my side telling me I am OK and we just need to concentrate on being healthy. I am very happy to have such a wonderful hubby who understands me so well. But I think he has an ulterior motive as well. He doesn’t want me gaining weight and buying more clothes as I won’t fit into my current ones then 🙂

Most of the people especially from AS’s side has seen me only during the wedding. That time I was a bride so I was fully made up in the traditional attire. After the wedding, lot of his relatives added me on their Facebook. So that is the only way they have seen me in causal dresses.

Anyway, I have heard from lot of his relatives that I am photogenic. I am not sure I should take that as a compliment or not. I am just wondering because, normally I think photogenic means I look good on photo but at the back of mind I was wondering, does that mean I don’t look good in person.

Anyway I got that comment from many people so just sharing what’s on my mind here 🙂

Maghe Sankranti

According to Nepali calendar, it was Maghe Sankranti (1st of Magh) a few days ago.  Please click here to read more about this festival.

As I am married now, I was invited to AS’s grandparents house to celebrate the festival with my in-laws. AS missed the occasion but I was glad I was there as I got to meet all his relatives again.

As I mentioned in my post, this day we eat laddoos (sesame seeds candy ball), chaku (molasses), ghee (clarified butter), sweet potatoes, yam, khichari (mixture of rice and lentils), ginger and salt  and green leaf spinach. So a big feast was ready in the house when we got there.DSC04802DSC04800DSC04799

First his grandma put mustard oil on our head and blessed us then we all enjoyed the food. It was fun catching up with my new family.

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After a few days of Magh 1, AS’s Mama (Mum’s brother) also invited us for Maghe Sankranti. In Newari culture normally, daughter’s family invites SIL, daughter and their kids after the festival as nakhatya (festival invitation in newari) to celebrate the festival.

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I got to meet more family members in this function as well. As you must have guessed,there was a feast prepared which included laddoos, chaku (molasses), ghee (clarified butter), sweet potatoes, yam, khichari, green leaf spinach and many more  dishes. .

Ma fussy chu ( I am fussy)

Sometime words have two different meaning in different languages and I got caught into that recently.

The other day I was in a departmental store trying on few make-up items. The sales gal was doing her job well convincing me to buy something so in reply I said, “ Ma fussy chu ( I am fussy), so let me think about it.” But she understood completely different thing.

Fussy (pronounced Fashi ) means con in a gentle way in Nepali language. So she thought I was telling her that she tried to con me into buying something else. For a minute I didn’t understand her reply as it was out of context when she said, “Don’t worry I am telling you the truth” but after a while I understood that she thought I thought she was conning me into buying something different.

Now I think before I say something as it might have a different meaning here.

Pasni Party

While AS was here we were invited to a Pasni of one of our friends’ kid along with my parents. They live in Sydney near us but they came here to host the function like my brother. It was nice to go to this function and enjoy Nepali way of socialising. I met a few friends and relatives in this function because in Nepal, somehow everyone seems to be related. 🙂

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Wedding party experience

I am writing this as my own experience and have no intention to disrespect any caste.

As I have told you in my post here, Nepal is a country of four castes and thirty six sub castes which means all of these castes have their own tradition and rituals.

I am from Newar caste and in our culture wedding parties goes till late at night. It is common to see Newari party starting around 6 pm and finish at 12 midnight but other castes like chhetri or bhaunu may have wedding parties that start in the afternoon and finish a bit early like 6-7pm.

One of my friends (a chherti by caste)  had invited me for his sister’s wedding. He asked me if I needed a physical invitation card but I said it’s OK as I didn’t want to bother him. So I went to the party hall where he had told me in that day with one of my cousins.

When we reach the hall, the hall was almost empty so I thought either I mix up the day or the venue. But as I entered, I saw my friend. It was 7 pm at most but there were only a few people left there. Even the bride and groom had left as they had to travel few hours to reach their home.

He informed us that the party was almost over. I was a bit embarrassed because I didn’t know what to say. I had tried to contact him earlier to find out the details but he was unavailable as he was flying in from the US the same day. Even my mum had reminded me to check the time but I just assumed that it would be same as ours but I was so mistaken.

I was happy to meet my friends after a while but it was a bit embarrassing situation and for the first time in my life I reached a party when it was almost over.

Latest update

I am having a great time with my parents. I am spending lots of time with them talking and having a great time. We have been to many temples around Kathmandu which I will post details of later. I am really glad that I extended my 2 weeks holiday to spend with them as they are very happy to have me here and I am very happy to be here.

I still miss AS a lot but I will be seeing him soon. We talk on the phone or Skype everyday so I am happy to be in Kathmandu in my birth home.

Take care everyone till my next post.

10 Comments

Posted in Family, Kathmandu, Nepal, Nepal 2012 / 2013, Nepali Culture, Nepali Festivals, Nepali food, Newari Culture, Newari Food

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Makka Ku

Posted on January 17, 2013 | 14 comments

We are still celebrating our wedding after more than 1 and half years. I am still a new bride wherever I go :). While I was living at my new home a few weeks ago, my mum following tradition and sent a Makka Ku (pronounced ‘mock-ka ku’).

Makka ku is a newar tradition in which during the first winter after the wedding, the bride’s family sends some items which are necessary for winter to the groom’s home. Makka means olden style charcoal heater but these days instead of makka, electric heater is sent to keep the newlywed couple warm during the winter, along with a full set of warm clothes for the bride as well as fruits, rotis, blanket, electric heater etc.

Makka ku (1)

As we were in Sydney during our first winter, this winter was perfect time for my parents to follow the rituals for the Makka Ku.

Makka ku (5)

My aunt, my cousin along with my brother came to my new home with sweets and roti like anarsa, fini, laakhamari, ladoo, saun papdi, fruits: like oranges, mandarin, bananas, sugarcane, apples, masala: like cashew, almond and chocolates along with snow peas, yogurt, peanuts, sari, pashmina shawl, shoes, bag, electric heater and a blanket.

Makka ku (4) Makka ku (3) Makka ku (2)

It was a great day for me as I was so happy to celebrate our wedding again as this was one of the best decisions of my life and I am very happy to see both the family very happy with our union.

Makka ku (6)

It was a good time for both families to meet and chat. My family came and sat down with my MIL, AS and BIL and had a good conversation. They also checked out our wedding album which my MIL had made for the house.

Makka ku (7)

I had baked blueberry muffin that morning for tea so we started with tea and muffins and it was followed by Nepali feast for my aunt, cousin and brother. My MIL cooked the feast and I was the helper all morning in the kitchen preparing for the day.

Makka ku (8) Makka ku (9)

After lunch my family left and Makku Ku was concluded. As I told you before, in Nepalese wedding the bride is always the winner and it was true for this function as well as I got a full set of new outfit :).

For details and photos on our wedding functions please click the following links.

14 Comments

Posted in Nepal, Nepal 2012 / 2013, Nepali Culture, Newari Culture, Our Wedding, Wedding

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Update from Nepal Part 2

Posted on January 13, 2013 | 12 comments

Meeting AS’s uncles and aunts

As I mentioned before, we had very little time after our wedding and so could not visit AS’s relatives; so during this trip we were invited for lunch or dinner at our relatives’ places.

dinner invitation (3)

One of the evenings we were invited to AS’s dad’s brother’s place and another day, at AS’s mom’s brother’s place.

dinner invitation (2)

Both the visit was fun and I got to spend some time with his relatives and of course it ended with a big feast of Nepali food. I am sure we both have put on lots of kilos on but as AS suggested we gonna ignore it while we are in Nepal as we can’t do anything about it. Everyone here thinks I am too skinny and it is their duty to fatten me up as much as possible.

We had yomari in one house which was filled with chaku (molasses) and other one with khuwa.

Lunch at my aunt’s place

One of the days, my aunt (dad’s sister) invited us along with my brother and SIL for lunch. It was fun as I got to meet my cousin’s baby again along with my other aunt and uncle as well.

dinner invitation (1)

We had jeri-swari as starter and it too ended with a big feast of Nepali dishes like goat curry, tofu curry, many vegetables, sukuti sandeko as well as laspsi ko achar.

dinner invitation (4)

Meeting AS’s niece

As I have been telling you that there are babies everywhere around me and one of the AS’s cousin’s also had a baby girl recently.

She is really cute with hazel coloured eye. It was nice to spend some time with her too.

AS niece

As my cousin, his cousin has also put on lots of weight post baby as she has to eat rice with ghee, chaku (molasses) four times a day.  Also they have someone coming to give oil massage to her and the baby in the sun every day.

Family get together

Long before we landed in Kathmandu, my MIL had decided to invite all the family (AS’s father’s side) for lunch at our place so finally we managed to pick a day where everyone was free. Family events are a bit of a pressure for a DIL as every action will be closely watched so I was a bit stressed but AS assured me that everything will go well and it did at the end.

The day before the event, my FIL and MIL did all the shopping and I and my MIL along with the helps started to prepare for the next day. There were lot to do as there was going to be 40+ people coming for lunch.

food

The morning of the get together, me and MIL were in the kitchen early and dishes like chana ko tarkari (Chickpea curry), cauliflower curry, goat curry, fish fried, mushroom curry, Saag (green leaves) along with dal (lentil), bhaat (rice) was ready before 11am. Also we had three different types of pickles ready to be served which were laspsi ko achar, mula (radish) ko achar and tomato achar.

By the time, the first guest arrived; all of us at home were ready to mingle. Everyone including AS’s grandparents came and the house was filled with buzzing noise in every room. Once everyone was settled then, we served lunch in batches.

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family gettogether (2)

After lunch everyone sat and talk until it was tea time and we served tea, cookies and pan fried tarul (yam).

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After a while everyone left, one by one. It was a nice afternoon with my new family.

family gettogether (1)

My brother leaving for Sydney

Almost 10 days ago, my brothers along with my SIL and nephew have left for Sydney. It was a very sad moment for my parents as they were so attached to their adorable grandson.

my brother leaving (1)

It is a custom in Nepal to put tika as blessings before anyone leaves home. So my mum prepared and put tika and sagun in the morning.

my brother leaving (2)

my brother leaving (4)

On the way out, my brother and SIL put coins on the pitcher on either side of the door. It is believed to bring good luck during the journey.

my brother leaving

At the airport, my mum couldn’t help it and she cried. It was really sad to see her so sad. I am hoping they will visit us in Oz soon.

Visit to Pokhara

I went on a road trip to one of the beautiful cities of Nepal, Pokhara, with AS and his parents. We had a great time there and I will sure post the details soon. For now I am sharing some amazing photos from there.

Pokhara (1)pokhara Pokhara (8) Pokhara (5) Pokhara (4) Pokhara (3) Pokhara (2)

Pokhara (6)

Pokhara (7)

AS leaving for Sydney

As I mentioned before, I have extended my holiday by 2 weeks but AS has no holiday left. So he left for Sydney 2 days ago.

AS leaving (2)

On the day of his flight, like my mum, my MIL gave tika and sagun to him. On the way out, he put coins on the pitcher on either side of the door.

AS leaving (3)

Time went too quick at the airport and before I knew it he was on the plane to Oz and I was there with my in-laws and dad coming back home.

AS leaving (1)

I was happy to stay in Kathmandu but without him I am kind of lost these days. I am so attached with him that I feel lonely among millions of people here.

One of the reasons I extended my holiday was to spend these two weeks with my family as the last 4 weeks I was staying at my new home with AS so I couldn’t spend a lot of time with my mum and dad. So now I am at my parents’ home with them. I am really happy about it and we have already spent lots of quality time together but at the same time in some corner of my heart, I wished AS was with me here.

He has already reached Sydney safely and I will be seeing him in 16 days.

Till my next post, take care everyone.

12 Comments

Posted in Kathmandu, Nepal, Nepal 2012 / 2013

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