Sari

Posted on December 12, 2011 | 9 comments

Wikipedia defines sari as a strip of unstitched cloth, worn by females, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. But for me sari always signifies Nepal and femineity.

There were times when I needed two people to help me wear a sari but now I can proudly say that I know how to wear a sari without any help. (I may need to try a few times to get it right 🙂 )

Over the years I have been lucky to have occasions to wear my different saris. Here are some of the photos I want to share with you.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

9 Comments

Posted in Nepal, Personal

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Why didn’t I think of being a dentist?

Posted on December 11, 2011 | 4 comments

Yesterday, AS had some problem with his teeth so we decided to go and see a dentist. I had no idea that they are so busy. We had to ring 20+ places to find one free dentist. Most of them were either closed or fully booked out for the next few days. Finally we found one who would takes us but asked to come straight away as they were open for half day on Saturdays. As soon as we put the phone down, both of us were running around to get ready quickly. 

After rushing through traffic and parking we ran to the dentist’s place and were glad that they were still open. 

The receptionist asked AS to fill some paper work and then ushered him into a room inside. I followed him as I wanted to know what’s wrong with him. 

She asked him to lie down on the big chair and then came a dentist. She looked like she was in her late 30’s and she had a very loud high pitch voice. She put on a mask and took an x-ray and looked for a few minutes. Then she told us that as she is very busy before Christmas, she will have to do a temporary fix for now but AS has to have a major work done on that tooth after Christmas. It took the dentist another 5 minutes to do her temporary fix and we were out in the reception again. 

The thing that hit me was the bill that came, literally for a 20 minutes job, $150. Seriously why didn’t I think about being a dentist, I would be swimming in money by now. I was so glad that we had private health insurance otherwise that is a big bill for 20 minutes work. 

Then she printed out a long itemised list as a quote for the permanent fix and it totalled up to $2,500. Seriously, just for one tooth? 

I swear I am making at least one of our kids a dentists even if they don’t want to. They will thank me later. 

4 Comments

Posted in Health

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Maiti Nepal

Posted on December 10, 2011 | 2 comments

There are lots of Charities out there but Maiti Nepal is very close to my heart. I really believe in their cause and I salute Anuradha Koirla for starting an organisation that is helping Nepal stop human trafficking.

Maiti Nepal was established in 1993 and is working hard to prevent trafficking of women for forced prostitution, and rescuing flesh trade victims and rehabilitating them. They also help women who are exploited and neglected by family and society.

Maiti Nepal’s objectives and target group from their website:

“Maiti’s focus has always been on prevention of girl trafficking, a burning issue for Nepal. Rescuing girls forced into prostitution and helping to find economic alternatives have been our key struggle. Rehabilitation, although not literally possible especially with former prostitutes, is one major challenge we have accepted in our work. The practical steps would be to counsel them and provide non-formal education on health, laws, basic reading and writing. They are also trained to develop income-generation skills and provided Maiti’s shelter until they are ready to stand on their feet. The sexually abused girls, abandoned children, potential victims of trafficking, destitute women, prisoner’s children, returnees from Indian brothels, girls and children infected with HIV and Hepatitis B, intercepted girls are the major target groups or say, beneficiaries of our programs. “

Anuradha Koirala is the founder of Maiti Nepal. She has been recognised by different organisations across the globe for her incredible work for the society. She has won UNIFEM Prize 2007,  Queen Sofia Silver Medal Award 2007,  The Peace Abbey, Courage of Conscience  2006 to name a few.

In 2010, she became the first Nepali to win CNN Hero of the year 2010 award and recently she was honoured by Manhe Peace Prize 2011.

 While interviewed by CNN, Koirala said

“We try to give them whatever work they want to do, whatever training they want to do, because when you’re economically empowered, people forget everything. People even forget [she is] HIV-positive or was trafficked.

Our girls are border guards who have been trafficked themselves. They easily recognize a girl that is being trafficked or will be trafficked,” Koirala said. “The girls need no motivation from me. They know the horrors of the brothel, and they are here to save their sisters. “

Prabal Gurung, Joanna Lumley and Demi Moore are active supporters and goodwill ambassadors of Maiti Nepal.

Aunradha Koirala and Maiti Nepal need all the help and support we can provide.  Please visit their website and like them in facebook.

http://www.maitinepal.org/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maiti-Nepal/160015294061757

2 Comments

Posted in Nepal, Social Issue

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Why we women are our own worst enemy?

Posted on December 9, 2011 | 4 comments

Does this happen to you that you are angry, irritated, annoyed, frustrated and upset and the reason behind this is another woman? It can be your friend, sister, boss, in laws, relatives or even your mum but it is another woman. 

If your answer to this question is NO, I have to say that you are surrounded by   an amazing group of women. 

I have always found that it is always a woman who will start a rumour about another woman or will be the first one to criticize another woman’s man, dress, hair, shoes, makeup, cooking etc. The list keeps on growing. 

There are lots of surveys done every year and always the result is:  it is true that women are really getting hurt, and we’re doing it to each other in many ways.

Women are expected to be pretty and take care of herself but if she doesn’t she is marked as a tomboy. After marriage, if the wife looks after her husband, it is ok but if a husband helps the wife, then he is hen-pecked. At work if it is a male boss who bosses you around, that is expected but if it is a female boss, she is a bitch. 

Why do we need to call names to the woman who is independent and has opinions. Why are we non supportive, jealous, envious, and insensitive to one another? Why do we have to be better than her rather than just be best at what we can. 

Studies have shown that women are tougher on women than men are on woman; that women treat female leaders with less respect and support than they do male leaders; that women tend to reject work submitted by other women twice as many times than the same work submitted by men. 

I live in a country where we have a female Prime Minister and Governor General. But it is annoying to watch these women in the news for their fashion sense than for their leadership. They always get more noticed for their hair colour and wrong outfit on certain events than how they are really doing their job. Most of the time there are female journalists making fun of their fashion sense. I am sure I have never seen any fashion police behind male leader. 

Another problem with us is that women always judge the woman for mistakes of others like if the child is naughty, it’s the mum who didn’t teach him manners or if the husband is having an affair, there must be something wrong about the wife for him to go that way. Come on! When are we going to support each other? 

Why are we wasting so much energy fighting each other? Why don’t we use than energy to support each other? Let’s unite and put that energy to good use. 

4 Comments

Posted in General

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Momo

Posted on December 8, 2011 | 19 comments

Momo is one of the popular food of Nepal. Yesterday I had a day off so I decided to make momo. There are different ways of making momo but I think the way I do it is the simplest. So here is the process.

 Ingredients for momo:

  • 3 Wonton Pastry wrappers from an Asian grocery store, 30 pieces in each pack (In Nepal, they make their own from scratch. It is like making roti  but only as big as your palm.)

momo (2)

  • ½ kg chicken mince

momo (5)

  • ¼ of cabbage finely chopped

momo (6)

  • ½ kg red onion finely chopped

momo (7)

  • 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 fresh red chilli, diced
  • 2 tablespoons mustard oil
  • Salt to taste

 Process

  • Mix the chicken mince, cabbage, red opinion, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, chilli and salt in a bowl.
  • Heat oil in a pan and add turmeric powder. Pour the oil on top of the mixture prepared in above step and mix well.

momo

  • Leave the mixture in the fridge for ½ hours so meat is will be well seasoned.
  • In the mean time, make the golbheda (Nepali tomato sauce) ko achar as mention below.
  • Now we need to pack the meat in the wonton pastry.
  • Take one sheet of pastry on one palm and fold as shown in the video below.
  • You can choose to make a semi circle one (my attempt) or round one (AS’s attempt).

  • Pinch and twist the pleats to ensure the absolute closure of the stuffed dumpling, this keeps the juices inside for a tasty momo.
  • Make at least one pack (30 pieces) before heating the water.
  • Heat water in the steamer.
  • Oil the steamer racks and transfer the dumplings onto the rack. Make sure you leave enough room between two momos to expand during cooking.

momo (3)

  • Once the water starts boiling, put the heat on medium and stack the rack on the steamer.
  • Steam for 10 minutes.
  • Serve the cooked momo with achar.
  • Momos are best when served hot.

 Ingredients for achar

  • ½ kg tomato
  • ½ bunch of coriander
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • ½  teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 fresh red chilli, diced
  • 1 tablespoon mustard oil
  • Salt to taste

Method for achar

  • Dice tomatoes into small cubes.

momo (8)

  • Heat the oil in the pan.
  • Add turmeric powder, ginger and garlic and fry for few minutes.
  • Add diced tomatoes and cumin power, coriander powder, chilli and salt and fry for few minutes.

momo (1)

  • Add 2 cups of water and let it simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes.
  • When the paste becomes thick, it is ready to be served.
  • Cut fresh coriander into small pieces.
  • Now add the chopped fresh coriander and mix it in the achar.

Enjoy Momo with Golbheda ko achar.

PS: If you can find momo masala in Asian grocery store, you can use that instead of cumin and coriander powder. It tastes better with momo masala.

You may also like :

*Yomari *Chatamari *Gundruk Aloo Bhatmas Curry

19 Comments

Posted in Foodie, Recipe

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