Tag Archives: hollywood

Celebrating 15 Years of Blogging with You All

Hey everyone! 🎉

Wow — I can hardly believe it’s been 15 years of storytelling, culture-sharing, travel adventures, food experiments, motherhood moments, and little parenting wins here at Nepaliaustralian. What started as “just something to do” has become a corner of the internet that means a whole lot to me — and that’s all thanks to you.

A quick look back

For those who are newer here, here’s a peek at how this journey has unfolded:

  • I’m M, a Nepali-born IT Business Analyst by day, globetrotter at heart, a writer for the soul, and very much in love with bridging the cultures of “East” and “West” through stories, recipes, traditions, and family life
  • Nepaliaustralian isn’t just about me — it’s about all of us who know what it’s like to grow up in one culture and live in another, who miss home sometimes, who love traditions, who try cooking a dish from back home and find joy in small things like language, festivals, or simply sharing memories.

Where we are now — thanks to YOU

As of just over a year ago (when the blog turned 13), here’s what we had reached:

  • 1,109 posts
  • 81 pages
  • Over 10,700 comments (that’s you chiming in ❤️)
  • About 2.5 million page views
  • Some 1.38 million readers spanning 230 countries

And today, as we celebrate 15 years, I’m proud to see how far we’ve come — more stories, more recipes, more journeys, more words. Your support has carried this blog through all of it.

What it’s meant to me

This space has been:

  • My way to keep the language and culture alive — whether it’s Nepali or Nepal Bhasa.
  • A way to explore marriage, family, parenting, identity — the awkward bits, the surprising bits, and the really beautiful bits.
  • A reminder that even thousands of kilometres away, your stories, your love, your feedback, your comments matter.

There have been days when I wasn’t sure who was reading, or whether it would “amount to anything,” but then someone would leave a comment about missing home, or cooking a recipe you found here, or learning a word you forgot — and it’d remind me why I started.

Thank You

I owe so much to:

  • You, dear readers — for sticking with me, for reading the long posts, for sharing, for correcting me, for making suggestions, for engaging.
  • Family & friends — for patience when I disappeared on trips or got carried away writing or editing.
  • Guest writers/contributors — whose voices have enriched this place so much.
  • Every person who’s ever liked, shared, sewn, cooked, translated, messaged, snapped, or just quietly nodded along.

Without you, there is no Nepaliaustralian.

Looking ahead

Because 15 years is real, and I’m excited for what’s next:

  • More travel stories — nearer, farther, unknown places waiting.
  • More deep dives into culture, language, tradition — especially around Newari, Nepali, festivals.
  • More family stories — parenting, raising kids between homes, between cultures.
  • More recipes (of course!) and food adventures because there’s always a flavour of home to explore.
  • More connection — I hope to hear more from you: your stories, your memories, your hopes, your favourite posts, and what you want to see more of.

Here’s to 15 years. Here’s to all the words we’ve shared and will share. Here’s to you — because none of this is possible without you.

Thank you for reading, for commenting, for being here. You’re the heart of Nepaliaustralian.

With love and gratitude,

M
From Nepaliaustralian
XOXO

The Nepali Peace Pagoda – A Touch of Home in South Bank

Walking through South Bank is always a joy, but discovering the Nepali Peace Pagoda there feels like stumbling upon a piece of my heart. This incredible structure makes me so nostalgic, instantly transporting me back to Nepal and its sacred temples.

Every detail of the pagoda is a masterpiece, steeped in tradition and culture. The amazing door featuring intricately carved statues of gods, the stone stairs at the entrance, and the iconic akhee jhaal (a traditional Nepali window) reflect the extraordinary craftsmanship Nepal is renowned for. The stonework on the ground adds a touch of raw, timeless beauty, grounding the space in authenticity and history.

Inside the main temple structure, a simple yet beautiful wooden bench invites visitors to sit, reflect, and soak in the tranquillity. It’s a space that feels sacred and personal, offering a moment of peace amidst the bustling city. The two smaller temple structures on either side of the pagoda complement the design perfectly, creating a sense of balance and harmony.

The surroundings only enhance the experience. The stupa, standing tall as a symbol of enlightenment, and the gentle water features at the bank provide a calming soundtrack to the serenity of the place. The lush greenery and elephant statues add a vibrant touch, making it feel like a sanctuary dedicated to peace and spirituality.

Standing there, taking in the intricate details and peaceful atmosphere, I couldn’t help but feel an emotional connection. The pagoda isn’t just a structure; it’s a heartfelt tribute to Nepal’s rich heritage and culture. Every element—the carvings, the craftsmanship, and the peaceful energy—reminded me of home and everything I hold dear about it.

If you ever visit South Bank, don’t miss the chance to experience the Nepali Peace Pagoda. Let the beauty, artistry, and serenity of this space take you on a journey of calm, nostalgia, and connection.

Sometimes, a place like this can bridge the distance and bring you closer to home, even when you’re miles away.

Please follow me on Instagram! and Please follow me on TikTok to stay updated on my adventures.

Take care,

M from Nepaliaustralian
XOXO

A Day in Brisbane City – Falling in Love All Over Again

Brisbane City never fails to captivate me, and every visit feels like a brand-new adventure! This time, we started our day with a scenic walk across the Brisbane Bridge, taking in the stunning river views as we made our way towards the vibrant South Bank.

The weather was perfect, and we felt so lucky to have such a beautiful day to explore! Our first stop was the iconic Brisbane Sign, a colourful and eye-catching attraction that’s a must-visit for tourists. It’s the perfect spot for photos and a lovely way to celebrate this incredible city.

Here’s what makes South Bank so special:

The Man-Made Beach
This urban oasis is perfect for everyone. Whether you’re swimming, sunbathing, or just unwinding by the water, it feels like a tropical escape in the middle of the city.

The Ferris Wheel
The Wheel of Brisbane offers breathtaking views of the city skyline. It’s the perfect spot to soak in the beauty of Brisbane from above – especially at sunset!

Beautiful Walkways
The meandering paths lined with greenery are ideal for a relaxing stroll, an energising jog, or even just people-watching.

Kids’ Park
A little slice of heaven for families, the playground is packed with fun activities to keep the kids entertained for hours.

Amazing Eateries
From casual street food to fancy restaurants, South Bank offers a culinary adventure that caters to every palate. I love grabbing a bite while enjoying the vibrant energy of the place.

Brisbane City is such a perfect blend of nature, culture, and entertainment. Every corner has its own charm, and South Bank truly is the heart of it all. If you haven’t explored this incredible place yet, it’s time to add it to your list!

What’s your favourite spot in Brisbane? Let’s swap recommendations!

Please follow me on Instagram! and Please follow me on TikTok to stay updated on my adventures.

Take care,

M from Nepaliaustralian
XOXO

The experience of watching Dabangg 2

As many people already know, Bollywood movies are  big in Asia and Nepal is no exception. Bollywood movies run in theaters in Nepal more that Nepali films, as far as I know.

Even when I used to live in Nepal, I hardly went to cinemas. I used to look at cinema as total waste of my time and money and if it was Bollywood movies, then it was waste of more than 3 hours of my life. So I have never been a big fan of watching Bollywood movies in cinema. If I get good reviews from my friends, I get the movie at home so I can fast forward songs or anything I don’t feel like watching. Also, the DVDs  have subtitles which help me a lot to understand the dialogues.

While in Pokhara, we normally had lots of time in the evening as it got dark early in winter and the hotel also had load shedding so we couldn’t do much or even watch TV. So one evening while we were there, we decided to go for a movie. My MIL was keen to watch Dabangg 2, a Bollywood movie sequel of the successful movie Dabangg.

So my FIL decided to call his friend who owns a cinema complex in Pokhara. He just asked him if it would be possible to reserve 5 seats for us for the evening show of Dabangg 2, just to make sure that we got tickets once we reach the cinema.

 After the conversation we drove from our hotel to the cinema hall asking for directions several times to the passers-by as the place was far from where our hotel was. After more than 30 minutes’ drive, we were finally greeted by this friend at the gate of the cinema. As we parked we noticed that there was no one in the cinema hall and the whole building seemed empty and dark.

The owner asked us to come upstairs and we all were introduced to him. He seemed pleased to meet my FIL and was addressing AS as Mr Engineer when he spoke to him (In Nepal, many people used that term to address AS). We sat on the lounge and he ordered tea for us while FIL and few other people from cinema had conversed.

The whole cinema complex was dark expect the place we were in. So my FIL asked why there was no one there. His friend then told us that in Pokhara, they are not doing night shows as the movie had been on for many weeks and night show was not popular in the winter. So my FIL said that it was ok that if the night shows was not running then he did not want to touble his friend and we could leave but his friend insisted on running the movie just for us. And to top of that, there was no power so the movie was running on generators.

Once we finished our tea, we were escorted to one of their halls and asked to seat anywhere we liked. We chose the best seats in the house. Me, AS, MIL and FIL sat in one row while our driver dai sat on another one. The owner and few other people sat behind us and the movie started. I am not sure when but the owner and other people left while the movie was running so at point when I turn around it was only 5 of us in this big cinema hall. With the movie running for nearly 4 weeks they must have watched it numerous times already!

As usual the movie turned out to be a full-fledged Bollywood movie with songs every 20 minutes and unbelievable fight sequence every 10 minutes. I was a bit annoyed that there were no subtitles as I couldn’t understand some parts of the movie. But apart from me, everyone seemed to enjoy the movie and we had a great experience of watching the movie with just the five us in the whole theatre.

Movie marathon month

Since we came back from Nepal, we had been a bit busy so we didn’t watch lots of movie but for some reason I just realised that we watched 4 movies in the last 4 weeks. So here I am reviewing all of them.

Young Adult 

 

I went to watch this movie because I like Charlie Theron but I was heavily disappointed by the plot, the cast, the acting, virtually everything.

IMDB has it rated 6.9 with synopsis as follows “Soon after her divorce, a fiction writer returns to her home in small-town Minnesota, looking to rekindle a romance with her ex-boyfriend, who is now happily married and has a newborn daughter.”

Sorry IMDB but you got it all wrong as I will give it a 2. It was so boring, nothing really happened in the movie to occupy the audience and the ending was so disappointing. I need to choose my movies more wisely from now one, just can’t go and watch it because there is a good cast.

Hugo

 

AS picked this movie as he loves movie like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Anyway I hadn’t had high expectation but was surprised that I loved it, It is a story set in 1930s Paris of an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station and is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.

Asa Butterfield, the boy who played Hugo, has the bluest eyes I have ever seen. I was expecting this movie to have robots and all from its trailer but surprisingly it was nothing like that. Also I think Chloë Grace Moretz, did a great job as well. There are many lovely things in this film that it is easy to forgive its small shortcomings. If you want to know a bit about early cinema, you should watch this movie.

For me the best clip was when people get scared when a running train comes on the screen when they are watching the movie for the first time. The moment people were trying to duck the train and run away from the seat in fear of being crushed by the train made me laugh. We have come a long way with movies.

Contraband

I chose to watch this movie as I am a huge fan of Mark Wahlberg since he made Entourage (I can write a whole post about it so I will leave that for another post).

It is a story about a man who gave up his criminal past to start a family and live a normal life but was forced to get back in it to protect his brother-in-law.

The best scene of the movie is the last one where the money just starts floating in the open sea.

This movie is watchable but not great .Whole movie goes in same pace so there is no adrenaline or excitement. Most of the story is predictable. I would have not gone to the cinema for this kind of movie but it is ok to watch at home on your leisure time. I was disappointed overall.

John Carter

 

We went to watch this movie because my husband’s work organised a private screening of 3D in a Gold class cinema. It was only 38 people in a luxury cinema with finger food served during the movie.

I think people who are into Sci-fi movies like my husband will love this movie.

John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs about a guy who is transported to Mars and meets a princess who is in desperate need of a savior (so Disney like). I loved some of the scenes of the movies as they looked so real and so Mars. But for me I was able to go through the whole movie only because I watched it in 3D. If it was a normal screen I would have been bored. I don’t like all these animated characters and out of this world story. I am sure most of the movie was shot in front of green screen as well.

I am waiting for Hunger Game to come in cinema. Really exited for that movie. According to who read the book, it has an excellent plot. It starts Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth (Aussie Aussie Aussie :), brother of the one who played Thor), Woody Harrelson, Willow Shields, Paula Malcomson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley, Stanley Tucci, Isabelle Fuhrman, Alexander Ludwig, Lenny Kravitz, Toby Jones and directed by Gary Ross  and realising on 22 May 2012.

If anyone has watched these movies, do let me know how you liked them.