Wonderful Beautiful Nepal | Travel, Culture & Food

The recently released Economic Freedom of the World Report 2012 by Fraser Institute, a prominent think tank in Canada, shows a bleak picture of economic freedom in Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, . Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, ’s economic freedom, albeit slightly better than the previous year, still has a long way to go. In the study which uses a measure of 42 economic and political components, Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, is categorized among the least free economies in the world, ranking 110th among 144 countries. Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautiful country, tourist based country, has scored 6.33 out of 10 which is below the world average of 6.83. So much for the notion that Nepal, the beautiful country, tourist based country, , the beautif...

Jhaaneko Kaalo Maas ko Daal - (झानेको कालो मास को दाल) Maas ko Daal , or black gram beans, need little introduction in Nepali cuisine. They are among the most loved type of daal , considered flavorful, satisfying, and extremely nutritious. Maas ko daal differ from other daals in that they are cooked in an iron pot ( falaam ko tapke - फलाम को ताप्के ). When simmered in this pot, the daa l transform into deep black color with rich flavor. Jhaneko (झानेको), simply means adding more flavor to the cooked dishes. In this process, the oil or the clarified butter (gheu) is heated separately in a pan with several spices & herbs. It is cooked until the spices release distinct aroma and turn few shades darker, then the entire content is poured in the prepared dish. The preferred combination of spices for Maas ko daal is jimbu (Himalayan herb), whole dried red chilies , asafetida and fresh garlic to create an authentic taste. The Black gram is highly prized pulse corp grown al...

There is always a festival going on in Nepal. In fact, they say there are more festivals in Nepal than days of the year. They are always amazing to see, too. So, when my friend, Rajani, offered to take go with me Saturday to a special festival on tourism I knew I was in for a treat. Rajani is about my daughter's age, soon to be 26 and she is a lovely young, Newari woman-kind, sweet, polite and patient. When we go out for a day together she always helps me to do a bit of shopping and I always save money with her. This day was no exception. This day I bought fabric for queen size bed sheets for only 350 NRs. ($4.00). I had bought another one a few months ago in Kathmandu for 750 NRs. Quite a bargain at either price! For another 200 NRs. I will take it to a tailor to have them made. I also bought a natural fiber shawl for around three dollars along with some felt items I will use as gifts. I just couldn't pass them up.  One of the first things we saw was dancing goddesses in a cer...

List of The Traditional Sweets of Nepal The following is a list of most common sweets of Nepal. In my previous blog, "The Traditional Sweets of Nepal," I have created a pictorial tour of the sweets.  Please take a virtual tour of all sections (1 to 4). Barfi - (बर्फीहरु) Aap ko Burfi - (आप् को बर्फी ) - Mango Flavored Fudge Badaam ko Barfi - (बदाम को बर्फी ) - Almond Milk Fudge Badaam-Nariwal Barfi -  (बदाम-नरिबल बर्फी) - Almond-Coconut Fudge Badaam re Pista ko Barfi - (बदाम र पिस्ता को बर्फी) -  Almond-Pista Fudge Besan ko Barfi -  (बेसन को बर्फी ) - Chickpeas Flour Fudge Chocolate ko Barfi - (चकलेट बर्फी)  Chocolate Layered Milk Fudge Doodh ko Barfi - (दूध को बर्फी) -  Thickened Milk Fudge Kaaju ko Barfi - (काजु को बर्फी) - Cashew Milk Fudge Kaaju ko Katli - (काजु को कतली) - Thin Diamond Shaped Pure Cashew Fudge Kesari ko Barfi -  (केसरि को बर्फी) - Saffron Milk Fudge Khuwa ko Barfi - (खुवा को बर्फी) - Thickened Milk Fudge Nariwal ko Barfi - (नरिवल क...

Maoist Rally I’ve been in Nepal almost two years and I’ve acclimated pretty well, I suppose. But one never really knows how well she is doing without a comparison now and then. I’ve seen a lot of westerners come and go and the under thirty crowd do just fine, all wide eyed and ready for anything. But those of us over 40! Now that’s a challenge. I’m finding that our European counterparts do quite a bit better than the Americans, both from the US and Canada. Surprisingly, those from the US seem to do better than the Canadians.  But even as I approach my second year in Nepal I still have my moments. We are often the last to know when others feel like laughing at us; we get too caught up in the moment. Last year a woman about my age came, late fifties. I had been looking forward to meeting her in person. We met via the internet, and it was nice to have someone who might understand my culture better and be a companion.  Aloo Paratha served with Ju Ju Dau and salad. When I went to...