Wonderful Beautiful Nepal

He was blubbering like a puppy. John Kerry couldn't contain his joy at being in India and talking to actual Indians and touting an India/America partnership and how great India was and my gosh, how he really respects India and.....you get the idea.  Have a look: Leave it to someone from Modi's entourage to remind Kerry that the new Indian prime minister was denied a visa last time he tried to get into the U.S. Those damn Indians, always wrecking a love story with flawless logic. Well, said Kerry, that was a different, uh, government.  India has a different government, uh, wow, isn't India just the greatest place for a Secretary of State like me to visit? Can we move on? Kerry, notable for the paucity of loquaciousness, seemed to be gushing like a school girl on his recent Delhi visit. What gives?   By the sound of his voice and its uncharacteristic and forced earnestness, it looks like Secretary John was called into the Oval office for a meeting and that meeting involved ...

Try something new today with the edible shoots of bamboo plants, one of the most common ingredients in Asian cooking.  Taamaa-Alu-Bodi ko Tarkaari तामा-आलु-बोडी को तर्कारी  Explore the most traditional Nepali flavors! Bamboo shoots are ready for harvest Bamboo shoots are the underdeveloped, young, edible shoots of the bamboo plant known as Taama (तामा) in Nepali.  They have a unique flavor and texture, are considered a delicacy in traditional Nepali cuisine and are a favorite wild vegetable for many. The young and tender shoots are mild-flavored and mix well with most ingredients. In fact, the shoots can be pickled, fermented, dried, or cooked with any combination of vegetables and other ingredients.  The fermented bamboo shoots are made into a popular stew-like dish combined with black-eyed peas, potatoes and several other herbs and spices and the Nepalese call this medley, taamaa-alu-bodi ko tarkaari (तामा- आलु- बोडी) . The savory dish has an exotic bam...

I just wrote a blog post for Star View Guest House. I want people to see how I can offer such a low cost for an all inclusive stay in Nepal. First, I want to assure you that this information is regarding a legitimate offer. I am hoping to give help to those who have no chance to elevate their lifestyle in the US and who struggle with medical, food and heating in the winter. When retirement catches you with deflated real estate investment and a deflated portfolio due to the financial crisis of 2008 and few job opportunities for someone in your age bracket it’s time to rethink your options. Is staying where you are really a good option? Take a look at the post:

Dorje Shugden is a peaceful buddhist sect with many followers around the world Tibetan buddism has Four main sects. Of them Dorje Shugden is one of the sects. The present Dalai Lama himself was a worshiper of Dorje Shugden until 1976 when he spoke out against the sect and asked followers not stop worship of the diety. According to the FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) "The Dalai Lama has strongly urged his followers to consider carefully the problems of Dolgyal practice on the basis of these three reasons and to act accordingly. He has stated that, as a Buddhist leader with a special concern for the Tibetan people, it is his responsibility to speak out against the damaging consequences of this kind of spirit worship. Whether or not his advice is heeded, the Dalai Lama has made clear, is a matter for the individual. However, since he personally feels strongly about how negative this practice is, he has requested those who continue to propitiat...

People seldom know the question to ask, but there seems to be a communication gap when they mean to ask me “What are the differences between my life in the US and the day to day life I have now?” Unless you’ve gone abroad you have no idea what life is like here. The movies seldom portray third world countries, or the expats who live in them. So, movies either portray the wealthy class at the top of every poor country, or the local market-not much of anything else.  My flat I had in Bhaktapur was the nicest place I had ever lived in, with a few exceptions within the structure. It was huge and well laid out, a rare thing to find in Nepal. The differences in the structure were that the kitchen didn’t have built in cabinets or an oven. The stove was only 3 burners with an LP gas tank like you may have used for your gas bar-b-q grill, which I had to provide for myself. Then there was an Indian/squat toilet. When I took the third bedroom there was another bathroom so I asked for a wester...