Marking the WWI anniversary in Kathmandu through earthquakes and lockdowns Under a gunmetal grey sky, the four of us stood for the Last Post on an expansive empty lawn as the crows wheeled overhead. The Nepal Army general and British Gurkha colonel saluted smartly in their uniforms, whilst the Ambassador…
So Far So Good
The Nomadic Nepali
Mingma Sherpa scholarship students return from New Zealand just before Nepal shuts down to COVID-19 Sunil’s eyes shine with excitement and his wispy beard blows in the southern hemisphere breeze. The churning ocean accounts for his queasy stomach, but he is thrilled by the squawking mass of seabirds and dense…
Remembering Des-la at Shangri~la
1,000 recollections of Desmond Doig at the hotel’s Shambala Garden that he designed in Kathmandu As befits a celebration in the time of coronavirus, the party in the Shangri~la Hotel’s Shambala garden is muted. Hugs and handshakes are replaced with knuckle taps, elbow embraces and even jazz hands, but I prefer the…
‘Mainly fine throughout the kingdom’
Life and times of Nepal through the Nepali Times Next Friday, the Nepali Times will be publishing its millennial issue. It is getting on for 20 years since this august weekly first hit the newsstands, providing those of us who cannot read the Nepali language with insights into the news and media,…
The Climate Smart Great Himalayan Trek
It has been eight years since a group of hikers and a dog walked across Nepal to promote tourism and highlight the climate crisis Abroad smile lit his bearded face as Dawa Steven Sherpa strode towards us down the mountain path. The afternoon sun glinted off grey stone walls and…