silver lining

टाढा हुँदैमा माया बढ्दैन। अँ खुब जानिछ्यौ तिमीले, बढ्छ प्रेम भनि सोच्छौ भने। केही पलको औडाहा अनि, बिसेक हुन्छ विछोडको घाउ यहाँ। सँगै हिँडेका गोरेटाहरू, धुमिल हुन्छन् विस्मृतिमा। आउँछन् खालि स्थान भर्न, नयाँ साथी, नयाँ बाटा, नयाँ सम्झनाहरू। बिर्सिनेछ्यौ मलाई, अनि बिर्सिउलाँ म तिमीलाई। भ्रम हो यो तिम्रो, बढ्छ प्रेम दुरीसँगै भन्छ्यौ भने। टाढा हुँदा माया गढ्छ भन्छ्यौ भने।।

Don't want to sleep but remain awake, Roam in the land that bore me, With the howls of winter blizzard, With whining of spring breeze, And the smell of the monsoon, And the rustling of fallen leaves. Let my remains be scattered, Among the soil, the rivers and snow, Among the rocks, meadows and plains. Let me live in the breath of my countrymen, Let me live for eternity,Let me live forever.

It was 1995 when I first saw the great wall of China. I had heard a lot about the wall but setting foot there was really a new experience. It was a cloudy August day when we went to Badaling to see the massive stone fortification measuring 8,850 km in length. This is made up of 6,259 km sections of actual wall, 359 km of trenches and 2,232 km of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers.Another archaeological survey found that the entire wall with all of its branches measure out to be 21,196 km. Our country Nepal is merely over 900 km long (what a comparison). The wall built by many emperors of different dynasties starting from 7th century was for border security and regulation of trade along the silk road. The main part of the wall today is one built during the Ming Dynasty. The wall with its watch towers and barracks stand out among the rolling hills and is considered one of the seven wonders of the world due to its massive structures. This year again I was a...

I had tried to get up early to capture some moments of morning for a couple of days. But the alarm was not able to make me get off my bed. I usually am awaken by hooting of owl, barking of dogs and even when someone enters my room, but the alarm doesn't seem to awake me. Maybe I'm immune to alarm :D. Anyway, that day I beat the alarm (to my own amazement) and went to the terrace. It was cold and dark. In the next 1 hour, I was able to capture some photographs including the setting full-moon and a golden sunrise. The misty and chilly morning was not able to discourage me. As I came down for a breakfast, I thought my sacrifice of an hour's sleep was not wasted at all. Here are some of the moments I was able to capture.

एकदमै छोटो तयारीमा मुगुको यात्रामा जानु पर्ने भयो हामीलाई। त्यही दिन, १० भाद्रको रात्री बसबाट हामी चारजना काठमाडौंबाट सुर्खेत हान्नियौं। नयाँ ठाँउ घुम्न पाइने, साथै आफ्नो कार्यानुभव पनि बढ्ने भएकाले सो प्रस्ताव मैले स्वीकारेको थिएँ। सुर्खेत पुगेपछि थाहा पाइयो- मुगु जाने हवाइजहाजको टिकट पाउन मुस्किल रहेछ। अझ भनौं, त्यहोँ जाने यात्रुवाहक जहाज कम रहेछन्। पहिलो गाँस मै ढुङ्गा ! सुर्खेतको निस्सासिँदो गर्मीमा ५ दिनसम्म बिना काम बस्नु पर्‍यो। त्यस बीचमा सुर्खेतबाट मुगुका लागि मालवाहक जहाज त उडे तर यात्रुवाहक जहाज उडेनन्। छैठौं दिन, १६ भाद्रमा बल्ल बल्ल मालवाहक जहाजमै भएपनि उड्न पायौं- त्यो पनि यात्रुवाहक जहाजको भन्दा बढी भाडा तिरेर। ३८ मिनेटको उडान पछि ९ यात्रु बोकेको जहाज मुगुको ताल्चा विमानस्थलमा उत्रियो। निकै छोटो (करिब ६०० मिटर) धावनमार्ग भएको ताल्चा विमानस्थल निर्माणाधीन अवस्थामा थियो। विमानस्थलका कुनैपनि भवन थिएनन्। धावनमार्गको बीचैमा गोरेटो बाटो थियो-त्यहींबाट मानिसहरू हिँड्थे। सुरक्षा जाँच, यात्रु प्रतिक्षालय, अध्यागमन, आगमन सबै धावनमार्ग निर खुल्ला आकाश मुनि थियो। विमानस्थलबाट ...