The temperature in Kathmandu is mounting each day and it is a very nice excuse to go for a nice dip in the pool. Been doing that for over a  week and I already look like medium roasted coffee beans (the perks of having a very sensitive skin where the sunscreen acts zero). One should either take care of their beautiful skin or enjoy swimming….you cant have both ….I ll choose to go with the latter.

A lot of new swimming pools have opened in Kathmandu in last 2 years. The Balaju Baisdhara has closed down and Dasharath Stadium pool is also not in a very good condition. But the private ones are very well maintained and managed. The one I regularly go to is the International Club at Sanepa. It’s a bit expensive (350/- per visit) but the water is clean.

It was a hot day out here in Kathmandu today and since I was around the club I wanted to swim for a while. After reaching I realized there is some stupid pool party happening. The whole premises was filled with young kids (the age group between 16-22) all dressed up to impresses the opposite gender. The skirts were short and the guys pants were hanging showing half of their butts. The place was full till the main road with these youngsters sitting aimlessly all over.

No I don’t go to such pool party. I have been to one, long time back and it was enough for me for a lifetime. There were nothing much than drunk woman throwing up all over the place and boys fighting over girls. Right then and there I realized I am too old and busy for all this lol. Anyway, I was returning back home the same route at around 9pm and I see a lot of young groups walking back home from the party. It started from Ganodaya School turning. Like I have already mentioned they were walking in the middle of the street as if they own the road.

Couple of meters we drove, I see a mineral water bottle sliding right below our bike. Some guy threw it from his car. Impulsive, I turned my head and swore at them. I just couldn’t ignore it. My friend was laughing at me for losing my cool in such small matter. It is just a bottle dear why did you swear at him like that. I explained that litter is not accepted. He could have disposed it when he reached home.

Another couple of meters we drove, I saw a back thing flying right across my head. This time it was a helmet. WOAH!!! That was terrifying. A big fight happening right outside the international club between two gangs, and the reason was someone from one gang had stepped on the foot of the other gang member while on the dance floor, and they were settling it out after the party. Fight over stepping on the foot??? One could have just said Sorry and the other could have said its OK…and the issue is resolved. But NO, that is not how the Nepali kids handle it. They have to fight, they have to prove that they are VEER GORKHALI. They have to vandalize, hurt and make nuisance. I would have been severely hurt if that flying helmet would have hit me, but I have been lucky. My bigger concern was, “Rishma afno helmet futayera, ghar chahi kasari pugne ni yeti rati….MAPASE katera bike ma??”

I just returned from Nepal and it was so saddening to see the state of Kathmandu city. The sidewalks are very narrow and full of litter. The roads are way over packed and if you open your mouth for an hour while travelling on a bike you could be committing suicide. The roads are not bigger than a 1.5 lane road. The city is overpopulated and might be the most polluted city in world. Some day the city will be affected by a viral disease due to literally no proper drainage system.

Mancini,
I think ktm is still a good city to live.....ppl are nice till now but next gen i dont know

yes, ppl are nice but not the city. I was pointing out how the city is overpopulated and overpolluted.

It takes time to develop something but only 1/100000000000 time to destroy it....
Yesterday when i saw those kids, I felt like the first thing that need to change in Kathmandu ( concentrating only to this city) is the attitude people carry. Very few kids have certain civic sense...rest are hopeless. Parents have started giving money to the kids instead of their time so what can we expect. Correct me if I am saying wrong?

I dont think the issue was about one being a veer gorkhali, but a mere Ego clash may be?

Besides, most of those who get drunk turns out to be a jerk!! Veer Gorkhali would then be nth to them, they would probably be thinking of Hulk himself!! or any other super heros!

Bad experience Mercy??? :)

I personally don't feel I have the right to criticize the streets of Kathmandu living in US. What have I done to make it better? I don't pay taxes to Nepali government, I have not influenced the makeup of the streets directly or indirectly.

Those are the streets I grew up in. They were narrow to begin with, the only street that was slightly wider was in Darbar Marg. I hear these days the streets are wider, thanks to Baburam. This is better than what was before. Except maybe for pollution, that can be fixed though.

As for the attitudes, I think it should be expected for a major metropolitan that tolerates people from all over the country. Kids were fighting when I was growing up (I was doing it myself) and they are still fighting. If they fix Bagmati and curb the pollution a little bit, I'd be happy to get what I am given.

Nah Amby, not a bad experience, just an experience or may be two....

We all grow up with it :) but the thing is, I dont know why Guys or may be girls too become violent after drinking.. Its just not limited to ktm, but anywhere you go...

Kiddo,
I know kids were fighting then and now also.....but things have drastically changed in kathmandu in past 10 years for the worst....again this is my feeling.....i cud be wrong.

Mercy,
we shud get a drink someday :D....someday...and post a picture in Sajha :P

A very good one Amby as always. It reminds me of my college days when I used to get little wild and do some stupid stuffs but I never got in to any fights and never thought about being VEER GORKHALI. Don't know whom to blame, parents or the kids themselves. Glad you didn't got hurt Amby otherwise the ending the above article would be sad rather then humorous.

FINALLY....a reply from Karnali Blues.....well if I was hurt...i dont think I would have been alive to write this story...lol....would have died with me....simple :)
Btw thank you so much for taking out time and replying...was waiting for this ;)

Amby, great writer are great people and they don't die easily. They'll have lots of blessing from others esp here out in sajha.
It's always a please to read and comment in your story.
Keep writing :-)

Keep reading :)....and yes good people die young re maile suneko :P

मर्नु त एकदिन सबैलाई नै छ /
के लिएर एक थियौ, के नै लिएर जाने छौ /

"Live as if you you were to die tomorrow
Learn as if you were to live forever...
Mahatma Gandhi...

:).....Mahatma Gandhi lai assassinate gari diyo.... irony of life!!!

Yes, that's true but look what he gave to others. Who knows tomorrow you might be one like him.. positive side of life !!! :)

Amby, Reading just one article, I am convinced that you have some serious writing skills. Good going! Don't disappoint me with the next one. :)


Regards,
Lamps

ohooo aaja ta aaho bhagya bhayo mero.....Lamps le mero post ma reply....baaahhh aaja nindra na lagne bho malai

Welcome to kurakani Lamps, Now since you're convinced that Amby got some great writing skills you should consider taking or writing class with her, in fact I am thinking about that too :D