Very recently, I went to the Shah Dynasty museum in Basantapur. I have lived in this city for twenty three years now (all my life, in other words), and this was the first time I had been there. There are people who find museums fun and edifying; and there are people who find them boring. As far as Basantapur's museum is concerned, I have one word that describes it: pompous. As I walked through the museum, I heard voices echoing in my head. This is what the voices said: Look, mere commoner, and be amazed. This is why you and your loved ones work hard all day and pay your taxes – so that we can live like THIS. It did not take long for me to realize that this was the collective voice of royalty. One picture drew my attention: that of one of the Shah kings (I did not bother to remember which one, because they are all the same to me – not just Shah kings, but royalty in general) with his hunting rifle atop a dead tiger. As I drew closer, the picture spoke to me: There you are again, puny commoner. Look how I have so courageously managed to trap and kill this beautiful, defenseless animal with the help of so many of my servants. What have you ever done with your life? I spit on your existence. My ancestors have ruled yours, and my descendants will rule yours. There is no escape. There is no escape!! Through all the idiocy and hypocrisy spewing out of the walls of the museum, I managed to get to Prithvi Narayan Shah's nau-tale durbar (nine-storied palace). I climbed up the nine flights of stairs to reach the attic. This was where I found relief that was long overdue. A mild breeze hit my face as I looked out of one of the windows. I looked down to see the Basantapur courtyard way below. I looked up again and looked around at the amazing view of the city I grew up in. The breeze got a little more intense and I enjoyed the moment even more. How could I have been an aspiring writer, I thought, and never been to this place? A day spent in this attic would act as the ultimate muse. I salute whoever arranged the museum route: first, irritate us with your pompous artifacts and pictures; and then end it all with moments of bliss in that heavenly attic. Way to go. from: www.everestuncensored.org