Spice-up your Valentine's

By The Cyber Cupid

Ten Commandments of Valentine’s Day

I.      Thou shalt smile.

II.    Thou shalt show generosity.

III.   Thou shalt approach partners as thou would a friend.

IV.  Thou shalt nurture.

V.    Thou shalt show concern for a third person or idea.

VI.  Thou shalt censor thy thoughts and actions (think before you act).

VII. Thou shalt always keep something in reserve.

VIII. Thou shalt remember the power of touch.

IX.   Thou shalt make mistakes.

X.    Thou shalt make memories.

Valentine’s Day is a day for all to share and say how much they love their loved ones. It is not just a day for romance and for the lovers to celebrate, and to spice up your Valentine’s Day, cyber cupid is here to help out make the day even more special.

Make sure this Valentine’s Day goes off without a single hitch! Make a general checklist of things you should consider when planning your Valentine’s Day to have a most romantic holiday with your sweetheart!

First thing to check is your schedules. Before you can decide on anything, you need to find out what both of your schedules are. Do one or both of you have to work? Find out what hours. Does your date have something else planned during any part of the day? Make sure to find out everything, then tell your date as soon as possible.

Consider your date’s interests. Is your date a “flowers and romance, dance all night” type, or a “stay at home in front of the fire” type of person? This is important in determining what you are planning to do. If you’re not sure, ask your date what they like.

Plan your date. By now, you should know what timeframe you have and what your partner’s interests are. With this information, it should be much easier deciding what to do. While you’re planning, make sure to check if reservations are needed, any tipping requirements, transportation you might need, any possible dress code, timeframe of any events and if there are any restrictions on any mood enhancers you might want to bring, like candles. Don’t forget to let your date know about any information they need to know!

Select mood enhancers. With the date idea selected, it’s time to plan your “over-the-top Valentine romance!” When planning these, check for any of the things mentioned above that are relevant.

Your gift. The gift is almost as, if not more, important than the actual date. It doesn’t need to be expensive, but it does need to show that you’ve put a lot of time and care into selecting it. If you’re deciding to give a traditional favorite, like flowers or chocolates, try and do something unique with them. For example, have 12 single roses delivered separately.

Confirm everything! The night before, take some time and confirm any reservations or plans you have that involve a third party. This not only helps ease your nerves a bit, but also reminds the other person of their possible duty.

Most importantly, relax and enjoy. Pick up your date and enjoy each other’s romantic company. Relax because you’ve taken all the steps to plan the perfect Valentine’s Day date! Going out for Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular ways to celebrate this romantic holiday, especially if you haven’t had a chance to get out together for awhile. Where you go and what you do can make the difference between just another date or an incredibly memorable event. Remember: no matter what you decide to do, it is the company you’re in and the feelings you share together that makes an event memorable.

Deciding where to go and what to do can be a very challenging duty. You want to make this day, and the place you decide to take your love, as special as it can be. Below are some ideas to help inspire your planning:

Go all out and dine at a five-star restaurant.

Go to a symphony concert, musical, or other type of theatre production.Have dinner in car.

1. Go on a champagne/dinner/dancing cruise.

2. Rent a chauffeured limousine and drive to a scenic spot for a picnic.

3. Do that one thing that your love has always wanted to do or have happened to them.

You can create an incredibly romantic Valentine’s Day night out without breaking the bank with a few of these great ideas! Pack a few quick finger foods, get some music and warm blankets and have a picnic. Throw in some cuddling and great conversation and you definitely have a moment to remember.

If your love is an art or museum lover... create a night of museum hopping. Start off with a nice homemade candlelight dinner then head out to visit their favorite places. If you can, end the evening with a trip to a local planetarium.

Have some fun. Make it a night of great activities. Go bowling, play miniature golf, drive go-karts or find a local carnival! Find out if there are any free concerts, music festivals or big events in your area and go.

Set up a candle light dinner, wine or champagne in a romantic spot somewhere. Then go to your lover’s house and blind fold them, don’t tell them what you’re doing, and take them to your readymade romantic spot. When you get there, remove the blindfold. Enjoy a sunset walk along the beach, lake, or mountains.

Go the extra mile part of making any event memorable is the special care and touches that are put into it. Just opening the door for your love or showing how much you really appreciate what they are doing can make the world of difference.

Instead of asking your love out the traditional way, kidnap them and take them away for night of romance. Have your song playing when they get into the car. Open and shut doors, light cigarettes, order food, help them. Have flowers sent to your table while you’re at dinner.

While you’re on your way to your date or romantic evening, pull over, play the radio a bit louder and have a romantic dance for two. For some fun, stick love notes in different places in your vehicle or destination for them to find. Have a friend chauffeur you and your love for the evening or rent a limo.

Toast to each other. Compliments, compliments, compliments! Let them know how great they look or what a wonderful time you’re having. It definitely adds to the entire experience. Savour the moments of a spectacular sunset. If you’re going to a restaurant, go ahead of time, reserve a table and have the waiter leave a rose and a love letter. Tell them how wonderful they are whenever you remember to. Start the date off with a red rose or some chocolates. Leave a rose, poem, love letter... or all three... on your love’s seat.

Make sure to get some sort of souvenir for your love to keep so they will have something to remind them of that day forever. If you’re not married... propose! If you’re married... propose again!! Whether you compose them yourself or borrow someone else’s thoughts, poetry and passionate letters can stir the heart and the soul. You don’t need to be a published author to try your hand at it. Sometimes, the more amateur the words, the more sincere and heartfelt they appear.   In any case, try writing something to your love by thinking about just how your guy or girl inspires you and stirs your emotions.  If you can get that down on paper, you’ve created something that will be cherished more than flowers, candy, or anything else ephemeral (look it up!). As an added bonus, many of you are looking for a low-cost answer to Valentine’s Day gift-giving... and you’ve just found it!

A golden flower

by Asha Karki

In Nepal, different varieties of ornamental plants are available. At present, Chrysanthemum, Rose, Carnation, Gladiolus, Gerbera and Lilies are among the most popular ones. Going by the history, among all these Chrysanthemum is supposed to be one of the oldest cultivated flowering plants. The name Chrysanthemum originated from the Greek word Chrysos meaning gold and Anthemon meaning flower.So all in all, it is said to be a golden flower.

The flower itself is reported to have been originated from China about 3000 years ago. It is said that one Tao-Yuan-Ming, a Chinese breeder of Chrysanthemum, first began the cultivation of this flower and it is on record that he became so successful that the city where he lived was renamed “Chu-h-Seen” meaning the Chrysanthemum city. Later on in 900 AD, the then emperor of Japan first instituted the famous Chrysanthemum show in the gardens of Imperial residence in Tokyo.

The flower’s, with about 100 different species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants, popularity increased so much that soon it began to spread throughout the globe mainly in countries like Japan, America and Great Britain.

Even at present, due to its exquisite appearance, commercial importance and above all its aesthetic value, its popularity is on the rise. In the world of floriculture market, Chrysanthemum being a round year crop, has an astonishingly high wholesale value. Japan alone produces about 2 billion stems per year. According to the  World Flower Trade magazine, Netherlands produces 800 million stems, Columbia 600 million stems, Italy 500 million and United States of America ranking fifth produces about 300 million stems per year.

Among its different varieties, Spray varieties of Chrysanthemum are very popular in countries like Germany and Netherlands. In United States, where the cut-flower industry is estimated to be worth $223 million, Chrysanthemum plays a major role.

In Nepal, the current demand for Chrysanthemum is estimated to be about 3,00,000 sticks per year. The present scenario is such that the local production has not been able to meet even 50% of the total demand, as a result the rest has to be met through import from India.( Source FAN ).

Royal Purple, Cream Giant, Sonar Bangla, Rupasi Bangla, Temptation, Yellow Spider, Yellow night, Diamond Jubilee are some varieties of Chrysanthemum which are very popular in the domestic market. Their demand is currently met by various nurseries like Evergreen, J.N, Jaikisan, Parijat and Standard to name a few. In addition to this, both HMG’s and private tissue culture factories also produce good quality Chrsanthemum plants.

Keeping in view of the increasing demand of the ornamental plants every year, it is quite obvious that the Nepalese floriculture industry needs to produce millions of plantlets at a time if it is to survive on its own without relying on imports. For this the application of Tissue Culture method can become very useful  which can produce millions of plantlets from a single plant by culturing their parts. At present there are four tissue culture factories currently involved in production of ornamental plants.

With increasing number of tourists, Hotels and even more importantly the awareness of the floriculture product among the  general public, there is  a huge prospect  of  floriculture business in Nepal. With the financial as well as technical assistance from Agro Enterprise Center, tissue culture factories have already distributed over  25,000 plantlets of different varieties of Chrysanthemum to different places like Chitwan, Dharan and Pokhara apart from the valley itself for field cultivation. It has now been observed that large scale production of Chrysanthemum is very much possible and thus can be very beneficial to an agricultural country like ours. And who knows there might come a day when we no longer have to rely on imports but will be in a position to export too. Therefore like Tourism Sector, this too can become a major source of foreign revenue.

In order to promote the cultivation and trade   of chrysanthemum , The Royal Botanical Garden has been organising “ Chrysanthemum show” every year in Godawari. What an appropriate place to hold such a show when the name of the place itself is “Godawari “ – the name Chrysanthemum is locally known as

O Romeo. Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?

New Millennium. New Valentine’s Day. Modern day Juliet (in Venus) - yet an age old cry. She
complains… He (in Mars) gloats at the neighborhood dame drying her hair on the balcony.  

Recently, a lady of our acquaintance  inserted an ‘ad’ in the classifieds: “Husband Wanted”. Next day she received a hundred mail. All said, “You can have mine”. Love, as said to be last of serious childhood diseases… Is it really vanishing? The old-timers say that the affairs these days don’t have the flare. Are we going to witness the end of romance in this millennium? Is the next millennium going to bring in only professional relationships?  

Well, the Gopal Bahadur Ghale will be finally celebrating Bhyalentine Diwas this year. Thanks to a few “jalda balda” FM radio stations… both the Gopal and his Kanchi now have a means of replying to each other’s woes… courtesy to what many refer now to as “a borrowed culture from the west” or simply Valentine’s Day.  Apart from the Kanchi’s fasting for a good husband during Swosthani Brata or Teej, she can now stuff herself with chocolates (and probably eat the flowers that come along with it too). 

When they both reached the capital (the place that made waves with the Bill and Monica romance series), everything along with the “khichadi” culture fascinated them. But  what amazed them most was that they could actually “dedicate” songs to their beloved through FM. However, what is most depressing is the fact that almost all the restaurants (cabins an added asset) are full with puppy lovers that particular day. Advance booking could prove helpful though! 

Here is even a better solution anyone could resort to with all the technology advancement that has gone afar: a romantic message sent through a pager or on e-mail. However, we are still wondering if it is really possible to send chocolates and flowers… or a kiss along with the message as yet. Probably the solution too won’t be as far as expected in this millennium. 

Romance, we feel, will still constitute the core of any relationship - in the new millennium or after. For, romance is that merry magic that sets the hearts aflutter and the eyes alight. Romance to a man: the rare moment when nothing else matters but that overriding desire to be with her. Romance to a woe-man: the sweetness of his first kiss (probable reason for multiple affairs – many first kisses) when she had the first feeling of eternity. 

For a man, romance, has always been a challenge of wooing her and making her realize she’s worth it. It is not necessarily about getting her into bed. It’s the height of summer and he comes to know that she loves roses. No problem! He has time to scan the yellow pages. He’ll locate the florist who’ll import King Edward roses… and all the other troubles for the pleasure of basking in that radiant smile. 

…”See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand. Oh… if only I were a glove upon that hand. If only I might touch that cheek.” … 

The adventure in the twining limbs and the height of fulfillment that marks the first milestone in two becoming one. Yes, romance is the foundation… only the foundation of the castle of spiritual feeling that goes beyond the physicality into the realm named love.  

The question: Does Cupid always shoot his arrows right? 

Alas, if only he could … it’s very rare, the very first romance sealed with a kiss. Yet, romance brings out the muse in a man. He writes poetry, puts on after shave and anti-perspirant cologne under his arms. He does everything to be desirable. A man in love is almost a fool. And that’s what is wonderful about it. In short, romance almost turns any man into a gentleman. 

Meanwhile, we Nepalese have failed to notice that Valentine’s Day means compassion rather than passion. Youths today should know that love does not end with his/her beau. Love, in fact covers a much wider perspective which includes one’s family and the people he interacts with. 

What we call Valentine’s Day was at one time the Feast of St. Valentine in the west. It was a religious holiday. For Christians, it was a day to remember and celebrate the life and death of a Christian martyr. They would be especially shocked at the use of Cupid now since he was a character from pagan mythology.  

St. Valentine, a priest near Rome at around 270 AD, was imprisoned along with his fellow Christians for not worshipping the Roman gods. When the then emperor heard that Valentine still continued to minister and still made converts even in prison, he had him beheaded.  

As love is already in the air this season, we should continue to feel that feeling though aging it may be. That is possible if we, humans, don’t fall prey for the temptation of experimenting with our greed and desire of ruling the universe which may eventually even lead towards our own extermination… as we have enough arsenals to destroy mother earth 50, 000 times. Nonetheless, what   a radio presenter once had said still strikes us: “It is love that makes the world go round. Not Pajero jeeps.”  

The Lamaist monastery of Thyangboche

N K Rajbanshi

Thyangboche Gompa is the destination providing the close panorama of the giant like Kwangde, Tawache, Thanserku, Kantega, Amadablam, Nuptse, Lhotse and Everest. That is the meadow saddle at 3870 metres ascent. Having been at the nature’s cradle, reaching after a day’s strenuous ascent from Namche Bazaar, watching the inspiring spectacle next day in the early morning ,the exciting explorers sound is still buzzing the same in the ears.

The door for tourism has always been open but the mass number of tourists started pouring in Nepal since 1970. It is well known that Nepal’s tourism is culture-tourism. And it is true that many Westerners aim at the Adventure Tourism in Nepal. This includes rafting, trekking and mountaineering. Among them, trekking is a much popular tour. Solumkhumbu is the premier area. And Thyangboche is very famous for its interesting itinerary. Trek to Thyangboche because of its sanctity is somewhat like a religious pilgrimage.

When I led the explorers there, rhododendrons were at their bloom. Thus it had been also the rhododendron tour. Relaxing watching round the early dawn, I thought it indeed heavenly delight. So trekking to Thyangboche, the Lamaist monastery tour cause all kinds of inspiring tour.

Providing as such several fun of tours, Solukhumbu is an area of Sagarmatha National Park, the unique natural heritage site in the world. If taking birth on the nature’s lap, to grow from the cradle and to pass to Buddhist paradise is their life cycle then growing crops, herding cattles and climbing mountain is their ethnic lifestyle. They follow the Nying-ma-pa sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Guru Padmasambhav was the founder of that religion. He is also called Rimpoche. Among the unique festivals of the northern Nepal, Dumje is related with the birth of the Guru Rimpoche and Manirimdu is the dramatized mask dance that depicts how Guru Rimpoche triumphed Buddhism over Bon, the ancient Tibetan animistic religion. So, the better advantage of the Lamaist monastery tour will be to observe that festival as well.

The Buddhist religion is believed to have entered Tibet when king Srong-Tsong-Gompo’s Nepalese bride Bhrikuti carried off the Buddhist idols (Akshobhya, Maitreya and Tara) to Tibet. But the animistic Bon religion was much popular in practice during that period. The Bon religion was necromancy kind of theomorphic worshipping belief of super unseen spirit. Eventually, Buddhist religion could not become dominant in Tibet after the death of the king Srong-Tsong-Gompo. Then for the sake of propagating Buddhism, Padmasambhav (Rimpoche) had gone to Tibet. And he established Buddhism in worth convention of territory, time and circumstance. That was Nying-ma-pa Buddhism. Presently, residing main Lama in Thyangboche is respected as Reincarnated of the Rimpoche. And the Manirimdu dance is performed under the entire direction of the Reincarnated Lama. Famous author of trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, Stan Armington has mentioned that Nawang Tenzing Zang-Po is the present Reincarnation of Thyangboche. The Thyangboche gompa was firstly established in 1923 by Gulu Lama and the Manirimdu dance was started since 1930 only. The present Gompa was reconstructed only in 1993 after a fire devastated it in 1989.

Nying-ma-pa Buddhism has it that Shakyamuni Buddha was a spiritual omnipotent deity. This is  amply supported by Buddhism also. Therefore, one can observe in the Thyangboche gompa the Padmasambhav being sanctumed in the main sanitarium. Visiting inside the Gompa, Lamas are seen playing ritual instruments and continuos chanting hymn for perfect one (Buddha). And the serene interior environment cause the visitors instinctly reverence. The Mani Rimdu dance is very amusing as well as it is performed for peace, welfare and prosperity of the whole locality people. So, it is regarded as an important social occasion also. Manirimdu festival is observed for totally three days. The first day of Manirimdu involves prayers by the Lamas in the monastery courtyard. The final day of Manirimdu gives ending of the Mandala made for the festival and in the evening all the local people join all night dance. The performance of the mask dance (the most important celebration) is held on the second day only. The dramatised dance is participated by sixteen characters and it is divided into thirteen episodes. Wearing attractive masks and costumes, the designate Lamas performe ritual dance in the monastery courtyard, which is attended by hundreds of audiences.

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