World Elephant Polo Tournament in Meghauli Chitwan (Nov 28th - Dec 4th 2010))

Tiger Tops, Chitwan-Nepal has been hosting World Elephant Polo Tournament in each December since 1982 in airstrip Meghauli, Chitwan Nepal. Recently, Tiger Tops Chitwan Nepal hosted the 29th World Elephant Polo Tournament in Meghauli, Chitwan as in the past. Eight teams from different countries: Switzerland, Australia, UK, UAE, Afghanistan  Scotland, Nepal participated in this tournament. (http://www.elephantpolo.com/wepa/) This time EFG,Switzerland team was crowned as 29th WEPA championship which defeated Sepoys UAE by 6-5 goals. According to local source, people including internal and foreign tourists, who watched this tournament , was the highest  in the history of Elephant Polo tournament. 

              Elephant polo is played in Nepal, Srilanka, India and Thailand. Modern game originated from Meghauli, Chitwan Nepal, however at first Elephant Polo was played in India, by members of Maharaja's Heren. World Elephant Polo Association(WEPA) was formed in 1982 with joint action of  Jim Edwards,owner of Tiger Tops Jungle Lodge; James Manclark, former member of Olympic tobogganer and Scottish landowner and chairman of Tiger Mountain Group in Switzerland.(http://www.elephantpolo.com/html/index.html).

                WEPA has strict rules for Elephant welfare and game play, under this rules and regulations this game is played. Elephant polo is played riding on elephant. Initially soccer ball was used, but later replaced by  particular polo ball. Various length of Cane (Bamboo like) sticks with a polo mallet head on one end are used by players, which may vary from 5 to 12 feet depending upon the size of Elephant. Elephant are driven by trainers called 'Mahouts'. 'Mahouts' instruct elephenet using signals and commands, either by verbal commands or applying pressure on the back of the Elephant's ear and head. The player also communicates with mahouts in order to let mahouts  where to go, when to stop and how fast.

Going to Nepal Very Soon

I have not enough space to convey how much I am excited as the day is coming near and near. I was very excited when I bought a ticket to fly to Nepal. I was waiting the day since five month. I along with brother and friends are going to Nepal on coming December 9th. We all are very excited. We already started dreaming about journey in Nepal.

No matter how we spent our time there, no matter how many times there will be strike- we are sure that we will enjoy our Nepal-visit very much during the one month. Suman Dai, Baichhabi Dai, Usha Didi, Sachit, Archana, Rajesh and Manoj Bhai are also going to Nepal this December from Laramie. I think we all will have a great time in Nepal. I have got very different experience living here in Laramie very far from my own country.

Manoj and Rajesh Bhai are also very exited: they are happy more than I can say after a long time. Baichhabi Dai one of the most sociable and helpful Nepali in Laramie, also already did shopping heavily. We all know that without Baichhabi Dai out journey will be worthless. Thanks Baichhabi dai for giving us your company. We are planning to go to Daman, Bandipur, Pokhara and Sauraha. We all are waiting coming December 9th to head to Nepal.

(Baichhabi Dai)

(Suman Dai)

(Rajesh Bajracharya )

(Manoj Khanal)

(View of Serpentine-road heading to Daman, Nepal)

(Himalayan range from Bandipur, Nepal)

(Bandipur, Nepal)

(Bandipur View)

(Machhapuchre Himalayan, Pokhara)

(Peacock-Dancing in Chitwan National Park)

(Pokhara, Nepal)

(Bandipur, Nepal)

(Jungle Safari: Sauraha, Chitwan)

(David Falls, Pokhara)

(Image-Source: http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=709&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=sauraha&aq=f&aqi=g2g-m1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= ,

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=709&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=bandipur&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= ,

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=709&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=Daman+Nepal&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= ,

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&biw=1280&bih=709&gbv=2&tbs=isch:1&sa=1&q=pokhara&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=) )

Tihar 2067

TIHAR  is a Nepali Festival which comes soon after Dashain and it celebrated for five days. It has been 2 years celebrating Dashain and Tihar away from my family and relatives.I can't explain and write in words how  much I am  missing my family and relatives. Even I had a great desire to celebrate the great Nepali festivals Dashain and Tihar with my family but time and situation were not in my favor.  I missed my sister very much.

I remembered  I used to celebrate and spend much time with my family, relatives and friends. I was allowed to play cards with my friends during Dashain and Tihar. I used to play cards and used to enjoy a lot with family and friends. But today only memories remind me those celebration with my family, I have nothing special celebration to enjoy. 

It is very sad to be very far away from family during festivals. In Laramie, I  tried to feel happy and enjoy even with lots of agony and pains in my heart. I know life is not always what we expect and want. This is why it is said- life is combination of happiness and sorrows. It is very sad to know that we  have classes during the time period of Dashain and Tihar. So it is impossible to go to Nepal for the celebrations of Dashain and Tihar.  In our lifetime, some situations and time bring restriction to head to our desires. 

  

World's shortest Man Khagendra Thapa Magar

The Guinness Book of World Records is a reference book which recognizes and keep the collection of World records. This book is published annually. World records of both human achievements and extremes of the Natural World is found in this book. According to "Book deals for a steal",4 May 2008, The Times (South Africa). Retrieved 2009-10-29, it is one of the most stolen book from public libraries in USA.Many Nepalese have been successful to break the World records several times, and thus their name was written in The Guinness Book of Records.

Among them, recently Khagendra Thapa Magar, resident of Pokhara, was officially declared as the World's shortest person by Marco Frigatti, vice president of records at Guinness Book of World Records. The vice president went from London to Pokhara for recognition. Khagendra Thapa Magar is 67.08 centimeters (26.4 inches) and weighs 6.5 Kilograms (13 pounds).

Khagendra was born on October 14, 1992 in Baglung district of Nepal.Now, Mr. Khagendra turned 18 years on October 14, 2010. His father becomes very happy with this recognition. This year's Dashain was very special and different than previous year's Dashain for Khangendra and his family, celebrated this Dashain 2067 on the happy occasion of this record and recognition. He has been center of central attraction across the country Nepal and in Foreign countries too.

Khagendra became the World's shortest person when he replaced the Edward Nino Hernandez age of 24 years of Colombia. He measures 70.21 centimeters. It is good news to hear about Nepalese who became success to break the World record. I wish Many Nepali could break the World records in many fields except for the record of dirty politics.

Source(For images):  http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=khagendra+thapa+magar&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=709

Dashain 2067

दशैं आयो खाउला-पिउला, डिसेम्बरमा नेपाल जाउला !

हामी नेपालीहरुको महान चाड दशैको अवसरमा यहाँ लरामीमा विविध कार्यक्रमहरुसहित दशै सु-सम्पन्न भयो | हामी सबै नेपाली मिलेर २०१० अक्टोबर १६ र १७ को दिन विविध कार्यक्रमका साथ दशैमा धेरै रमाइलो गरियो|

बसन्त दाई, सुमन दाई र बैछबी दाईको निमन्त्रणालाई स्वीकार गर्दै गयको शुक्रबार हामी धेरै जना नेपालीहरु उहाँहरुको अपार्ट्मेन्टमा गयौ र सबैजनाले शुभकामना आदानप्रदान गर्नुभयो | उक्त कार्यक्रम निकै रमाइलो भएको थियो-हलुका तास पनि खेलियको थियो, निकै रमाइला गफहरु पनि भएको थियो |उक्त कार्यक्रम बेलुकाको ५:३० देखि बिहानको ५ बजेसममा चलेको थियो |बैछबीदाई भान्सामा निकै व्यस्त हुनुहुन्थ्यो-हमीलाई निकै मिठो मिठो खनेकुरा उपलब्ध गराउनुभयको थियो |

दशैंमा सधैं खसी काट्ने चलन थियो नेपालमा,यहापनी खसिबिनाको दशै खल्लो लाग्ने भएको हुँदा भोलिपल्ट लोक दाईको नेत्रित्व्यमा साथीहरु खसी काट्न जनुभयो| अक्टोबेर १७ दशैंको विसेस दिन-टिकाको दिन | उक्त कार्यक्रम मनाउन University of Wyoming को Cheney Center मा रखियेको थियो| हामी सबै जना त्यस ठाउँमा गयका थियौ | लोक दाईको दशैंबारे छोटो जानकारीसगै कार्यक्रमको सुरुवात भयको थियो | टिकाको कार्यक्रम सकियपछी हामी सबै खानातिर लागौ,खसीको मासुको साथमा विविध परिकरहरु थियो | खाना खाइसकेपछी एक्छिन अन्तरारेक्षीमा खेलौ | मनोज भाईको गितारको धुनमा सबै जनाको मुखबात गीतहरु गुन्जिरहेको थियो| लोक दाई, राजेश भाई,शन्कर भाई, भगवान, बसन्त दाई निकै उत्साहित हुनुहुन्थ्यो| बसन्त दाई र राजेश भाई त बेला बेलामा नाचेर स्टेज तताउनुभयको थियो |सबैजनाले आ-आफ्नो क्षत्रबाट गर्नुभयको सहयोगले उक्त कार्यक्रम निकै सफल भयो |सबैलाई मुरी-मुरी धन्यवाद !!!

सधै आफ्नो परिवारसँग रमाइलोको साथ दशै मनाउने म आज परिवारसँग धेरै टाढा छु, मनभरी बिगतका सम्झनाहरुलाई अगाल्दै मैले यसपलीको दशै विदेशी भुमीमा मनाए | आसा गरौ- निकट भविस्यमा आफ्नो परिवारसँग दशै मनाउन पाइयोस |