Pokhara Nepal

Pictures of Pokhara taken some time ago. Pokhara, beautiful as always and less polluted than Kathmandu valley. Places to see in Pokhara include Fewa Lake, Sarangkot, World Peace Pagoda, Bat Cave, Begnas Lake (the largest lake in Pokhara), Devi’s Fall among several other wonderful places.

A morning view of Pokhara Sky as seen from a Lake Side hotel. On the background, the World Peace Pagoda can be seen. The World Peace Pagoda in Pokhara holds a giant statue of Buddha.

Devis Fall (also known as Devi’s Fall or David’s Fall or Devin’s Fall or “Patale Chhango”) is an attractive waterfall in Pokhara that runs through the “Gupteshowr Mahadev Cave”. The water can rise quite high on rainy seasons.

Considered to be the most difficult cave to pass through, Bat Cave (or “Chamero Gufa”) is so called due to the huge number of bats present inside the cave.

The most popular of the lakes in Pokhara, Fewa Lake (also known as Phewa Lake or Fewataal) also holds the temple in the middle of the lake named “TaalBarahi”. On a clear day, the Annapurna range and Machapuchre are visible from this lake. One can also climb to the World Peace Pagoda after a short boating in Fewa Lake. The place around Fewa lake is popularly known as Lake Side where there are lots of hotels or guest house to stay in. The Lakeside is the most attractive destination for tourists in Pokhara.

The World Peace Pagoda is a short distance upwards from the base of Fewa Lake. On the route you can see this beautiful view of the Fewa Lake and the Annapurna range.

The National Flag of Nepal

Some Nepali people think the current national flag of Nepal, triangular and only such in the world, needs to be changed while others think it’s unique and it’s okay. UWB received an article by Prakash Bom about the necessity of the new flag and a photo of “a model flag for the People’s Republic of Nepal” from Shree Shrestha.

I wish the Nepali leaderships had spoken about the need of a new national flag for a new democratic Nepal before the elections of the constituent assembly. I dream of a national flag of the peaceful stars on the horizon of the summit of Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) for new democratic Nepal. The number of peaceful stars will get derived from the restructuring of the state under the Federal Democratic government system.

First of all the people did not choose the current national flag, but accepted for granted as given by the feudal oligarchic regimes to lay the Hindu patriotic values. Many of us are caught up with its unique shape without realizing its connotations with the Hindu nationalism that sustains on the royalist values.

We have decided to change the national anthem (article on English). We have suspended the monarchy. We are about to print our national currency with the pillar of national glory – the Sagarmatha. It is time for new democratic Nepal to think over changing the national flag that can symbolize our true nationalism and the value.

Our nationalism rises up to the pinnacle of the Mount Everest and our national values and pride reach to the glory of Buddha, Ansubarma, Bhirkuti and Arniko. That is how Nepal has been recognized and appreciated in the world. On the glory of our true nationalism and pride we have to begin building our new prosperous democratic Nepal.

Our new democratic national flag must be able to embrace our diverse ethnicity, culture, religions, gender, and inhabitance of different geographical regions with the promise to guarantee our civil liberty and human rights; with the federal democratic electoral system for governing our constituents by the elected representatives from each constituent residence. We must transcend all impediments to create a flag of the nation, which can unit us all to serve the nation.

Current national flag of Nepal:

The national flag of Nepal (left) is the only non-quadrangular national flag, and one of only two non-rectangular official jurisdictional flags in the world (the other is the flag of Ohio). The flag is a simplified combination of two single pennants from different branches of the previous rulers, the Rana dynasty. The flag was adopted, with the formation of a new constitutional government, on December 16, 1962. The individual pennants had been used for the last two centuries and the double pennant since the 19th century.

The blue border denotes peace and harmony that has been prevalent in the country since the age of Gautam Buddha, who was born in Nepal. The crimson color is Nepal’s national color, and it indicates the brave spirit of the Nepalese people. The triangles do not represent Nepal’s mountains, but rather denote that Nepal is a Hindu Country. The red triangular flag has been a Hindu symbol of victory since the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The depiction of celestial bodies represents permanence, the hope that Nepal will last as long as the sun and the moon. The moon symbolizes that the Nepalese are soothing and calm, while the sun symbolizes fierce resolve.

Christmas Trees Around the World

Before the ball drops in Times Square, the Big Apple turns on its
holiday charm with the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.

The Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C., is decorated with 3,000
ornaments that are the handiwork of U.S. schoolchildren. Encircling
evergreens in the ‘Pathway of Peace’ represent the 50 U.S. states.

The world’s largest Christmas tree display rises up the slopes
of Monte Ingino outside of Gubbio, in Italy’s Umbria region.
Composed of about 500 lights connected by 40,000 feet of wire,
the ‘tree’ is a modern marvel for an ancient city

A Christmas tree befitting Tokyo’s nighttime neon display is
projected onto the exterior of the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.

Illuminating the Gothic facades of Prague’s Old Town Square,
and casting its glow over the manger display of the famous
Christmas market, is a grand tree cut in the Sumava mountains
in the southern Czech Republic.

Venice ’s Murano Island renowned throughout the world
for its quality glasswork is home to the tallest glass tree
in the world. Sculpted by master glass blower Simone
Cenedese, the artistic Christmas tree is a modern
reflection of the holiday season.

Moscow celebrates Christmas according to the Russian Orthodox
calendar on Jan. 7. For weeks beforehand, the city is alive with
festivities in anticipation of Father Frost’s arrival on his magical
troika with the Snow Maiden.

He and his helper deliver gifts under

the New Year tree, or yolka, which is traditionally a fir.

The largest Christmas tree in Europe (more than 230 feet tall)
can be found in the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, Portugal.
Thousands of lights adorn the tree, adding to the special
enchantment of the city during the holiday season.

‘Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree’: Even in its humblest attire,
aglow beside a tiny chapel in Germany’s Karwendel mountains,
a Christmas tree is a wondrous sight.

Ooh la la Galeries Lafayette! In Paris, even the Christmas trees are chic.
With its monumental, baroque dome, plus 10 stories of lights and
high fashion, it’s no surprise this show-stopping department store draws
more visitors than the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower

In addition to the Vatican’s heavenly evergreen, St. Peter’s Square
in Rome hosts a larger-than-life nativity scene in front of the obelisk.

The Christmas tree that greets revelers at the Puerta del Sol
is dressed for a party. Madrid’s two-week celebration makes
millionaires along with merrymakers. On Dec. 22, a lucky citizen
will win El Gordo (the fat one), the world’s biggest lottery.

A token of gratitude for Britain’s aid during World War II,
the Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square has been
the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

Drink a glass of gluhwein from the holiday market at the Romer
Frankfurt’s city hall since 1405 and enjoy a taste of Christmas past.

Against a backdrop of tall, shadowy firs, a rainbow trio of
Christmas trees lights up the night (location unknown).a

Are you interested in Earthquakes?

If you are interested in Earthquake, you can see when and where the earthquakes happened across the globe.

As you can see, Japan is always the most dangerous place regarding to the earthquake. The earthquakes happned today are marked by Red, Yesterday’s are Orange, Past 2 weeks are Yellow, Past 5 years are purpules. Check out the Site Below ↓

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

“XO Move” Scooter

Called the “XO Move”, this scooter is “adaptable to user needs, can carry one or two persons and sports a variable wheelbase to make it more stable on the roads.” More pics after the jump.

Well, not really. It’s real name is the XO Move. But it looks like a transformer and almost acts like one. The concept is that when parked it transforms and locks up for security