Tony Fernandez in Nepal stall.

Wednesday, 26 February 2014. I was in the air, while starting this blog. I was travelling to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the travel fair organized by AirAsia. After few hours of flight I was not feeling well. It might be flight sickness. I took a long nap in business class without doing any business.

On the first day of travel fair, 28 Feb 2014, Mr. Tony Fernandez, Owner of AirAsia, visited our Nepal Tourism Stall. We were so happy that we had no words to explain the moment. I was wearing Nepali cap, Palpali Dhaka Topi, at the stall. Looking at my cap, he wanted to borrow my cap for a while to take a photo. We had Mount Everest banner to represent Nepal as an adventure destination. A bunch of photographer, and media people clicked Tony & our team infront of Mt. Everest banner. He was saying, let's go to Kathmandu, go to Nepal, go to Everest, the highest point on Earth, popularly known as the third pole. Lots of people are aware about Mt. Everest but not aware where it is situated. We were able to educate the visitors that Mt. Everest is in Nepal and it is an adventure destination.

Similarly the case of Lumbini, we had an opportunity to educate the visitors about the birth place of Lord Buddha is Lumbini, in Nepal.

Malaysian are easy travellers. They do not want to walk neither they like to trek. A very few young enthusiasts are fond of adventure lovers. They showed interest on bungey jump, swing, zipp flying, paragliding, etc.

Lot's of Malaysian heard about Kathmandu, Nagarkot, Pokhara, and not so interested in Chitwan, may be because of less information on Jungle activities at Chitwan.

We felt there is lot of opportunity to tap this market if we can educate them that Nepal has a very good harmony in between Hindu & Buddhist religion. One can see devotees visiting both temple and stupas at the same time. This kind of harmony is rare in the world. Before entering in Hindu Temple we see Buddhist stupas and idols of Hindu god and goddess at the entrance of Buddhist Viharas & stupas in Kathmandu Valley.

Come on and see this unique harmony. Feel & experience the social harmony.

My girl friend

She (GF) is slim, white, always energetic. She keeps me active. She follows me, my instructions. She is beautiful. She alerts me. She keeps sending email & sms. When I am online, she feels happy and likes to chat with me and even with my friends & family. She knows every one that I know. Sometimes more than me. She helps me finding clients for my business relationship. Checks my appointment and informs me on time as my personal secretary does.

From early in the morning to late night she stays around with me. Many times she kisses me in a day. My wife gets jealous. One day she left me and was not with me, I was missing her. My younger son came and shattered me,  "See the difference between wife and girl friend. When mom goes to out of town you are not worried, when your GF left for a day, look at your face? It's pale. So sorry dad! We will find either her or another one and convince her not to leave you." Wooo.....hoooo..... !

When she (GF) leaves me, my wife makes fun of me & reminds me "Remember ! I am your wife & only one life partner. GF is temporary. She may leave at any time. You need to keep spending. If you have no energy she will leave. But I will not. I will be with you always and always." I agreed.

But GF is mind blowing, amazing, awesome, keeps me alive. My wife keeps smiling and said, After all she is your girl friend. She doesn't have any responsibility at home. Keep it up, until you break my heart. Ah..! my dear, I will not. Neither I leave my GF nor I break your heart. I will go side by side. You both are important to my life.

Do you want me to declare who is my GF?

Dhaan...tarraaaan......

Oh... !my..... god...she is here.. she is my Samsung...mobile... ha..ha..ha.

This is my job.

It was Saturday, 8 Feb 2014, I got a call from my big boss early in the morning around 6:30 am. I was about to leave my house to see off my wife to bus station for her visit to our native place Butwal after a long gap. I should say " Sorry darling, I got an emergency call. I think it will be late if you wait me. This is my job". She made sour face and gave her permission. She managed to go with her sister. It happened many times after joining travel trade business.

My big boss wanted to reconfirm whether my group booking were reconfirmed or not, at the last minute. Actually I did the same, while leaving my office on Friday evening. I checked itinerary, accommodation, and sightseeing schedule with my colleagues regarding our group arrival on Saturday as usual. But it went wrong. We missed the arrival time. One of my colleague was on good Friday mood and left the office a bit earlier, who was in-charge of it.

By the time I got message that stated arrival time was 9 am. I tried to call my colleague here and there. It was Saturday and I couldn't get through on telephone. My call couldn't reach due to some technical problem. Engaged tone. The answer is "please call later". I tried from my land-line and mobile. I couldn't get through. I got stressed. At last, I could talk to one fellow Kripa. He managed to talk to Nixon and rechecked. Yes! arrival time was missed and it was 9 am in that morning from Europe, Turkish Airlines. It was already 8:15 am still I need to get my Hi-ace. At 8:45 am I got my vehicle and rushed to Tribhuwan International Airport. At 9 am I reached Airport and checked the schedule. Ah... ! I got relaxed when I saw the monitor that mentioned the flight was delayed to 9.10 am. Hummm....! I took long breath and waited for my guests with placard.

While waiting in front of arrival lounge, I saw a familiar face coming out from the arrival lounge. Oh.! she is my sister Sijan. What a surprise? She was supposed to come earlier and delayed and changed her flight to Turkish Airlines. Ok bye. She said to me and went with my brother in law Gyanendra.

Again, I was waiting showing placard. One beautiful lady with a smile waive her hand. I look around me and again got eye contact with the lady. Yes....! She is waiving hands to me. I counted the number of guests. It was four. Then I confirmed. This was my group. I escort them to our vehicle.

While crossing Pashupatinath area, a teen aged girl was excited and pointed to a monkey in the street. I told them that we live in nature. It is naturally Nepal, once is not enough to travel. This is just a start up. You will see lot of amazing things like in amusement park in other country. While driving on the road, they felt like a roller coaster in rough road in Lazimpat which is still under construction.

After dropping to Hotel and I handed over my guests to my tour officer Nixon. I took the same vehicle to drop me back to my home. After few minute, the driver said there is no more fuel and he could not drop me to my home. I thought, he knew that I had no morning walk on that day. I walked. I enjoyed. This is my job.

Moment with Singaporean Model Jojo Struys

Wow, it was amazing & nice experience with the team of Singaporean top model Jojo Struys & team who were in Nepal for their travelogue for ten days. I was fortunate that I could make their trip happen. I believe Jojo's team dream came true. I am thankful to my company Incentive Holidays that provided me such a wonderful project to handle.

Ah! I don't know how to express and where to start. In fact my dream also came true. I got an opportunity to model with Jojo. Wow.... !

When I got the email for this project first time, I believe six months back, I was worried. Because I haven't handled such type of travelogue team in my life. I was excited & writing lots of emails to Sunitha, coordinator for team, regarding Nepal, people, weather, load shedding schedule, whether they could recharge or not their electronic equipment, the day light, temperature, porter to carry their luggage etc. etc.

They were focused on mind, body & nutrition. My duty was to arrange the places of interest according to their theme. I have to recce the places before I write any email. I tried my best of the best to make them aware regarding the places they were visiting, the local people, house wife, shop keepers, they were going to interview. The monk, the gurus, they want to get education regarding meditation, healing therapy, yoga, spa.

I cannot forget our guide Anil Dhakal who made this trip wonderful. We were coordinating for each and every moment in all places. We faced many complications and solved together.

Every Nepali travel entrepreneur wants to promote Nepal in the world. The intention was same with us. The difference is we took it, different way to promote Nepal. We could bring a wonderful celebrity Jojo Struys to Nepal to promote Nepal in South east Asia. All Jojo's travelogue will be telecast in their TV, youtube etc.

Jojo stated, " If you see the things with your own eyes you will believe." So the upcoming episode will definitely help people to educate & to visit naturally Nepal which is not enough to travel once in a life time. The way she expresses and explains the situation was quite amazing, we could see and feel like we are feeling and doing at the moment. It was natural and spontaneous.

Thank you Jojo, Michael, Tony, Khalid, Koo, Sunitha & team of Kyanite TV, government of Singapore, & Air Asia for choosing Nepal in your list of destination promotion.

We got wonderful support from local private sectors. I like to extend my sincere gratitude to Yeti Airlines for sponsoring mountain flight tickets, Tranquility Spa for stone spa, Aura Nepal for memorable music healing, Bhaktapur Municipality for filming. Diwan Dhaubhadel, Peshal dai for arranging potters village & thanka painting, Chatamari & Bara (Newari Meal) cooking, Honourable Bhante Jnanapurnika from World Peace Temple, Buddhist school for Vipassana Meditation, Boomrang restaurant for arranging space for Dhindo & Thakali meal cooking, Landmark Hotel for Pokhara accommodation, Riverside Inn Chitwan for elephant bath, Tharu cultural dance, Aalu tama cooking and of course Hotel Manaslu for their accommodation and wonderful stay in Kathmandu. We are thankful to NTB, Gharbar Resaurant & Friday Grill & Bar for sponsoring meals.

Last but not the least my team of Incentive Holidays. Thank you all guys it was fantastic. We made it happen. Let's continue our team spirit for upcoming guests. Let us inspire people to travel with freedom.

फेसबुक एडिक्ट

अन्नपूर्ण होटलको कुमारी हलमा पाटा नेपाल च्याप्टरको ३८ औँ साधारण सभाको कार्यक्रम पश्चात पर्यटन क्षेत्रका धुरन्धरहरु संग बार्तालाप गर्ने मौका मिलेको थियो | कुराकानी को सन्दर्भ रोचक लागेको केहि अंश हुबहु उतार्ने कोशिस गरेको छु | डिनरको सेट हात हातमा लिंदै तीन जना पर्यटन ब्यबसायीहरु एउटा गोलो टेबुलमा बस्दै थियो |

साथी १: आजकालका बच्चाहरु सारै नै भाग्यमानी यार | (काँटाले काउली तरकारी घोच्दै) जन्मिने बित्तिकै आइप्याद, आइपद, आइफोन, स्मार्टफोन, टचफोन, रिमोट, ल्यापटप, कम्प्युटर, इन्टरनेट, वाइफाई, गेम, मोबाइल आदि इत्यादिको संगत |

साथी २: त्यहि त हगी ! (पापड तोक्दै) हाम्रो जमानामा जाबो टेलिभिजन हेर्न पनि शनिबारको दिनमा छिमेकीको घरमा पुग्नु पर्थ्यो, भन्दा छोरा छोरीले, बाबाले गफ दियो भन्छन् | यस्तो त पुरानो जमानामा हुन्थ्यो होला भन्छन् |

साथी ३: (मुखको खाना निल्दै) जहाँ सम्म मलाई याद छ म पनि मेरो साथीको घरमा गएर रामायण, चित्र लहर, बुनियाद धाराबाहिक हेर्न जाने गर्थे | भिडियो हेर्न त असन सम्म पुग्ने गर्थें बाँसबारी बाट | यस्ता कुराहरु अब सबै नै इतिहासको जमानाको कुरा मा दर्ज भैसकेको छ |

साथी १: अझ म सानो हुँदा को कुरा गर्ने हो भने एक मोहरमा एउटा अण्डा किन्न जान्थ्यौं यार | आजको कार्यक्रममा प्रोफेसर साहेबले भनेको कुरा सारै घत लाग्यो यार मलाई | “पहिलेका बच्चाहरुलाई तिमीलाई नभई नहुने चीज के हो भन्दा जवाफमा “खाना” भन्थ्यो रे अहिलेको जमानामा भने “मोबाइल, इन्टरनेट, वाइफाई” भन्छन्” भनेर अघि कार्यक्रममा हंगकंगका प्रोफेसर काए चोन ले भन्नु भयो | बडा मिठो लाग्यो बास्तवमै समाजमा परिबर्तन भैसकेको छ रहेछ |

साथी ३: हुन पनि हाम्रै घरमा पनि एकदिन ए.डी.यस.यलको लाइनको पैसा तिर्न ढिला भयो भने कस्तो बाउ रहेछ एक हजार पनि गोजीमा नराख्ने भनेर ब्यङ्ग मार्ने गर्छ |

साथी १: त्यस्तै मौका पर्यो भने त कस्तो खाते नै रहेछ मेरो बाउ भन्न पनि बाँकी राख्दैनन् होला यार साथीहरुको माझमा | (पुलाउ खाँदै)

साथी २: मोराहरुले आफै कमाए पछि थाहा पाउलान नि पैसाको महत्व हगी? प्रोफेसर साहेबले आर्को कुरा पनि भन्नु भाथ्यो नि |

साथी १: अँ ... हो  त | के रे ? (एक टुक्रा मासु मुखमा राख्दै)

साथी ३: अँ.. त्यहि त हो नि फेसबुक !

साथी १: अँ...फेसबुक त सांच्चै भन्ने हो भने म पनि एडिक्ट नै भैसंकें यार | बिहान उठे देखि रातिको सुत्ने बेला सम्म झुन्देको झुन्दै | अफिसमा फेसबुक, बाटोमा फेसबुक | कहिले काहीं त ओहो ! (रुमाल ले मुख पुछ्दै) स्वास्नीले पनि कुन दिन डिभोर्स गर्छ कि जस्तो लाग्छ |

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समय अनुसार चल्नु पर्छ भनेर एडिक्ट नै हुनु भने राम्रो होइन | समय मै सोंच्नुस ढिला नगर्नुस | अस्तु |