www.fridayweekly.com.np Every Thursday | ISSUE 47 | RS. 20 SUBSCRIBER COPY 23 - 29 December, 2010 | * – !$ kf}if, @)^& �������� ������������������������������������������������� 23 Days& Counting— Text: Ayusha Nirola, Photo: ECS Media ne million- the number of tourists Ne- their chatter, there is much hope from this larger than pal is expecting by the end of 2011. life campaign for a country like ours. Yes, we do not Nepal Tourism Year 2011, an endeavor have the proper infrastructure and yes, we do not have 2 years in the planning, is all set to kick the best of everything but what we probably fail to see start on 14 January, 2011. is what we do have. Moving away from Mt. Everest, Ever since the government of Nepal, Pokhara, Freak Street, Pashupatinath, Lumbini (the list along with the travel and trade sector, goes on), the campaign has paved a way for projects like Odecided to launch this ambitious project starting 25 Cultural Exchange and Home Stay programs and the October 2008, it has seen a series of promotional ac- promotion of Eco Tourism in rural Nepal. With tour- tivities and effort from the different sectors involved. ists flocking the country not only for its scenic beauty When Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal formally and cultural diversity, but for an experience of a lifetime inaugurated the year-long tourism promotion cam- through adventure activities, Nepal has all the poten- paign on 26 February, 2010, he highlighted on the im- tial to be the ‘go to’ destination for millions of tourists portance of tourism for Nepal, stating that ‘tourism around the world. But surely this is not possible without can play a crucial role in moving the country into a the support of the rest of the country. new economic dimension’. On the same day 19 differ- Maybe it’s time for us to stop complaining and for ent political parties promised solidarity and ‘no strikes’ once work as a nation united. As Yogendra Shakya, (of course in May the country saw a week-long strike National Coordinator of NTY 2011, said during the by the Maoist). The same promises, promotion of the inauguration back in February 2010, “Nepal is fully same places and definitely the same faces. prepared to welcome one million visitors. But with- So it was no surprise that sarcasm and cynicism out the support of all the other sectors, we cannot started doing the rounds. There were talks about mini- achieve the objectives of this campaign.” mal infrastructure, the condition of the only interna- Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign is a way of re- tional airport, and the condition of the only national branding Nepal’s image. Let’s all endeavor to be an airline carrier in the country. But as the critics continue integral part of this nationwide effort. ! page3 make your statement What: Music, Art and Healing: A Benefit Concert in Memory of Vidhea Shrestha Where: Moksh, Jhamsikhel Spotted: Sapana Thapa, Elise Tassin, Geeti Sen and Shirish Dali A night filled with delightful music and art - in memory of the vibrant life led by Vidhea Shrestha. What: Let’s Talk about ART, baby! Where: Siddartha Art Gallery, Baber Mahal Revisited Spotted: Manisha Koirala, Chirag Bangdel, 1974 AD, Bidhata KC and Mukesh Malla Helium balloons, renowned faces and thought-provoking art: the inauguration of one of the biggest art events of the year - let’s talk about ART, baby! READ READ EAT EAGET HOOKEDT GET HOOKED Internet connetion SubscribeSSuubsb cribe tot FFooodoodod vouchersvouo chheerrs wowortrth RsRs 5005000 worth Rs 565 or Calling Card for oneone yearyear @ RsRs 800 ffromrom KKFCFFC oorr Pizzzzaa HHuHutt worth Rs 500 FRIDAY SUBSCRIPTION Duration No. of Issues Cover Price You Pay You Save You Get Food Coupon Worth Rs 500 & 1Year 50 Rs 20 x 50 Rs 800 Rs 200 Internet Connection(Rs 565) or = Rs 1,000 (Price of 10 issues) Calling Card Worth Rs 500 Call Bikram Shrestha or type ‘Friday’ and sms to 9851047233 Read Fr!day. Every Thursday page3 Fr!day Issue 47 | 23 - 29 December, 2010 3 hall of frame What: SWOR’s Audio Launch Where: Bu Keba Restaurant Spotted: Bhusan Dahal, Raj Ballav Koirala, Prabhat Rimal The audio launch of the much- anticipated Nepali movie ‘swor’ took place this week amidts media personalities and the press. What: Etihad Airways Travel Trade Recognition Awards Where: Soaltee Crowne Plaza With its Regional General Manager in town for the awards ceremony, Etihad handed over the Travel Trade Awards to outstanding travel agencies from around Nepal. What: Civil Bank’s Inauguration Party Where: Soaltee Crowne Plaza Spotted: Ani Choying Drolma, Kishor Maharjan and Ichha Raj Tamang The celebrations continued for Civil Bank at their inaguration party this past week as the who’s who of the corporate sector turned out for the event. What: Afnai Maiti Where: Soaltee Crowne Plaza What: Dabur Pro Spotted: Anil Style Launch Shah, Rajendra Where: Soaltee Crowne Khetan,Ranjit Plaza Acharya Spotted: Anudhan The event was Rana, Miss Nepal 2010 dedicated to the Sadiccha Shrestha, Deepak CNN Hero of the Bajracharya, Nima Rumba, year Anuradha Koirala Asif Shah and money was raised for Maiti Nepal. feaissues that matter ture spot light THE FUNNY MAN UP, CLOSE Personal with Subash Rai Subash Rai’s unfailing tryst with humor is best fl aunted in his analytical graphics where even minute details are given a lot of importance. — Sunita Gurung &he art of illustration has frog’s tale in ‘Bhaktaprasad manage to emerge from the the power to transport Bhagyuto’ through his superb pile of electronic archive to be and elevate a viewer out- illustrations. Adding a hint used in ‘Nepali Times’ where Tside the confines of ‘re- of Nepalipan to an amphibian he used to be a regular con- ality’. This, rings so true for a evidently demonstrates that tributor. For those who hadn’t man who has managed to cap- his forte lies in his originality. seen enough of his work, his tivate thousands through his With such commendable works book called Peace portrayed creativity. Ever since he drew a it comes as a surprise to know humor with a touch of satire. picture of his father on a slate that this man has had no formal With an effervescent charm he at the age of six there has been training, his weapon is just his never fails to evoke laughter in no looking back for Subash Rai innate talent. His creations are the most serious of situations who brought to life a simple trailblazers, many of them still and it is almost impossible to feature Fr!day Issue 47 | 23 - 29 December, 2010 5 keep a straight face while you to become an Art Director, ishing touches till I am fully with National Geographic for What difference did you find are in the company of Subash after which I decided to work satisfied that my work has an awareness campaign. in Nepal coming back after Rai. After a hiatus of seven as a freelancer. Within the pe- the ability to give an aesthet- seven years? years, he was in the city for a riod that I worked full time, ic experience. Overall you What kind of difference do There is no denial that I still love visit when Fr!day managed a I did illustrations for various can say that I work with the you see in the advertising ‘gundruk’ but I get saddened industry scenario here in close encounter with the man social awareness magazines. hand and the computer in a by the worsening situation of Nepal and in the US? to know what tickles his fun- As a freelancer I worked as a 25:75 ratio. the country. I wanted my son There is rapid technological ny bone. cartoonist for Nepali Times, Shasank to see the country that advancement in the US which Himal and Himal South Asia. What software do you use? I come from and the rich culture makes it imperative for profes- that I grew up in. Of course the STREET ART AS A STYLE IS VERY POPULAR IN THE WORLD sionals to constantly upgrade charm of Kathmandu never fails their skills. Unlike Nepal, print to mesmerize. ! OF ADVERTISEMENT AND THIS IS MORE LIKE A GRAFFITI alone is not enough to capture WHERE THE END RESULT IS NOT A VERY NEAT VERSION the attention of the masses, ev- erything has to be digitalized. BUT MORE OF ADDED BITS AND PIECES TO AN ALREADY Most agencies use social net- EXISTING PHOTO. IT IS BUT OBVIOUS THAT WORK THERE working media like Facebook, IS MORE CHALLENGING WHERE I HAVE TO BE IN TOUCH Tweeter, YouTube, to showcase their products. Another form CONSTANTLY WITH THE LATEST. of advertisement is what they call a Guerilla advertisement. It During my association with We have seen a lot of your is an unconventional system of Himal, I had an opportunity I use the Illustrator and Pho- work but how do you describe promotions that relies on time, yourself as a person? to work for Film South Asia, toshop. And I am completely energy and imagination. Simi- I always considered myself International Mountain Film an Apple guy. lar to street shows we have in very lucky to be god-gifted Festival and did book illustra- Nepal which are used to create and have utilized every bit of tions for Rato Bangala Kitab. What have you been doing in a sensation, in the US, innova- my talent into this field of I did the book design, illustra- the States? tive ideas are employed, for creativity. I consider myself tions, maps for a book called My job as a freelancer for ad- example hanging a car upside humorous and always like to Himalayan Waters which was vertising agencies keeps me down.