Navin Shakya

citylife

Load shedding days

There was a time—not too long ago—when the best sound you could hear in a neighbourhood was kids yelling, “Batti ayo!” (The lights are back!). It was a moment of collective celebration…
Frustrating flight delays

Flight delays are something we’ve all come to expect in Nepal. Whether it’s unpredictable weather, crowded skies, or poor infrastructure, delays are just part of life here. An hour or two of…
Magic of mixtapes

Just watched Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and it totally took me back to the days of Walkmans and mixtapes. I remember the rush of heading to the local music shop after…
Glory days of radio

Back in our school days, FM radio was a huge part of our lives. Having a small, battery-operated radio felt like owning something really special. We’d even make handmade cards and take…
Nepali time

Kathmandu’s roads are full of reckless users—whether it’s pedestrians, bikers, motorists, public bus drivers, school bus drivers, or truck drivers. People of all ages—men, women, old, young, or children—seem to always be…
Hair cut

I usually head for hair cut on Tuesday evenings to get extra few minutes, because that’s when they’re quieter since it’s like an off day for salon in my area. It’s a…
Searching nose

While riding my bike recently, I passed by a garden filled with blooming jasmine flowers. The sweet fragrance that filled the air instantly lifted my mood. It was a brief moment, lasting…
So frequent road accidents

It’s no secret that Nepal’s roads are like, totally synonymous with drama. I mean, just check out the recent buzz – three big accidents in one day, 19 lives gone, and heaps…
Kartik Nach of Patan

Kartik Nach, a traditional dance-drama performed in Lalitpur, takes place on a public platform in front of the seventeenth-century Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been continuing for…
That is not education

Basantapanchami marks the arrival of spring season and bids goodbye to freezing winter. It is also a day to worship the goddess of learning, Saraswati. Traditionally, this day is seen as the perfect…