During the climax of the festival, not only are Kathmandu’s streets eerily silent but also its crowded bars and restaurants! So, how are you going to spend this Dashain? We’ve come up with 10 recipes for you on killing the Dashain boredom. Read on! [break]
Time out!
There is nothing more apt than taking a vacation in Dashain when you get a break from the hectic schedules and monotonous routine.
If you’re thinking of staying within the border, then with a minimum budget, you can have a perfect getaway from the maddening crowd of the city. Not too far away from the city, places like Nagarkot, Gokarna, Shivpuri and Dhulikhel offers a variety of options.But if you want to go a little further from the city, then Pokhara is definitely on the cards. You can do a lot of things from boating to sightseeing and for those in need of thrill can even try paragliding. With a proper planning you can have an inclusive escape with your bunch of friends or family.
If you are thinking of going away from the city then package tours to places like Delhi, Bangkok and Malaysia can be a perfect way to spend your leisure time. So this Dashain, take time out and unwind yourselves in any of these destinations, after all you definitely deserve a break!
Watch movies:
There is nothing like sitting back and watching a stack of DVD movies of your choice. Watching movies always tops the list when it comes to killing boredom! This Dashain, let the movie bug bite and take over you. Here are some must-watched movies for you: 1. Step up 3D
2. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
3. The Social Network
4. Inception
5. Bridges of Madison County
6. Khichdi
7. Peepli Live
8. Dabaang
Time to party:
Dashain invites abundant reasons to celebrate. What can be better than throwing a bash at your place with a bunch of friends or relatives? The best thing about house parties is that you can lounge around and don’t need to think about leaving the place anytime soon unlike in restaurants.
You can host parties with different themes like doing a potluck, where everyone can contribute in bringing variety of delectable cuisines to dilute the work and avoid all the hassle of cooking alone. Be the DJ for a night and play all your favorite singles (even if your friends don’t like it, since it is your place for god sake!)
Indulge in cards, albeit responsibly:
Some say Dashain is all about cards! People tend to indulge in cards and other gambling. Done with a festive mood, gambling for recreational purpose is purely harmless but you need to know your own limitations. The trick is to gamble responsibly and not forget the fact that you are doing it for fun.
You need to decide in advance about how much you want to play, how much money and time you want to spend and also knowing when to stop. You don’t want to loose all your dakshina money now, do you? You have to save it for your winter shopping and to take your someone out, may be? Ahem! Ahem!
Playing responsibly will keep gambling enjoyable and lower the risk of harm to you and family. Also don’t try to win back losses and don’t borrow money to play the game and don’t spend too much time and money which will only make gambling a habit. After all playing cards in Dashain is for fun sake, not to make money or escape problems (though you can earn quite a few bucks if you’re lucky enough!)
Read your way through:
Ah, it’s that time of year when Kathmandu turns into a ghost town, your friends are all busy and you’ve watched everything on TV (as well as the re-runs). This is the ideal time to pull out your duster and find books that have been hidden under dirt and grime.If your bookshelf is empty, pick up one of our recommendations:
Ever felt out of the loop on books from bygone years? Catch up with these classic titles: War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy, The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas.
Prefer to read something that keeps you guessing? Try these:
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - Mark Haddon.
Want an escape into an alternate world? Give these a whirl:
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams, 100 Year of Solitude - Gabriel García Márquez.
Long novels not your thing? Try poetry to keep your love of words alive without tiring your eyes (see? That even rhymed!): Open All Night - Charles Bukowski, Complete Poems of Robert Frost – Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.
Have a stylish winter:
Everyone requires a wardrobe makeover once a while. But it’s not advisable, let alone feasible; to buy everything you are hungering for (not without making a little hole in your parent’s pockets!).
This Dashain, better save your dakshina because you are going to need it. Invest your savings in buying yourself a completely new wardrobe. You can be a completely new person this winter. Buy yourself new shoes, new clothes, new bags and belts and you could invest in a stylish watch.
The runways indicate a must-have for this season. For girls you need a turtleneck sweater, chunky grey, black or brown cardigans, and a dress of any color you fancy. Also, not to forget classic dark blue or black jeans are a must. For guys, the Milan fashion show says, Pinstriped Pants, Striped Shirts, Blazer/Sports Jacket, Flat-Front Twill Pants, and the inevitable Jeans. You know what suits you best so HAPPY SHOPPING!!
Time to clean up:
Everything needs some cleaning and that includes your computers too. If you format and re-install your drivers, your computer will work much faster, trust us! However, be sure to back up your drivers and software so that you can re-install them back. If you don’t know how to format your drives and/or computers, take some professional help or the internet is always there to our rescue! Tweak a bit and try new software with your computer’s hard drive free from unwanted materials. Ah! What better way to spend your Dashain than fooling around with the greatest invention of the mankind!
Create a photo journal:
Dashain is sure to bring wonderful moments, whether you are receiving tika or not. Meeting your favorite uncle or your hated cousin, it’s a time when there is going to be a lot of family gatherings and fun activities.
No doubt, the great times will pass off and the activities will last until at least the festive season but will definitely comeback flooding to your memories the next Dashain.
But there’s a way you can preserve all the good times and relive it anytime long after Dashain is over. Create a photo journal – it’s creative and easy. Photo journal is just like writing a journal. The only difference here is that you take photographs and save them each day instead of printing them. Take as many photographs as you like and save the ones you feel are your favorite picks along with the dates they are taken. You will definitely enjoy your memorable days in the days to come. Trust us!
Ride your bike:
Burn that extra calorie that you’ve put on. With the city emptied out, there are traffic-free roads to take advantage of! Of course, free streets doesn’t mean the distance between Jawalakhel and New Road decreases which makes this an ideal time for you to get your bicycle out and enjoy a leisurely ride.Let’s be honest, considering how much you’re going to be eating, you’re going to need the exercise. Taking your cycle out during Dashain also guarantees a pollution free work out! Test how your stamina increases without dust and soot to clog your lungs.
Honestly, what other times of year could you ride about town without worrying about being run off the road? It’s a win-win-win. Your cycle delays rusting, you can enjoy being King of the road and you can save fattening up for another day (or for another festival).
Go on a dry picnic:
When was the last time you went on a picnic? We know there are not many places where you can possibly organize a picnic but there are a few locations like Godavari, Lamatar, Lubu and Hattiban. And, what is even more wonderful is the balmy sunshine and a wonderful season to venture out.
Another advantage is that you can spend your time in the meadows with ease since all your friends are on a vacation at this season. So, you don’t have to worry at all about hurrying in the morning to start the picnic or rush back home in the evening.
However, do keep the eating and playing part for the daylight time. Nobody wants to trip and fall while playing in the dark and all of us like to get a sight of what we are eating.
Take homemade food and you not only save yourself from all the extra calories but you also minus the preparation time!