T.G.I.F

Just because it’s Friday doesn’t mean it’s the weekend for me. But even with work the next day, I’ve got to the point where I need my Friday nights to hang out with friends and/or relax.



Through Friday nights in Kathmandu lack the lure and luster of weekends in the West, I find ways to create my own fun.[break]



5:30 PM: People watching @ Patan Durbar Square

Who says a Friday needs to be in Thamel or Jhamel? The Patan Durbar Square comes to life in the evening, and if I’m in the mood to be out but not drowning in loud music, this is the place to go for watching people. It’s one of my favorite places to photograph, and at dusk the silhouettes of Nepali architecture are sublime.



And when my tummy starts to rumble, there’s no doubt about it. Honacha is the place to be at. For the most delicious piro aloo, savory chhoila, bara, and kerau, this hole in the wall is a landmark, not to mention the low prices which make me feel like I’m stealing candy from a kid.



7:30 PM: Dessert @ Higher Ground Café

With the burn of piro aloo still on my tongue, I instantly want something sweet. Being a huge foodie, I know the best spots for various items. And to satiate my chocolate cake craving, there’s no competition to the double chocolate cake at Higher Ground Café in Jawlakhel.



If it’s not the chocolate cake, I find myself submitting to the carrot cake with cream cheese icing, or the cheese cake. Heck, if you’re with friends, I would recommend getting a slice (or two) of each. Forget counting calories. Seriously. Just eat.


8:30 PM: Dinner #1 .5 @ Sing Ma

As delicious as Honacha is, that’s more of an “appetizer” than a full meal. And yes, I eat dessert first. But the final item to my 100% happy belly is the Roti with Chicken Curry at Sing Ma in Pulchowk.



Light, savory and delicious, it’s enough to fill me up without making me feel like a glutton.


10:00 PM: Coin toss

Depending on my mood, I’m down with going home and watching a movie… or if the night is still but an infant, Moksh at Jhamsikhel is just a hop, skip, and jump away.



For drinks, music, and an array of people, I like the option of the quieter lawn if I’m not up and dancing with a roomful of people getting their dose of Friday fun.

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