All the people out there in sydney New Generation has brought to u a Nepalese get together party at LEPANIC, Kingscross opposite to the HUGOS bar and next to MANSION Hotel.

Live perform by our Nepali Tara Yui Bei & our well known friend Niraj Shakya.& our Dj for the nite are Dj Bee Rock & Dj Shyun.

So be ready to dance in the tune of our best Djs in sydney.Dont miss this oppurtunity .all the Nepalese and those people who love Nepa…l are heartly welcome.

Drink price of the nite:
$ 5.00 house wine, house champagne, local beers.
$ 5.00 house bspirits vodka bourbon scotch gin.
$ 5.00 wet pussy shots
$ 15.00 shakers.

Tickets 15$ only

For ticket & info plz contact:
Chandra -0430791127
Subash -0430636677
Roshan -0421148327
Rajesh -0433055804

I have used this expression myself without truly understanding its emotional and relational roots. But being a father has helped see right through it. Now I can say with certainty that it is a relational fact that holds true across all the cultures just like Einstein’s e=mc square in Physics .This hold true without exception amongst people of diverse background in my new home Australia too.
Dear readers, if you are curious to know how the expression is said in its own language, here it is, “Tero Bou le garcha?” and “Kya, Tera Baap Karega?” in Nepali and Hindi respectively.
A month ago, I and my wife were diverting huge amount of energy to solve a problem at home. This was caused by equipment which is found in every Australian house-“a vaccum cleaner”. My two year old daughter creates so much mess that half our time is spent cleaning but she does not care as her dad would clean it. In addition due to excessive use of vaccum cleaner we were facing high levels of noise and dust pollution. Moreover, as we exploited the machine above its recommended usage; it broke down frequently demanding a replacement or expensive fixing. After using a problem solving strategy from a book that I recently read “Mckinsey Mind”, answer was revealed-buy a broom stick, tall enough which can be applied in standing posture -saving any pain to your back. So we went to a $ shop and bought a Chinese Innovation.
Once I begun using the newly discovered old technology -the problem was solved. It was one of the wisest purchases I have made in many years .Firstly; I no longer dread the mess that my two year old makes and do not mind using it couple of times a day unlike vaccum cleaners. Secondly, no more noise and immensely reduced dust pollution. Lastly, I never understood my friends who loved gardening, when they described it to be meditative. Broom did the same to me!
On one such session with the broom, I was thinking hard to recollect stories that I heard as a kid. I had to prepare a story to tell my daughter before bed. My thoughts drifted from one scene to other from a story that my mother told us more than once. But what was unusual was that the story rolled in my mind as visual scenes from my own life.
First scene was where; I and my wife were stressed at breaking the news to our parents of our intention to marry inter caste. We understood their social engineering and were disheartened to hurt them. However, after showing some kind of initial irritation they consented and said, “All they wished was for us to be happy.” Caste system in Nepal is highly complex and continues the traditional system of social stratification of Nepal. However, in Nepal people sometimes erroneously use word caste to mean their race or ethnicity making it a racist system .In recent days this system has been heavily manipulated and misused by politicians to their advantage. This has divided the people and the nation of Nepal. The most worrying aspect is that they have managed to attract adherent followers outside Nepal too. Just for example, there are more than 50,000 Nepalese living in Australia, who have formed numerous associations. However, if you visit them you are most likely to meet Gurungs, Magars, Newars, Kirats, Tamangs, Sherpas, Bhaun & Chhetris or Madhesi rather to Nepalese.
Smoothly scene in my mind rolled. I saw myself calling my parents from Delhi, Cochin, Melbourne where I spent my time as student .What took me by surprise was all the conversation was short and same. I would not even bother to ask them about their health or life in general but ask them for money for my expenses. Naturally, they would ask for the reasons and the spending details of what was sent earlier. Then, I would get agitated and hang the phone. After sometime or days I could receive a call saying they have wired it. It took me 7 to 13 years after those incidents to understand the personal sacrifices that I enforced on my parents.
In an abrupt the scene changed, here my father was in a serious conversation to my mate’s father. They were talking about us hesitating to be dropped back to boarding school on public transport (as we did not own a vehicle then) after our leave weekend .We demanded to be dropped off in private taxi as other kids were dropped off in fancy cars. Budhanilkantha School was considered to be one of the best schools in Nepal not just for education, extra curriculum but the mix of people who attended it. The school was attended by prince of Nepal, sons of ministers & businessmen to kids from the most remote parts of Nepal belonging to poor of the poorest families. Quota was assigned to each of 75 districts of Nepal and students had to compete on credentials .Scholarships was provided by Nepalese and British government according to the financial background of the family. Being a father I understand how frustrating & insulting such act can be. But they adhered just to make sure we fitted in and were happy regardless of their circumstances.
I was done with the cleaning this Saturday evening and was in flow of the story which I was to tell my daughter that night. Suddenly the phone rang to distract me. After a while my wife popped out and said that my parents were on the line. I asked them about life in general and their health. Then, I proceeded to answer their questions about health, food, business, writings, speeches, yoga…..Once there was no further conversation my parents hung up with these words that left me thinking-“please let us know if you need anything, we have retired but if you need any support apart from our love we have our retirement saving and property that we can sell to assist you. “
My wife noticed that I was lost in my own thoughts and she enquired, ”What have you been thinking of?” .I explained everything to her from the story that my mother told us as we were kids and how I saw various scenes from my life in relation to it. She listened carefully and after I was done she said, “Interesting, maybe you should share this story with everyone by writing it.”
It was bed time and my daughter insisted I tell her a story. I decided to pass on the story my mother had told us years before.
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it every day. He loved the tree top, ate the apples, and took a nap under the shadow. He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.
The little boy had grown up and he no longer played around the tree every day. One day the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. “Come play with me,” the tree asked the boy. I am no longer a kid; I don’t ‘ play around trees anymore the boy replied. I need money to buy toys he added. The tree said,”Sorry, I don’t have money but you can pick my apples and sell them. “The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.
One day the boy returned and the tree was so excited. “Come and play with me,” the tree said. I don’t have time to play. I have to work for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me? “Sorry but I don’t have a house. But you can chop off my branches to build your house.” So the boy cut all the branches off the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back since then.
Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years. “Sorry, my boy, but I don’t have anything for you anymore. No more apples, no more trunk for you to climb, the only thing left is my dying roots” the tree said. The boy replied,” I don’t have teeth to bite apples or strength to climb a tree, I don’t need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years.”
The tree said, “Good! Come sit down with me, old tree roots are the best place to lean and rest on.” The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.
My daughter was fast asleep by now! I switched off the lights thinking how those little brains might have processed the story. Then I thought maybe I should share it as there is a message for most of us in it. The tree is our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad. When we grew up, we left them only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they can to make you happy. You may think the boy is cruel to the tree but that is how all of us are treating our parents. Love your parents, no matter where they are!
Anup Bhandari, is the CEO of Nirvana Groups specializing in events, travel and imports. He is based in Sydney, Australia. He is also a motivational speaker and a published writer. He can be reached via email at anup.anupbh@gmail.com.

It is that interesting time of the year, isn’t it? The New Years and Christmas is just round the corner. Good festive vibe is in the air. Everyone is looking forward to the year 2010 with new hopes, goals and dreams.

Over Coffee, I was chatting with my friends this afternoon. Suddenly I noticed an interesting phenomenon I have been experiencing for many years now.

As we sat there in a cafe tucked into a little alley amongst the high rise steel and glass building of Sydney CBD a friend proclaimed, ”I will definitely burn this 10 kilos belted around my stomach in the year 2010”. Then the other added,”I have plans to get back to my yoga and meditation class from the first day of 2010”.

As the conversation progressed my thoughts drifted back to the past where many of us made similar resolutions and held similar conversation end of each year. In the New Year’s I have noticed this repeating trend where enthusiasm to keep up to the goals set, evaporated in the thin air after couple of weeks or months. Have you noticed it too?

Dear readers, I made a commitment to myself few years ago to share my thoughts through my writing and public speaking in clubs & forums. I still remember some 6 years ago where group of our friends got together and decided to join public speaking forum. This we thought would help us realise our dreams of being seasoned public speakers. Fortunately, this year I have been provided with an opportunity to be a guest speaker to few forums and clubs in Australia and abroad.

Recently, I decided to catch up with my friends with those I shared a common goal of being a proficient speaker. I was saddened to learn that none of them pursued towards their dreams. One said,”I have a family and kids”. The other said,”I have business to look after.” And the other added “I have 9-5 commitment to my work”.

Well, take your time readers, take a moment, try and analyse the common thread between above two examples.

Now, let me share with you an incident that helped me understand the common thread in the examples I have put forward. I hope it helps you in the same way.

During Sept-Oct I was away on a business visit to various parts of South Asia. I also took this trip as an opportunity to visit my family and good friends in India and Nepal.

I spent some time in Nepal which coincided the great festival of Dashera. This festival is equivalent to Christmas celebrated in Australia. This 15 daylong celebration signifies the victory of good over evil. On the 10^th day all the family members get together to receive blessing from their elders.

On this particular day I was being blessed by my 78 year old grandmother. She began by saying “try not to be a man of success but of value.” These words of Albert Einstein from a lady who did not even attend a day of school, I was taken aback.

Then referring back to our conversation the day before, where I had put forward my frustrations, obstacles, hardships and challenges that I have been facing in my ventures and my thought to give up…she continued…I know you will do well and good ,just like the way you have handled all the situations in your life so far.

I am very proud of you my son and I know you are doing well and moving forward to the Life of Your Dreams. Absolutely, there are challenges and hiccups but I will share a story with you which I hope will be blessing for you this Dashain.

She wore a loving smile on her face, took a deep breath, held my hands and placed it across her chest and began the ritual.

There was a man who planted a rose palnt, watered and weeded it faithfully. Before the plant blossomed he stopped and examined the plant.

He saw the bud would soon bloom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought,”how can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?”

Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready to bloom…..it died.

My grandmother paused for a moment to allow me to sink the story into my head. Then she said,”It is the same with every situation or circumstances that we face.”

She continued,”Many of us look at situation/circumstances we are facing only as thorns, the defects, the pain or the sacrifice. We fear that nothing good can possibly come to us from such situation we are facing. Then we neglect to water the good in the situation and eventually your dreams, your goals and your resolutions die.”

With a sad expression on her face for the way I had handled my situation  but that encouraging twinkle in her eyes she took me by her arms and kissing my forehead she said,’ Once in a while my son everyone needs to be reminded of this greatest truth of life. It entirely depends what you want to see the thorns or the roses”

Dear readers I do not know what your goals, dreams or resolutions are, but I urge you see the roses in every situation that you face and not the thorns.

Lastly, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams and live the life of your dreams “as David Henry suggested.

(Anup Bhandari is freelance writer, motivational speaker and CEO of Nirvana Groups he can be contacted via email at anup.anupbh@gmail.com)

This is story of a couple, Harke and Maya, who migrated to Australia in mid 2006. Like any other migrant they arrived at Kingsford Airport Sydney with ambitious dreams and colourful hopes intertwined beautifully with nervousness and fear of the unknown.

This story begins early morning, the day, it drizzled and dark clouds covered the skies. Their extended family came from far away to bless the newlywed .On the third day of their marriage they were making this journey across the seas.

The atmosphere had sweet smell of incense. Deep multi partitioned brass plate held the auspicious offerings. The prayers were to be made to their gods and ancestors for good luck. The offering plate was stashed with whole coconut, khatta (Buddhist good luck scarf), rice seeds mixed with vermicelli & curd, petals of flowers. In addition, two brass vases filled with water were placed on the either side of the main gateway. This ritual guaranteed good luck and success in the long journey that lay ahead.

Just when they were ready to leave the house the prayer ceremony began. Harke’s mother breaks the coconut on the floor and offered the coconut water to the dead and the immortals. The ritual proceeded to Tika Ceremony, the couple were blessed by their elders and in the process pasted red coloured rice on their forehead, wrapped a khatta around their necks and placed flower petals on their head.

Almost all the elders blessed to the same theme -good life in Australia! However, young cousins mockingly prayed aloud for Socceroos in the next World Cup -2010 in context to Australia’s proud loss to Italy.

The moment had arrived to make their way to the airport. As the wheels rolled over the muddy galli (narrow dirt road) tears were shed .Unable to match the watering eyes Harke waved to the family from the rear view mirror. For some reasons he knew the life would not be the same again. As they drove past muddy narrow roads of Kathmandu his memories flashed the good moments he had shared with his family and mates in this town.  This was the town where he belonged, without doubt his heart was bleeding but he knew that the right thing to do was to leave.

Discreetly wiping the tears off, he turned to his wife. She was gazing out the window. Maya was dressed in red, head to toe -a sign of newlywed. She wore a gold necklace with black beads-mangla sutra which signified the vows of marriage not just for a life but seven lives and line of red vermicelli ran right through middle of her head.

She was born and brought up in New Delhi, India and had arrived 10 days earlier for preparation of the wedding. She belonged to the renowned warrior tribe Gurung famously known as Gurkhas.

Gurkhas are best known for their history of bravery and strength in the Indian Army’s Gurkhas regiments and the British Army’s Brigade of Gurkhas. They had served the Crown of Nepal, Ranjit Singh of Lahore, Crown of Britain and in more recent years the Republic of India.

They have also been the main character in many British tales of bravery and loyalty .In fact, love for their family and hope of providing better life & opportunities for their children compelled them on being front-line combatants (scapegoats) in malaria infested jungles and most treacherous battle terrain around the world. Their commitment to this profession was death itself. The legendary bravery of the Ghurkha soldier is epitomized by their motto – ‘it is better to die than be a coward.’

Both Harke and Maya had defied their parents and the norms of their family. They were the first in their extended family to marry outside their caste.  As defined by Wikipedia, “caste system in Nepal is like the Indian caste system, is highly complex and continues the traditional system of social stratification of Nepal. The caste system defines social classes by a number of hierarchical endogamous groups often termed as J?t. This custom is found in both the Hindu and Buddhist communities of Nepal. However, in Nepal people sometimes erroneously use word caste to mean their race or ethnicity.”

Harke hailed from a modest Brahmin family from hills of Naudada in Midwest Nepal. His grandfather-Prem Bahadur was orphaned at the age of seven and was forced to leave the village by corrupt Mukhiyas (head of village) who were eying on his land. The seven year old somehow reached the gigantic city of Calcutta, India .He survived the streets and eventually became a professional driver. Prem Bahadur left no stones unturned to educate his son. His son, Ram Prasad, completed his bachelors of commerce with outstanding grades at the age of 19 and took his family back to Nepal. On return, Ram Prasad bought his ancestral property.

As an educated young man he helped start a school in the village where he worked as the principal for few years .Then he eventually moved to Kathmandu to work in a leading Tours & Trekking company as a director. Next 35 years he worked hard as his career soared to the heights beyond his imagination. Harke, his son always got in troubles as a teenager. When this happened, Prem always said, “I and your mother have sacrificed our lives for you, we sweat our teeth & bones, hope you respect it”.  Harke and Maya, understood theirs roots very well .They also had a fair understanding of their ordeal their parents and forefathers had been through to evolve their families to current stage.

Maya’s grandfather was a front line soldiers who faced the swords and bullets for his British master in a war which was not his. Harke’s grandfather was orphaned and homeless at the age of seven. Nevertheless, these people worked hard to see their son become highly educated men earning both respect and wealth.

Migrating to new land for opportunities was not new to their families. What was new was their context; they were arriving in Australia as equals and not as second class soldiers or marginalised orphan. They had language, education and work skills required to succeed in their new country. But more importantly they brought with them the audacity, courage, vision and belief that “life is what you make of it.”

If you choose they learned that life of streets can be a history or hardship, obstacles are just like swords or bullets in battlefield but the good news is that it does not kill but makes you stronger. The newlywed had plans to work in their respective field for two years, adapt to new lifestyle of their new country, save some money and start their own business.

Harke and Maya were deeply touched by their friend Dorje .The couple are sincerely thankful and indebted for sharing few important Mantras (principles) of life. Dorje spent his youth as a monk. Dorje had taken the couple on a drive to the outskirts of Kathmandu few days before their marriage. They revisited the monastery where their friend had spent few years as a monk. On the way back Dorje took them to a beautiful spot with 180 degree view of Kathmandu Valley. He said, “This place has revealed life’s biggest secret to me.”“How to be a millionaire?” asked the couple.

Without much reaction, Dorje asked Harke to say out his name aloud. Harke shouted to top of his voice, Harke! Not much to his surprise, he heard a voice in the mountains repeating,” Harke, Harke, Harke, Harke…”

Oh he exclaimed this is an echo point! Without saying much Dorje continued,” As I complete the phrases, please repeat it with me, to top of your voice.” Harke agreed. Dorje said,” You are scared!” hesitating for a moment but obliged to their agreement Harke repeated the words on top of his voice the mountains screamed back: “you are scared!”

Harke told his friend to stop this child like game but the Dorje continued with the next phrase “You are kind” as Harke repeated the words aloud the mountains screamed back: “you are kind!”Then other phrase followed, “You are beautiful!””You are compassionate!” and then stopping for a moment the Dorje requested Harke to pay close attention and continued the exercise, “I am a champion!”, “I love everyone!”……..by this time the couple were surprised to this strange act of their friend and could not understand where this was leading to.

Then Dorje stopped smiled at them and said, ”Did you guys enjoy this madness?” I thought my Guru was crazy when he unfolded this secret to me. Then Dorje went on to explain, my friends you call this an echo point, but actually this is a life point. It gives back everything you put into it. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions and giving.

Both of you stand on a very important transit of life where you are about to get married and move to new land of opportunities. Dorje Continued,” I have learned that if you want more love in your life, you should give out more love, if you want more happiness strive to give more happiness to others…..this relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life. Life will give you everything you have given to it.”

“Your life is not a coincidence, it’s reflection of you!”

That last piece of reflection in transit was interrupted by the immigration officers at Sydney, “Good day mate! How are we today?”

Anup Bhandari is motivational speaker and writer and CEO of Nirvana Groups. He can be contacted at anup.anupbh@gmail.com.

The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, today announced the outcomes of a review of the Migration Occupations in Demand List (MODL ). Current Skilled Occupation List (SOL) will be replaced in the second half of 2010, with a new list of targeted occupations determined by the independent body, ‘Skills Australia’. The new skilled occupation list will target professionals with university degrees who are sponsored by employers and discourage self-nominating migrants such as cooks, hairdressers and accountants.

As the new SOL will be a comprehensive, targeted list, the current Critical Skills List will be revoke It will be replaced by a new Skilled Occupations List of high-value professions and trades drawn up by Skills Australia.
The revocation of the current MODL will not affect those who at the date of announcement:

• hold a Skilled—Graduate (subclass 485) visa, or have a pending subclass 485 visa application and are yet to apply for a permanent or provisional General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa, or

• have a pending GSM visa application

• In simple language its not going to effect the current onshore PR applicants on the process, TR visa holders and those TR application in process who applied for TR before 8 th Feb. 2010,they can still apply for the permanent residency but should apply PR before 31 dec 2012 .

• Those who will apply TR after 8th Feb. 2010 must have their occupation on the new Skilled occupation list(SOL) to be announced on 30 April 2010 to apply for a permanent residency.

In addition, the new SOL will not apply to people applying for a Skilled—Graduate (subclass 485) visa who at 8 February 2010 hold a:
• Vocational Education and Training Sector (subclass 572) visa

• Higher Education Sector (subclass 573) visa

• Postgraduate Research Sector (subclass 574) visa.

However these student visa holders will be required to have an occupation on the new SOL to apply for a permanent GSM visa.

More than 20,000 offshore applicants(i.e. applicants from outside Australia) who applied to migrate to Australia before September 2007 under outdated rules that allowed lower English skills will have their applications withdrawn and their $1500-$2000 applications fees refunded under the changes.

source: immi website ,daily telgraph

He doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t go to the pub, he is very friendly to anyone,’’ Mr Baniya said yesterday.
When he didn’t have any work, we went to places together to search for jobs. He helped me a lot, and I tried to help him a lot.’’
Several employees at the market where Mr Shrestha works as a cleaner said they knew him as a softly spoken and tireless worker.
“He’ll always say hello no matter what,’’ Matt Costello from Dee Why Fresh Butchery, said.
“He’s just the type of guy who’s nice to everyone.’’
Mr Costello said Mr Shrestha assisted as a cleaner at the butcher’s shop in addition to his general cleaning duties at the market, working “three or four jobs’’ to cover the $20,000 or more he paid each year in student fees.
“He’s one of the most work-oriented guys you’ll ever meet,’’ Shaun Greening, from Dee Why Fresh Butchery, said.
“You couldn’t happen across a quieter, nicer bloke.’’

Another local businessman, who did not want to be identified, said they had “put the hat around’’ to help Mr Shrestha with his recovery.
“He’s just one of those really nice, harmless kind of blokes,’’ he said.

One of two teenagers charged with bashing Mr Shrestha is a Tongan national from Auckland who has only been in Australia on holiday for three weeks. The 17-year-old accused continues to stay with his aunt at Dee Why.
Police allege the second teen charged, Melenga Kanongataa, 19, and the youth who cannot be named for legal reasons grabbed Mr Shrestha from behind and punched him in the head and body.
After Mr Shrestha fell to the ground the pair allegedly kicked him in the head.
Northern Beaches police crime manager Craig Wonders said police believed the alleged attack was unprovoked, random and did not involve robbery.

Mr Shrestha was taken to Royal North Hospital where it is understood he remains in an induced coma and is being treated for fractures to his eye sockets and cheeks, bleeding to the brain, extensive swelling, lacerations and bruising.
A hospital spokesman yesterday confirmed he remained in a serious but stable condition.
The pair were arrested within minutes of the alleged assault after a taxi driver who was nearby called the police.
The teenagers were each charged with causing grievous bodily harm to a person with intent and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm while in company.
But while Mr Kanongata was refused bail in Manly Court on Monday, Bidura Children’s Court granted bail to the youth.

Mr Kanongataa will appear at Central Local Court tomorrow while the youth will reappear at Bidura Children’s Court on March 30.