Blogdai's Radical Idea
"The Donald" calmly discussing plans for his new "Trump Durbar Towers" with a local real estate developer. We can't seem to govern ourselves--thugs and crooks are running the country-- and foreign media pundits and journalists don't have enough stake in Nepal's problems to worry about an accurate reporting of events. So what can we do to save Nepal and make ourselves impossible to ignore?
1. Make Nepal an international tax haven. Rich foreigners fleeing tax reporting rules in their home country will take a keen interest in preserving Nepal should their little tax shelter be compromised. Allow corporate and maritime registration, if possible, to further benefit the greedy dodgers.
2. Eliminate all visa and foreign employment restrictions, to a point. Nepal has already mulled-over this idea, but greedy bureaucrats just couldn't bring themselves to releasing their grip on all those visa fees. Give everyone 6-months free, like Thailand only better. Let foreigners hold jobs that Nepalis either can't or won't. Give Nepalis first hiring preference, of course.
3. Encourage foreign investments. Allow foreigners to own property outright. Or, like Mexico, have 30-100 year land leases available to foreigners. Let anyone who wants, open a business in Nepal as long as there is a Nepali partner. And, for God's sake, make the Rupee something that is readily convertible on a world exchange. Stop tying Nepal's currency to the Indian exchange. Allow the free transfer of funding to other countries. This alone has been perhaps the single greatest impediment to foreign investment. You can put money into Nepal, you just can't get it out. Throw in an independent economic oversight board with extra-governmental authority and strict anti-trust laws and that should go a long way towards stabilizing Nepal's business climate.
4. Allow foreigners to enter the political process. Give them a limited number of voices in Parliament. Just having a few foreigners will make the world pay more attention to Nepal's political landscape. Nepal desperately needs some political expertise on the governmental front. Smart people from around the world with smart ideas can only improve the competency of our parliament. ANYTHING would be an improvement.
5. Open Nepal's doors to foreign media bureaus. Build a Media Center at the government's expense. A catch-all complex. Give Reuters, Bloomberg, the BBC and all the other Western media giants, who've been getting the story wrong because of their over-reliance on SPAM-biased Kantipur, a free media space. Let them live on the ground and get their own stories.
All of this is designed for one purpose: to make the rest of the world an actual stakeholder in the success of Nepal as an independent nation. Isolation and restriction are Nepal's worst enemy and, consequently, Girija and Prachanda's best friend. To get the world's attention, sympathy and accurate appraisal, Nepal needs a jump-start.
Time to let the barbarians through the gate.
-=blogdai
posted by blogdai @ 2/14/2007 10:00:00 AM
35 comments
35 Comments:
A Suggestion: Point 6
Abolish such ridiculous fees as "entry fees" to places like Durbar Square in Kathmandu and other places, which you HAVE TO cross when you want to go from A to B (unless like me know the town from many visits and also know how to use small alleys).
This really makes tourists angry, especially when you hear, that entry fees for example in Buddhist sites like Boudha or Swayambu don't go to help the preservation of the stupas, but to "support" corrupt politicians.
Tourist that come to Nepal are of the worst kind. These $2/day tourist are more of a burden then anything else. It costs more to handel their waste then the contribution they make. If they cannot pay 20-30 rupees which is miscule in their currency they can go to hell.
What we need to do essentially is work at attracting and catering to wealthy Indian tourists. That's where the majority of Tourism potential lies. Quality Western tourists have basically stopped coming to Nepal since the 80s.
The Visa restriction in Nepal is very slack. For a small fee anyone from any country can just a Visa. I don't think that's a problem.
Blogdai, if the Nepalese currency wasn't pegged to the Indian Ruppe we would seriously be fcked by now. Nepal's business climate sucks because of Bhandhs, political interference, no insfrusture etc. Unpegging from the Indian currency is something we have to think about long down the road.
Allwoing foreginers to enter the political proces is quiet frankly a ridiculous idea. Where is the world are foreginers allowed to enter the political process? Plus foreginers would include Indians and Nepalese are too suspicious (quiet rightly) of such a thing.
I agree that Isolation is bad for Nepal. There is alot of potential...
Bhudai Pundit
Agreed. The Rs600 fee for Durbar Square is outrageous. Since its inception a few years ago, I've noticed only a few new paint-jobs and the main complex near the Black Kala shrine and Taleju Temple seems to be permanently entombed in scaffolding. tens of thousands of people pay that fee every year and have very little to show for it. I will say that the Kumari temple restoration was nicely done. But I believe it was started before the Rs 600 fee.
So, let's do our bit here at blogdai to take skimmed money out of our politican's hands.
HOW TO BEAT THE 600 RUPEE DURBAR SQUARE ENTRY FEE.
1. Head west on New Road towards Durbar Square. At the Birendra circle monument just befor the entrance to the Square, turn LEFT.
2. Continue down this route, past all the electronic shops until the road ends or "T's". Turn RIGHT and head towards Freak street.
3. Wind your way along the roads basically heading west, past the Snowman Cafe until you come to Freak street proper. Turn RIGHT and head back north along Freak street towards durbar square.
4. At the end of Freak street you will see a Fee booth where an uniformed fellow stands eager to take your entrance fee. Just before reaching this booth turn LEFT. You will be heading behind Basantapur Square, a large flat platform where street hawkers sell their cheap shit. the Park guest house and Hotel Sugat will be on your left as you pass.
5. Keep heading west as the road becomes a dark, narrow alley that finally emerges on the southwestern most part of durbar square on Chikanmugal Rd. Turn RIGHT when you get out of the alley.
There was a proposed ticket office on you left, just south of the Kasthmandap as you head north, but I've never seen it. You are now safely and freely in Durbar square; Maru Tole heads off to your left, just after the Kasthmandap,-- where you should light a lamp and give thanks to Lord Pashupati for your safe passage-- and the Lakshmi Naryan shrine is just in front of you. Look to your right to see the Garuda Statue.
Enjoy!
-=blogdetour
Keeping with the theme, here is how to avoid paying at Boudha.
Very simple really:
1. Walk to the main entrance. There is a large archway. Beyond the archway is a ticket office on your right hand side.
2. Instead of entering the archway. Walk past the ticketing office (on your right) until you see a small market area with shops selling bags, clothes etc.
3. The first turn off on your right leads you into Boudha.
4. Does not look like a path into Boudha but looks like a group of shops that grouped away from the main street.
Extremely easy for tourists to do this.
Oh and Bhaktapur is easy too:
Just go the entrance of Bhaktapur where the Higher Secondary School is located and walk BEHIND the ticket office!
As simple as that!
Nice.
Another way on Boudha..
Go down the road to the immediate west of the stupa complex. Pass the weird tiki-looking Korean restaurant, turn right and walk into the back of the New Orleans cafe,(boudha annex).
Have a coffee, say hi to Sushil, if he's not too drunk, and just walk out the front door like you've been there all along. You are now smack dab in the middle of the Kora.
do 108 laps to celebrate.
-=blogdai
The only cheap $2 Western tourists left in Thamel -- which, by the way is turning increasingly up-market-- are Israeli backpackers.
Seasoned travelers are on to them these days and their days are numbered. I have a friend who brings an "Israeli allowance" with him whenever he's in Kathmandu. Whenever he hears a gaggle of Israelis shouting at the top of their lungs to some poor shop owner about something being 5 rupees too expensive; or raising a loud ruckus about not being allowed to sit all day at a fancy restaurant and order nothing; my friend quietly goes up to the proprietor of said establishment and offers to pay the difference in the dispute.
Peace and quiet are worth any price, says he.
-=blogdai
These $2 tourists really need a solid ass kicking!
Bhudai Pundit
I strongly disagree with Mr. PUNDIT (and have i ever done anything else..he..he)
You guys have absolutely no idea about israelis. I do not think they are rude at all and their visit in Nepal does create a lot of jobs for a lot of Nepalis. Yes, they are loud and they know what their money's worth (unlike a lot of Nepalis) but that does not make them wrong. Also, a lot of israelis are ripped off in India, as usually they come via india and they are a bit skeptical. No one likes being ripped off anyway. As far as the fee of entering a city is concerned, i absolutely agree with all those who are against it. It is descriminatory and angers a lot of visitors. If there were no fee i am sure these visitors would spend a lot of money buying stuff which they would not if they feel they are being ripped off at the entrance.
Another thing about israelis is that they have visited Nepal even in the most difficult of times which had barely kept this tourism industry alive. When the rich (over spending, as israelis are pretty rich too) tourists from europe, america, australia or anywhere else were too afraid of traveling to Nepal, these israelis have travelled to nepal come rain or sunshine. I agree that they are a bit stingy on food and accommodation but they do entertain themselves with other activities. What is wrong with trying to get the best deal out of any transactions? I say bring em on. After all, beggars can't be choosers right?
Better still- lets make Nepal a model of global village. A land where anyone can do what they please under a relaxed rules and laws. A Multinational & cultural nation- a true international country. Lets be the first.
What Israeli backpackers are you talking about?
They get ripped off in india because they deserve it. Amazing sense of ethnocentrism and total disrespect for indigenous culture.
they basically don't give a shit about anyone but themselves.
Ok, it's ok to argue about price but their legend stems from those heated battles where they demean a poor shopkeeper over a couple of rupees while all other customers have to hide their heads in disgust. Argue? ok, but not at everyone else's expense.
If you show up in someone elses country, at least have the base-level of human courtesy to play by local rules and customs. Don't just plop down, open a Chabad house, and expect everyone to wait on you. Not everyone in the world understands that you are the only people God loves so give them a break, ok?
a lot of this comes from the fact that the israeli backpackers we see are not the kind and gentle kibbutz israelis; rather, ex-military or military on leave blowing off some steam.
Can't believe your position on this. Have a nice "google" on "israeli backpackers" and see what you get. There are web pages devoted to nothing but their bad behavior.
Better yet, get out on the circuit and travel. When 8 or ten of them are sharing your dorm and refuse to shut up all night, then you'll get the picture.
-blogdai
If we want to market Nepal better, improve things etc. we really do need to get rid of this "beggers can't be choosers" mentality. This basically leads to being complacent and dismotivates people from improving services etc.
Mr. B I remember you saying you are in the tourism industry. This attitude is not very healthy.
Bhudai Pundit
True, but we can't fault Mr. B. for this.
We've been conditioned to believe that we are all beggars. 60% of our GDP comes from aid--begging, essentially. The world looks at us like beggars.
Start with a massive reform of foreign aid and you will see a change in the "beggars can't be choosers" style of thinking.
-=BD
I agree with B's comments.
There are four pillars that prop up the Nepali economy; 1.) Aid, 2.) Tourism 3.) Indian trade 4.) Foreign remittances.
The value of the Nepali rupee has depreciated considerably over the last 6 years. This has also coincided with a decline in tourism to this country. A tourism industry that is driven and paid for by the $2 tourist you speak of.
The depreciation of the Nepali rupee means that 500 NRS buys you a lot less than it did 6 years ago. Since most of our goods are imported (notably gas and petrol) this has seen a rise in the cost of living but not a similar rise in wages.
The Nepali Rupee reached a crisis point during the 2nd quarter of 2006 but in the last 2 quarters saw a dramatic appreciation as foreign capital flowed back into Nepal.
Do you think it is coincidence that this period also saw a large increase in tourist numbers and an increase in aid?
Weak and struggling economies are always characterized by a dependency upon foreign sources of income. So yes, in a way we are beggars but would you be rash enough to remove such support knowing full well that the ensuing economic hardship would allow the political crisis to spiral out of control due to the social unrest that it would ensue?
It is difficult to go backwards and no one in our country has any real control over inflation and the rising cost of living. If the government act today it will be a long time before the Nepalese economy can recover to its pre 2001 levels.
In my view, the root of the problem lies in an abject failure to manage our economy and implement a development policy from the state down to the grassroots level. On top of this we let aid agencies set the agenda in our country.
This is due to a very large vacuum at the heart of Nepali politics they they call government.
Oh and it is the same every where. Go to Greece and you will notice that the Greeks do not particularly like the German tourists because they think they are fussy and cold. Go to Italy and they do not particularly like the Americans because they think they are loud and ignorant. Go to Spain and they are fed up with English tourists.
Its the price you pay for opening the doors to your house. This is one reason why Bhutan chooses to strictly control tourism.
PKS
"In my view, the root of the problem lies in an abject failure to manage our economy and implement a development policy from the state down to the grassroots level. On top of this we let aid agencies set the agenda in our country. "
That pretty much says it all. PKS, you gave the issue and the answer in one paragraph.
We have no incentive to manage our economy because our aid does not depend on it. In fact, I'll argue the converse to be true: The more we look fouled-up to the world community, the more they'll want to pour money into the country.
We need aid that is strictly tied to performance. A tough-love approach. Aid should only be given when it corresponds to an equal or comparable Nepal-based initiative.
-=blogdai
"We need aid that is strictly tied to performance"
Ah but then we get into the debate of how this aid industry works...
Bhudai Pundit
Speak of the barbarian- read the note of Missionary:
Peace in Nepal Brings New Hope for Ministries Serving There.
After 11 years of turmoil, Nepal has entered an era of relative peaceful transition, which indicates a promising future for ministry teams working there, the Rev. Douglas VanBronkhorst, executive director of Interserve USA, said today.
Nepal's Maoist guerrilla war began in February 1996 with an attack on a police post and has officially ended with insurgents laying down their arms under United Nations' supervision.
This period of transition shows progress toward some sort of shared, secular government, leading toward June elections to pick a constituent assembly. The assembly will be charged with rewriting Nepal's constitution and deciding if Nepal's monarchy will continue.
The shift to independence has an impact on ministry teams operating in Nepal, VanBronkhorst said.
"Because we have the mindset of a Christian professional, the church has steadily been growing for a time like this," he said. "There's a transition in Nepal now, too, from traditional non-governmental organizations (NGOs) being led by foreigners, to them being led by Nepali Christians with the Nepali church taking the initiative in some of those programs.
"Nevertheless, there is a lot that western Christian professionals can still provide, working alongside some of the new emerging Christian Nepali NGOs. So training, mentoring and discipleship are all rolled into one ministry," he added.
Interserve works with educators of expatriate children, as well as local schools and universities. The organization also collaborates with other organizations to increase effective student work, and provides programs for English as a foreign language.
Interserve further provides medical, nursing and dental training, supported by community development/micro-enterprise business education.
VanBronkhorst asked for prayers for maturity and unity among church leaders.
"We still have many opportunities available to support the work in Central Asia. Short-term teams are forming," he said. "We need Western Christians with skills to offer to continue the work of the past 50 years."
Interserve USA (www.interserveusa.org) is part of an international and interdenominational fellowship of Christians committed to each other in a partnership for service to the people of the Arab World and Asia. It is made up of Christian professionals and highly trained personnel who use their professional skills to minister holistically to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the people they serve.
Ok guys i got your point! All thakuris are autocrats, all bahuns are communal and evil, all janjatis are uncivilised and all israelis are bad. Great! What tourism are you talking about? 3 days out of 7 are always bandh during peak tourist season. Look at all that tourists have to go through as soon as they land in kathmandu, the garbage problem, the beggars and the list goes on and on. Of course we would be better off with high paying clients (or rich bastards), EUREKA! But i would rather have israeli clients than nepali clients. You can ask anyone (travel agencies) in THamel and they would say that they would rather have an israeli than a Nepali. We just need some chinese tourists to come here and then maybe we would realize that some languages do sound rude to us but may be they are not. I know how difficult european clients can be but with israelis you at least know what they are looking for. I am not in love with any jew girl but i do sense some kind of racism here. I have also seen a lot of israelis (specially if they come directly from bangkok) who are really sophisticated and would not even bring up the word discount while making a deal. But yes, "blog dai", the wise one, says that all israelis are a pain in the ass, and we should follow should we not.
And for you MR. pundit, i don't know if you realize this but we are one of the poorest countries in the world. You talk to anyone who works in the field of tourism and none would say "let us start a campaign against israelis and stop them entering Nepal". Because we all know that we have been waiting for more than 7 years for a proper flow of tourist (it is in this sense that i said beggars can't be choosers) and this is not the time to say "NO", not to even israelis. I wasnot suggesting you Mr. Pundit was poor at all or blogdai for that matter. Dont take it personal. You are just too sensitive and defensive mr. pundit and you have this urge to be always right but sometimes you should stand back and look at the bigger picture. Saying that all israelis are like this or that does not actually suit your image of being objective now does it. Just because isrealis do not please you or they are not the way you want them to be doesn't mean that there is something wrong with them and not you. Any one who comes to Nepal should be allowed in, and should be welcomed in our Nepali style of "all guests are treated like gods". the size of the budget should not be the prime criteria of issuing visas. And for the last time, I am really happy that israelis come to Nepal.
MR. PUNDIT,
which attitude is not healthy sorry? I really did not get you what atitude of mine is not healthy enought for tourism industry? The attitude that i think that even israelis are welcomed to Nepal. GO to a travel agency called swissa and see how they handle the israelis. The problem also is that we get into business without proper trainings or skills. You would hardly see any skilled personel with proper client handling skills at all in Nepal (except for a few really good agencies). But look, i don't know which attitude is worse (and please make a pick)
" all israelis are pain in the ass and we should kick their ass"
OR
"All israelis are welcomed to Nepal"
You neve cease to amage me Mr. Pundit
B:
I don't understand why you spend so much of your time writing about something that has no point. I never all Isrealis are bad. Please learn quote people if you are going to accuse them of something.
You must feel stupid now...
I was just saying that perhaps we need to market Nepal better and change our attitudes that we are just beggers so we can't choose. That way Isrealis cannot just come here and totally disrespect our culture and be rude with shopkeepers. That's all. Now go back and read my posts again S L O W L Y and wipe that foam that ozzing out of your mouth.
Bhudai Pundit
thanks 11:06.
It shows that the single biggest way that one can misinterperet the teachings of Christ and Christianity is to leave them in the hands of, well, Christians.
I love the CEO tone this super evangelist guy takes. Plus, he calmly brushes off Nepal's entire Maoist history with his cavalier take on when it started and when (he thinks) it ended. They've laid down their arms and that's that, so there, he opines.
He also conveniently forgets to mention that Nepal bans prostylization (pushing) of any religion down someone's throat, especially christianity. This doesn't stop our intrepid soul-saver, however. Gotta keep all these Nepalis from going to hell, right?
the christian movement is big business these days. I often tell them they should save their energies and not go on missions but rather open up a telemarketing room instead. ("Hello, If I could just have a minute of your time to tell you you're going to Hell...")
It's more cost-effective.
Poor old Mel Gibson, he took a lot of shit for blaming the Jews for starting most wars. the Problem is, he was criticized for only being 1/3 right. All Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam) should take the next 10 years off from their absolutist "my way or the highway" self-interested positions and just shut up. I'm tired of all of them.
-=blogdai
once in a while everyone gets that craving of eating junk, though you are aware of its adverse effects on health...flying by this blog is mine...once a while i like to amuse myself...and, i say to myself, let's go to shout fest.
and amuse galore what i get here. what makes it more interesting is: perennial three B's
1. blogdai
2. bhudai
3. B
owner of the site, blogdai himself--an intellectual bully, and his two stooges--bhudhai and B vying for his affection. they occupy most of the bandwidth here with their love-hate squabbles of delicate love triangle, which makes heck of a soap....
and the fun just doesn't stop there, then there are other frequent visitors...fruits of the loins of military brass, testosterone oozing out of their ears, always proposing to kill someone.
then, there is me, with a shallow intelligence deriding blogdai (a self aggrandizing intellectual, appending “dai” forcing others to address him as one) and leaving nonsense comment as this one devoid of any ‘substance,’ which do not add to making neapl as in the vision of blogdai.
alpha-male, that you are, you pee and demarcate your turf, god forbid any trying crossing that line, even Bhudai and B get burnt once a while, aspiring for his love….
Thank you blog-DAI for all the pleasure that you bestow on us, and even you Bhudai and B.
Well you are welcome Mr. Yadav. I have say your comment (although I disagree with it) did manage to make me laugh. It was fuuny - I'll give you that. But I resent your comment that I am a yes man to Blogdai. In fact if you bothered to read the posts you would see that I often don't agree with what he has to say. As for Mr. B, he just loves to get worked up and write really long comments that has nothing to do with what I have said.
But its all good. I think this is a great forum to discuss issues and ideas. Yea there are some wacko military minded manics but just go over to some blogs and see the filth that comes there.
Bhudai Pundit
Vladimir takes cudgels on behalf of the slandered and hurls some Monty Python in the direction of Mr. Yadav.
"I fart in your general direction," he says.
Waits.
And then:
"Now, go away or I shall taunt you a second time."
"Bring out yer dead.."
Vlad you impaler you. It is FAR too long between your postings.
-=BD
Mr. Pundit,
The only way any israelis are going to respect our culture and traditions is if we respect them ourselves. No need to be defensive again. Even if i do not make any sense to you, that is ok. But please do read your comment again and you do sound stupid. Expand our market where? don't you see that tourists usually get irritated when they are stuck in Thamel for a few days because of bandh? War was never a problem for tourists (well not as much anyway) as bandhs and strikes are? We have not got our basics right and you are talking about moving to a next level! Even 2$ a day tourists try paraglidng, bungy jumping and so on. Why would anyone else come to Nepal in a situation like this? look at the promotions done by NTB for this year? they are promoting a dirty weekend in Nepal for europeans? There are many other idiotic themes they are using to promote Nepal which are going to have a negative impact than otherwise. Just look at what NTB is doing before you express the possibilities. As far as MS. yadav is concerned, " don't feel left out of the circle",. We understand that has been the story of your life. You've never really had friends did you? I can refer you to a really good psychiatrist if u want!
B: I think you are the one without any friends. Look at how long your damn comments are. Plus they make no sense. You ramble on and on. You make up your own arguments, put words in my mouth and just go on and on and on. It is as if you were just entertaining yourself. If you have friends then get off the computer and go play with them... No need to worry about me.
Bhudai Pundit
Sure Mr. Pundit,
I will try to comments short. But just for you Mr. Pundit....Just for you.
And i shall reflect back at my postings and improve myself should there be the need. If i am puting words into your mouth i shall do my utmost to not repeat it again.
Just a thought- has SPAM ever heard about Pandora's Box. The jerk Shit-oula is trying to hold unto power by utilizing his wife's petticoat (Pranchand and Shit-oula related)and acting as a false messiah of peace- now is this not what you call topsy turvy or out of reality?
Whatever is happening is devoid of rationality and reason- Just hope that someone could slap us out of this slumber of slow death. Are we all that gone, no backbone. Evil is here and time to fight back in now- by whatever means. Why is everyone so quite? are we all dumb enough to believe that by keeping quiet, our safety will be reassured- come off it before its too late.
Sick and tired of this attitide. Its not question of Tourist or no tourist or managing our development-nada, its the question of a nation. Are willing to forgo all that we have in the pretext of peusdo intellect bantering whereas the man with the gun dictates and coerce a nation to lay dead for it to walk over. When it happens differences in all aspct will not be allowed for there will be only one thing- my way or highway. Learn to be pragmatic not just bellow in the clouds which has no legs or place to call home whereas we do.
Anon: just what do you expect us to do?
Bhudai Pundit
Yes i agree with anon. I am getting out on the street from next week against this government and the maobadis. I have a few co-workers who are joining me aswell. Yes the fact that sitaula and prachanda are related really put things into perspective.
The King speaks. Looks like the Lion is starting stir from his long sleep.
The King speaks. Looks like the Lion is starting stir from his long sleep.
you mean SIMBA?
As suggested per point 1, you want to let corporations and other 'rich foreigners' into the country strictly based on the laxed tax rules and regulations?
This would result in a country strictly ruled and governed by corporations. Have a look into Bolivia or even the USA to mention but a few countries. Corporations are not that easy to get rid of at all. They are like viruses, you cannot kill them. So bad idea on that one i must say.
Yes, yes, we are so much better off now with no viable government and a violent out of control maoist movement. At least corporations maintain a relative social order.
Listen, you stupid fool, the whole column was designed to show how a comparable bad choice is still better than what we have.
Look up the words allegory, euphemism, verisimilitude, metaphor and get back to me. In the meantime keep your remedial comprehension skills to yourself; you're an embarrassment. \\
-=BD
yea for the media, absolutely, king must thing about it
Post a Comment
<< Home