100 things to do to spice up your life

[suchandra]

29) Read the Bhagavad Gita. Written between the fifth and second century BC, the Gita is not just a sacred scripture, but a philosophical and spiritual guide to life."

http://www.wavemag.com.np/issue/article3007.html

 

Who said life has to be mundane. Start the New Year with some cool, funky and down right wacky things from our list. Live a little and no you don’t have to thank us for the stories you will have to tell your friends at the next get together.

by WAVE TEAM

 

1 Go backpacking with Rs 2000 in your pocket. Find out the McCandless in you - discover your people, your country and yourself.

2 Read the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx. Even if you manage to read only a couple of pages, this book, although biased in its ideology, will shed some light into the political changes of the past.

3 Walk barefoot from Lazimpat to Darbar Marg. This one is just for kicks and we are sure you haven't done it before. People may stare, but what the heck, you're the one having fun… if you don't get tapeworms.

4 Eat momos in Kalikasthan The smell will entice you and your taste buds will thank you for days to come. We can't say the same about your stomach though.

5 Read the Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan. See it from the feminist viewpoint. Read this influential book that helped spark the contemporary women's movement in 1963 by talking about the lack of fulfillment in women's lives at that time.

6 Go to Bhaktapur and have a cup of Juju Dhau. Sweet, refreshing and yummy!

7 Spend a day in Maitighar's Mandala.

Get a bag of peanuts, and laze around for a bit–where everyone can see you or see what no one else can. But remember not to start protesting, it's restricted. 8 Start sorting out your garbage. It's your garbage and cleaning it up is your responsibility.

9 Take rounds in Patan Dhoka bus across the city for an entire afternoon. A round-about trip in the bus may annoy the conductor, but it's a great way to chat with a good friend and to notice sites that are normally overlooked.

10 Go to Khasa to buy cheap electronics. iPods for Rs 2500, TVs for Rs 6000, HiFi for Rs 4000 and take this – a full blown 5.1 surround sound system for Rs 2000, need we say more other than don't expect any warranties.

11 Take a bath at Tatopani. If not for the gloriously hot water and supposedly one with healing powers just for the bus ride.

12 Eat samosas at Tip Top, New Road. Don't go by the rumors, there are no rats in the samosas. Sink in to a big hearty piece of samosa dipped in lipsmacking imli achar.

13 Go go-carting in Hul Chowk. Speed, a formula-one feel and no traffic rules, get your traffic frustrations out!!!

14 Hug a tree and kiss it. Literally be a tree-hugger.

15 Cook a proper meal for your parents. They feed you, they put a roof over your head, now show some respect. Believe us, it has huge benefits.

16 Take a road trip across the East-West highway. You will see more of Nepal than you ever will. Also, don't forget to take a detour to visit places like Biratnagar, Lumbini, Nepalgunj and many more.

17 Write a journal. Its cathartic and it will surely make you laugh and cry when you read it in the years to come.

18 Watch old classic movies like Gone with the wind. The movies today just don't match up and if you think otherwise, Frankly my dear I don't give a damn!

19 Visit all the temples in Kathmandu. Be proud of living in the city of gods where each stone represents a deity and an untold history.

20 Bury a time capsule with a couple of friends. Bury the memories to keep them alive for the longest time.

21 Host a dohori competition. See the wit and humor and create some poetry of your own.

22 Try a foreign dish. Yes, we know we all love our daal-bhat to death, but every once in a while try a dish completely unknown to you.

23 The Color Purple–Alice Walker. A revolutionary novel, this book deals with the struggles of black women, feminism and racial struggles. Winner of the Pulitzer prize, this is a book that warms the heart.

24 Go to the middle of Tudikhel and scream. Get those lungs working. People may think you are crazy but it's relieving and empowering to get all those bad vibes outta you.

25 Swim in the Phewa Tal. Although some parts may be murky but how many people do you know who have done that. Try at your own risk.

26 Run all the way up to Dharahara. It may not be a skyscraper but it is the highest building we have so why not make use of it.

27 Go bird-watching in Shivapuri. The sites are awesome in the early morning light and Nepal plays hosts to one of the most diverse collection of birds in the world.

28 Meditate at Osho Tapoban. Close to the city, this is the best place to get the feel of the ascetic world in the Valley.

29 Read the Bhagavad Gita. Written between the fifth and second century BC, the Gita is not just a sacred scripture, but a philosophical and spiritual guide to life.

30 Visit all the world heritage sites in Nepal. This will not only help you with a possible future career as a tourist guide but also help you realise the immense cultural heritage we have.

31 Drink a bottle of soda in Ranjana Galli. The most authentic and refreshing bottle of soda, in flavors you couldn't have ever imagined. There's nothing like the sweet, colourful sodas in a hot, sweltering day or even cold for that matters.

32 Dump fancy restaurants. Khaja Pasals jindabadd!! Ditch the overpriced food and the nosy waiters; go for the homely environment and most importantly tasty and cheap food.

33 Read a poem by Sylvia Plath.

Read Plath when you're depressed. Her confessional style of poetry may be gloomy, but her skill as a poet is one thing to marvel at.

34 Go to Phoksundo Taal. Referred as the jewel of Dolpo, Phoksundo Taal has the clearest blue waters. Along with the backdrop of magnificent snow-capped mountains, this view is a must see.

35 Eat freshly fried rainbow trout in Kakani. Hard to breed and slightly heavy on the pocket every morsel of rainbow trout will leave you wanting for more.

36 Search your name in googlism.com. You will be amazed to see the number of times your name has been used in totally random articles.s

37 Have a plate of dahi-puri at Anmol, Bhatbhateni. With completely random ingredients, this snack is a cool cousin to the spicy pani puri.

38 Eikso cheese. The strong taste of the Eikso is hard to take at first. But after a while powerful taste will get you hooked.

39 Go to Ilam to drink freshly brewed tea. By far the most commonly drunk beverage, tea from Ilam captures the essence of this small hill town.

40 Eat Sausages from a thela. Its cheap, it's tasty and it's fun when shared with a few friends.41 Read a poem by ee cummings. His poems, known to be unconventional in their word usage and grammar, are refreshing to read.

42 Catch, cook and eat a fish. What's more satisfying than a quiet day by the lake (or river), the enthrallment of catching your own fish and then the enjoyment of a fulfilling meal at the end of the day.

43 Make a documentary. Let it be of your mundane life or a senior in school you totally adore. Its always fun to document your life even if you haven't done anything spectacular.

44 Wear a funny hat. Show some hat-titude!

45 Learn to play the sarangi. Nepali rendition of a guitar, the sarangi's melancholic sound will pull at your heart strings.

46 Go bald! Be done with brushing, gelling and blow drying. Feel free! Go Britney!

47 Get a Tattoo in Nepali. If Saif could copy Beckham why not you? Make sure you don't regret it later though.

48 Take a salsa lesson. Bring some rhythm to those feet and dance your troubles away

49 Learn Chinese. Don't you know, the Chinese are going to take over the world? [hehehe]

50 Feed a street child. We've all had those glaring eyes plead at us with palms wide open. Instead of giving them money to spend on dendrite, give them something to eat, they probably are hungry.

51 Spend a quiet day to yourself.

There is nothing like zoning out from the noisiness of the world and introspecting alone. It's guaranteed to put things into perspective.

52 Read folk tales of Nepal. We've heard it from our grandparents as children, and no matter how old you get it's still magic.

53 Speak in Shakespearean English for an entire day. No one might understand you but hey, its fun being a dork even if it's for a day.

54 Comment on all your friends in Facebook. Comment on every walls and picture and be involved.

55 Learn sign language. Communicating with just your hands can be as invigorating as using your mouth.

56 Dance on the streets. People might think you are mad but it will leave you with a memory like no other.

57 Wake up early in the morning to watch the sunrise. Watch the beauty of day come to life right in front of your eyes.

58 Go rock climbing in Pasang Lhamu Mountaineering Institute. Take a day off and climb up one of the walls or take a course here to get some adventure right here in Kathmandu.

59 Go mountain biking to Chobar.It has the perfect paths for mountain biking – both uphill and downhill. These winding roads were the location for the Asian Mountain Biking Championships just a month ago.

60 Pretend to be sick and take a day off. Playing hooky for the day. Sometimes you just need a break.

61 Host a movie marathon and invite all your friends. There's nothing better than watching your favorite movies with the people you love, at the comfort of your own home. Don't forget the popcorn for an authentic movie experience.

62 Go to a protest rally. Stand up for a cause, make an active participation and be involved in the cause that you really believe in. Trust us, it'll make you feel good.

63 Hack into somebody's email account and send random letters. It's the modern way of eavesdropping. Remember this is for fun so don't harm anyone in the process.

64 Peace out. Don't start a fight with a micro bus conductor over torn money or fake student ID card.

65 Make an oil painting. You might not be Picasso but the art peice will be your own modern art.

66 Listen to your favorite song all day long. It will add a spring to your step and everybody likes happy people.

67 Go white-water rafting in the Bhote Koshi. One of the most dangerous rivers in the world to raft in, feel the adrenaline rush as you are thrown around by the river.

68 Own and raise a virtual pet. They don't occupy space neither do they pee on your carpet nor do they demand attention

69 Be a party crasher! But leave the moment people start pointing at you and talking.

70 See a Danfe for real. The beauty of our national bird might just evoke some patriotism in you.

71 Sleep under the stars in a sleeping bag. Try it and you will know why we recommend it.

72 Study hard, party harder!! All work and no play never made Jack the most popular boy in school

73 Read all the Harry Potter books back to back. Sink into the imaginary world of Harry Potter for a few days–live, eat and breathe a parallel universe that JK Rowling has created and earned millions from. It might just inspire you to push your imagination a little more.

74 Watch the sunset in Khopra, Annapurna. Off the beaten track, the sunset from Khopra is a feast for the eyes and unlike any other.

75 Open a youth club in your community and do something. Its time to give back to the community you live in for what you give is what you get.s

76 Get to know your neighbors. They are the closest people you will have at the time of trouble.

77 Give anonymously to a charity. The feeling of giving is more satisfying when you do it without any expectations.

78 Sport a wacky hairdo. Trying something new every now and then with your look has a very refreshing effect. A hair-cut is the best way to feel like a completely new person.

79 Write someone an anonymous love letter. They always make people smile and when the receiver has a grin on his/her face you will know you put it there. But don't go overboard and become a stalker.

80 Startup a conversation with a total stranger. You might find a friend in them if not, it will help you kill time.

81 Watch all the Bond movies. It will have you saying your surname before your name for the rest of the day and who can resist the action, the pretty girls and Mr Bond himself.

82 Switch off your mobile phone for a week. After the first day you will wonder why you even bought one in the first place. Life will go on.

83 Pretend to be a tourist for a day. Dress up (or down), fake an accent and hang a camera around your neck while deliberately asking people for directions. You will see how helpful Nepalis are…..if they actually believe you, that is.

84 Write a letter to your unborn grandchildren. When they are finally born, they will either think you are a weirdo or will thank you for being so thoughtful.

85 Refuse to speak for an entire day. You can find out how many people like talking to you.

86 Shout "Nahiiin!" in the middle of a movie when someone's mobile phone rings It might just remind them to put their phone on vibration mode in respect to others.

87 Be more politically aware. It always helps to know how your life is going to be affected by the people who are running the country.

88 Learn about the history of Nepal. It helps to know where you come from.

89 Volunteer at a rehabilitation center or an orphanage.

The children will touch your heart and will leave you with a feeling of gratitude towards your parents.

90 Shower in a waterfall. As the water comes crashing down on your head you will surely wonder why you've waited so long to do this.

91 Get together with friends and clean up your community. Take the initiative, covering your nose every time you walk past a garbage pile isn't the answer.

92 Listen to a river flow.Listening to the rush of water crashing on the rocks has its own way of calming you.

93 Learn Karate. Self defense, kick some ass or just build up your self confidence

94 Sing the National Anthem in front of Singha Darbar.Hey, its a song and it might just wake up the ministers inside to do something.

95 Go bungee-jumping in Last Resort. The ultimate adrenaline-pumping adventure, go there to face the roaring Bhote Koshi and to push your own limits.

96 Get someone to draw your portrait. But don't go over-the-top by hanging it in your living room. Its something just for you.

97 Get a new skill or a new hobby. Just anything new! It's absolutely exhilarating to get your mind focused on something fresh and new. Starting at the basics and learning as you go will be challenging and fun.

98 Spend a whole day in bed. You will feel the safest and relaxed in your own little cocoon.

99 Go paragliding in Pokhara.See the city of lakes in its full glory with a breathtaking view of the Machchapuchre range. It's the closest thing to having your own wings.

100 Read all the issues of WAVE Need we say more