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Mr. Ang Dawa Jangbu Sherpa is the first Nepalese to be the Chairman
of Friends of Nepal Inc. Friends of
Nepal Inc. is a charity organisation
that has been supporting an orphanage in
Nepal and also extends helping hands to
genuinely needy departments in hospitals
like the burn units at Bir Hospital and
Kanti Children hospitals. It is an
organisation where most of the members
are Australians who have been to Nepal
at some stages and also those who
haven't been but have always cherished
the beautiful country and its people.
Can you please tell what you feel being
in Pokhara and in the cities of
Australia? What difference are you
experiencing?
Having spent most of my school life in
Pokhara, with no doubt it is my second
home-town after Solukhumbu. Pokhara has
always fascinated me in so many ways.
The Annapurna Range which crowns Pokhara,
the people and the perfect social
harmony nestled by pristine nature has
always been the centre of attraction.
Perth and Pokhara to me are both similar
in so many ways. Here in Perth we have
beaches and bush instead of mountains.
People here are friendly as ever and the
social harmony amongst the people is an
exemplary. The physical distance and the
geological differences would make a very
little difference to my feelings to
these two great cities. If I have any
better words to compare and describe
these two cities, it would be that both
places are “God Owned Places”.
How long has it been that you are living
in Australia? Why do you think that
People from Australia or developed
countries should visit Pokhara?
I came to Perth towards the end of 1999.
It has been almost seven years since I
came to Perth. During this time, I came
across people from different walks of
life that have been to Pokhara at one
time or another. The impression that I
get from these people is that they have
always enjoyed their time in and around
Pokhara. Natural attraction is one of
the major determining factors but it is
the friendliness of people that makes
the difference. These people’s
experiences and the testimony is the
fact why people should visit Pokhara.
Remember the saying, “Lekhe ko
Pokhara bhanda dekhe ko Pokhara raamro”,
literally meaning that one should visit
to have the first hand experience of
Pokhara.
What are those things that strike your
mind now and again about Pokhara and you
die hard to be in Pokhara for?
Once again it is the people and the
immense natural wonders that strike my
mind first and this is what I love to
see whenever I get the opportunity.
What do you think about the possibility
of Pokhara in tourism industry? Give
your suggestion what should be done
foremost to guide Pokhara as a tourist
hub?
Pokhara, as heard and seen, is
definitely the Mecca of every nature
loving people within the country and
outside Nepal. It has always been and
will be the dream destination to many
people around the world. Pokhara always
had the reputation of being a safe
destination. However, everyone should be
vigilant about its future prospects as
well. Tourism entrepreneurs should work
together to develop, monitor and
maintain both physical infrastructures
and the security to ensure the quality
tourism in Pokhara.
Why do you suggest others to visit
Pokhara and what are the features one
should not forget while being at Pokhara?
Visitors shouldn’t have the impression
that Pokhara has just mountains and
lakes to offer. It is also a place to
develop you spiritually. Explore and
experience the way that people have
lived here for centuries.
Macchapuchhre alias Mt. Fishtail is the
most beautiful mountain in the world and
it is still virgin. There has been a
great discussion here in Nepal whether
it should be open for the climbers or
not. What’s your opinion?
Mountains have always been considered as
the playground of Shiva and Parvati by
the Hindus and the meditation and
retreat grounds of Padma Smabhawa (Guru
Rimpoche) by the Buddhists. Whilst there
is the potential for us to use mountains
for recreation, the religious norms that
are intact with our unique life should
be respected as well. This is our unique
identity. There are certain things that
we should have the reservation to keep
them sacred and Machhapuchhre is one of
them.
What do you feel about Pokhara? Define
on your own words about its beauty and
potential for the tourism.
Well words are simply not adequate to
describe and express how I feel about
Pokhara. No matter where I am around the
globe, my sentimental attachment with
Pokhara will always be there.
Given that we are responsible, Pokhara
will definitely be one of the worlds
best tourist hub and I am saying this
with confidence.
What do you feel about
www.visitpokhara.com and suggest what
should it do immediately to promote
Pokhara as one of the most beautiful
tourist destination in the World?
The initiatives taken by the executive
members of
www.visitpokhara.com are definitely
welcoming steps. After all someone has
to do it. In the developing age of
electronic media in the world, this site
would definitely play a positive role in
promoting the tourism in Pokhara and
hence the tourism in Nepal.
Having briefly gone through the site I
got impression that this site looks more
like a community profile with related
information. I guess to attract
international visitors you could put
general information like travel calendar
that would have festivals of Pokhara,
travel and accommodation information,
visa information and important phone
numbers like tourist helpline or links
to foreign embassies and consulates
generals office in Nepal.
Finally I would like to wish you all the
best for this great venture in promoting
Pokhara as a must visit destination.
“Jaun hai Pokhara! (Let’s go to Pokhara!).”
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www.visitpokhara.com |
