A SPECIAL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT
Friday, December 18, 2015
Colour
Me winter
Calling forth the
winter hues
Into
thin air
Oshin Sitaula
takes the plunge
Eat,
Drink,
Socialise
Manage
We head to Société
Lounge & Bar
Your A-Z of nutrition
your macros
M&S
focus
18 December, 2015, Friday
Ed Talk
Top Story
Managing your
macros
Losing weight, or
maintaining it, isn’t
just about exercising, it’s also about
following diet plans.
But before that you
need to know about
the basics: the
macronutrients.
Stop struggling
with food
O
ne of the common struggles growing up is
finding the right things to eat.As many of
us can vouch, cutting back on food would
result in momentary elation only to be replaced
with absolute loathing when one gives in to the
night-time binging.
If not careful, your diet can completely
consume, no pun intended, your every waking
thought. One-way to counter this root of self
hatred is to be aware of your portions, and the
nutrients that maketh for a healthy diet.
Some things are worth repeating, for example
a proper way of dieting. Learn straight from the
basics of macronutrients to counting calories to
getting the right kind of nutrition diet as our fitness expert Sushant Pradhan gives a lowdown on
our Top Story. Complement that with some clever
winter tweaks and you are well on your way to
changing your life and relationship with food for
the better – permanently.
Our picks from the pack
1
Fitness freak, Sushant Pradhan,
imparts the ABCs of dieting and
calorie-counting, the proper way, in
our top story. —Page 2 & 3
2
Feel the adrenaline rush with the
skydiving experience of the beloved
M&S presenter, Oshin Sitaula, who’s
acquired a new moniker,
albeit lovingly, super-fly. She takes
the plunge in Pokhara on this week’s
Journey On.– Page 8
3
This week, we give you a last minute
round up of Christmas decorations
around town. It’s time to get into the
Yule spirit from out the store and into
your homes! – Page 12
By Sushant Pradhan
A simple technique
to calculate the total
caloric requirement
Take your weight in kilograms.
n Multiplying it with 2.2 to
convert it into pounds.
n Multiply that with either 14, 15,
16 or 17 depending on your daily
activity level or lifestyle
(14 for least active and
17 for most active).
n This will give you the amount
of total calories you need per
day. To gain muscle, add in
300-500 calories more to it,
or if you want to lose fat,
deduct roughly 300-500
calories from it.
n
I
n the fitness world, we've been
constantly reminded over and
over again that nutrition and
diet contribute a high percentage to our overall result.
However, the confusion starts
when there are hundreds of different diet protocols out there. Just
like every other industry, the fitness
industry has its fair share of gimmicks to attract people. Every fitness guru tries to promote his or
her own protocols as the best when
it comes to getting people in shape;
this creates chaos for the newbies
who just want simple layman guidelines when it comes to nutrition.
Nevertheless, no matter how
many cutting edge diet protocols
come around, one thing that never
changes are the basics—everything
else stems off it. To understand the
fundamentals, you have to understand macronutrients and how they
make calories. So let's get to the
base of it. We have three basic macronutrients:
Proteins
Proteins are also called the building blocks of muscles because they
reconstruct the cells. They are
made up of various amino acids.
Different protein sources have different amino acid profiles. So, it
only makes sense to get your pro-
2
When
it comes to
fitness, you need to
always remember
that slow and steady
is the key to visible
results.
tein from multiple
sources. Eggs, chicken, fish or any kind
of meat are high in
protein and are commonly referred to as the
first class protein.
However, there are other protein sources such as beans, milk,
cheese, peanut butter, pasta, tofu,
broccoli, among others that provide
decent proportions of protein but
combined with carbs and or fats.
Each gram of protein has four
calories. Try to consume 0.6-0.8 gm
of protein per pound of bodyweight.
Carbohydrates
Though carbs have a bad reputation, they are the source of energy
for your body. You need carbs to
build strength and have energy to
train hard. There are various types
of carbs, such as rice, pasta, noodles, bread, banana, beaten rice,
potatoes, roti, et cetera have higher amount of carbs in them.
Majority of vegetables also have a
good amount of carbs in them.
Each gram of carbs have four
calories. I’d suggest keeping your
carbs 1-2.5 times your protein
intake depending on your goals (1
if you are trying to lose fat, 2.5 if
muscle gains are your goal)
Fats
Fats get a lot of
stick, but they are
actually essential
for your body to function correctly and properly. Lack of fats negatively
affects your hormones and other
impor tant bodily functions.
However, our Nepali diets automatically have a lot of fat in them
so we don't need to add them in
extra. Just don’t go overboard with
just boiled food, though, in an
attempt to avoid fats. Since fats are
dense in calories—each gram of it
has nine calories—they should be
limited to no more than half of
your protein consumption, even
lesser if your carbs are high.
When it comes to fitness, you
need to always remember that slow
and steady is the key to visible
results. Don't try to rush and make
huge adjustments in the amount
of calories you intake at once.
MyFitnessPal
MyFitnessPal
contains the most
extensive food
databases (of over
5,000,000 items)
when it comes to
calorie counters. The app tracks
your diet according to your body
and your required results: losing,
maintaining or gaining weight, and
gives you the calorie goal for each
day. Its website (www.myfitnesspal.
com) also allows you to add exer-
cise details making for an all-round
good tracker. Plus, it integrates with
other fitness tracking devices that
you may own. However, it can get
difficult to find Nepali food items in
their database, but it isn’t impossible; there are generic item listing
such as momos and dal bhat.
Platform: Android, iOS
Other recommendations:
Livestrong.com Calorie Tracker,
Lose it! (iOS only)
Next week, we’ll be seeing you on Christmas day.
Until then, stay warm.
Team M&S
Facebook: /moversandshakers
Twitter: @mnsnepal
Instagram: @mnsnepal
M&S Team
Editor-In-Chief: Akhilesh Upadhyay
Sub-editors: Astha Chand, Binit Raj Bana,
Tsering Ngodup Lama
Feature Writer: Shreya Sharma
Contributors: Gaurav Pote
Design & Layout: MP Marasini
Photographer: Nirnit Tandukar, On Cover: Krisha Shahi
MUA: Binita Shah Thakuri
Cover Photography: Sanjog Rai
What went on behind the scenes this week?
You wouldn’t want to miss it!
3
18 December, 2015, Friday
FOCUS
M&S
Let’s talk about
some of the tried
and tested diet
protocols for fat
loss that I trust
for my clients.
These diets have
been out there
for quite some
time and actually
work on the same
principles that we
discussed earlier.
Here are my top
three picks.
Fat loss
diets that
actually work
If It Fits Your Macros (IIFYM)
Intermittent Fasting (IF)
I love IF. I, myself, have been following IF on
and off for well over four years. The fact that it
takes your mind off that typical eat-every-twohours theory is what I love the most about
it, and it is flexible according to your daily
schedule. We know that the overall calories consumed is more important than
the frequency or timing of the meals.
What IF suggests is to pick an eight hour
eating window anywhere in the day and
have your meals within that eating window
only. This means you will be fasting for 16
hours a day. A convenient eating window
would be between 11 am to 7 pm or 12 noon
to 8 pm. The way IF works is it limits how
much you can eat when you only have a
limited time period to consume all the calories. On your fasting period, you can consume
black tea, black coffee, lemon water or just plain
water (anything that has less than 10-20 calories).
We’ve been told that we should only eat certain
foods and avoid certain ‘bad’ ones. IIFYM throws
the concept of sticking to plain boring food out
of the window. IIFYM is completely based on
the science of nutrition and disregards caveman
mentality of dieting. However, one big problem
for most people regarding IIFYM is that they
don’t want to get into the hassle of counting
calories and macros. Well, you’ve got to work
for it if you want to enjoy your meals and lose
inches simultaneously. This is where tracking
apps come in handy.
People often see me enjoying my pizza and
cheeseburgers while still getting leaner, and
IIFYM is the secret behind it all. Just
look up a calorie calculator on the
Internet to start counting
macros and calo-
ries of the food you prefer and in no time you
will find IIFYM worth it.
Ketogenic diet
Ketogenic diet, for me, is the last resort for my
clients. It is for the simple fact that if nothing
else works, I can bet my money that this definitely will. However, Nepalis often find it unconventional since our diet mainly consists of carbs
in ridiculously huge amounts. The main protocol
for ketogenic diet is to cut down all the carbs to
no more than 40 grams per day, which is painfully low until you get used to it. The remaining
part of your diet is 30-40 percent protein and 60-70
percent fats. The diet promotes
high consumption of
fats to actually burn fat.
When your body is deprived
of carbs, it uses ketones as
a source of energy instead
of glycogen, and hence, it
directly taps onto the fat
reserve of the body. The reason why Ketogenic diet
works is because protein and
fats keep you full for a longer
time than carbs. You almost
cannot overeat them as you
can do with carbs (try eating
chicken or peanut butter in the same amount
that you can eat rice or pasta, you’ll know what
I mean).Ketogenic diet has done wonders for so
many people that it’s almost hard to believe. I
personally use a combination of all three when
I have to diet down. Just remember that the most
important principle is of caloric balance, which
is if you are consuming more than what you
burn, you won’t lose fat, no matter which diet
you follow. So
yes, calories
Sushant Pradhan
is a certified personal trainer
matter and you
from Athletic Certification
better start
and Training Commission
being careful
(ACT). You can find him at
The Physique Workshop,
with them.
Kumaripati.
M&S
PEOPLE
cooking up
dreams
For someone who was on his way
to becoming a teacher, Mahesh Raj
Dhakal cooked his own success.
By Tsering Ngodup Lama
W
Mart, which supplied hotel
amenities. One fateful day, the
owner of the store, Shiva
Bahadur KC, told me to look
into the Diploma course in
Culinary Art at the newly
established GATE College,
adding that it might be good
for my future. Naturally, it
piqued my interest and after
meeting the CEO of the college, Khem Lakai, who helped
me with an education loan, I
started my journey into the
world of culinary art.
Juggling my regular classes
in the mornings, cookery
courses in the afternoon, evening internship at a restaurant with my job at the store
was quite a struggle. It was my
sheer determination that got
me through it all.
hen Mahesh Raj
Dhakal left
Borlang village
in Ghatbeshi
VDC, Gorkha,
for higher studies in Kathmandu, his goal
was to return to his village and
teach mathematics at the local
school. Never in his wildest
dreams had he thought that
he would end up in the world
of culinary. Currently the
Executive Chef of Hotel
Shang ri-La Kathmandu,
Dhakal literally cooked his
way to success, rather deliciously.
On road to become a
mathematics teacher
and deviation
I was quite good in mathematics in school and after
completing class 10, my parents sent me to Kathmandu
for my further studies.I wanted to become a mathematics
teacher and teach at my village, but fate had some other
plans for me. In the final year
of college, I started working
in a store called Hospitality
Stepping into the real
world
Right after I finished the
one-year culinary course, I
started working as an intern
at Hotel Radisson for 18 hours
a day at the minimum. After
the internship, I started working as a Sous Chef at a fine
Timeline
Mahesh Raj Dhakal
1985
2007
Came
to Kathmandu
and studied +2 from
Manamohan Memorial
College
Joined
GATE College as
a student of Diploma
in Culinary Arts
2011
Joined
at JW Marriott
Hotel Dubai as a Demi
Chef de Partie
2014
Joined
Hotel Shangri-La
Kathmandu as a
Executive Chef
Born
at Borlang-7,
Gorkha
2002
2008
Started
working as
Sous Chef at Walter’s
International Fine Dining
Restaurant Bhabarmahal Revisited
Joined
Yas Viceroy
Hotel Abu Dhabi as a
Commis Chef
2009
2013
Joined
Hilton Seychelles
Labriz Resort & Spaas a
Chef de Partie and was later
promoted to Jr Sous
Chef
Joined
as a Sous Chef
at Ritz Carlton Almaty
Kazakhstan.
2015
2014
Finalist
(1st Runner Up)
in Worldwide Hospitality
Awards Paris 2015 under the
category Best Professional Success
dining restaurant in the city
but the money I was making
barely covered my rent and
living expenses. One day, I saw
a vacancy for the post of
Commis Chef at Yas Viceroy
Hotel Abu Dhabi and I thought
that this would be good step
for my career, plus I needed
the money to pay my education loan and to support my
family. So, I sent my resume,
got hired, and for the first time
in my life, I boarded a plane
and left the country.
Proving his mettle
and climbing up
proved that we Nepalis are
equally at par with our foreign
counterparts in the industry
and if we work hard we are
capable of achieving anything.
Word of advice
Challenges in life are inevitable but what you do with
them defines your life. Never
let the challenges you face
deter you and discourage you
from achieving your goals.
Whenever you fail, dust up,
get up and face the challenges
all over again. If you do that
success is sure to come your
way.
I worked for two years in Yas
Viceroy Hotel Abu Dhabi
where I got to learn from
world-renowned
“Whenever
Michelin star red
you fail, dust up,
chefs like Atul
get up and face the
Kochhar and Vineet
challenges
all over
Bhatia. After that, I
again. Success will
joined JW Marriott
Hotel Dubai as a
surely come your
Demi Chef de Partie
way.”
followed by Hilton
Seychelles Labriz Resort
& Spa in Seychelles where I
was promoted to Junior Sous
Chef and headed the restaurant's fine dining Italian restaurant. After two years in
Seychelles, I joined The RitzCarlton, Almaty in Kazakhstan
as a Sous Chef and worked
with Michelin starred chef,
Laurent Tourondel.
Coming back home
After a year in Kazakhstan,
I came to Nepal on my yearly
holiday. While in the country,
I saw a vacancy for the post of
Executive Chef at Shangri-La
Hotel, Kathmandu and it was
then that it struck me that I
have been working abroad for
many years and perhaps it was
time to shift base and get
myself familiar with the local
hospitality industry. So I
applied for the post and joined
the hotel as an Executive Chef
on August 15, 2014.
Best professional
success
Khem Lakai nominated my
name for the category Best
Professional Success at the
Worldwide Hospitality School
Awards 2015, which is considered as one of the most prestigious award ceremony in the
hospitality world. I take great
pride in representing my
country at the awards where
I was the first runner up. This
18 December, 2015, Friday
4
5
M&S
people
18 December, 2015, Friday
5 Things
5
AM
I get up around
this time, and an hour
every morning is strictly
for yoga and exercise. I am
not a fussy eater; I usually
have just tea and bread
for breakfast.
9
Cold no more
8
We can’t beat common cold, but
we can avoid catching them.
AM
I go to St. Mary’s
for my dance classes. I
train dancers in Nepali cultural dance, classical dance
from Chariya to Bharatnatyam and Kathak, and also
conduct dance therapy
sessions.
PM
Before bed, I try to
get some writing done,
which are mostly children’s
songs and plays. Reading also
helps me prepare for a good
night’s sleep; currently I am
reading Bhojraj Bhatta’s
accounts about Khaptad
and Badrinath.
8
PM
I have a healthy
Nepali dinner with my
family if I don’t have events
or gatherings to attend. I
watch news to stay updated
with the latest happenings
around the world and also
catch up on my favourite TV series.
11
AM
My Daily Bread
With
Mithila Sharma
PM
PM
The veteran actor and dancer shares her secret
to staying active and inspired.
After wrapping
up my work, I come
back home and have a nice
cup of tea while I play with
my grandkids. Abhiyani, my
granddaughter, pretends to
take on the role of my
dance teacher.
3
PM
If I have stage
programmes, I oversee
the set management. I also
write musicals and dance
dramas and Bimla Rai has
been a great support as she
helps with the music for
the shows.
T
Mr Clean
12
Actor
4
All my shoots
and meetings
are scheduled for the
afternoons. I also arrange
week-long workshops on dance
therapy, but lately due to the
blockade I haven’t been able
to conduct the sessions
as effectively.
here’s nothing truer to
winter than cold—the
weather and the illness. As the weather
starts getting chiller, so does
the risk of catching a cold,
and honestly, you probably
will catch it at least once
before the end of the season.
However, that doesn’t mean
we can’t delay the inevitable
or reduce the dreary coldridden days. Here’s is what
you need to keep in mind:
After my dance
classes, it is time
for lunch. My sister and
mother accompany me for
a healthy meal around Pulchowk between doses
of gossip and
laughter.
Although this might come
off as a basic, and not much
of an advice, but wash your
hands thoroughly and often.
Scrub those mitten so that
you don’t contract any
germs that you might have
picked up.
Pump it up
Just keep the blood pumping with moderate exercises
so that you as well as your
immune system is fit and
functioning. And working
out is not just good for cold,
it’s just about helps keep
most illness at bay.
Z is for zinc
Although most research
is divided about zinc’s ability to completely prevent
Cover Girl
Third time’s the charm
Krisha Shahi might be young but she’s a veteran M&S cover girl by this point, with three covers under her name.
You’re still 18, when did you
start modelling, and what are
your future aspirations?
I got into modelling when I was
16 years old. My first experience
was in the TGIF Nepal Fashion
Week 2014. I was the youngest
model in the show, and it was a
great first learning experience;
the older models were quite inspiring. However, modelling is just a
part time gig for me; my ultimate
aim is to become a nephrologist.
So, how was it like working
with M&S this time around?
I’m thankful to be on the cover
of M&S for the third time. It’s a
good medium to get my name and
face out into the fashion industry
and to get inspired by the team.
This time I’m working with a new
M&S team—I can see a lot of new
faces—but we had good coordination nevertheless.
Even looking at the cover is
chill inducing. How was the
experience of shooting in a
bikini during winter time?
Even though it’s in the middle
of winter, since we had the shoot
indoors, it wasn’t much of a problem. Also the excitement never let
me felt the chill.
Since the Top Story is about
nutrition, what’s your take
on it? Do you adhere to some
diet plans yourself ?
Apart from exercises, I do
understand that a healthy diet
plays an important part in overall
fitness, but honestly I don’t really
eat a lot of healthy food and follow
any strict diets as well.
Model Profile
Name: Krisha Shahi
Height: 5’ 5”, Age: 18
Profession: Student
Big break:TGIF Nepal Fashion
Week 2014
common cold, there is
enough evidence to suggest
that taking zinc supplements, in form of lozenges
or zinc-rich food such as
spinach, beans and red
meats, 24 hours within the
first symptoms can reduce
the length and severity of
the cold.
Praise the sun
One more reason to spend
your days basking in the
winter sun. The vitamin D
produced with exposure to
the sunlight helps keep common cold at bay.
Sharing is not caring
Staying away from people
with cold isn’t a feasible
advice, but the least you can
do is not share food, drinks,
utensils or personal items
with other people.
M&S
framed
18 December, 2015, Friday
A cultural
6
Bedazzled
concoction
The melting pot that is Kathmandu stirred
more of its diverse ingredients to bring
together cultures, old and new, local and
international, to create a blend of its own.
The troubadour
BAC Christmas Bazaar
The stache pack
The Bikalpa Arts Centre’s Artisan Bazaar
provided a space to local artists for sales and
networking amidst Christmas merrymaking
with live music and children’s activities.
Photo Courtesy: Bikalpa Arts Centre
Matching harmonies
Sisters in crime
All wrapped up
Santa in town
Chatting golf
Saturday night at Faces
The axe-effect
The Thamel lounge made it a good time for
its patrons as Sabsaath provided the
soundtrack for the evening.
Photo courtesy: Om Lal Akayla
Winter-proof
Smug hug
Centre of attention
A sparkling affair
Have it, flaunt it
Three musketeers
Like a sir!
Carlsberg G
The golf series title w
Hridesh Singh as the fi
the Gokarna Fores
7
M&S
framed
18 December, 2015, Friday
Summit Hotel Cake Mixing
My Very French Party
Alliance Française converted their garden into a
guinguette to create an authentic French ambiance,
complete with wine, cheese and delicatessen.
Getting their hands dirty
The Christmas cheer is going around town as
the Summit Hotel, Kupondole, got into the yuletrend with their holiday delicacy preparation
with well-known faces.
Enjoying the calories
Photo Courtesy: Alliance Française of Kathmandu
Golf Series 2015
went to Tashi Dong and
final edition was played at
st Resort on Saturday.
Santa’s muse
Mouth full of words
Men at work
Beer buddies
Got my eyes on you
Cosy and posey
Friday night at Ai-La Lounge
Strumming away
You stare, I stare
It was happy time at the rooftop restro as
families and friends welcomed the weekend
with some good food and drinks.
Huddle cuddle
Party pairs
Four’s a party
M&S
wander
18 December, 2015, Friday
8
Journey On
Into thin air
The day I took a plunge from
13,000 feet was the day I felt
the most alive. By Oshin Sitaula
O
n my birthday last year I
got a fancy bucket, into
which I filled a list of all
the things on my wish list.
I could only come up with
two, both of which got fulfilled, but when I came to know that
skydiving in Nepal was possible, I had
to add it to the list. Explore Himalaya
Travel & Adventure has been operating skydiving in Nepal for quite some
time and offer skydiving in the Everest
region as well as Pokhara. Since they
offer the jump only once a year and
the seats are very limited, I rushed to
their office in Thamel and booked a
place. I had never been so happy with
any of my purchases before, and I was
more than happy to invest Rs 75,000
for this once in a lifetime experience;
after all, your dreams and the intensity to follow them is all that matters.
Finally between all the festive rush,
on November 14th 2015, my sister, my
colleagues and I headed off to Pokhara.
The super jump was scheduled for
the next morning so all of us had an
early dinner and a little slice of
Pokhara’s nightlife. I am not a morning person but on the day of the jump,
I was already up and ready by 6:30am—
and woke my friends up as well. We
all had breakfast, which was supposed
to be a light affair but being the total
foodies that we are, it turned into a
lavish spread. We then boarded the
bus at Lakeside that ferried us to the
Pokhara skydiving camp.
At the camp, I was given a briefing
on skydiving, after which my jumpmaster helped me put on the harness.
Then we waited for the helicopter that
was to fly me closer to my dream.
The enormity of the occasion only
hit me when we boarded the chopper
and took off from the helipad. I was
anxious, excited and nervous—all at
the same time. As everything below
us started getting smaller and smaller, the mountains appeared bigger and
loomed majestically against the back-
drop of the clear blue sky. The gorgeous Machhapuchhre, along with the
gleaming peaks, dotted the horizon
and we were informed that we had
reached 13,000 feet above the ground.
My jumpmaster Michael McCann did
a safety check of my harness, and we
edged towards the chopper’s door; all
the while, he was comforting me.
And then it happened: one, two
three, we took the plunge. For the next
few seconds my mind went blank.
When I came back to my senses, I was
free falling and no words could do
justice to the experience. The free fall
lasted for a minute and was perhaps
the most enthralling minute of my
life. All of a sudden I felt a jerk, the
jumpmaster had pulled the parachute.
From then onwards, we glided towards
the landing spot, with earth’s gravity
doing the needful.
lowed later was marvelous. All of that
excitement had helped me to work up
quite an appetite, and much to my
delight a sumptuous spread was waiting for us at the camp. I just couldn’t
stop smiling.
The hype, overcoming my fears and
taking that leap of faith, now that I
look back, it turned out to be one of
the best days of my life.
When we finally landed on the
ground, I was so overwhelmed by the
experience that for a few seconds I
just couldn’t speak. The adrenaline
rush, the unobstructed view of the
earth below, the fleeting seconds of
weightlessness, I just couldn’t believe
that I had actually skydived. I would
be lying if I said that I was not scared,
but the rush of achievement that fol-
The Jump
The best time to jump is around
Autumn, so, skydiving starts from
October to November.
Price: Rs 75,000 (for Nepalis)
Contact: Explore Himalaya Travel &
Adventures, Thamel
01-4418100
9
18 December, 2015, Friday
M&S
gizmo
Timepieces that do
more
Smartwatches are the ‘in’ thing right now, but are they
just for looks or useful too? We find out. By Gaurav Pote
As if smartphones weren’t making life easier, the powers that be decided to add Bluetooth and a
processing power to wristwatches, making them an indispensible extension of the ever-growing
smart-sphere. The enhancements are more than just high-tech upgrade, they can also be useful tool by
improving productivity, health and safety. So how do they fit in to our busy lives? And, do
they really meet our expectations with their renewed roles as smartphone sidekicks?
M&S talks to three smartwatch users.
fab app
Apps for your
smart timepiece
From language lessons and locating phones
to recording voice and taking notes, the
samrtwatch apps for Android wear are
slowly evolving. By Gaurav Pote
Tech That
Anjil Maskey
Nirnit
Tandukar
Photographer
Which smartwatch have
you been wearing?
I have a Samsung Gear 2.
How useful do you
reckon it is in your daily
life?
Certainly, doesn’t replace your smartphone
but it comes in quite handy while driving or
playing sports as you get instant notifications
for a lot of different things. So, I reckon it’s
quite useful, especially in the situation when
I’m outdoors and I have my phone tucked
safely inside my bag.
And, at work?
Sadly, I don’t get to use my smartwatch as
much as I would have liked due to limited
availability of relevant apps. It’s only as useful
as conventional timepiece— keeps time and
doubles up as a stopwatch.
Which apps do you use more often?
I tend to use most of the in-built apps but
more frequently the ones that allow me to
track my daily calorie intake, and monitor my
heart beat while working out or cycling.
Some features that you wish your
smartwatch had…
First of all, I really wish it could sync photos to
and from my computer. The newer versions
for South Asian region don’t come with a SIM
card slot, which might be because they
don’t issue two
SIMs for
a single
number
here.
Photographer
Dikesh
Malhotra
President, IMS
Which smartwatch have
you been wearing?
I have a Samsung Gear S2
Classic.
How useful do you reckon it is in your
daily life?
I find it useful in a sense that it allows me
to micromanage my smartphone functions
like taking calls, receiving emails and other
important notifications without checking my
phones. This is more helpful than you might
realise particularly when you’re busy at work,
while driving or at the gym.
And, at work?
It allows me to discretely read my emails or
texts and quickly reply to them, especially
during long meetings.
Which apps do you use more often?
I’m more into messages, alarms and reminders.
But there’s this intriguing feature that notifies
the user of his/her physical inactivity, which I
take as a motivational push to exercise more.
Some features that you wish your
smartwatch had…
I’d definitely love to make direct calls without
any connection to the phone. Samsung
smartwatches originally shipped with cameras,
which the new model lacks, I wish it came with
lens though.
Which smartwatch have
you been wearing?
It’s a first generation Moto 360.
How useful do you reckon it is in your
daily life?
Not as much as a smartphone but I can still
get quick email and text alerts, social media
notifications and other reminders right on my
wrist. I don’t even have to fiddle with my phone
to answer calls, particularly when I’m on my bike.
It sure saves time.
And, at work?
It comes with OK Google, which lets me quickly
search the internet or make a call with a mere
voice command. I can also quickly get a linguistic translation, English to Nepali for instance.
Then there’s Google Maps that sometimes helps
me navigate for work. It’s the little things that
save time.
Which apps do you use more often?
I mostly use the Instagram, Music app to listen
to mp3s without bothering to reach out for my
phone, and Google Maps for ease of navigation.
Google Fit is something that I’ve been trying
recently to track my fitness.
Some features that you wish your
smartwatch had…
I wish it had a more sporty form factor. Since
there’s no camera, I think it’d be awesome to
have a camera, and
also a receiver
and a speaker
to actually
make calls
without
the
need to
have my
earphones
connected to
my phone.
Moto 360
Samsung Gear 2
Samsung Gear S2 Classic
Platforms: Android 2.3+,
Samsung Tizen
Memory: 4GB internal storage +
512MB RAM
Processor: 1 GHz dual-core
Smartphone Control: Voice Control
Water Resistance: 1m, Splashproof
Display: 1.63-inch AMOLED
Connectivity: Bluetooth, IrLED
Sensors: Accelerometer, Heart Rate
Monitor, Gyrometer,Pedometer
Camera: 2MP Autofocus
Battery: 300mAH
Platforms: Android 2.3+, Samsung
Tizen OS
Memory: 4GB internal storage +
512MB RAM
Processor: 1 GHz dual-core Exynos
Smartphone Control: Voice Control
Water Resistance: Waterproof
Display: 1.2-inch Super AMOLED
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC
Sensors: Accelerometer, Heart Rate
Monitor, Gyrometer, Pedometer, Ambient Light Sensor
Camera: None
Battery: 250mAH
Platforms: Android 4.3+
Memory: 4GB internal storage +
512MB RAM
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon
400 with 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU (APQ
8026) Adreno 305 with 450MHz GPU
Smartphone Control: Voice Control
Water Resistance: 30m
Display: 1.56-inch, Corning Gorilla
Glass 3
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light
Sensor, Gyroscope, Haptics engine,
Heart Rate Monitor, Pedometer
Camera: None
Battery: 320mAH
W
hen it comes to
the smart
devices today,
it’s not merely
the hardware
and form factors that
determine the utility but
the apps that enable those
devices to actually behave
smartly. And, although,
developers and bigger
brands are still on the
verge of developing a
range of more sophisticated and productive apps,
the market is already getting flooded with minimal
apps that make your life a
bit less hassle-free.
Here’s a rundown of
some of those apps for
your Android wear, and
they’re all free.
Duolingo
Platform: Android
Price: Free
How would
you like to
learn to
speak a new
language
right at the
convenience of your
wrist? And, you don’t even
have to pay for it.
WHAT WE LIKE
n Learn on the go.
n Simple interface.
n keeps things interesting
with flashcards and linguistic
conundrums.
Wear Audio Recorder
Platform: Android
Price: Free
Doesn’t do
much except
recording
voice but this
is some real
James Bond kind of app
because it’s discrete and
simple to use.
WHAT WE LIKE
n Works even when display
is off.
n Sharing and renaming
recorded audios.
n Easy UI and simpler controls.
Google Keep
Platform: Android
Price: Free
You can now
leave your
pen and spiral flip-pads
on your desk
because this
smartwatch note taking
app is here. Though minimal, this is just as powerful as Evernote.
WHAT WE LIKE
n Minimal and handy.
n Create, view and edit your
notes on the go.
Wear Aware
Platform: Android
Price: Free
You’ll never
leave your
apartment
without
your phone,
thanks to
this nifty
app that also doubles as a
phone finder.
WHAT WE LIKE
n Buzz alert when the watch
gets farther from your phone.
n Just say “OK Google, start
Phone Finder” to locate your
phone with an alarm even if its
on silent.
M&S
indulge
18 December, 2015, Friday
10
fash forward
Colour Me winter
Calling forth the winter hues. By DORIAN D
P
lay. Pause. For once, just stop and
hit the rewind. Take a trip back
and run down the aisles of fashion history. The one thing that
you’re sure to notice is how
people embraced winter for what
it was and more importantly, dressed in
the colours that they saw around them.
Every suit was a warm yellow or burnt
orange. Browns and maroons ran lush and
rampant. And the winter greens were as
plush as ever. Finally, fast forward yourself
to 2015 and you have style connoisseurs
like Bottega Veneta, Dunhill and Gucci
playing the retro revival and wholeheartedly resurrecting the cherished colours
of nature. You’ll have to forgive us for getting all Brontë on you, but after seasons
and seasons of all things black and grey,
we can’t help observe that it’s high time
that one embraces the nature and all of
its colourful glory, this time of the year.
After a few decades’ worth of beauty
rest, fall shades look fresh again, especially when you mix and match them
together. And just when you thought you’re
not at all sure how you’ll can pull off all
that colour, open your eyes, conjure the
attitude and walk out the door with
confidence.
Winter colours on the weekdays
n
As with all things everywhere, start
with the basics and by that we mean
your crispy white dress shirt and a solid
tie to wrap around it.
Rummage through your entire wardrobe history or ask dear Mama where
to get one. For, as ridiculous as it may
sound, we’ll have to ask you to layer
yourself next, with a red or maroon
(playing it safe, again, huh?) crew neck
sweater. As for your trousers, navy is
the warmest colour.
n Next, the beloved trench is no longer
black or beige. Instead, it’s the updated
version of your grandpa’s vintage yellow raincoat, same bright punch, but
in a mellower shade of orange.
n And just when you’ve heard that orange
and red don’t go together, the cool part
about dressing this fall is all about defying those old and lame rules.
n Finally, a pair of black shoes would
look totally fine here. But a choice of
caramel or hazelnut brogues will turn
this god-damn look into great.
n
Winter colours on the weekends
n
Let us commence with your all-time
favourite tartan shirt. But remember
that you don’t have to show the whole
shirt to get bonus style points for having rocked the plaid. Just, the collar
sticking out is good enough.
n Instead, have the all-star utility player
of the modern, streetwear line-up, a
slim-fitting grey sweatshirt, logo blazed
or absent, layer you up.
n Ever come across mustard or yellow
chinos on your shopping trip around
town? Clearly, they exist for a reason
and it’s your turn to try them on. Don’t
fear, bring your inner bravado out.
n Lastly, a green blazer ain’t just for Tiger
Woods or those PGA title winners. With
a military shade of a green on board,
it’ll give your trustiest navy jacket
about half the season off.
Where to shop
Store One, Durbarmarg
Zara, Kumaripati, Lalitpur & UWTC,
Tripureshwor
Joop!, UWTC, Tripureshwor
Baseman, Bishal Bazaar, New Road
Fit In
Winter Warrior
L
et’s not be in denial. It is a fact
that as the mercury dips, our
appetite increases, throughout
the day, we get hungry more
often and our body attunes to the season change by storing more fat. All
the more reason to get that (at least)
30 minutes workout, four-five times a
week! Leave no room for excuse and
let me help you with these tips!
Add new touches
Trying out something new is always
exciting, and that is what you can do
to push yourself to your exercise
regime. This winter, sign up for a class
that you have always wanted to do or
a workout type that you have never
attempted before (think TRX, Yoga,
Kickboxing and morning walks). Not
only will a new touch steer you away
from boredom, it will also surprise
your body to more calorie burn!
TRY: If your workout is complemented
by music, then jazz things up a notch
by creating a new workout playlist.
For a change, be sure to include tracks
that you are not familiar with. All
tracks should be 120-140 BPM.
How to curb carbcravings during winter
Study shows that adapting this
eating habit helps!
n For breakfast and lunch, always
be sure to include lean protein,
dairy and vegetables.
n Cravings get stronger as the
day progresses. Thus, snack on
low-calorie foods such as popcorn
(unsalted and unbuttered), and
vegetables with healthy dip (think
plain yogurt).
n Dinner should comprise of lowcarb, low-protein meals, such as,
vegetable soup or whole wheat
pasta in tomato sauce.
Get a workout buddy
It’s a no-brainer that when we have
a buddy (#squadfitnessgoals), it
increases our engagement to our workout and leads to increased efforts as
well. Of course, you have to make sure
that both of you will work to motivate
each other and not support each other’s slack-habits!
Baggy clothes. A No-No.
Stop fooling yourself with ill-fitting
clothes that help in perfectly camouflaging “winter weight gain.” Instead,
stick to clothes and layers that leave
a little bit of your silhouette intact.
This way you will be more aware of
how your body is changing and you
will know if comfort food is destroying
your waistline.
TRY: Winter gloom can hamper our
mood for exercise. Research has shown
that to help energise ourselves for our
workout, we should opt for sweaters/
jackets in red, pink or bright blue.
Get working during
commercials
Too comfy in front of your TV? Get
up and start moving! Commercial
breaks are an excellent time to push
yourself to add in a quick, high intensity workouts. You won’t even realise
how quickly you’ve done your body a
favour.
TRY: Before settling in front of your
set, change into your workout clothes.
Once the breaks start, try this set of
at-home, no-equipment moves.
15 squats (switch to a pile/jump
squat in the next break)
n 15 push-ups
n 15 burpees
n 30 sec plank (increase time accordingly)
n
Early to bed;
early to rise
Help yourself snap out of the “it’s
too dark outside” mentality by ensuring that you get enough snooze time.
Doing so will help you get out of bed
at least 15 minutes earlier and get a
head start on your morning sweat session. After that, reward yourself with
a hearty breakfast of proteins and
complex carbs.
Sujita Gurung is an
Internationally Certified
Fisaf Fitness Instructor
and a Licensed Certified
Zumba Fitness Instructor
11
18 December, 2015, Friday
M&S
weekend
reel deal
bite right
Eat,
Drink,
Socialise
Dilwale
seven years of mixing
experience under his
belt. Forget the fancy
cocktail glasses the
drinks come in huge
mason jars and long
glasses.
For a scrumptious serve of the city’s best
culinary fusion and a mixology unlike
anywhere else. By Gaurav Pote
I
f it’s delectable, inventive and midrange food that you’re looking for
amidst this ongoing blockade
politics, you’ll find it at The Société
Lounge & Bar. With some thoughtful considerations on their normal
fusion menu, and a hint of satire, they
have come up with ‘Nakabandi’ menu.
And, although it’s limited and takes
time (using a combination of alternative cooking arrangements like microwave, firewood, induction heaters and
improvised traditional fire pits) it’s
every bit scrumptious and fulfilling.
To top it off, the joint doubles as a coffee hub during the day and a vibrant
bar in the evening—all the more reason to drop by Société.
Experience certainly comes into
play when running an eatery in
Hattisar, which unlike Jhamsikhel or
Thamel is not a food district, but
thanks to Upendra Sagar Joshi who,
with his eight years of experience in
Melbourne as a Chef, has been sustaining the joint quite admirably for over
a year and a half. The location is certainly unexpected and so is the turnout of patrons who come to enjoy the
glorious food, labelled as ItalianNepali fusion. By the standard of most
fusion restaurants in Kathmandu, the
term ‘fusion’ here would be a tad
understatement, for what they have
whipped up is something new in terms
of taste—a palatable blend of Italian
and Nepali condiments.
What We Had
Chef's Salad
Forget the textbook salads you get
elsewhere. Here, German-trained
Chef Umesh Tuladhar freshly assembles his own signature salad that
makes for a scrumptious appetiser or
a substantial but light bar food alongside drinks. The components are
pretty modest: diced cucumber, toma-
The Société Lounge
& Bar, Coffeetalk
Hattisar, Kathamndu
Opening time: 9AM – 10PM
(midnight on weekends)
Price breakdown: Rs 1,000 for
two, excluding drinks
Parking available
The Société
Special Mix
to, onion, garlic and carrot
tossed with shredded lettuce
and mozzarella in a dressing
of olive oil, lemon juice, salt
and pepper. Everything is neatly
served in a deep round plate with
bits of ham and chicken, both smoked,
adding some novelty to the salad.
Served in a tall ice tea
glasses, this one comes
shaken, not stirred. And,
twice! First, the shots of triple
gin, vodka, rum and tequila, then
with some lemon juice and sugar
syrup, and then topped with red
Sambuca for a little colour.
Tortellini Sanmareo - The
Pasta MoMo
Eight pieces of juicy Nepali-style
chicken mince wrapped in homemade tortellini, this fine blend
of popular Italian and Nepali
food is the best seller at Société.
The steamed and stuffed tortellini, Italian ring pasta, are
smothered right before serving in a rich Napoli la
salsa, prepared from button mushrooms, butter
and cream. The mozzarella
further lends an Italian touch to this
inventive momos - Italian on the outside, Nepali on the inside.
Chicken Italian Rolls
What better way to up the wow factor than to stuff chicken inside pitta
bread? The oven baked chunky rolls
are bursting with diced chicken and
mixed veggies sauté, further complemented by a luscious Napoli
base. The taste, although
not too elaborate, is surprisingly discerning. Order a
plate with someone to share
with. Tip: go for the firewood-baked version for
some extra richness.
Veg Stuffati with
Pasta Sauce
A vegetarian indulgence
that leaves no room for second thoughts even for the
hardcore meat lovers, perhaps because of the shallow,
slender serving dish, resemblances a deconstructed
pizza minus the base. There
are mixed seasonal veggies
sautéed and simmered in
Napoli sauce that perfectly
marries with creamy pasta
sauce, which is topped with
enough cheese to form a
Genre: Drama
Director: Rohit Shetty
Cast: Shahrukh Khan,
Kajol Devgan, Varun Dhawan,
Kriti Sanon
Raj (Khan) is a gangster that
Meera (Kajol) falls in love
with, but once she finds out
his truth, leaves him. 15 years
later Raj’s brother, Veer (Dhawan) falls in love with Ishita
(Sanon), Meera’s younger
sister. Will the two be able to
bring together Raj and Meera?
Jungle Juice
This one is shaken too, and
garnished with olives. Large
shots of Malibu, banana liquor
and vodka are shaken and served
with mixed fruits in a half-litre
mason jar. Go easy on it though, it
could be a little too intoxicating.
Coffeetalk
thick molten crust when microwaved.
And, here's the twist: underneath that
cheesy crust, you'll find something
delectable to munch on, and something savoury to slurp.
What We Sipped
The mixology at Société is unlike
most bars in the city. The bartenders
are under supervision of seasoned
bartender Bipin Sharma, who has
Perched a top the eatery, Coffee talk
is the latest addition to Société.
There's certainly more to this nifty
little coffee shop than meets the eye.
In depth analysis about this sip-nook
on our future issue, but if you are
looking for a quick sip to fall in love,
try their Keshar Badam Latte. Heartwarmingly warm and incredibly delicious with saffron and almonds, this
takes exotic to a whole new level.
Bajirao Mastani
Genre: Drama
Director: Sanjay Leela
Bhansali
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika
Padukone, Priyanka Chopra
The magic of Sanjay Leela
Bhansali is back, narrating
the historical love story of
the Maratha warrior, Peshwa
Bajirao I (Singh) and his
second wife, Mastani (Padukone). The film looks through
the emotions, drama, action
between Bajirao, Mastani and
Kashibai (Chopra), Bajirao’s
first wife.
POP
Charts
Hit List airs the Top Ten Songs of
the week gone by
1Saath Deu, Sanoop Poudel,
Last Week: 1
2Maya, Nitin Thapa, Last Week: 3
3 Ma Sarabi, Pravin Karki,
Last Week: 6
4Oee Jhuma, Pramod Kharel,
Last Week: 2
5Camerama Hoina, Nalina
Chitrakar,Ran Magar,
Last Week: 8
6 Mauna Bratha, The Shadows,
Last Week: 4
7 Kahile Kahai, Phiroj Shyangden,
Last Week: 7
8Prayas, Samriddhi Rai, Rohit
John Chettri, New Entry
9 Man Ka Kura,Sunny Sunam,
Last Week: 10
10 Barsiyo Aaja Man Mero,
Bhabin Dhungana, Last Week: 9
M&S
MOSAIC
18 December, 2015, Friday
12
Shop lift
Deck the halls
It’s almost Christmas! For all of those last minute shoppers, here’s where
you can buy some Christmas decorations. By Astha Chand
Felt wreath:
Rs 526
Felt ornaments:
Rs 50 to 350
Dhukuti
Kupondole,
01-5535107
Standing ornaments:
Rs 150 to 275
Glass and copper ornaments:
Rs 100 to 440
Metal ornaments:
Rs 300 to 1,500
Compressed wood
dust ornaments:
Rs 85 to 150
Mahaguthi
Kupondole,
01-5533197
5532981
Clay ornaments:
Rs 30
Felt ornaments:
Rs 130 to 210
weekender
Christmas Bonanza!
Here are some events that will keep you busy this upcoming week.
Hyatt Regency
Soaltee Crowne Plaza
On December 24, The Cafe at Hyatt is
offering a buffet with a wide selection
of cuisine, served with mulled wine;
followed by a delicious brunch on
Christmas day.
As well as that, the Rox Restaurant has
put up a five course menu featuring
seasonal ingredients, as well as a glass
of mulled wine and a dessert wine on
December 24.
December 24, Rox Restaurant,
Rs 5,499 nett
December 24, The Cafe,
Rs 3,499 nett
December 25, The Cafe,
Rs 2,999 nett
There’s something for everyone this
Christmas at Soaltee Crowne Plaza.
Garden Terrace is offering a gala Christmas buffet and China Garden and Kakori
have a four course special menu set up
to bring in the festivities of Christmas.
Their pastry shop, Sweetz, are offering
Christmas goodies and gift hampers. On
Christmas Day itself, Garden Terrace’s
sundeck is the place to be for a Christmas buffet with Turkey.
December 24, Garden Terrace,
Rs 3,000++
Hotel Annapurna
This Christmas, Hotel Annapurna is
organising Annapurna’s Wonderland.
There will be rides for children up to the
age of 10, different games where children
can win exciting prizes, face painting
booth, bouncy castles, all you can eat
cotton candies, cookie decoration station
and more. They also have stalls for spray
paint t-shirts, books and toys.
December 25, 26, 11AM- 6PM
Free entrance
Gokarna Forest Resort
Gokarna Forest Resort’s Durbar
Restaurant are setting up a full-fledge
Christmas event with a lavish Christmas
Eve buffet, mince pies, Yule logs, and
Christmas pudding.
December 24, 6PM onwards.
Rs 1,800++ (with unlimited snacks
and mulled wine)
Shangri-La Hotel & Resort
The Shangri-La Bakery is celebrating
the festive season with traditional Yule
logs, minced pies, Christmas cakes,
plum pudding and different sizes and
shapes of Cookies and Chocolates. Lost
Horizon Cafe has a Christmas Eve dinner
planned, with live carol singing and a
traditional Christmas menu; followed by a
festive brunch on Christmas Day.
December 24, 25, All day