Mid April Snowfall in Wyoming #OnePlusOne #Photoblog

UW campus infront of Union

It snowed really hard past couple of days closing Cheyenne to Laramie section of interstate 80 (I 80) for two days. Yesterday, there was multiple vehicle collision at Harriman Road exit in I 80 involving ~50 vehicles.

University of Wyoming closed its regular business at noon today, very rare decision in its history-I guess.

Laramie is on a high plain between two mountains at 2184 m above see level. Average high temperature of April in this area is 10.6 and average low is -4.1 deg Celsius. Average snowfall of this month is 24.1 cm.

Here are some photos I took around campus using OnePlus phone camera. [click on the photo for bigger high resolution view]

A giant #Snowman 

Click below for more photos

Best 5 places in Wyoming you must visit

Wyoming is a western US state. It is a truly wild west and famous for adventure. Plenty of open space and wildlife. Based on my experience while I was attending graduate school in Laramie, I suggest 10 places in Wyoming you should not miss to visit. I will miss these places.

Wind River area Wyoming by Basant Giri on 500px

1. Vedauwoo

Close to Laramie, the home of the University of Wyoming, Vedauwoo is famous for outdoor rock climbing-I never did though. This place has Sherman granite rocks, some of which are seen to be placed on top of other rocks very carefully.

I have been to Vedauwoo several times for picnic, camping and hiking specially in summer. In cold winter nights, we went there with chilling beer. White snow on ground and clear sky with stars supported us.

I needed no prior planning. I used to be ready for anytime whether it was an early morning or a late night, specially, when bored or frustrated with the lab experiments and classes.

You can also enjoy Curt Gowdy State park with some beautiful lakes for fishing. Also, you don't want to miss HappyJack recreational area during winter for snow sports. I specially enjoyed sledding. Lincoln monument (3.8 m tall on a 9.1 m pedestal) on the side of I 80  (at 8878 feet elevation) can be another attraction. We also enjoyed drinking beer on the other side of the monument over looking I -80 and Vedauwoo in both summer and winter nights.

2. Snow Range Mountains

I like mountains-no doubts. Snowy Range Mountains are part of the Rockies, just half an hour drive west of Laramie.

Snow sports in winter and fishing and hiking in Summer. Around this mountain, there are numerous high elevation lakes in which you can enjoy fishing-we had done hand fishing too.

snowies by Basant Giri on 500px

I have hiked to the top of this mountain (12013 ft). More than this, I liked the scenic highway (HW 130) that crosses the mountain: driving is this road was an unforgettable memory. Highest point on this road is at 10847 ft.

There is a small town called Centennial on the eastern side of the mountain and Saratoga on western side. Saratoga is famous for hot spring.

3. Grand Teton National Park (GTNP)

GTNP is bit far from Laramie-northwest part of Wyoming. You need at least four days to fully enjoy the place. This park includes a major section of Teton Range mountains, Jackson valley, and Jackson lake.

Jackson Lake and the Tetons by Basant Giri on 500px

You can mostly enjoy the natural-prestine scenery, wildlife-deers, bears, moose, hardworking beavers, marmots and hiking to the Teton Mountains peaks in addition to backcountry camping.

Mom Grizzly with cubs by Basant Giri on 500px

I had seen black and grizzly bears almost every time I visited this NP (3 times so far).Camping on the periphery of Jackson lake looking towards the Tetons was awesome. I had hiked twice up to the static peak (11,303 ft) via death valley trail which includes Phelps lake. During one of the trecks, enchanted black bears couple of times from very close.

Hike to the Static Peak

4. Yellowstone National Park (YSNP)
YSNP is the world's oldest (estd: 1872) national park. It is north of GTNP, comprises lakes, canyons, rivers, and mountain ranges and touches Idaho and Montana states.  

This NP is most famous for wildlife (Bison, bears, deer, elks, moose, wolf, coyote etc. to my interest) and its many geothermal features such as the Old Faithful-the biggest one. There are hundreds of other smaller geysers too.

Old Faithful geyser eruption by Basant Giri on 500px

You can enjoy hiking, fishing, camping, boating, sightseeing etc. We had camped close to Jackson lake and at Mamoth-close to north entrance-Montana. Making a 8-loop is very famous to cover almost every aspects of Yellowstone ecosystem. Yellowstone lake and upper falls of Yellowstone river are amazing.

5. Devils Tower National Monument

From northwest, lets move to northeast where you can see the Devils tower. Devils tower is an igneous intrusion which rises 1267 ft above the surrounding terrain in Black hills.

For me it looked like a Shiva Linga in Hinduism. If it was in south Asia, religious people would have made it a place of worship.

Devils Tower Monument

When you are traveling to this place, don't forget to incorporate the Mt. Rushmore near southwestern South Dakota in your visit where you can see a sculpture of five US presidents carved into the granite.

लालमटिया देखि लारामी सम्म

(मेरो बुवा आमा अमेरिका भ्रामण आउनु भएको थियो केही समय अघि। त्यसैको अनुभब लेख्नु भयो बुवाले यो पोस्ट मा। दाङ बाट निस्किने नयाँ युग्बोध पत्रिकामा छापेको छ यो टुक्रो। यसपाली बाको पालो! )

कृष्ण गिरी 

लामो समय बिद्यालयमा सामाजिक बिषय पढाउदा अमेरिका भन्ने देश उत्तरी गोलार्दको उत्तर अमेरिका महादेशमा पर्छ भनेर किताब, नक्सा र ग्लोब देखाएर पढाएको म अहिले शिक्षण पेशाबाट अवकाश पाए पछि प्रत्यक्ष्य रुपमा अमेरिका हेर्न आइपुगेको छु । हामि सबैले बुज्ने अमेरिका भन्ने देश संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका हो। हुनत अमेरिका जाउला र घुमौला भनेर मैले कहिल्यै पनि कल्पना गरेको थिइन। किनभने यो मेरो पहुच भन्दा बाहिरको कुरा थियो। एक त धेरै टाढाको ठाउ, धेरै पैसा खर्च हुने, त्यसमाथी हामि नेपालिलाई त्यति सजिलो संग भिसा नदिने। 

क्याम्पस 

छोराको बिद्यावारिधिको ग्राजुएसन समारोहको लागि म सहित मेरी पत्नीलाइ अमेरिका आउने अवसर मिल्यो । हामि जस्तो एउटा अति कम बिकसित देशको पनि गाउमा बस्ने मान्छेलाइ अमेरिका जस्तो संसारको अति बिकसित देशमा आउदा धेरै कुराहरु  चासोपुर्ण र अचम्म पार्ने खालका हुने रहेछन । फरक भूगोल, फरक हावापानी, फरक संस्कृति, फरक भाषा, फरक खालको बिकाश, फरक खाना आदि । अमेरिका यात्राको आफ्नो अनुभवलाइ दैनिकीको हिसाबले टिप्दै आएको छु र भबिस्यमा सबैसंग बाड्ने योजना पनि गरेको छु । हामि नोभेम्बर महिनाको २८ गते काठ्माण्डौ देखि चिनको कुन्मिंग र  सांघाई हुदै अमेरिकाको लस एञ्जेलस र अन्तिममा डेन्भर आइपुगेका हौ । डेन्भर अमेरिकाको कोलोराडो राज्यमा पर्दछ । त्यहाबाट छोरा बस्ने ठाउ वायोमिंग राज्यको लारामी पुग्न गाडिमा करिब तिन घण्टा लागेको थियो । लालमटियाको मौरिघाट बस्ने मान्छे अहिले अमेरिकाको लारामि  सहरबाट यी अनुभव लेख्दै छु ।

क्याम्पस परिसरमा रहेको घोडा चड्ने गोठालोको शालिक 

Nepali New Year 2070 BS Celebration in America

Nepali community in Laramie, Wyoming, USA celebrated Nepal New Year of 2070 BS last Saturday (not today) with cultural shows and dinner which included Nepali food items. This way we promoted Nepal by showcasing Nepali culture and food among ~300 audiences from local city and national/international people at University of Wyoming.

Program started with Nepali national anthem which was followed by welcome speech by the president of the Friends of Nepal at University of Wyoming (FNUW) Roshan Bogati.

Then, adviser of FNUW Prof Dr. Peter Stahal gave a speech about his experience being adviser and his visit to Nepal. He is leading a summer course this summer in which students are travelling to Nepal to understand environmental situations ranging from urban to mountain area in the Annapurna conservation region. Students from UW will be joined by Nepali graduate students from Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur.

Jill Johnson, associate director of the International Students and Scholars office, UW who was the major donor of the event also addressed the crowd.

In this event, for the first time, I danced in a folk song. I was bit nervous but was fun. Watch videos from the event. Happy New Year to you.

It was nice to see Abby, american teen age girl, dancing on Nepali song.

Shashi sir reciting a poem.

जाडो सुरु हुन थाल्यो है यता त।

अलि हप्ता भयो नलेखेको। धेरै कुरा भै'रा छन्। आफ्नो व्यक्तिगत जिन्दगि, स्थानीय समुदाए, बसेको देश र आफ्नो देशमा। ति सबै कुरा मात्रै कति गराई भो र। सबैलाइ थाहै छ भन्ने मेरो अनुमान हो। यता तिर भने अब जाडो  सुरु हुन थाल्या छ। नेपालमा दशैँ आउन लाग्दा हुन्छ नि चिसो चिसो बिहान बेलुकी, हो तेस्तै तेस्तै। अलि रमाइलो लाग्छ मलाइ त। बिहान स्कुल जादा र बेलुकी फर्किदा ठिकै खालको ज्याकेट लाउनु पर्ने खालको जाडो। हुनत यो ठाउमा चिसो कुनै नौलो कुरो हैन। भन्ने गर्छन मान्छेहरु कि यो ठाउमा प्रत्यक महिना नै हिउ पर्छ। तर यो वर्ष तेस्तो भएन। पुरै अमेरिका नै यो वर्ष रेकर्ड सुख्खा भयो रे। हिउ कम पर्यो अनि परेको पनि गर्मि बढेर चाडै पग्ल्यो। 

अलि अलि भएका हरियो परियो पनि अब सुकी सक्यो। क्याम्पस ओरिपरी हरियो बनाउन यिनले कम्ता दुख्ख गर्या छैनन्। जति गरे नि जाडो चढे पछी त के लाग्छ र? फूलहरु झरे पातहरु ओइलाउन थाले। फूलमा  भुल्ने मौरीहरू नि आफ्ना आफ्ना दुलो भित्र पस्न थाले वा मर्न थाले। तर पनि क्याम्पस ओरिपरी केहि फूलहरु बाकि छन्। अस्तिको सनिबार, यहाका चेलीहरु तिज मनाउन ब्यस्त  म दिनभरी ल्याबमा यता उता गरेर फर्किदा क्यामेरा बोकेर फुल र मौरी खोज्दै हिडे। मैले खिचेका केहि फोटो हेर्नुस है त अब। 

यो क्याम्पसको आगन भनम न। समर भरि खुब राम्रो देखिन्छ। यौटा भनाइ छ कि, मान्छे हरु समर देखेर घर किन्छन यो सहरमा बस्ने हिसाबले तर जब हिउद सुरु हुन्छा अनि अर्को समर नदेख्ने गरि झिटी गुन्टा बोकेर हिद्छन। 

यो फूललाइ फोकस गरेर खिचेको। पछाडिको ब्याक्गराउन्ड बलर गरेको।

अर्को फूल। 

फोटो मिलाउने सफ्टवेर प्रयोग गरेर केहि भाग बाहेक अरु लाइ सेतो/कालो मा चेन्ज गरेको। 

माथिको फोटो जस्तै गरेको। मौरीले फूलको रस चुस्दै छ। फेसबुकमा राखेको यो फोटोमा एकजना साथीले न फूल न भमरा फोकस भा' फोटो भने। अलि अलि साच्चै होला। 

उही प्रयोग अर्को जातको फूलमा। 

यस्तै अरु फोटो मैले 500px.com भन्ने वेब साइट मा राख्ने गरेको छु। मन लाग्यो भने यो तलको लिंकमा किलिक गरेर हेर्नुस।

http://500px.com/BasantGiri

Soccer Brings Nepali Community Together in Laramie Wyoming

I wrote this piece of news for University of Wyoming news. It was released as UW news on July 18 with minor editing.

The text reads as follows.

July 18, 2012 — Far from home, a group of University of Wyomingstudents from Nepal enjoys the cool summer evening playing soccer on the recreation fields on the east end of campus.

The 20 or so Nepali students join a few locals and other international students in spirited games. About 50 students from Nepal remain in Laramie during the summer.

“Laramie has one of the most beautiful summers anywhere, and playing soccer is a great outdoor activity,” says Basant Giri, a Ph.D. student in chemistry. He says students can play in the evening and still have time to do research and class assignments.

Soccer is one of the major games played in Nepal, and Giri says the Nepali football team is one of the best in south Asia.

“We play outdoor soccer during the summer and indoor volleyball during winter,” says Loknath Adhikari, a Ph.D. student in atmospheric science.

Team leader Pradeep Neupane adds that these group games enhance friendship among the community members. Additionally, the students sometimes organize outdoor picnic and potluck events around Laramie.

When they aren’t playing, the Nepali students watch soccer on TV, and got together to view EuroCup 2012 and the 2010 World Cup.

“I believe every Nepali loves soccer,” says one of the team leaders, Sankar Tamang, former president of FNUW (Friends of Nepal at University of Wyoming).

He says FUNW organizes talk programs, offers welcome and farewell events for its members, celebrates their new year in April and sponsors big festivals during September and October.

Recently, UW has started a collaboration with Nepali universities and research centers to exchange knowledge and train students and faculty members.


Some soccer pictures from my lens below.

बाठो खरायो।

हिउ पग्लेर समर सुरु भए पछी जता ततै हरियो घास पलाएको छ। जसले सबै जसो प्राणीलाइ खुशी बना' हुनु पर्छ। त्यस मध्ये पनि सबैभन्दा बढी खरायो खुशी भा'को हो कि झैँ लाग्छ। साना बच्चा हेर्दा हेर्दै ठुला भैसके। बेलुका तिर बाहिर निस्किदा तिनीहरु आफ्नो सुरमा घास खान ब्यस्त हुन्छन। यता उता उफ्री रा हुन्छन। एकदम चटारो छ। समरको सुरुमै बच्चा जन्माइसके। यी जन्मेका बच्चा अब ठुला हदै छन्। र हिउद सुरु हुने बेला सम्म आफै जिबन बिताउन सक्षम हुनु पर्नेछ यिनलाई । हिउद भरि यी जन्तु देख्न गाह्रो हुन्छ। दुलो भित्र पस्छन। त्यो समय मा यिनीहरुको फिजिओलोजी कसरि चल्छ त्यो त मलाइ थाहा भएन। तर कुनै कुनै खरायोले हिउदको लागि खाने कुरा जम्मा गर्ने रैचन। तलको भिडियो हेर्नुस। यो खरायो हाम्रो झ्यालबाट ठ्याक्क बाहिर हेर्दा देखिन्छ। 

रुखको फेद मुनि यसको घर जस्तो छ। अनि छेउकै घास काट्दै मुखमा बुजो पार्दै दुलोमा लगेर राख्दै फर्केर आउदै फेरी तेही काम गरेको गरेई छ। कि त हिउदको लागि जम्मा गरेको होला कि त वर्खर जन्मेको बच्चालाई खुवाउन होला। 

Videos from Nepali New Year Celebration

As you have seen from my previous post that we celebrated Nepali new year of 2069BS here in Laramie, Wyoming. The event was a great success in terms of crowd-guests presence, food, performances etc. That was little more than my expectation. Now it has become a tradition of such kind of event in Laramie. I helped to distribute food (off course after I had some delicious food :)) and most of the time I was taking videos and photographs of the event. You might have seen photos everywhere in the facebook. I took some extra time after the event and uploaded individual performance videos to the youtube. The videos came out good and becoming popular. In this post I am just sharing those videos. I have created a playlist of those videos for your comfort. You don't have to click individual videos.

The event news was on three online portals including this blog. www.nepalipost.com and www.dcnepal.com published the news that I sent to them. That was great. Enjoy!!!

अमेरिकामा नेपाली नयाँ बर्ष भब्य रुपमा मनाइयो।

नेपाली नृत्य 

अमेरिकाको वायोमिङ राज्यमा बस्ने नेपालीहरूले शनिबार नयाँ बर्ष मनाएका छन्। उक्त राज्यको वायोमिङ बिस्वबिध्यालयमा रहेका नेपालीहरूको संस्था FNUW (Friends of Nepal at University of Wyoming) ले आयोजना गरेको उक्त कार्यक्रममा करिब पाच सय आमन्त्रितहरूलाई नेपाली खाना र साँस्कृतिक कार्यक्रमले स्वागत गरेर विद्यार्थीहरूले मनोरन्जन प्रदान गरेका थिए। 

सो बिस्वबिध्यालयमा नेपालि विद्यार्थी र उनिहरुका परिवार सहित करिब सय जना नेपाली रहेका छन्। सेलिब्रेट नेपाल नाम् दिएर प्रत्यक बर्ष नयाँ बर्ष मनाउदै गरेका छन। नेपाली विद्यार्थीहरूले गर्ने उक्त कार्यक्रम् बिस्वबिध्यलयमै हुने उत्क्रिस्ट कार्यक्रम् मध्य पर्दछ। यो कार्यक्रम सहित उनीहरुले बर्षको दुइ पटक स्वागत कार्यक्रम गर्छन र  दशैँ, तिहार, तीज, होलि लगायतका चाडपर्ब सामुहिक रुपमा मनाउछन्. यस्ता कार्यक्रमले नेपाल लाइ बिदेशी माझ चिनाउने र नेपालि कला संस्कृति, भेषभुषाको प्रचार प्रसारमा सहयोग पुग्ने पक्का छ।  

आज मनाइएको नयाँ बर्ष कार्यक्रममा बोल्दै बिस्वबिद्यालयकि अन्तरास्ट्रिय कारक्रमकि संयोजकले आफु अघिल्लो बर्ष नेपाल पुगेर आएको र फेरी पनि जान मन लागेको भन्दै नेपालको प्राकृतिक सुन्दरता र हसिला अनुहारले मोहनी लगाएको बताएको थिइन्। तेस्तै FNUW का सल्लाहाकार प्रोफेसरले आफु पटक पटक नेपाल गएको, नेपालि बैज्ञानिकहरुसंग मिलेर नेपालमा जलवायु परिवर्तन सम्बन्धि अनुसन्धान गरिरहेको बताउदै नेपालि बिस्वबिध्यालयहरु संग मिलेर अझ बढी काम गर्न यो समरमा फेरी नेपाल जान लागेको जानकारी गराएका थिए। नेपाली खाना खाएका अधिकांसले मिठो खानाको तारिफ गरेका थिए। उक्त खानामा भात, मासको दाल, कुखुराको मासु, खसीको मासु, आलु र गोभिको तरकारी, आलुको अचार, गोलभेडाको अचार, मिठाइ, खिर नेपालि स्वादमा खुवाइएको थियो। कार्यक्रमको सुरुवात नेपाल सम्बन्धि १० मिनेट लामो भिडियो देखिएको थियो। विभिन्न प्रकारका नेपालि ठेट गीत मा नृत्य प्रसुत गरेका थिए बिद्यार्थी र उनीहरुका परिवारले। कार्यक्रमको अर्को आकर्षण भनेको अफ्रिकी बिद्यार्थीको नेपालि लोक नृत्य र अमेरिकी आदिबासी महिलाको नृत्य थियो। अन्त्यमा विभिन्न नृत्य गीत बजाई सामुहिक नृत्यले कार्यक्रम चार घण्टा पछी समापन भएको थियो। उक्त कार्यक्रम कुनै पनि बिद्यार्थी समूहले यो बिद्वाबिध्यालयमा गर्ने कार्यक्रम मध्ये सबै भन्दा ठुलो मध्यको एक थियो। 

कार्यक्रमका केहि झलक देखाउने फोटोहरु हेर्दै गर्नुस। भिडियो सके सम्म छिटो राख्ने प्रयास गर्नेछु। यो ब्लग हेर्दै गर्नुहोला। 



सहभागीहरु 



नेपाली पहिरनमा नृत्य गर्न जानु अघि बाल बालिकाहरु 



नेपाली पहिरनमा बाल बालिका 



तामांग सेलो 



वारि जमुना पारि जमुना 



अमेरिकन आदिबासी महिला 



सिम्पल सिम्पल कान्छीको डिम्पल पर्ने गाला 



झम झम इस्टकोट 



खाना खाने बेला भयो 



सामुहिक नृत्य 

यो शनिबार

अब त "शनिबार" लेखम कि "सनिबार" लेखम confuse हुन्छ। उहि "सहिद" र "शहिद" जस्तै। पातलो "स" कसरि बोल्ने वा मोटो "स" कसरि बोल्ने स्कुल पढ्ने बेलामा कसैले सिकाएन। अहिले यस्तै यस्तै बिषयमा नेपालि भाषाविद बीच बिबाद चली रहेको छ। आशा गरौ तिनीहरुले नेपालि भाषालाइ अझ समृद्ध र सजिलो बनाउने तिर ध्यान दिने छन्। मेरो यो ब्लगमा धेरै भाषा सम्बन्धि सुद्धा सुद्धिका गल्तिहरु टन्नै  छन्, पक्कै पनि। त्यसलाई भन्दा मैले भन्न खोजेको कुरालाई ध्यान दिनु होला। 

आजभोलिको दैनिकी भनेको शुक्रबार सम्म धुम धडाका चल्छ, दोप्परको गुरुसंगको बैठक सम्म। त्यसपछि बिस्तारै सेलाउदै जान्छ, हप्तांतको लागि। शुक्रबार बेलुका यसो यता उता गरेर बित्छ। घर भन्दा बाहिरै डिनर खान पाइयो भने गजब हुन्छ। शनिबार केहि न केहि कार्यक्रम हुन्छ। कहिले क्याम्पस तिर। कहिले आफै बनायो र कतै गयो। नत्र त ल्याब जिन्दाबाद। हिजोको शनिबार अन्तराष्ट्रिय बिद्यार्थीको पार्टनर भन्ने संस्थाले रयांच (ranch) देखाउने र snowy range मा घुमाउन  लग्यो। हामि पनि पछि पछि लागियो।

ranch को नेपालि के हुन्छ ठ्याक्कै त थाहा भएन तर 'गोठ' भन्दा हुन्छ कि? सहरको बस्ति भन्दा अलि टाढा ठुला ठुला चरन भए तिर टन्नै गाइ पालेर बस्छन। हजारौ गाइ। तरकारी गाइ। गोठालो बस्नको लागि घर पनि हुन्छ। घासको बेवस्था सहित। अमेरिकाको यो राज्य (Wyoming) यस्तै  ranch हरुको लागि पनि प्रख्यात छ। ति गाइ गोठमा बस्नेलाइ cowboy (गाइ गोठालो) भन्छन। 

हुनत आफै गोठालो गरेर आ'को मान्छे तर पनि कहिले काही गाइ गोठ हेर्न जान पनि रमाइलो नै हुन्छ। चौर भरि गोबरै गोबरको थुप्रा। गाइ चरी रा'का। काला गाइ। यिनी सबै तरकारी गाइ हुन्। गाइ सम्हाल्नका लागि हुन सक्छ, यी गाइ गोठालेले अलि घोडा पनि पाल्छन। तर तेतिका घोडा राखेर के फाइदा हुन्छ भन्ने मैले बुज्न सकेको छैन। जे होस् यहाका घोडा नजिकै बाट देखियो। घोडा मात्रै नभएर mule र dunkey पनि। 

यी गोठालेहरुको रहन सहन हेरे पछि snowy range पहाड तिर लागियो। यो पहाडमा धेरै पटक गा'छु म त। तर पनि अलि ठुलो समुहमा जादा अलि रमाइलो हुन्छ कि भनेर। पहिले भन्दा अलि फरक यसपाली हिउ मै हिडियो। snow hiking भनम न। रमाइलै भयो।

यो शनिबार यसरि नै गयो।

यो भिडियो राख्या छु कर हेर्नी भा।

More snow fall photos in University of Wyoming, Laramie

This snow event was the biggest one of this season. There is still lots of snow in the town even after 1 week. (02/17/12).
Today's Laramie.

In front of our residential area. Out side Spanish walk apartment complexes.

Recent Snow Fall Events in Laramie

Today afternoon this part of US (Laramie, 82070) saw ~2-3'' of snow fall and weather prediction is showing more snowfall later this week. We had 1-2'' snowfall earlier last week. I still remember the winter of 2010 here in Laramie. Laramie was covered with upto ~1' snow for long time. Even last year we had worst winter somewhere during last week of January. This year it is significantly different weather pattern. We saw early snowfall in first week of October and 2nd snow fall was during first week of November. Unusually this winter's Christmas was not a white. Very unusual. Sometimes I feel like this is not winter. The temp goes upto 50F. Feels like you are somewhere summer time. I was in lab today when snowfall started. Happy, happy but it caused little bit of difficulty while driving back home. 

Video below was taken during first snow fall of the season. This video was also in previous post on this blog.

Some people think this unusual phenomenon may be due to climate change but I believe it is very early and need more evidences to reach into a conclusion. This "no snow" pattern has been seen through out the US this season. Typical winter in this part of US is the one during which it is covered with at least half a feet of snow for ~1-2month and then few inches for ~4-5months. I am thinking about the possibility of huge snowfall in later part of the winter season. I love to see the weather pattern as it should be. like lots of snow in Laramie in winter.

Below are some photos of today's snow fall.

Timelapse in Wyoming # Road traffic#Sky#Snow

Timelapse using pictures taken in snow

Christmas day. I went to little bit away (~10 miles) from Laramie just to get rid of this empty town at least for a while. Using Rebel T2i fixed on Opteka tripod, captured some pictures of myself just for fun and I have created a timelapse video using Picasa. Since I didn't take enough photos typically required for timelapse cinematography, this video didn't come as good as I expected. Learnt something about timelapse. ENJOY!!!

घाम लाएर के भो र न्यानो नभए पछि?

बिहानको घाम्। हेर्दा रमाइलो। 

सोझो हिसाब ले सोच्ने हो भने घाम लाग्यो भने तातो हुनु पार्ने हो। तर यस्तो नहुदो रैछ सधै भरी वा सबै ठाउँ मा।

नेपालको तराई तीर अहिले चिसोले मान्छे मरेको मरेइ छन्। त्यहाँ हुस्सु लाग्छ, घाम लाग्दैन महिनौ सम्म। त्यो आफैले भोगेको छु। जब माघ तीर घाम देखिन्छ, तब मान्छेले तातो महसुस गर्छन्। तर घाम लाग्दैमा तातो हुन्छ भन्ने झुट रैछ। मैले यी शब्दहरू लेखिरदा बाहिर टन्न घाम लाइरा'छ। ब्यानै बाट। भित्रै बसिरनेले बाहिरको चिसो महसुस गर्न सक्दैन। बाहिरै जानु पर्छ। वेदर च्यानल मा तापक्रम हेर्दा ५ F वा -१३C देखाइ रा'छ। आजभोलिको यहाको तापक्रम यसैको ओरिपरी घुमी रन्छ। बाहिर एक्छिन हिंड्न पर्‍यो भने चिसो अनुभब कसरी हुन्छ भने, नाक भित्रको तरल पदार्थ (म्युकस्) आइस बन्छ र भित्ता खोच्न थाल्छ। 

Working on Student Farm in Wyoming

We have been working on student farm of UW called ACRES for about three months. We just do volunteer work approximately  2 hours per week on Saturday. Our schedule is from 10-12am. It is fun working on farm. However working on farm is not new for us. It is just in a new place where priorities are different. It is reminding my childhood. During our high school period, we used to work on our own farm, taking care of goats and buffaloes. Most of people in Nepal rely on their own agriculture for living. 

Farming in Laramie happens only in summer, rest of the year not possible. It is all snow covered. This year we have planted potato, tomato, cilantro, lettuce, zucchini, raspberry, strawberry, onions, pea etc. Some of them are ready to pick these time. We get to eat FRESH produce. I am putting some pictures of the farm below. Click on each picture to see larger version.

Working on the farm. Susma, Basant and Rajan from left

Celebrate Nepal 2011 # Happy New Year 2068 BS# in Wyoming

An act demonstrating traditional marriage process

Nepalese People (mainly students) at University of Wyoming, Laramie, USA celebrated Nepalese New Year 2068 today (04/02/2011). The event was very successful with lots of performances including slide shows and videos introducing Nepal, Nepali Culture and Natural beauty, songs, dances and variety of acts demonstrating Nepalese culture. Looked like each and every Nepali has talent and they can dance and sing or play. The actual Nepali new year 2068BS is on 14th of April this time, we celebrated today considering exams of most of the students and other technical reasons.

This was the second celebration of its kind after last years grand success. You can check last years performances videos and blog posts by clicking here. 

Nepalese students have put lots of effort and time to organize and make this event a successful. Some groups were the winners of UW got talent (dance) show last week. They have also won international talent show. This years program also showed these students and friends really have talent.

I appeared few seconds on couple of events on stage. It was fun.

After the formal cultural show, we had Nepalese food from Mt. Everest cafe, Fort Colin Colorado. And, finally had dance. Dance is still going on while I am writing these lines.

Happy New Year 2068 BS to all of you. 

Enjoy some of the pics and videos from the program.
Folk dance 

Some more pictures (source: facebook)

Food Serving

Celebrating Teej

Audiences

Food Serving

Dance

Raato Machhindranath Rath Jatra