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Reading books about food is the next best thing to enjoying good food. I have realized that it makes me appreciative of different cultures and cuisines. I’ve also come to know about different kinds of food, despite not having been to certain countries, and as a result become more experimentative with my meal choices. 

Earlier, say till a few years back, it was hard to get many ingredients that I read about in various novels. I could only imagine what a certain dish would taste like. But now we are spoilt for choice as we get everything in the markets here. For local ingredients, bazaars in Ason and Patan are best while Bhatbhateni and Salesberry stock almost everything else. These days when I read about dishes I want to try, I can easily replicate them at home and I love it. It makes my reading experience even more immersive. 

Here, I’m recommending three books that have really made me want to go out of my comfort zone in the kitchen while making me drool excessively while reading them.

The Second-Worst Restaurant in France by Alexander McCall Smith

Paul Stuart is a famous cookbook writer but he can’t, for some reason or other, seem to be able to finish his latest book. Then his cousin suggests that he join her at a house she has rented in the French countryside and he takes up her offer. As the two get used to a calm life there, befriending the locals including the owners of the infamous restaurant that is known to be the second-worst eatery in France, Paul realizes that there is no escaping life no matter where he goes. I like Alexander McCall Smith’s writing. I have read several of his other books and find them to be witty and heartwarming. ‘The Second-Worst Restaurant’ is the second book in the Paul Stuart series by the Scottish author. 

Love & Saffron By Kim Fay

This book reminds you how good food and a good life are two sides of a coin. It’s a heartwarming tale of friendship and how the right food can cure most heartaches. A life-changing friendship begins when Joan Bergstrom sends a fan letter to food writer Imogen Fortier. As the two women communicate, through letters, they build a rapport that helps them appreciate the good things in life as well as get through some difficult times. As the novel follows two women in the 1960s, there’s an old world charm to the plot and I really enjoyed the setting and the pace. ‘Love & Saffron’ is essentially a story about the power of female friendships and food that will leave you feeling happy and hungry. 

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

I haven’t read many novels by Nora Ephron as I’m not really a fan of her brand of stories which is mostly romance. I also heard that she uses ghostwriters and whether that is true or not, it put me off her books even more. So I surprised myself when I picked up ‘Heartburn’ but I was intrigued by the blurb. I’m glad I decided to read it because it was so satisfying. It’s also hilarious. Rachel Samstat discovers her husband is cheating on her when she is seven months pregnant. So the cookbook writer turns to food for comfort. The book alternates between Rachel trying to win him back and wishing him dead with many of her favorite recipes thrown in the mix. 

Nestled within Nepal’s trans-Himalayan corridor, Mustang has long been a land of both abundance and scarcity. Snow-capped peaks cast long shadows over barren, windswept valleys. Ancient Tibetan Buddhist monasteries perched precariously on cliffs, their prayer flags fluttering in winds that have shaped both land and lore. Generations of farmers etched terraced fields into rocky hillsides, coaxing from the unforgiving soil apples so crisp they became symbols of Mustang’s ingenuity and perseverance. Life here did not defy nature—it moved with it. The cycles of snowmelt and monsoon dictated planting, harvest, prayer, and pilgrimage. But that delicate balance, honed over centuries, is now unraveling.

Mustang today no longer tells a story of quiet endurance, but one of escalating emergency. Winters, once defined by a serene blanket of snow that insulated life, now arrive barren and bitter. The snowpack—Mustang’s natural water bank—is gone. Springs, once fed by slow, predictable melt, now yield nothing. Fields lie cracked and fallow. Crops wither before maturity. Livestock, once the backbone of the local economy and culture, are vanishing from dust-hardened pastures. And tourism, once buoyed by Mustang’s stark winter beauty and cultural mystique, is fading as snowless landscapes and landslide-prone trails turn visitors away.

Here, climate change is not abstract. It is not a threat on the horizon or a projection debated by distant experts. It is a predator, stalking villages, devouring traditions, and dismantling livelihoods with ferocity. It has reshaped the land, emptied barns, severed trails, and muted festivals once anchored in the rhythms of a snow-fed world.

Mustang’s collapse is not an isolated tragedy—it is a mirror reflecting Nepal’s imminent future. This once-remote highland, long considered resilient due to its self-reliant communities and adaptation to extremes, is now ground zero for climate-induced disruption. If Mustang, a region whose people have survived for centuries at the mercy of thin air and sparse rain, is faltering so rapidly, what lies ahead for Nepal’s more densely populated regions?

Consider the lowland floodplains of the Tarai, already vulnerable to monsoon volatility. Or the mid-hill farms, where rain-fed agriculture sustains millions and any shift in precipitation wreaks havoc. Or the teeming cities—Kathmandu, Pokhara, Biratnagar—where overstressed infrastructure and unchecked urbanization compound every climate shock. If climate extremes can hollow out Mustang, the implications for these regions are dire.

What’s unfolding in Mustang is a warning shot. The snows that once defined its seasons are vanishing across the Himalayan arc, endangering the glaciers that feed rivers essential to 1.5bn people downstream. As temperatures rise nearly twice as fast in the Himalayas as the global average, Mustang’s parched orchards, empty yak barns, and shuttered homestays offer a preview of a broader unraveling.

And yet, this is not just about lost apples, absent snow, or displaced herders. It’s about what vanishes with them—ancestral knowledge, spiritual connection to land, and a model of harmony between people and nature that the rest of the world has largely forgotten.

When snow becomes memory

For centuries, the arrival of the first snowfall in Mustang marked more than a seasonal change—it was a reset for the land and its people. Snow blanketed apple orchards and barley fields, fed glacial springs, and sustained fragile mountain ecosystems. It signaled a time of rest and replenishment, while gradually releasing meltwater to sustain life through the arid months. Today, snowfall has retreated into memory. The landscape remains cold, yet eerily bare.

“The cold still cracks our skin, but the earth stays barren,” laments Lopsang Gurung, a farmer in Marpha, standing beside a deep, jagged well drilled in search of vanishing groundwater. This absence of snow has ruptured Mustang’s hydrological balance. Springs that once flowed year-round now run dry by early spring. Groundwater levels plummet as villagers dig deeper in desperation. Monsoon rains, once steady and life-giving, now arrive in violent torrents that erode topsoil and flood fields. Scientists report a 30 percent decline in snow cover since 2010—a change that has triggered cascading effects: mistimed flowering, disrupted migratory patterns, and failing crops.

Cultural life suffers too. Losar, the Tibetan New Year, once danced with snow-laced prayers and processions, now unfolds on dusty ground. “Our festivals feel hollow without snow,” says Pemma Dolma, a teacher in Lo Manthang. Communities are experimenting with solutions: artificial glacier projects and groundwater regulations offer glimmers of hope. But so far, these efforts remain too scattered, too under-resourced. Mustang’s snowless winters are not just a regional concern—they’re a red flag for Nepal and the global climate community.

Farming on the brink

Agriculture—the heartbeat of Mustang’s rural economy—is faltering. Apple orchards, once the region’s pride, now struggle to survive under an onslaught of climate extremes. Warmer winters disrupt the chilling hours apples need to bloom. Invasive pests and fungal infections thrive in erratic weather. Meanwhile, violent hailstorms repeatedly shatter entire seasons of hard work. Narayan Thakali, a third-generation farmer, recalls when his trees yielded eight tons of apples annually. “Now, we’re lucky to get three,” he says. To salvage his crop, he relies on synthetic pesticides, fully aware of their long-term damage to soil and water.

Declining snowmelt has forced farmers to depend on deep wells, some drilled 20 meters down. But groundwater, like snow, is vanishing. In some areas, water tables drop two meters each year. And yet, adaptation simmers below the surface. Farmers are trialing dwarf apple varieties needing fewer chill hours. NGOs are promoting integrated pest management to reduce chemical use. Solar-powered micro-irrigation systems are boosting yields in pilot villages. These efforts show promise, but without cohesive, national-level policies and investment, they remain isolated lifelines.

Vanishing livestock, vanishing traditions

Yaks, chyangra goats, and sheep once roamed Mustang’s high pastures in abundance. Their meat, milk, and wool formed the bedrock of rural life, while their presence anchored seasonal rituals and social bonds. Now, those pastures are drying up.

A staggering 60 percent of Mustang’s alpine rangelands have degraded since 2015. Warmer temperatures and erratic snowfall have altered grassland composition, replacing nourishing alpine flora with inedible scrub. Foot rot and other diseases, once checked by cold winters, now spread easily in moist, warming soils. Herders, without reliable veterinary services, either overuse antibiotics or abandon livestock altogether. Traditional migrations to summer pastures—once communal rites of passage—have all but disappeared. In Dhe, empty yak barns sit like silent tombs to a way of life vanishing before our eyes. Still, resilience flickers. Insurance schemes based on satellite weather data are being piloted. But the scale of the crisis demands far more coordinated intervention.

Tourism at a tipping point

Winter once drew throngs of domestic and international tourists to Mustang’s stark, snow-covered beauty. Between December and February, snow lovers, trekkers, and spiritual seekers filled local lodges, generating nearly a third of the region’s GDP. But as snow vanishes and trails succumb to landslides, visitors stay away. Between 2020 and 2023, winter tourism declined by 65 percent. Villages like Thasang, once bustling with homestays and guides, now face economic ruin.Communities are attempting to pivot. But progress is uneven. Poor digital connectivity, unreliable infrastructure, and a lack of funding for cultural preservation remain stubborn barriers. Declaring Mustang a Climate Emergency Zone could unlock vital international funding for green infrastructure and culturally sensitive tourism alternatives. Without it, the region’s tourism sector may collapse entirely.

Floods, landslides, and glacial peril

The July 2023 flood in Kagbeni was not an isolated event—it was the new normal. Fueled by an intense monsoon downpour, the Kali Gandaki River tore through homes and fields, leaving behind wreckage and displacement. Landslides and flash floods routinely cut off entire villages. High in the Himalayas, glacial retreat has accelerated, giving rise to unstable glacial lakes. These ticking time bombs threaten to burst and send walls of water hurtling into valleys below. Scientists have identified 11 such high-risk lakes in Upper Mustang alone. Although early-warning sirens and bioengineering efforts, like planting sea buckthorn to stabilize slopes, are underway, only 15 percent of vulnerable households have flood insurance. Without robust national support, communities are forced to gamble with their survival.

Seeds of adaptation

Yet amid the wreckage, Mustang offers glimpses of what climate adaptation can look like when tradition meets innovation:

Agriculture: Solar-powered drip irrigation, climate-resilient crops, and SMS-based weather alerts offer smarter, water-efficient farming.

Livestock: Hydroponic fodder systems, mobile veterinary apps, and drought-triggered insurance build pastoral resilience.

Tourism: Eco-certified homestays, resilient trekking trails, and immersive digital storytelling can renew Mustang as a sustainable tourism hub.

Disaster defense: Vegetative slope barriers, glacial lake sensors, and satellite-based landslide alerts can save lives.

A call to action

Mustang stands not only as a region in distress but as a living model of the future awaiting much of Nepal. Its unraveling is a choice: surrender to collapse, or turn crisis into transformation. A national climate resilience pilot in Mustang could unify scattered innovations and funnel investment where it’s most needed.

Global support—from NGOs, governments, and climate finance institutions—should treat Mustang not as a disaster zone but as a climate innovation lab. Communities here carry ancestral knowledge: how to read clouds, revive springs, and live lightly. Their wisdom must be woven into policy and action.

As a Thakali proverb goes, “A dry riverbed still remembers the monsoon.” Mustang remembers its seasons. If Nepal listens, acts, and invests wisely, Mustang might not only survive—it might lead.

The author is Phd scholar in climate and green finance : research focus on green finance and climate change

Despite having established several legal frameworks promoting digital accessibility, Nepal lacks implementation resulting in significant gaps across healthcare websites. This writeup examines the current state of web accessibility in Nepal government’s health-related websites based on WAVE API analysis of the eight homepages, namely https://www.mohp.gov.np, https://www.dohs.gov.np, https://www.fwd.gov.np, https://www.digitalhealth.mohp.gov.np, https://www.nhpc.gov.np, https://www.iom.edu.np, https://www.bpkhis.edu and https://www.dda.gov.np  

Nepal doesn’t lack the legal instruments for digital accessibility, however, there seems to be a gap in their implementation. The Right to Information Act of 2007 ensures that every person has the right to access and regulate information. Nepal signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 3 Jan 2008, which also requires infrastructure so that information and communication is accessible to all. Health is similarly among the eight priority sectors for digital transformation in the Digital Nepal Framework. The National ICT Policy (2015) and the National Broadband Policy (2016) add weight to the drive for digital growth, but challenges in implementation persist.

The analysis of eight healthcare-related government websites reveal concerning patterns across multiple domains. This analysis was done using a Python program and WebAIM’s accessibility WAVE API. 

The eight homepages averaged 30.43 Errors, 23.00 Contrast Issues and 28.00 Alerts per site. These numbers indicate significant accessibility barriers for users with disabilities.

WebAIM defines errors as accessibility issues that are almost always barriers for users with disabilities and require immediate attention. Contrast issues occur when there is insufficient color contrast between text (or images of text) and its background, making content difficult or even impossible to read for users with low vision or color blindness. Alerts refer to potential accessibility issues that may not be definitive problems but still require review or further manual evaluation.

The eight homepages we analyzed had 62 empty links that don’t tell users where they will go when clicked. There are 51 images missing alternative text, which means people who can’t see the images won’t know what they contain. The site also has 46 linked images that are missing alternative text, making it impossible for screen reader users to understand where clicking these images would take them. Additionally, there are 19 buttons that have no text or labels, leaving users with disabilities confused about what these buttons do. Finally, the websites’ homepages contain 17 empty headings that don’t describe the content of their sections, making navigation difficult for people using assistive technology.

We believe several factors contribute to the current state of web accessibility in Nepal’s healthcare sector. One major factor is resource limitations, as widespread poverty and inadequate telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas restrict access to digital services. Another significant issue is the awareness gap—there is a general lack of understanding about the transformative potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), including websites, for improving the lives of persons with disabilities. Finally, policy implementation challenges persist; although legal frameworks exist, there is a lack of a suitable policy environment specifically designed to promote ICT accessibility.

Poor digital accessibility, especially in health-related websites, has severe consequences in Nepal, where difficult terrain, limited infrastructure, and frequent natural disasters like floods and earthquakes already hinder access to care. In rural areas, where physical services are scarce, digital platforms become essential. Yet, inaccessible websites exclude persons with disabilities, causing dangerous delays in receiving critical updates on safety protocols and medical aid. Government platforms must be accessible to ensure rapid, inclusive information delivery during crises, as inaccessibility in such moments can cost lives. In Nepal, an estimated two percent of the population with disabilities, including roughly 94,000 visually impaired and 79,000 hearing-impaired individuals, face significant barriers accessing healthcare information due to non-compliant website design on key health portals such as the Department of Health Services. We see basic keyboard navigation failures and violation of semantic markup standards which results in exclusion of people from vital emergency directives and service updates.

Based on the analysis, several strategies aligned with international standards could significantly improve digital accessibility in Nepal’s healthcare websites. First, accessibility policy implementation is essential—specific digital accessibility guidelines for government healthcare websites should be enforced based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Second, training and awareness efforts must be strengthened by investing in capacity building for web developers and content creators, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge on accessibility principles and techniques. Third, regular auditing should be incorporated into the website development and maintenance cycle to ensure that accessibility is not overlooked over time. 

Additionally, applying the 80-20 rule by prioritizing critical fixes—such as addressing empty links, missing alternative text, and contrast issues—can lead to significant improvements with relatively minimal effort. Lastly, the government can leverage the Rural Telecom Development Fund to finance accessibility initiatives and promote the development of assistive technologies in local languages. These strategies, if properly implemented, can help create a more inclusive digital healthcare environment for all, including persons with disabilities.

Poor web accessibility in Nepal’s healthcare websites creates a significant digital barrier that exacerbates existing challenges in healthcare access. These accessibility barriers—primarily empty links, missing alternative text and poor contrast—effectively exclude persons with disabilities from accessing critical health information in a country where 79.42 percent of the population lives in rural areas, facing financial, geographical and infrastructural challenges to healthcare access. The digital divide is particularly concerning as Nepal increasingly relies on digital health initiatives to overcome its rugged terrain, proclivity to natural disasters and limited physical infrastructure. While some sites like Digital Health show progress, others contain numerous barriers that prevent equal access for persons with disabilities. Addressing these issues will require coordinated efforts across technical, policy and awareness dimensions. As Nepal continues its digital transformation in healthcare, ensuring accessibility should be integrated into development processes from the beginning rather than added as an afterthought.

Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari returned home on Monday after completing a 10-day China visit, during which she held talks with senior leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and government officials.

Her visit came amid her recent, unannounced but increasingly active involvement in party politics, drawing significant attention from both political and strategic circles. In the weeks leading up to the trip, Bhandari toured various provinces, engaging with local leaders and cadres, and has become more vocal about her ambition to lead the CPN-UML. She has ignored public concerns that former heads of state should stay away from active politics to preserve the dignity of the presidency. Bhandari was accompanied by Raghubir Mahaseth, head of the UML’s international department, Minister Damodar Bhandari and other senior leaders, who have distanced themselves from Prime Minister and party chairperson KP Sharma Oli. In Beijing, she was accorded a moderate level of respect.

Although Chinese President Xi Jinping did not meet her, Bhandari held talks with Chinese Vice-President Ji Bingxuan and Liu Jianchao, Minister of the CPC’s International Department and a prominent Chinese leader known for his close engagement with Nepali political figures.

Bhandari’s main event in Beijing was her participation in a conference of political parties from China’s neighboring countries, themed “Building a Community with a Shared Future with Neighboring Countries: Political Parties in Action,” held on May 25–26.

The reception Bhandari received as a senior UML figure must be viewed in the light of her past role and potential political future. As President from 2015 to 2022, she played a crucial part in enhancing Nepal’s engagement with China. She frequently encouraged successive governments to advance the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). During her tenure, she attended the second BRI summit in 2019 and helped finalize the protocol on the Transit and Transport Agreement signed in 2016.

In 2017, Bhandari launched Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book, “The Governance of China,” at a special ceremony held in Shital Niwas. She also endorsed China’s Global Security Initiative (GSI) by attending a high-level video conference, despite opposition from Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The year 2019 saw Xi’s historic visit to Nepal, during which several strategic agreements were signed, significantly deepening bilateral cooperation. These developments have shaped the Chinese perception of Bhandari as a dependable figure in Nepal's political landscape.

For Beijing, the return of a China-friendly leader like Bhandari to active politics could be welcome news. Members of her delegation have publicly claimed that China encouraged her to initiate efforts to unify Nepal’s communist parties—a long-held preference of the Chinese leadership. However, such claims should be taken with caution, as Chinese officials rarely make such direct statements.

Within the UML, some leaders believe that if Bhandari becomes party chair, the long-elusive unification with the CPN (Maoist Centre) could be revived—something hindered by personal rivalries between Oli and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. While Bhandari is certain to return to UML politics, it remains unclear whether she will take a confrontational path against Oli or whether Oli will voluntarily step aside. Oli has recently stated that his health permits him to remain politically active for the next 15–20 years, suggesting he is unlikely to support a unification narrative that credits Bhandari over himself.

Bhandari’s visit is unlikely to have any immediate or direct impact on UML’s internal dynamics, despite some sidelined party leaders hoping it will accelerate her rise to the helm. Her supporters are trying to portray the visit as an indication that China backs her leadership, suggesting she is capable of uniting Nepal’s fragmented communist forces. However, there are ample reasons to remain cautious. Open Chinese support for Bhandari could antagonize both Oli and the Nepali Congress (NC). A senior UML leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that China prioritizes political stability in Nepal and may support left unity only if it contributes to that goal—but without backing one leader at the expense of alienating others.

Nevertheless, the perception of Bhandari’s close ties with Beijing may cause ripples within the UML. Ironically, this perception could even bring Oli and New Delhi closer. China, meanwhile, appears to have realized that its earlier emphasis on communist unification risked alienating other key actors in Nepal, including the NC. Given the current state of relations, observers say China is unlikely to openly push for left unity at the cost of broader political balance.

In Beijing, Liu Jianchao met Bhandari and, according to the Chinese readout, acknowledged her longstanding contributions to China-Nepal relations. “Inter-party exchanges play an important role in China–Nepal relations,” the readout stated. The CPC expressed its willingness to strengthen engagement with all Nepali political parties and deepen exchanges in governance and administration through the “political party +” channel. Bhandari, for her part, emphasized Nepal’s commitment to finding a development path suited to its own conditions and expressed interest in learning from China’s experience in party-building and governance. 

During her address at the CPC dialogue, Bhandari praised the CPC’s governance model, stating: “The historical experience and contemporary practice of the CPC are of great reference to Nepal’s economic and social transformation and also provide important reference for developing countries around the world to explore the path of modernization.” She further stated that China’s vision of building a “community with a shared future” offers a powerful example for regional cooperation and solidarity. By amplifying China’s development model in her speeches, Bhandari is aligning herself closely with Beijing’s strategic messaging.