6. Nov-Dec 2010

Architecture
While the thatch roof cabins located above the restaurant were part
of the original design, the tents overlooking the Trishuli river is a later
addition to the resort.
‘learner’, ‘intermediates and bar’, ‘leisure area’, and the ‘dive
pool’. The colonnades delineate the changes of levels as
well as forming a ‘wall’ through which people move between
these zones. The shy find cloister within these colonnades
or along the island edges. The island is also reached by a
six inch deep, submerged walk way. Even traditional ladies
may slip their sandals and walk to the island in participation
while more liberated husbands and children take on the full
options.
We talked of catwalks being built over the water from the
island for evening fashion and music nights in the RSR in the
winter months. We even talked about planning a ‘Woodstock’
event with a tented city across the main river beach and
mega sound systems for a long weekend music festival!
Maybe it could still be locked into a Nepal Tourism promotion
one day in the future yet!
A Place to Pause and to Dream
The walks to the cabins have delights and memories of
its own. Two old, knurled trees on the site were retained
to enhance the walk, ‘slipping through’ them with a lamp
to light this little bower after dark. A place to pause. The
berms in front of each cabin creates privacy as well as
‘wind deflecting’ 120Km / hr gusts that funnel up the valley
occasionally that would otherwise lift the thatch off the roofs
of the cabins.
The story of the RSR is an unfinished one. We talked about
shared accommodation bungalows along the cliffs, a
meditation centre, a golf course, a competition tennis ranch,
a “Go-cart” circuit, a “water world” and ”dream on”.
In Nepal, the high mountains and the tropical Terai have
considerable opportunities, which have been found by
entrepreneurs, with facilities well provided for. However the
charms of the magical river valleys have been overlooked.
Himalayan waters are readily available and reachable at the
foot and fold of every mountain, which perhaps has made most
blasé towards these special places. RSR refocuses attention to
these romantic places that are the stuff of dreams. These are
places which are easily reached and are places were all may rest,
recuperate and play. RSR is a place that I call special as I include it
among the fond places that I frequented often in the annals of my
mind. I hope it will be a special memory to others as well .... ...
November-December 2010
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