Hi folks

So Dan and I are now in Nepal and have left India behind in th dusty distance and I have to say I'm quite glad. As much as we're both glad to have seen India it's a relief to move on to somewhere instantly much cleaner, friendlier and slightly cooler. So after casually strolling across the India/Nepal border Dan and I took a bus to Chitwan National Park where we have been lodging by a river for the past three nights. Aptly named 'Jungle Adventure World' (and no it's not as cheesy as it sounds) we've spent the past two days on an adventure in the jungle!

With two very early mornings we came face to face with a croc whilst on a canoe Ray Mears would have been proud of (only made with one piece of wood!). Then a walk through the jungle where we happened upon a massive Rhino, followed by a trip to an elephant breeding centre where we (tightarses that we are) refused to spend money on biscuits to feed them and instead other tourists took pity on us and let us share theirs instead - bonus!

Today we were up at the crack of dawn again, (this travelling lark is knackering!) and hitched a ride, as you do, on the back of an elephant for a bum numbing trip to the jungle for 2 and a half hours. It was fantastic and we saw some amazing sights including a mummy Rhino and her two babies. We initially had no clue they were there but our 'elephant driver' spotted them and then proceeded to instruct the elephant to essentially tear down the dense undergrowth (including a tree!) so that we could get to them and force them into the open where we could take proper photos!! I kid you not. I'm not sure if this is the most egologically and safest way to do a safari but we had fun all the same.

We've also had the pleasure of bathing with our elephant today too - it was great fun although it was more a case of the elephant throwing us into the croc infested waters which was slightly concerning but it was totally worth it.

Food here is much better though Dan and I are still tickled with laughter when reading the menus. Snake was a biggy on the menu the other day which shocked us until we realised they actually meant 'snacks'. Today we were pondering over a banana filter, but assume this must be their version of a fritter!!

The people too are really friendly and many speak english which is great though twice now I have found myself acting as translator between Nepalese English and Essex English as they seem to have great problems understanding Dan yet find my delicate lancashire twang perfectly comprehensible - it's so funny when Dan speaks and they turn to me and say 'no understand, what he say?'!!! I ask myself the same sometimes too! (Geroff - Ed.)

Our sources at home tell us the weather is pretty dire over UK way at the moment - it's not too bad here though very humid and when it rains here it really pours, hopefully we have some cooler weather to look forward to when we move on tomorrow to Pokhara where we hope to take in some trekking should Dan's dodgy knee hold out.

Love to everyone back there - please keep us updated on news as we can't often get on bbc as t'internet connections here are rubbish.