For the last few days we have not had access to wi fi, so have not been able to keep up with my blog.
In Lumbini, the morings were very misty until midday. The first morning we planned an early start to walk around the temples, but the mist delayed this. We walked down theroad and discovered a Tibetan Monastery with the young monks playing cricket with an old bat and a chair for stumps. We were welcomed in to look around.
The decoration on these monasteries is amazing and so colourful, the murals have such fine painting. We saw several wild bee honey combs hanging from the eaves covered in bees, it wad amazing to watch as they kept opening their wings to cool down, giving a rippling effect.
When the mist lifted we entered the park and walked the length of the canal, approx 1km. It is brick lined and a colossal number of bricks have been used.
At the end they have built a museum and Buddhist research centre, they are very modern structures contrasting against the temples.
We walked a further 1km to reach the Japanese Peace Pagoda, it seemed much larger than the one at Pokhara, at least this one is not at the top of a steep hill, so Ray cannot moan lol.
We visited all the temples in the East Monastic Zone, these are set side for the Theravada school, common in S E Asia where the monks wear saffron robes.
We were surprised by the Thai monastery as it is entirely white as opposed to the brightly coloured temples in Thailand.
At the end of this zone we entered the Sacred Garden, the site where Lord Buddha was born. The place has a feeling of calm. We see the stone marking the actual spot of the birth.
The garden is full of prayer flags as many of the visitors bring them. They almost block out the sky.
We retreat to our hotel it is on a par with western hotels spotless room, crockery, tables and attitude of staff ( we are paying western price for this ) only disappointment is they return our laundry still damp.
The next day we visit the West Zone, this is dedicated to the Mahayana school distinguished by the monks in maroon robes. The temples and monasteries are just as spectacular. At the Austrian temple we see a goat in a coat? A young guy tells us that he brought the goat up from India to save it from sacrifice and the coat is to keep it warm and he sleeps with said goat!, l do not wish to know more he he. The whole site has a calming feeling, even Ray does not sem so Victor Meldrewish here he he!
Next morning we wake at 5.30 to catch the tourist bus to Narayanghat. We go down stairs to leave the hotel only to find the doors locked and roller doors down. We have to wake a member of staff to let us out lol.
We get on tourist bus and sit on our allocated seats unlike many of the Korean tourists who think that they can sit where they like, causing the young conductor much hassle moving people around.
You pay a lot more for the tourist bus as it is more comfortable and is direct. The driver has a bit of a scam going on as we stop to pick up and drop off many locals, also pick up large sacks of rice and deliver them too!
This makes our journey much longer, we arrived at Narayanghat almost 2 hours late, fortunately our jeep was still waiting to take us on our 1 hour journey through the country side to our lodge.
We arrive and have to drive through a river. There are only 8 lodges, it is a small family run business. Our lodge is made of bamboo with a thatched roof, typical of the local Tharu tribe houses here.
It is very tastefully decorated with pretty lacy mosquito nets over the beds. The bathroom is a surprise for a bamboo hut, the shower is piping hot.
We get to meet the resident elephant called Anjeli, she was brought from India on a 13 day walk along the highway.
Anjeli is on an island in the river, her handler who looks like Mowgli brought her across to us. She was rather large. Ray and me have to climb on bare back and hold tight as we go for a ride along the river. It was very scary as we both think that we will fall off at any moment. Anjeli steps in to the river and decides to lay down on her side, we all fall off, for a split second l think we will be crushed under her. Once in the water we assist in bathing her, l am given a scrubbing brush and ray a stone. We spend about half an hour doing this , it is great fun.
After this Anjeli is given some food as a reward while we dry out. We then go on ac2 hour elephant safari, this time we hav some sort of seat! It was very bumpybso did not take a camera for fear of losing it. After about 5 mins we see acouple of rhino, l am scared at how close we are.the guide makes the elephant handler go closer we end up about 15 ft away. I was absolutely terrified, Anjeli stamped her feet and the rhino moved on. Later we saw a mother with a calf, again we got close.l told the guide that this was close enough, but he wanted to get closer. All l thought about was that the mother would charge at any moment, again Anjeli stamps her feet and they run. 10 mins later we came across another mother with a calf of about 20 days, 30 ft away, the mother starting snorting, l suggested we back off but the guide took us nearer. We was about 10ft away, mum was definatley not happy, l was convinced she would charge at us. The handler pushed the elephant on and chased the rhino away. The guide thought thiswas funny. I would have preffered to observe from a distance and not disturb them.
We see deer and wild boar . The scenery is woderful but l am glad when it is over as this was well outside my comfort zone.