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I really wasnt planning on writing a blog until I got back to Kathmandu - but today is somewhat of an exeption and has been very eventful!
Last night we went out for my last meal in Pokhara which was yummy then I went back to pack - Rob said he would help me - in his terms that meant sititing in the chair in my room feeling sorry for himself listening to my ipod - although he has been rather poorly and it was nice to have the company - he did a little bit! Pestering me to pack I think cos he couldnt wait for me to leave!
well this moning I got up at 6 and everyone walked down to the taxi with me to wave me off which was really lovely - I got hugs as well! Got to damside park ok and early to be told that the bus for Chitwan wasnt turning up - but got on a bus that would take me the the village before and I would get met by someone from the hotel so I wasnt too worried. Set off on time which is unusual to say the least - and on the way I saw the snowcapped mountains through the mist - which was a spectacular way to leave Pokhara! A good start to the day...
We got about 2 and a half hours into the drive and because of all the political trouble at the moment (the new president spoke in Hindi rather then Nepali and its casued quite alot of trouble) they were burning "him" in the middle of the road and waving flags and shouting - we got a really good view of all this as we were the first people in the line - this lasted about an hour and a half - which wasnt so bad and there was some shade outside so it wasn't too hot.
Got back on our way and about 2km down the road there was another protest - this one on full force - and they weren't going to stop until about 5. Well just to paint a picture it was now the middle of the day and way above 30 degrees with no shade and on a packed local bus with leather seats - it was so hot I couldn't even breathe! Most people got off the bus but I stayed on as I was so sleepy and managed to curl up and sleep for about an hour. Went outside to have some icecream and stretch my legs - only to be told the thing would be carrying on overnight and we had NO chance of getting anywhere - even the driver was leaving! So a man told me the best thing to do was get on a rickshaw which would take us through the woods and out the other side of the strike as they werent letting anything through - and this was without execption. As when I was on the rickshaw there was one coming the other way with a dead body in it - they hadn't even let the ambulance through to save a life. I didnt fancy sleeping in the bus - so the rickshaw seemed the sensible option at the time - as when I got somewhere I could ring the park and get collected.
Well about travelling 10 km in the rickshaw we got to a small village - just in time for the heavans to open - there was no taxis or anything around and in the end after much debating and refusing point blank to get on the back of somebodys motercycle in the rain with all my bags and no helmet (after my current run of luck I just thought it wasn't the safest idea) 5 of us got on the back of literally a horse and cart! This took us another 10km about - although it felt like so much longer and we had no idea where we were. Eventually it pulled up on the little bit of the road and a man appoached us - turned out he was from the jungle safari lodge and had been waiting for me since 12 - I had no idea what time it was then but I think looking back it was gone 5. Now the scary bit... the only way I was getting to the jungle lodge was getting on the back of his motercycle with my bags for 5km down a winding "road" at least it had stopped raining! But again, no helmet. Something I would never ever do in England but it was the only way of getting there. I absolutely clung on for dear life - and finally arrived at the jungle lodge in one piece! Looking back it was rather good fun.
After having a shower I came down for some food which was an egg sandwich and fried potatoes then my guide (who had picked me up on the moterbike) took me round the little local village and then we walked to the lake to watch the sunset - turns out what should have taken 4 hours had taken me almost 10 - and was far more exciting I suppose than a simple bus trip! The sunset was worth it though it was the single most beautiful thing I have seen the whole time I have been in Nepal and was so peaceful. As always I got some amazing photographs - was the time to half live looking through my camera lens - although I did just sit and take it in - I've never been the only person sat somehwere watching the sunset and I think thats the beauty of travelling offseason makes it all the more spectacular.
Got back to the hotel after follwing a GIANT elephant down the road which amazed me! I found out I was the only person staying in the hotel which is rather exciting. Had a slideshow presentation which was interesting but made me giggle in places where he was showing me picture of rhino dung! The I went to see the elephant - and got to feed her! Tomorrow they are going to let me have a go at making her food as well.
Then I went for tea - which was noodle soup, followed by grilled chicken and pototoes and veg and then a custard desert - needless to say I am fit to burst right now! Was so yummy. All the staff are really really friendly and talk to me in Nepali - which I am understanding and they praise me for it too!
Tomorrow I have an exciting day doing loads of things - including a canoe ride, elephant bath, elephant safari and a jungle walk as well as a cultural show! And the best thing about it is that its just me and the guide so I can take all the time in the world and have more chance of seeing things!
I chose the catergory "natural wonders" for this blog as it is wonder how I got here in one piece - all I can say was that it was an amazing adventure and I am looking forward to getting a good nights sleep. Chitwan is so beautiful and I cant wait to go exploring tomorrow and hopefully see some rhinos and maybe a tiger if I'm lucky!
Wish I could upload the pictures of my sunset - will try once I get to Kathmandu - they really are special :)
Goodnight
Love Rachel
Xxxx
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