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7 Hour bus journey from Kathmandu to Chitwan which although 2 hours longer then supposed to take due to Kathmandu traffic was not too bad as bus was empty so could move about on it and have couple seats each. We arrived in Chitwan early afternoon and as bus turned into the bus park we saw all the jeeps awaiting to take people to their pre-booked lodges. As myself and Jules departed the bus we were met by a fella holding a 'Tiger Lodge' board which was our accomodation for next 2 nights. As we were taken off to what we thought would be our jeep from behind all the jeeps appeared an old Toyota Corrolla, which looks like an old 80's style clapped out Cortina, this would in fact turn out to be our vehicle for transportation to the lodge!!!
Once arrived at Lodge we were given the usual welcome drink and a run down of the 2 days itinary at the 'Chitwan National Park' was given to us. Later that afternoon we were taken to the Elephant Sanctuary which is the 2nd largest elephant breeding centre in Asia. It was fantastic having never seen an elephant to be up close and able to see and touch these incredible creatures. Some of the larger ones were chained up for long portions of the day though which did seem a little cruel. In evening went to watch a cultural show which we ended up missing start of, was quite good but difficult to see as very busy, had dancing and some martial arts bits included in it. Had a couple beers back at hotel in garden and local guide joined me after Jules had gone to bed. This guy seemed a little odd but I thought nothing of it, after I had finished beer and went to get up the guide said 'so we go?' Not sure what he meant by this but I just said yeah see you in morning and dashed back to my room by going around the houses first (school boy error to go directly back as may see which room you are in then.... Sneaky Sneaky hey.
Next day we were up and on river early as this is best time to see the local nature around it. Had a 1 hour cruise down the river in canoe where we saw the fantastically xolourful Kingfisher bird swooping down to catch its breakfast and also some crocodile along the river banks. Small fish eating ones so as long as I was in the boat and not swimming around the river where I could be mistaken for a fish I was ok....... Once out of boats we went for a 2 hour jungle trek through the park where we saw plenty of bear, rhino and couple tiger prints (genuine ones this time) but no sightings of the animlas themselves, just a couple monkeys. Enjoyable walk through the park all the same. Once arrived back at hotel the working elehpants were being bathed in the river so I threw on my swim shorts and went and joined them. One of the guys who looks after the elephants put me up on the elephants back where he then stood up on it and was shouting some nepalese. The elephant then in accordance with his shouts sucked up water from the river in his trunk and sprayed it across its back giving me a nice showering. Really good fun given the heat of the day and I even forgot about the state of the water that was being chucked over me and into my mouth!! Couple hours to have some lunch and dry off and we then went on a 4 hour elehpant back ride into the National Park. Very uncomfortable with 4 of us sat in a basket on the elephants back but eventually got used to it, and anyway it was far more compfortable then the camel I had previously ridden. Once in park saw 6 or 7 one horned rhinos and a couple of deer. Very happy to see this given the previous trip into a national park at Ranthambore. After seeing these however black clouds suddenly seemed to appear above us and before we knew what was happening we were in the middle of a terrential downpour. 30 mins later I was totally drenched and sitting on an elephant shivvering, totally bizare given the heat of the day just a few hours earlier. Really good fun in the park but could of done without getting wet to be honest!!! Once back at hotel I noticed that my shorts had disappered from outside my room where I had left them to dry? Asked around hotel and the 'odd'ball from the previous night brought them back to me and claimed they had been taken in due to weather outside....... If thats the case how come everybody elses clothes were still outside? Jules was laughing about it reckoning he was in his room sniffing my shorts! Good luck to him if thats his game Im not even brave enough to sniff anything thats been near my a*se!!!!! haha.
That evening I had a chicken burger for dinner washed down with a bottle of rum, both of which tasted fantastic. I had really enjoyed the food in Nepal and it had made for a nice contrast and change to what I had been eating in India, my gut was probably welcoming this western food with open arms as well given the immense pressure and strain I had put on it with a nice healthy round of 3 spicy dishes a day!!
That was to be the end of my adventure in Nepal as the following morning we were heading back into India and to the long awaited Taj Mahal. I could not wait, although at same time I was gutted to be leaving Nepal as it truly was a fantastic country and one which I have promised myself I will visit some time in the future.
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