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Mission Impossible? <br />To travel the world and give you all a run down of adventures, experiences, things to see and the best bars in town! I may even stop here and there and earn a few bob...but after this who would have me...

Asia, part VII: Nepal

Richard Rosss
2006-04-03 13:48:19

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Found out that 3 hotels were hot last nite... So I may to go Chitwan (if the rain lets me) or I will head back to Kat in a few days. Spoke to loads of guys here about Myanmar and they are all raving about it. Been out drinking in the Himalayan Hard Rock cafe - nice place, although full of Nepalese!

5/6 - I am back in the land of the living...a slow bus ride this morning brought me back to Kathmandu.

I left Boaz at the bus station as he was heading here to sort out his India visa etc adn I caught the bus to Chitwan - about 5 hrs. I was the only westerner on the bus, so they played Hindi music at full whack. Arrived into Sahura, which is a tiny mud hut of a village with a load of hostels and restaurants. After checking into my residence I walked around and saw 2 other westerners...

So I figured the less time I spent there, the better {plus it was about 35c with 90% humidity!} So I booked a jungle walk and elephant ride for the following day. The rest of the day I relaxed...

The following day I started my walk with Tam, who had orange stripes on his black hair {tiger camoflage I suspect}, and we walked into the chitwan National Park. The south of it borders India and is 932 sqm big. We were walking along and a Rhino crossed the path 20m in front of us, stopped, looked into my eyes then carried - he knew who he was messing with! Then 5 mins later we saw a Rhino bathing...we crept up to 20m of it and watched it - the Indian Rhino is bigger than the African Black Rhino at 1.6foot and 2tons. Tam started to throw sticks at it, so that I could get a full look at him (not a good move with a 2ton animal than charges at anything!)...but I got some great fotos!

Back to town for lunch and a shower as I was soaked in sweat. The rains started just b4 my ride was due to pick me up at 3ish. But we carried on regardless. From the back of the elephant, we could right up close to the Rhino's and we saw lots - some babies as well. Also saw loads of deer, monkeys, mongeese and elephants! Great times...

Caught the bus today [8th] back to Kathmandu which seemed to stop everywhere and pick up loads of folk. We drove along roads with steep falls on one side, thru fields of cannabis plants and past many car smashes (it was a Sunday!). We even drove thru a riot that was happening - there were a few smashed up buses and loads of police with tear gas - all exciting stuff. Unsure what it was about, but I think these commys had something to do with it.

Relaxed and ate loads of cake and steak here. The rafting is off cos of the monsoon rains and lack of tourists here. There are more hawkers than tourists now, so we are getting more hassle. Still staying at the Sherpa GH - nice rooms with showers for $2 a nite. Met Cameron last nite for some beers and we headed to Tom and Jerry's bar. The guy Jerry [ who was there] is the local mafia boss in Thamel.

I leave on Sat for Dhaka, then fly in Yangon to start my 24 days there. I should emerge on the other side on the 9/7 in BKK.

Interesting to see -
The religion practised by the Sherpa's [tribal group] on the slopes of Everest contains a mixture of Buddism and pagan beliefs. They are very animistic folks [there is a god for each valley, mt and river], who pray b4 u climb the mountain as they believe the mt is the mother goddess. They use to prayer flags that send prayers to the heavens as protecton over their homes/tents and hotels.