Annapurna video
Monday, December 25th, 2006this is a little video from base camp in Nepal
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Elephants and more elephants
Sunday, December 17th, 2006So ended up staying 4 nights at Chitwan because the less time here the more time in Delhi, and here was much nicer. Spent a lot of time just hanging out and spent the evenings having dinner by the campfire and talking with everyone else. It was really nice, the guy from the hotel even taught us how to make mo-mo’s which are yummy dumpling style Nepali food.
So my 3rd day was still part of my activity programme and I had bird-watching. My favourite. So back into the park on foot, but thought we’d be safe from dangerous animals because we stayed close to the edge and didn’t cross the river. It was just me and one guide (no stick) and we found fresh looking rhino footprints. “that’s interesting” said the guide. So feeling a little nervous but kept walking through the grassy wetlands in the early morning mist when we hear strange noises coming from the trees. Kind of like a movie, can’t see anything but there is grunting sounds, heavy footsteps coming from out of the mist. “Shhhh, Rhino” and montions me to follow him. By now I’m completely freaking out. “Can’t we just climb a tree now?” then all of a sudden, we hear a running noise of a charging rhino coming closer then silence. I’m basically having a heart attack and my guide explains that’s a warning sound before it will actually charge us. “well lets get the f*#k out of here!” I keep saying while eyeing up trees suitable for climbing. Slowly and quietly we walk away and eventually reach the parks edges and I can finally relax. Who know bird watching could be so exciting?
So we didn’t see many birds but I was just glad to be alive! OK so maybe that’s a little dramatic but no more jungle walking!
After my exciting morning I went down to the river side with Adrian the Swiss guy to get a bit more elephant action. In the form of elephant bathing. Every lunch time the elephant keepers take the elephants down to the river to have a bath, its great to watch, always around 6 elephants rolling around in the water like big puppy dogs. And the best part for around $2 you can jump on the back and have a bath with them. So scrambling on top of the massive elephant with nothing but a rope around its neck to hold on to I was sprayed, thrown off and spent most of the time trying to get back on, its pretty crazy the elephant just falls over in the water and you’ve got to try balance yourself to stay on the back. The trainers can do the whole thing and stay dry but after a few dunkings in the river, I was completely saturated. Was very very cool though. There’s something a bit surreal about standing up on a submerged elephant while its trunk is spraying you with water. After I’d made it back to the river bank we stayed to watch a few more tourists get thrown around then I went to the elephant breeding centre, where unsurprisingly they breed the elephants used for park management and riding. It’s a bit sad to see some elephants chained up and clearly not too happy about it. But good to know they are actually looked after well and I guess you can’t have all these massive elephants just wandering around. The coolest thing was the baby elephants who are just running around and come up to you. They’re sooooooo cute, one of them was only about 10 days old.
So Chitwan was all good times, watched the sunset by the river, watched more elephants, read lots and sat by the fire. All in all a really nice few relaxing days before I made the big journey back down to Delhi
And if you see a charging rhino…
Sunday, December 17th, 2006
My last day in Pokhara was very relaxed just hung out and watched TV, in the evening Manu gave me a cooking lesson in Nepali food, Dahl is so easy to make! So next year it will be dahl every ... [Continue reading this entry]
Mountains and Maoists: Annapurna Base Camp trek.
Sunday, December 10th, 2006
I’m bruised, blistered and very, very sore, but I made it!! Arrived back after 9 days of trekking in the Himalaya’s, we did it in 9 days rather than 10 cause we were so fast (well that and I was ... [Continue reading this entry]
Annapurna Base camp
Sunday, December 10th, 2006
Day 1 Birethanti to UlleriHad to actually get to the start of the trek so a life-threatening bus ride which smelt strongly of vomit along winding mountain roads got us there, luckily, in one piece. Signed in at a few ... [Continue reading this entry]
Pokhara
Friday, December 1st, 2006
My few days in Pokhara have been lovely, staying with Hom, his wife and their gorgeous 3 year old daughter. Being looked after very well with my own room (with on suit), great food and rides around town on their ... [Continue reading this entry]
Kathmandu is a shop isn’t it?
Friday, December 1st, 2006
Probably what most kiwis/aussies think. In fact most of us are compleately kitted out in Kathmandu branded gear, I used to think it was just the name of a shop but no it is in fact the capital of Nepal.
I ... [Continue reading this entry]
Finally up-to-date
Sunday, November 26th, 2006
Ok so I'm finally up to date with my blogs....in Kathmandu now and its great!...happy reading for those who can be bothered!
The loooong way round
Sunday, November 26th, 2006
Started my trip with a 17 hour train ride, no fun travelers to hang with this time, just me, and the only female in the entire carrige! There is far too many men in India! So the usual being stared ... [Continue reading this entry]
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