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Published: August 11th 2006
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Recovered slightly from the the flu yet l still felt a bit weak and I had to go and get my visa for Burma at the embassy just outside of Kathmandu. Turned up at the Burmese Embassy. 'Closed'. I asked someone and they said that it has moved. I presumed maybe to a different town, but luckely for me only down the road.
Got there, filled out all the forms, but they needed 4 photos so off I went into town to get some instant ones. 1 hour later I came back. Everything went well and I was told to come back at three, so I did after another pleasant stroll in town. The trouble was that they wanted dollars and I presumed I could pay with Nepalese Rupees. I spent all my dollars on the Nepalese visa. Anyhow I ran to five different banks, all closed and no one could help. Ran back to the embassy before it closed, but they wouldn't give me my passport back unless I paid them in US Dollars. It was friday and the embassy was closed saturday and sunday so I was worryed that I would be stranded till then with little money
and no passport. After many minutes of negociating I managed paying a little extra in Nepalese Rupees for the visa and I was on my way.
Next day made it to Daman. From a tower there it was supposed to be the best view of the Hymalayas from far west all the way east to mount Everest, I waited, and nothing, just clouds. I stayed in a creepy old room in a building I had all to myself, which was more like a luxourious shed, and I woke up at 5am to see the mountains. No luck again, so I headed on to Chitwin National Park on top of a bus, cause there was no room inside.
Went on a canoe ride down the river and a trek through the jungle with a guide. Came across a Rhino, luckely it didn't charge, but I still jumped up into a tree just in case. I was told half way through the jungle that they have killed guides and tourists so are very dangerous, if I found that out before I probably wouldn't have bothered with the walk. All my guide had was a stick at hand to protect us
Bandipur
At the cave entrance from tigers, rhinos and wild ewlephants. I asked him why not a gun, he said that he doesn't need one, he could fight anything off with a stick. I'd like to have seen it cause I didn't really believe him but I never got the chance.
Stayed in a jungle lodge overnight with the campest 40 year German guy I have ever met and two Nepalese guides, which was an experience. The German would shout out German phrases in the middle of his sleep and wake everyone up. But, it was all good fun. A wild elephant also nearly trampled our jeep and only means out of the jungle.
The next day I headed to Gorkha, lovely little place. Met some people from the UN and they said that there was an over due earthquake thats happens every 75 years in Nepal measuring about 8 on the Rickter Scale so I wanted to get the hell out. Next day I went to Bandipur, my intended destination from Pokhara a week ago that ended in me going back to Kathmandu, so I was finally there. Took a guide to the largest cave in Nepal and had a wonder around.
Bandipur
Bandipur village It was near the top of a hill so steep climb, when we reached the top he made a prayer in the shirine at the entrance of the cave. I asked him 'Why do you pray?'. He said 'For good luck'. 'Do we need it?' I asked him. 'Yes we do' he replied. At that point I got a little scared and was wondering what I had let myself in for, it was a bit slippery but no steep slopes until we got about 5 minutes into the walk through the cave and my guide was attempting to climb down a 40 degree angled wet slop and down a bamboo ladder to the dark bottom of the cave in his sandels. He nearly slipped and ending up at the bottom with out using the ladder at all. I said to him that he could risk injury and probable death for 500 rupees which was about 4 quid but I wasn't, so we left and called it a day.
Strolled round Bandipur and in the morning back to Kathmandu saw some amazing views of the Hymalayas on the way back down the hill to the main road, finally the skys
Bandipur
My guide just before he nearly fell to his death cleared up and I could see the mountains.
I am now out of Nepal, earthquake hasn't hit yet but I'll be watching out on the news and looking out for it in the papers.
I am now back in Darjeeling and about to enter Sikkim just north of here for a few days.
I've already written enough so, hope everyone is well, I am now,
Enjoy
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