18-11 to 21-11 -12: Luang Prabang Proper french town ! with croissant, pain au chocolat, good coffee and nice food. Laap, Khao Soy, Tom Yum are some of the country delicacies... One of the Highlight of the region is the waterfall. Literally something we had never seen before (or since): Magnificent turquoise water with swimming area. Calcified trees, Rope swings, great fun and possible one of THE most beautiful pieces of nature we have set our eyes upon... Fantastic ! The caves are worshipped by locals to be protected from bad spirits. nothing spectacular apart the fact that it's constructed on the rock and you have to take a boat and cross the river to access them. Overall the atmosphere of the town is very chill-out and one can easily spend a week wondering around ... read more

WEST BENGAL 29/10 to 04/11/12: Kolkatta - Calcutta We shared a Jeep at the Nepalese - Indian border with some Belgium guys which was a fun journey as we experience several breakdown of the jeep on the way making the 2 hour journey into 4 hours! After a 24 hour journey train from Gorahkpur to Kolkatta, we settle down in an old colonial style guest-house. We enjoyed Kolkatta as the hassle, the dust, the dirt and the noise is much prominent here and it seems to be more 'civilised' and bearable city than any other big city we have been to in India. Kolkatta is the 2nd largest Indian city and was the Capital of India during the British reign. Perhaps this explains the reason it seems more gentile and civilised...? The museum of India is ... read more

18/10 to 21/10: Chitwan National Park Home to Rhinoceros, Crocodiles, Tigers and other wild animals like wild Pigs and chicken! We did a 2 hours canoeing journey before starting a full day walk into the forest with 2 guides. One has been working in the Park for more than 20 years and had such amazing hearing and sight for animals. He was training his colleague. We didn't meet any Rhino during our walk but did climb on a tree and waited for 30 min hoping to see the one nearby by but hidden by the elephant grass (2meters high even more). Once zig-zagging in the wood we did see/feel/sense one Rhino . A moment of fear and distress was present as we were in no position to hide or climb on a solid tree in case ... read more

01/10 to 02/10: Lumbini This place is a pilgrimage for Buddhist. Birth place of Siddhartha Gautama better known as the Buddha, this is a peaceful site. The Maya Devi Temple marks the exact pot where the Buddha was given birth but no pics are allowed. Around is a Bodhi Tree decorated with prayer flags pying homage to the Lord Buddha. The entire zone has designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange in 1978 and it is a work in progress as Unesco want Lumbini to be the World Peace Center. Therefore a lot of Monasteries from different countries are been build. All over the garden, one can find inspiring and philosophical sentences from the Dalai Lama.... read more

Uttarakhand The region is believed to be the Land of Gods and is place of lots of Ashrams, Yoga Gurus, meditation centres and so on. One will find a lot of Sadhus in the area. We recommend a book by Patrick Levy (French writer): Sadhus - going beyond the dreadlocks for more understanding about their life, their purpose and their philosophy. 18/09 to 24/09 : Rishikesh: The Beatles spent time in an ashram but this one is abandoned since then and nothing much is left apart seeing nature taking over. Rishikesh is the Capital of the World for Yoga, Meditation and Ashrams. The town is separated by 2 suspension bridges (jhula) -which could do with some refurbishment. There is enough space for a man and a cow, a man and a scooter, but not more. (It ... read more