Nepali Jungle Journey

Asia » Nepal » Chitwan
October 4th 2012

Published: October 4th 2012

The transition from Western Europe to the jungle primeval was stark to no one’s surprise, but it provided many beautiful encounters. The park is far away from the madness (and general filth) of Kathmandu and affords the opportunity to see all manner of wildlife. Chitwan National Park is known for its bird life, rhinos, elephant breeding area and the elusive tiger. We didn’t see hide nor hare o... Read Full Entry

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Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

D MJ Binkley

Photographers, divers, writers, foodies, chefs and music enthusiasts. Travelers' Century Club Members: 12/2023. MJ 107 and Dave 104. We appreciate your feedback and if you like our stories we would appreciate it if you follow our blog. We live on North Hutchinson Island, Florida. If you are in Florida please send us a private message as we would love to meet you. Two retired nurses who are passionate about traveling the world. Our love of travel, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures will hopefully take us to wonderful plac... full info

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4th October 2012

Lydia
non-member comment

what a ride!
wow -didn't know you were going to Nepal- that is something! Here i am at work and you are riding on an ox cart! love the pictures!

4th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

You are killing me...I'm laughing.
Nepal is a diverse land.... This has been an education. Tougher travel than the other Asian countries we have been to. And as is Asia...it is hot. Enjoy your day at work.

4th October 2012

Sonja Massey
non-member comment

Nepal
Loved hearing about the adventures in Nepal. We rode elephants on both of our trips to SE Asia, once through the forest and the other from one town to another. There were two of us perched on the wooden seat and having never ridden a camel I thought elephants were quite uncomfortable .... but a fun experience. Your pictures of the hanging bridge and the clothes being washed in the river were also reminiscent of the upper reaches of the Mekong river. Can't wait to hear your next addition. I'm especially eager to hear about your time in Myanmar which we will visit in February. I'm still pondering the culture shock you must have experienced going from Germany to Nepal. Wow.

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Yes, there was a bit of culture shock
It took a couple of days to make the transition. We are on track now. So much to see. We have a guide you can hire in Myanmar if you are interested. Many things are similar in each Asian country and each has a unique personality. More to come. Off to see the birth place of Buddha.

4th October 2012

elJardineros
elJardineros

good memories
of all the places that I have been Nepal remains at the top of my heart and list for places to which I would return in a heartbeat. My most distinct memory of Chitwan was taking a walking tour with a guide armed with a stick and we spent the whole time looking for the next tree we were going to climb as everything in the forest was far above us on the food chain. As we walked through 12' high grass we heard a large commotion ahead and our guide turned around with the greatest look of terror on his face ever and screamed RUN!!! Holy shit you've never seen 5 20-somethings move so far so fast. We stopped after a while and realized our guide was no longer with us. I started back to see what had happened and found him on the ground laughing - at first I thought AT us but after I got him to spit out what had happened realized he had collapsed with relief...what he had thought was a wild (and typically angry) elephant was actually under the control of a friend of his. It was 13 years ago but I can remember everything about that moment. What a trip - Annapurna, rafting the Kali Ghandaki and Bote Kosi, dysentary that almost killed me in Kathmandu...it was all living about as vividly as you can ever hope to. I cannot wait to return to Nepal. :) Iook forward to the rest of your posts. Alisa

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Loved your elephant story
Yes, the grasses are tall and many large animals could hide in them. I'm with you on the dysentary in Kathmandu. That will come in a later blog....not too many details. So much to see at Chitwan.

4th October 2012

deleted_46288
deleted_46288

Errr....
That is one heck of a transition! The Oktoberfest to Chitwan, now that is travelling. Merry Jo, get Dave on the Nepali Ice as soon as possible. It's the best beer in Nepal in my humble opinion. If you're going to Pokhara...send me a PM, I know a guy who is a superb guide and will make your trip there a complete joy :)

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Beer's a plenty
We have not seen the Nepali Ice yet but will start looking. So far Everest & Ghorka. We will head to Pokhara in a few days. We will write more soon.

4th October 2012

taracloud
Tara Cloud

Tarzan and Jane
Wow--elephants and ox-carts, rhinos and wild jeep rides, all at 100% humidity! I'm impressed and can hardly wait to see what you intrepid explorers will find next. And with the number of birds you named, I'm beginning to think that if you weren't birders before, you will be at the end of your travels. Namaste.

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Namaste
This birding thing is more fun than imagined. We have been fortunate to be in places where beautiful and exotic birds are easy to spot. A lot going on here in Nepal. Today we explore Buddha's birthplace.

4th October 2012

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

So beautiful!

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Yes, he was a good elephant
It is always good having a sure footed elephant. It is a long fall down if something goes wrong.

5th October 2012

Bobbie
non-member comment

Very Cool!
Looks like a LOT of fun! Enjoy!!!! Bobbie and Tom

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

We are having a marvelous time.
Waiting to read your blogs from Ireland!

5th October 2012

taracloud
Tara Cloud

Namaste again
So looking forward to your visit to the birthplace of Buddha--he's really my guy. For the second time, I saw the film The Lady about Aung San Suu Kyi, the democracy fighter from Myanmar, so I'm also very much wanting to read your impressions of that country. Stay cool!

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Hello Tara,
Namaste. Good hearing from you again. We will give you our honest impressions. We are eager to see what we experience there with all the changes.

5th October 2012

anonymous
non-member comment

Thank you - Memories
Another awesome blog from our wonderful roaming nurses - this blog is very special to me as I went to Chitwan in the 80s before there were lodges and did see a glimpse of a tiger...I had heard it was tourist city so Im glad to read your blog and find that Chitwan is still a place of very special magic.

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

I'm sure it is more touristy than when you were there
But-- a jungle is a jungle and a few feet into it the crowds are gone. There is a lot of opportunity to experience lots of wildlife. The sunsets were amazing.

5th October 2012

Donna and Neil
Donna and Neil

Ace Ventura, Pet Detective!
Are you sure Jim Carrey wasn't hiding inside this? Looking at this pic made us both instantly think of the film Ace Ventura, when Jim Carrey hides inside a fake rhino and freaks people out when it 'gives birth' to him! Love the pics of the heffalumps too, they are absolutely our favourite animal.

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Thanks for the laugh
No Jim Carrey sighting yet but we will stay on the look out. Rhino's are sluggish creatures and the elephant is so very graceful. Thanks for following along.

5th October 2012

RJT
Rachael

wow!
Doesn't look like the roads have change any in the 14 years since I was in Nepal...I still have vivid memories of my bus trip even today. However I never made it to the Chitwan National Park so I am dead jealous! Am living vicariously through you at present, so keep it up!

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Hi Rachael,
If I were to place a bet I'd say not a pot hole has been filled in within the past 14 years. In Kathmandu many of the streets have been demolished in recent years with the plan and expectation to widen and improve. Nothing is happening. Glad you are following along.

5th October 2012

slowfeet
non-member comment

Great Album
You really are into climate change here - Oktoberfest to Nepal. Must be a bit of a shock. Chitwan sounds interesting. We will have to get there one day. Trust you sang a chorus of 'Angie' to the goats head.

5th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Oh, yes
Dave immediately started talking music when he saw that disgusting goat head being weighed....and rotting on the scale. He was cracking all kinds of jokes...some appropriate...and some not. longing for some cooler temps. Ah, Iceland was not that long ago. Good hearing from you again.

5th October 2012

Grey haired nomads
David & Janice The grey-haired-nomads

Nepal
Hi Dave and Merry-Jo, We recently met a couple of nurses with the wanderlust in the Outer Hebrides - we thought of you and put them on to your blog! My Brother, Mike, (aka 'Keep Smiling') is coming to stay next week so that we can plan our Jan/Feb 2013 trip to Nepal and N India with him as our guide, so we're reading your life there with much interest. Enjoyed your Iceland experience and now it's Nepal, both on our bucket list. You beat us to it again! David - and Janice

6th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

Hello David and Janice,
Thanks for sharing our blog with others and thanks for following along. We enjoy your brothers work and follow him. Travel is Nepal is tougher than other parts of Asia. The infrastructure is non-existant for these people. Lots of power outages. Over 600 birds in Nepal..... we recently discovered how beautiful the Kingfisher is. More to explore.

5th October 2012

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

CHITWAN
Lovely rhino shot, showers with elephants...in Nepal...what a busy life...but always time to party...ah la la Song of the Week...very impressed!

6th October 2012

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

It is a busy life we have
Makes you wonder how we ever had time to work....

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