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Chitwan Cultural Show
Very talented dancers. Well, I am off to a good start. I have been in Nepal for two weeks on this year’s dive journey in Asia and Australia. Diving? Yes, I will be diving, but I want to experience places in my travels with magical names and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to visit Nepal. I still have hopes that somehow my visit will include a spiritual dimension. So far…not so much.
I spent four days in Khatmandu in the tourist area of Thamel, and visited three of the many historic sites. It was hot and I discovered I am not all that interested in looking at structures. I prefer wandering around with my eyes wide and mostly forgetting the camera. I have so many photos.
Khatmandu was wet and crowded. The hotel was comfortable and there were always new tourists to exchange stories with, but I realized I must get out and experience Nepal so I decided to book some tours. The tour agent suggested a trip to Chitwan National Park, and a five day trek with a guide.
Chitwan was delightful. We drifted down a canal with alligators along the banks
Dancing Peacock
Simply amazing. and sometimes in the water. The canoes are hollowed out of tree trunks and are surprisingly stable. The boatman stood at the back with a pole to move us when the water stilled. Later we bathed with the elephants, an elephant hosing us down while we sat on its back. Then we rode, four to an elephant, through the jungle for an hour and a half. We saw a baby elephant, some spotted, barking deer, and a rhinoceros and baby. The management at our hotel was very helpful and friendly. One night we were entertained at an evening cultural show in the village.
From Chitwan I traveled by bus to Pokara, the second largest city in Nepal. The hotels are unique with interesting names and facades. Why is the Blue Hotel painted lavender? I am staying in the Himalayan Inn Hotel and it is old and being renovated. I could live here. I have a large sunny room with windows on three sides. The food is very good and worth the wait. The hotel is near the lake and the neighborhood reminds me of Greenwood in Seattle. The lake is lovely and I am going to take
Boating
The boats are crude buy safe. The trip was serene and interesting. a little boat ride this afternoon.
After a day of rest following the long bus ride from Chitwan, I did a five day trek in the mountains with my young guide, Asok. Starting at Nayapaul, about an hour from Pokara, we hiked twenty six miles, mostly on rock steps that went up, up, up through high mountain villages and forests of giant rhododendron trees with trunks as big as oaks. In some places leaves covered the ground; it is already autumn in Nepal.
After the trek I enjoyed a few relaxing days in Pokhara before returning to Khatmandu. I have just enough time left to spend a day at Bhaktapur and make an overnight excursion to Lumbini to see the birthplace of the Buddha. More about that later.
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