oh my oh my oh my. first of, I will acknowledge that I have been really slacking on my blog...sorry. The internet hasn't been exactly fast, or working at all in some places, or cheap. Any who, here I am.
We are back in Pokhara...just can't get enough. It is really such a nice place, and we were going to make our way back to Kathmandu but what's the rush. Our original plan was to make our way over to the Everest region, but we realized that was a little unpractical. First, it's basically across the country - so we'd spend 4 days at least traveling by bus - and you don't really get views unless you do several - 10 days of hiking. So, we really didn't have the time or money for that. I am so glad I was able to do the Everest flight...thank you again and again, Dad.
We will spend a couple nights at a village, Nagrakot, where you can get views during sunrise and sunset, when the sky''s most clear, or Everest. It will be tiny, but it's better than not seeing it at all.
Our adventures have been amazing. Once leaving Pokhara we went to Chitwan National Park. It was pretty surreal to be in a completely different environment than before: enormous peaks to total jungle with tigers and rhinos and the like.
We went on a 1/2 day walk where we were only so lucky as to see monkeys and birds. Then we went on a 1/2 day jeep safari, where we not only saw those creatures but rhinos! So cool! The next day we went on an elephant safari...I am torn between loving it and hating it, because it really makes me sad to see elephants treated so horribly and to think HOW much money is given to ride some elephants...so sad.
The best and most fun part by far was getting bathed by our elephant. She was so sweet and was dunking us, and spraying us with her trunk...we'd crawl on and she'd make us fall in the river again. So much fun.
From there we went to Lumbini. It was truly amazing to be at such a place - with such history, religion, and life. Lumbini it self wasn't a great village, dirty, but going into the park full of Buddhist monasteries, temples, meditation centers, and the very site of Buddha's birth was more than great.
We left on the night bus the day we decided to go back to Pokhara. (I love the spontaneity of our adventures, it makes it so much more exciting.) All was well, until I got really really sick. I highly recommend that you never vomit on an overnight bus...it was so miserable. So we are on our 3rd day here, though this is the first day I am actually out and about. And it's taken up quite a bit of energy. Who knows why I got sick? ... brushing my teeth with the water, maybe?
The good news is that I had a full meal this morning, and so far so good.
I will try to keep this sucka up more, promise.