Now it was time to prepare for our next stop – the Chitwan National Preserve. This is a national treasure, one of which the Nepalese are very proud.

To get there though is quite the trek. We were dropped off at the airport by our trusted guide Biren. We were now on our own !

First leg is waiting in the airport. Remember I said this is the filthiest airport I have ever encountered, so let your mind run there. We did find a lounge that was air conditioned where we hung out.

In Nepal, flights are a movable feast. They don’t tell you when the flight is leaving, they tell you when the next update is. Ours moved twice before leaving, but we did get out.

Our flight was 20 minutes on a crowded plane with scant air flow, but we got there.

Flying as we did was a breeze for what awaited us. We were picked up at “baggage claim” which was nothing more than a patio besides the “airport”. We jammed the four of us (Jeff, Shadi, Nicolas, and me) into a small car and headed out for the commute to the lodge in Chitwan.

When I tell you it was a rough ride I am underselling it by a 1000%. We jostled, bumped, lurched, flew, careened, etc. for 1.5 hours. Comforting though was that the driver told us the roads were much better now. I have a video showing the adventure of our ride, but it doesn’t seem to load here.

We arrived safely and were shown to our cottages.

Chitwan is a vast, gorgeous property and was Nepal’s first National park, from 1973. It is home to one of the last populations of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros and is also one of the last refuges of the Bengal Tiger. It is also as hot as the back side of the sun.

The Michan lodge is fairly spartan in western terms, but fit our plans perfectly. Our group of four was there as was another couple Jimgee and Karen. That was all on the property.

The other three in my group went on a 2 mile Sundowner walk to the river, while I chose to stay and cool down and soothe my hiney after the drive. They came back 2.5 hours later dripping in sweat and covered in dust, while I was getting my second Machan Special !

We ate a quiet dinner and retired for the evening. At our hotel in Kathmandu I did not crack the code on the AC and as such slept way warmer than I would have liked. Well, I got it at Machan and slept like a bug in an ice box.

Next morning we went for a hike around the park. Our guide, Chhanu, (spelled correctly) was a supreme person and avid bird watcher. He carries his binoculars and bird identification book with him everywhere. We walked through the small houses and farms that make up this area, which is where Chhanu grew up. He knew everyone and stopped to chat with many.

I asked this lady if I could take her picture and she was gracious to allow me to, and seemed to get a kick out of it.

We then arrived at a small farm area with a covering that can only be called a hanger. Inside the hanger was a sizable Indian elephant, one used for work. He was not chained, nor did he look in poor condition, other than not out roaming the jungles. We had purchased 40 bananas at the start of our walk, and now each took turns feeding who we named Jerry. 40 bananas does not last long with a full grown elephant.

I have never been up close and personal with an elephant so was thrilled to do this. Their size is enormous yet they are gentle by and large. They are very family oriented and stay in herds for life much like, but it is a fact of life here that elephants are beasts of burden.

We noticed that many houses had an unfinished look about them.

Turns out that is fairly common. People build what they can afford, but ly the groundwork for the next build when they have the money to do so.

Made it back to the lodge, did I tell you it was hot ?

Once back we had a little lunch and headed right back out for our first safari. This was all by jeep on trails that were kinda like the drive in.

Very soon we began to see wildlife of all kinds, and since there is no hunting on the Preserve the animals we were able to get close to the unafraid animals.

I kept noticing trees covered in what looked to be vines. Learned they were orchids that explode into brilliant blues flowers at certain times of the year.

After almost three hours of driving and stopping for pictures we aware whipped and ready for home. But no, they had a planned sunset watching on a beach by the river.

Finally we got back, cleaned up and rested a bit, only to be told there was a local dance performance to take place. We were beat, hot, and ready to relax but Jeff corralled us all to go, something that ended up being well worth the time.

Their dancing depicted village life and fending off animals looking to do them harm. And yes, we did get involved.

The severity of our drive in got Jeff thinking.

So he began the search for helicopter to come get us at the lodge and take us back to Kathmandu. He was able to book one to the delight or all. But, when it came time leave the next day we waited and waited, only to be told that there was weather in/around Mt. Everest and Lukla airport stranding all the company’s copters.

Once again, back in the car to drive to the local airport.

This time however, our driver was much heavier of foot so we careened and jostled faster. Again, there are absolutely NO traffic rules here, so there were cars, trucks, scooters, and certain death around every turn.

Back on the stuffy plane and once again G-G-Going to Kathmandu, and on Buddha Air no less.

Again we were tired and spent, but when Biren picked us up he told us we would check back into we had been in with just enough time to get ready for the end of trip group dinner.

We went to a “typical “ Nepalese restaurant were the service was full of pomp and flourishes.

Had a good meal, and were entertained by another dance performance. As with our earlier NatGeo trip, we’ve always treated to the local dance of wherever we were. Got me thinking what would we choose to show to people in the US as a local dance ? The Shag, break dancing, certainly the hula. Talk amongst yourselves on that one.

Will say that right after the young gal above was swung furiously in circles as part of their dance, she ram out of the room with her hand over her mouth.

Back to the hotel – finally. Not to inject any negativity into this fabulous adventure, but there had been some miscommunications and promises made that did not quite come to pass. The owner of the company in Kathmandu met us in the lobby to discuss that.

Everything resolved, mostly, and off to bed.