Pokhara

The boys and I are currently held up in Pokhara. It's quite a hip place to hang out. It's a bit like Nepal's version of Bali except without the surf. However, they do have a booming adventure scene, paragliding, canyoning, kayaking, microlight flights, horse riding, mountain biking, white water rafting, trekking and the list goes on. It's extreme in adventure and chill factor. It is set between the stunning waters of Phewa Tal, Nepal's second largest lake and the snow capped Annapurna Mountain Range. We can see both from our hotel.

One of my sons has looked longingly at Phewa Tal for some days; sure it must be full of fish. So he talked his more reluctant brother into joining him on an expedition of discovery.

Armed with a rock, bound with Nepalese kite string, (the rod) the thorny part of a rose bush (the hook), and chocolate cake, (the bait) they left. The reluctant son was not convinced. Neither was I.

Can you believe it, my Huckleberry Fin and Tom Sawyer, caught themselves an eel!

x Lisa

Taiga fishing

Cody playing

Elephants

In Chitwan we went on an elephant safari, the elephant actually walked really quietly and wasn't afraid of anything. We went through rivers with crocodiles. Elephants are quite hairy. The more pink an elephant has on it, the older it is. One elephant at the breeding centre had twin babies, which is quite rare. They were very cute. The one I rode kept wrapping its tail around my foot.

Early in the mornings, monkeys rattled on the windows of our room trying to get in. Lucky they didn't. They would have made a big mess!

From Taiga

The elephant we rode on our safari

Chitwan

We went on a safari in Chitwan and saw, a variety of deer, monkeys, wild boar, elephants, and a variety of crocodiles, lots and lots of different types of bugs, a python (a bit too close up) and lots of different types of birds.

At our hotel there were guards with guns, so they could shoot any animals that tried to attack the guests.

From Cody

Walking through the jungle looking for wild animals

Travel

Over a week ago now, the boys and I decided it was finally time to head down to the steamy plains of Chitwan. There were a variety of ways we could have taken to get there, plane, bus or car. We chose to white water raft down the Trisuli River and camp over night at Charaudi and continue to raft as far as possible the following day. Then bus where needed. We were pumped!

The first day we cruised, no problem. We had only just taken off on the second day when the accident occurred. Apparently, it had never happened before.

We are all fine.

However, we passed 5 bus accidents on our way into Chitwan. We were pretty exhausted and shaken up by the time we got there.

x Lisa

Having a rest during white water rafting to Chitwan