In between the 'city' life of Pokhara and Kathmandu i was lucky enough to stay at chitwan jungle lodge, an amazing lodge in the middle of Chitwan, a safari type park thingy. i had to wonder what i had got myself into when i got off the bus and onto the roof of a jeep (not the most comfortable place to be sitting, but a fun experience), where we drove through rivers, forests, rocky trails, etc., just to get to the lodge.Days consisted of floating down the river in a log canoe, watching amazingly huge birds fly over head...the ride ended a little early cause there was a wild bull elephant rampaging around (we 
didn't see him unfortunately), who keeps knock
ing up the female elephants at the lodge (there were two babies at the time of my stay...). elephant riding was really the highlight though, and we got to do it pretty much all day (3-4 hours at a time a couple times a day)...mostly we were searching for rhinos (which apparently only leave the park like, once every few months...we didn't see them.), but we saw a jungle cat (pretty smallish), loads of different deer, birds, crazy insects, huge spiders, wicked scenery, and no other t
ourists!! it was really difficult to take pictures on an elephant (some elephants are really really uncomfortable...others are amazingly smooth walkers), but sometimes when the elephant stopped to tug on some trees i was able to get some pictures off. it was pretty amazing and the handlers were generally pretty good (though sometimes, IMO, they hit them too hard, especially when it was really unecessary...we've got 4 hours in the jungle, there's no rush to make the elephant go anywhere!). however, i've heard of some places in asia where they used a metal hooked bar to hit 
them and they get huge open gashes, so these guys get a little bit of credit.
didn't see him unfortunately), who keeps knock
ing up the female elephants at the lodge (there were two babies at the time of my stay...). elephant riding was really the highlight though, and we got to do it pretty much all day (3-4 hours at a time a couple times a day)...mostly we were searching for rhinos (which apparently only leave the park like, once every few months...we didn't see them.), but we saw a jungle cat (pretty smallish), loads of different deer, birds, crazy insects, huge spiders, wicked scenery, and no other t
ourists!! it was really difficult to take pictures on an elephant (some elephants are really really uncomfortable...others are amazingly smooth walkers), but sometimes when the elephant stopped to tug on some trees i was able to get some pictures off. it was pretty amazing and the handlers were generally pretty good (though sometimes, IMO, they hit them too hard, especially when it was really unecessary...we've got 4 hours in the jungle, there's no rush to make the elephant go anywhere!). however, i've heard of some places in asia where they used a metal hooked bar to hit 
them and they get huge open gashes, so these guys get a little bit of credit.it think it was a ritzier type lodge cause there were older tourists and families, but a couple canadian guys and an australian women and i became eating and elephant buddies (separate affairs, of course), and
it was pretty funny cause despite being in their 30s/40s, they partied like they were 18. unfortunately at this point i found out i had giardia, which at first sucked cause i was in the middle of nowhere, but then found out that one of the canadian guys had a medical cabinet in his bag!! so i got some blue pills, and some yellow ones, and life was better :) note to anyone traveling to asia: don't buy pills at home...they cost about 100 times more than it would cost here, and you don't need prescriptions for anything. just up to the counter, name all the things you want and Voila, your own medicine cabinet, almost free of charge.
it was pretty funny cause despite being in their 30s/40s, they partied like they were 18. unfortunately at this point i found out i had giardia, which at first sucked cause i was in the middle of nowhere, but then found out that one of the canadian guys had a medical cabinet in his bag!! so i got some blue pills, and some yellow ones, and life was better :) note to anyone traveling to asia: don't buy pills at home...they cost about 100 times more than it would cost here, and you don't need prescriptions for anything. just up to the counter, name all the things you want and Voila, your own medicine cabinet, almost free of charge.
oh, and note to anyone who wants to buy me a really cool gift: i would like a baby elephant. they are the cutest things EVER, and love to use their trunk to cause all kinds of trouble (grab your shoes, go through your pockets, feel your face, etc). they are too cute for words.
okay, hopefully this tides you over for now...next posts i will talk about my adventures in the air (paragliding) ending in disaster, and perhaps start talking about the trek!
2 comments:
Hey Kim, Did the elephant trainer at Chitwan give you the demonstration, where he makes all sort of cheesy elephant jokes? That wild elephant must've been busy, when I was there, there was only 1 baby elephant...I had a baby elephant here waiting upon your return, but since you hadn't blogged in awhile I figured something horrible had happened gave the elephant to Bill....and then bill ate it, so u'll have to take it up with him
E
Kim, your pal big e is mean, gave away your baby elephant to some random guy and that radom guy ate it (sue him for cruelty), i'll have a baby elephant here waiting for you at home when you return, provide that Lady is fine with that idea.............chao
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