My first weekend in Pokhara, the other volunteers had already arranged to go to Chitwan National Park so I went with them. Getting there was almost as much an adventure as seeing the animals! First there was a 5 hour bus ride. The road was pot-holed and uneven. Sometimed it was best not to look out of the windows (although the views were amazing) as the bus rocked violently over holes about a foot from a sharp drop of about 100 feet into a rocky riverbed. After that it was a taxi which had to go along dirt tracks and jolted so much we were bouncing out of out seats. Then we were stopped by a pole across the road. The driver got out and talked to some men there then told us that the Maoists were blocking the entrance to the park and we all had to sign out names on a piece of paper before they would let us through. We were then taken to a river and rowed across it where we were met by cool flannels, drinks and jeeps for another bumpy ride through the jungle to out lodge. We were right in the jungle with views across a swampy river area with rhinos, an occassional crocodile and loads of birds. After they had given us lunch (they fed us very well, especially considering that everything had to come the same way as us!)we were straight on out first elephant ride! The elephants have little platforms with rails round on their backs for four people to sit on. There is a driver on the elephant's nek sho steers with his feet, pushing behind the elephant's ears.

The first thing we saw on out elephant ride was a wild chicken! But it did get better after that. We saw lots of rhino, one with a baby, several groups of deer (although they are very timid and bolt at the sight or sound of the elephants so mostly we only saw flashes as they ran). We also saw a crocodile, they're not easy to see, mostly they just look like mud, I'd never have spotted any without the elephant rider to point them out.Eventually we saw some monkeys (my favourites) they they are hard to get photos of so, sorry, not great pics of them. One had a baby with it.

In the morning they woke us early but with tea/coffee and biscuits so we didn't mind! We got ANOTHER elephant ride. This elephant was a bit speedier (it kept overtaking the other elephants). It also spooked when it heard a jeep and tried to run away. It's a bit scary being on the back of an elephant as it tries to run down a hill! We saw mostly the same animals (rhino, deer). We saw a different type of monkey (gold instead of grey). We also saw tiger prints, but not tiger unfortunately. Instead of going back to the lodge we got off the elephants at the edge of the river. As there was not platform here for dismounting, the elephant had to kneel down and they put a ladder up to the platform. We then got a boatride back and saw loads of birds and a crocodile and the local people who fish in the river in dug-out boats. After lunch there was an elephant talk. They took us to where they keep the elephants (although they are allowed to roam free - because they always return for meals). They told us about elephants then we got to feed one. The keepers rode the elephants down to a pool (they climb on by the trunk and over the head!) and we watched the elephants have a bath.

The next activity was a nature walk. We didn't see many animals, not suprising considering the noise we were making crashing through the dead leaves. We did get a glimpse of a few monkeys. They pointed out plants and birds mostly and a termite hill and a sloth bear's den. Unfortunately there was no time to do anything on Sunday. We got the jeeps to the river and the boats back across (which was hard work for the poor rowers as it was upstream). Then we had to walk to the gate, we suspect that the Maoists wouldn't let the taxi through.

We arrived in Pokhara in the afternoon. We met up with Kelly for dinner. She was finally back from Kahmandu where she's been trying to sort the paperwork for her marriage to a Nepali man. It was great to have her back. She sorts everything out for us!

(sorry no pics at the moment, I'm having trouble with my memory stick)