Well, we got up 6am and fast breakfast then off to the luxury tourist bus, well almost luxury. It was a 5-6hr drive 160km to Chitwan National Park (CNP). The old TATA bus crept through the misty roads of Kathmandu and out to the foggy uplands. We crept slowly with fine Nepalese driving. We rose to over 1200m and contimued through small hamlets and truck stops following valley walls . It was cool at first but warmed up as we rose out of the fog. We saw the terraced fields and remote farmhouses dotted around the Nepalese landscape. All was going well until there was aproblem with the radiator - we were losing water - fast! After a stop and much fussing we hobbled to a petrol station for emergency hose surgery. We got out and stretched in the 9:30 am sun and waited around 45mins until we were off once more. We again crept through narrow unmade 'highways' and followed a major river through until Chitwan - by 2:00pm. It was a raggedy place with the dusty roads and small business everywhere - but flatter than anywhere we had seen in Nepal, looking more like Africa than Asia. We were picked up by our car at the tourist bus'station' (dusty patch). We checked in at the Parkland Lodge. We were led to our 2nd floor room with all mod-cons plus soft bed and INSTANT hot water!! Aaaaah true luxury. We grabbed a nice lunch served by eager helpful staff and we were off..... our Friday walk was courtesy of our Nepalese guide - he took a band of 5 of us to a sunset wlak - we were lucky enough to see a One-horned rhino (see photos!) eating in the river, a beatiful Kingfisher, Deer, Mugger Crocodile, Peacock and various small birds. We enjoyed it and afterwards watched the sunset over the river while drinking hot lemon and honey! Then a walk back (spotting fields of 'Weed' growing in the area) and dinner - then hot shower and bed... lovely soft mattress and pillow.

Saturday, we were up 6am and out for the Elephant ride, which was super. Sheryl and I perched on top with 2 others - plus rider - we marched into the long jungle grasses of CNP and searched for wildlife - we found it big time with a mother rhino and baby (also on pics) who were eating. We also saw deer and a wild black boar. Great sight! We then walked to see the elephant bath - in addition one of our party (Amy) agreed to sit atop one while it bathed - of course she was bathed more than the elephant - great fun.... to watch. We continued in the early morning mist and back to the start. We then grabbed breakfast then out for a canoe river ride, it was serene and warm by now - we saw many Mugger Crocodiles (see pics again..) and macaques, Little egret, Bee eater, Woodpecker, Bulbul and Herons. We then headed for a lunch and freshen up then off again! We had a jungle walk seeing macaques and deer and beatiful landscapes and a Tiger paw print (allegedly). Onward to the Elephant breeding centre - all a bit depressing - elephant chained up and used for breeding.. not pleasant and many apeared distressed at being unable to move far. We were swept to the Tharu (ancient India based local tribe) village to see their unique style of building and some glimpse of their culture albeit very brief. Back to the hotel and a Tharu cultural show of dancing which was a pleasant end to a fun packed day. Dinner then off to bed. We were up early and off to the Public Bus for our onward journey to Pokhara - a lakeside town at the foot of Himalayas (Annapurna)... but more from that exciting trip later.... Enjoy and PLEASE keep your messages a coming....