Well its been a pretty action packed couple of days for us, whilst being incredibly relaxing! We've been in Chitwan National Park, well just outside if you want to get technical, and have been staying in an awesome place called, Sapana village Lodge. It is a Dutch developmented aimed at helping the local community by building schools and providing local employmen, and was a really well amazing place. There were a few different sleeping blocks which were all locally decorated but that is not all. There was a huge communal terrace area with a big fire pit looking over the river and plains, with a back drop of the mountains that we had previously seen in Pokhara.....WOW!

So we spent both nights sat around the fire chatting with the other guests (which included an American family with VERY noisy children, this family where in the process of finding their ideal "intened" community.......odd) and also the very friendly staff. The lodge provided a vast array of different activities for us to participate in and we went a little elephant crazy! The first afternoon we went on an elephant safari though the jungle in search of Rhinos. We saw two and a half (small baby rhino) very briefly before they ran off deep into the vegetation. Other spots included lots of deer and different birds. Yesterday we had a full day of activities planned around elephants and it started off at the elephant breeding centre which was home to 25 elephants all of different ages. Including a set of twins and a very friendly 9month old elephant that came round to inspect our pockets for any form of sugar.

The next port of call for the day was elephant washing! AMAZING!! It's not everyday you get taken to a river on the back of an elephant and then proceed to get continually thrown into the water, certainly an experience to look back on! Then after a small lunch break we headed off on a canoe trip and jungle walk. On the canoe we saw huge numbers of crocodiles just chilling on the bank including the pretty rare long nose croc. After 45mins sweating on the boat praying that we didnt capsize we reached the 'safety' of the jungle floor! The walk started off with lots more deer and we made our way to a jungle watchtower. When we arrived at the tower we were suprised to see a plaque saying it had been donated from Midhust in the UK! We were happily chatting away watching some crocs and birds when Baroo our leader spotted a rhino in the water happily chomping away at the weeds in the lake....it was breath taking!

Well back to the present we are in a town outside of Lumbini which is basically a dull boarder town but we are off to see the birth place of the Budda this afternoon, before moving on into India!!

Stay classy San Diego....no wait, the UK

Chris and Tally

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