Part 3 of Nepal

It looks like I left off last time with the expectation of hiking the Helambu Circuit for 7-8 days.  Although why should I expect that anything in this country will ever go according to plan... Beginning the day before the trek, Mikes face started to go numb off and on, and it only got worse throughout the first day of the trek.  We made it to the first nights destination, Chisopani, but he was not feeling all that well.  The next morning it was a tough decision as Mike wanted to see a doctor but didn't want to mess with everyone else's trip and the rest of us would rather that we stick together as a group.  We ended up heading back to Kathmandu.

It is kinda interesting to see how Nico and I have just gotten so used to being in Nepal.  When we come up to some view, like the picture below, we're like "oh that's a nice valley..."  But when Mike and Chris saw the same thing, they were amazed.

We all made it back to Kathmandu, and then got ready to go to Chitwan.  This is the national park in the southern part of Nepal, known for its wildlife.  There's rhinos and tigers and sloth bears oh my!  Too bad we never got to see any of them...  We did stay in one of the nicest places I've seen since being in Nepal though.  It was really quiet there and much less pollution than most of the rest of the country.  I probably would have been happy to just stay there.  On our full day there we did a jeep safari.  It was a fun ride standing up in the back of the jeep through the jungle, but it seems they try to pack so much distance in that there is no time to ever just stop and see what comes by.  All we got to see there was some deer and a couple crocodiles... a little disappointing, but it's nature and you are never guaranteed to see anything, such is life.  Anyway, next time I'll opt for the guided walk instead.

sunrise in Chitwan

From there we head back to Pokhara for Mike and Chris' last few days.  Spent a day walking up to the world peace pagoda and stopping a local waterfall attraction.  Nothing amazing.  Then on the 27th - happy birthday to Mike! - him and Chris went paragliding.  Jealous... since they actually had a clear day for it and could see the mountains.

And now after almost 5 weeks of travelling with other people, it is nice to have it be just Nico and I again.  We're in the middle of a week here in Pokhara to just relax and catch up on stuff and think about the last month of our trip in Turkey and Israel.  More on my reflections on stuff to come soon....  Time for bed now :)