Pages From My Passport: Lumbini and Chitwan National Park

*Written 2 August*

Two days ago, on the last day of July, we woke up early to explore the temples surrounding Maya Devi. We rented bikes from out Guest House, rickety ass vehicles that looked like they were made of tin foil. The roads in the complex were muddy and peppered with pools of murky water. To call them roads would be a joke. As our wheels hit the huge puddles, splashing our legs and shoes (my shoes are still covered several days later). Most of the temples were still under construction, but we got to see the German, Japanese, Nepalese, and Chinese temples. We rushed back to pack up and ship out.

A van, big bus, little bus, and another van took us from Lumbini to Sauraha, less than ten miles from the Indian border, and the main base for trips into Chitwan National Park. We were taken to Chitwan Forest Resort, from where we expected to find another place, but at $1.88 per person per night, we figured we'd go with "probably the best value resort in Sauraha" (their tagline).

Yesterday was such a substantial day. We woke up early and went out for a walking tour of the jungle with Taylor, Mike, and Marika (UC - Boulder-ites with Engineers without Borders), Jessica (a lone Aussie who had joined the engineers a month or so back), and a sweet French couple. A tiger print, spotted deer, monkey, and bright red bugs were all we saw. At the end of the walk, covered in sweat, we were presented with an opportunity to play with elephants - getting sprayed by their trunks and jumping off their backs into the muddy river. It was a trip, as my dad would say. I was really proud of myself for taking a leap and pushing aside my fear of open water.

When we got back to the "resort," I had no clean clothes (the clean ones had all gotten wet from a bus ride through the rain, and I hadn't done my laundry since Xian - about seven cities ago), so I spent much of the day in drenched jeans and a soaking wet and sweat-drenched t-shirt I had been wearing for four days. Ahhhh, backpacking.

The three of us, Taylor, Mike, Marika, and Jessica went out for a delicious lunch - mmm banana lassi and water buffalo curry chow mein! We got stuck in a torrential downpour on our way back to the hotel, but the rain stopped just in time for our elephant trekking adventure. In our truck to the elephant site, we met this ADORABLE British family - two doctors and four, yes FOUR kids. The elephants, which we named Fernando (ours), Watson, Richard, Susan, Dy-no-mite, Skittles, and Delphine were so friggin' cute. We saw giant deer, peacocks (cue Katy Perry), and some bizarre plants. Despite not seeing rhinos, bears, or tigers, the elephant ride was extremely fun and surprisingly comfy (except for Michael, whose legs fell asleep).

Upon our return, we sat around drinking lassi with the engineers and Jessica, before heading out for dinner. The "restaurant" that we went to was ill-equipped to handle seven people, especially when the power went out twice, but the food was damn well worth the hour and a half wait! We bonded, shared stories, talking about life, laughed, and then headed back.

What a good freaking day!