2024-11-18 Chitwan National Park

19.11.24 Chitwan, Sauraha, Jungle Tour 1. 6:15 AM breakfast, and 7:15 AM departure. We walk to the ferry port. Small boats are being prepared here. But at the moment, the gondoliers are on strike. If I understand correctly, payment has not been made, and several people need to discuss it first. Everything is still illuminated by the rising sun and is very idyllic. The first five boats are fully loaded and cross over. These are the people going on a jeep tour. My office has spontaneously extended my private tour. A French couple is joining in. For this, the canoe trip has been extended by an hour. I don’t mind; I also don’t have to go alone. The canoe takes us about 10 kilometers down the river with a stop. Along the way, we see mainly birds of various sizes. They are not so easy to capture with the camera. The blue kingfisher shone particularly brightly. The crocodiles lie lazily on the shore. We land on the sandy bank, climb up the steep slope, and I receive an explanation about behaviors of various animals, which hopefully do not need to be put into practice. Then we go a long way along the road, still using the jeeps. Along the way, there are observation towers that we also use. We take a lunch break by the riverbank, and I manage to take a short nap. We can observe various monkeys twice and at the end of our hike, we come very close to a rhinoceros resting in the water. In between, there was a bear that likes to eat termites, which I didn’t see, and various deer or antelopes that hid in the underbrush. In the last evening light, we cross back over by boat. I sit at the riverbank for a little while and watch the crossing of the other groups. I treat myself to a beer and eat the leftovers from yesterday and today. By 8 PM, I could actually fall asleep, but I still make an effort to catch up on entries in my tracking log. My phone drops on my nose several times.
20.11.2024 Chitwan, Jungle Part 2. Today we start a bit later. We drive by jeep at 7:30 AM to a large suspension bridge for pedestrians. Here starts our approximately 10km long circular route through the jungle. Today we see rhinoceroses four times, deer three times, bears once, monkeys twice, and crocodiles and turtles by the river. In the jungle, there are repeatedly wetlands where hippos like to hang out. There were three towers equipped with overnight accommodations. The first tower was by a lake. Here I was able to observe a bright kingfisher that hovered in the air and plunged into the water. Unfortunately, I couldn’t capture such moments with the camera. I actually only saw the bears as large, black spots. On one hand, one would need to get closer to the animals, and on the other hand, have a better camera. I had hoped that we would visit the elephant station at the end, but the guides lead me past it while many groups stream toward it. The jeep takes us back and I give the two guides each a tip of 1000Rs. First, I buy myself an after-work beer and sit on the terrace with my phone. I call Ralf and Uwe and book accommodation in Pokhara. For dinner, I ordered mixed fried macaroni. I would like to pay the bill already, but the boss is not there. I actually want to work on my blog until 10 PM, but by 9 PM, my eyes start to fall shut.
21.11.24 Sauraha -> Pokhara by bus. Just before midnight, I wake up. I dreamed that I couldn't manage a mountain path, although that hasn’t happened at all. A good opportunity to call Ulla. I thought about it, but she is with a women's group, so it doesn't fit now. Until 1 AM, I work on the blog, then I am so tired that I can fall asleep again. Five minutes before the alarm goes off, I wake up. I need a quarter of an hour to pack everything and then go for breakfast just after 6 AM. There I learn that my bus actually leaves at 8 AM. In the first morning light, I sit on the terrace and post a few pictures in my status. Elephants pass by on the street again. The boss is now there and has prepared the bill. 4300 Rs, 30€, for three nights with breakfast, two dinners, the bus ride to Pokhara, and postage for a postcard. Apparently, they make their money with the tours. Just before 8, the boss takes me to the bus station by jeep. The bus is somewhat more comfortable than on the way here; it is definitely softer sprung, the seats are well-padded, and there is more legroom. The 150km journey takes 7 hours, half of which is through construction sites. When the road is expanded to four lanes, the journey will probably take only three hours. We stop twice for food and once for refueling. At the bus station, a man advertises for his hotel, Santana. It’s exactly the hotel I booked. A taxi takes me there for three euros, saving me the three kilometers with my heavy backpack. I get a bright corner room. I think I can stand it here for a good five nights. From the rooftop terrace, you can also see the lake. After a short break, I go into town, look for bicycles, and buy a large piece of chocolate crumble, which I eat by the lake near the landing stage. Two boys from a school class come up to me and want to take a picture. With the sunset, I go to the east bank, past the entertainment mile. The atmosphere here is already different, a mix of entertainment and also tranquility from the lake.