Day 13: Trip to East Asia

12.07.2016

Our journey to Chitwan, like most trips in Nepal, is a laborious affair. Traffic jams, air pollution, dirt, etc.... Since I am writing this article in retrospect, I think it is better to describe the bus ride two days later, as it is even more eventful.

Anyway, we arrive in Chitwan, a national park in Nepal. We thought we had experienced the worst of the worst in India in terms of heat. But my goodness, how wrong we were. It's over 40 degrees here - and not a breeze in sight.

The girls say that it was just as hot in India, but we didn't pay attention to the heat because we were too busy trying to survive. I have a different opinion and find the heat here to be a new dimension and far beyond anything I've ever experienced.

What awaits us here, I can only describe as "Nepal Life" - a subsidiary of the well-known Magic Life. We are picked up by a bus, taken to the resort in a jeep, and after enjoying a welcome drink, the driver of our truck, who is usually very friendly and relaxed, suddenly starts giving a speech: "Aaaalright ladies and gentlemen! You are here in Sunset Village Resort! You now have 15 minutes to change, after that you will have lunch. Then 15 minutes rest, before starting with sightseeing, visit some shops...."

I think I have to shoot myself - or rather him. Terrible, my worst nightmare of a vacation. Well, we blame the heat and refuse to participate in the sightseeing.

After a bad dinner (which takes place in a dreamlike setting), we can't take it anymore and are taken to the evening event. We are led into a huge hall with hardly any people in it and promised a traditional Nepalese dance performance. I feel sick - don't know if it's because of the food or the program. After a few attempts to escape, we take a seat in the third row out of what feels like 50 rows. When I turn around after a short while, the hall is filled to the last seat - exclusively with Chinese and/or Japanese people. I can only spot 5 other white people who gather around us as if in fear. I don't think I've ever seen so much electronic recording equipment in one place. Well, the Asians seem to be fascinated by the performance. Actually, it's quite funny and exceeds my - low - expectations. However, I'm glad when I can crawl into bed in the evening and can hardly wait for the morning wake-up call at 6:45 - what have we gotten ourselves into?