Southern Nepal and Unexpected Treats

Our adventure turns towards the southern part of Nepal – a totally different region and home to Chitwan National Park.  

 

Chitwan is located in the geographic region called Terai.  It’s largely flat and has lots of farmland.  The plains.  To get there we fly.

 

Our flight was delayed by only an hour and the group turns the extra airport time into “Let’s try all the snacks.” 🤣

We tried way more than this but this is the only evidence I have 😂 

The Knitting Club breaks out their needles and gets to work, too.

(And for inquiring minds, this is the first place I encounter a squat toilet since the start of the trip.)

 

Our flight is smooth and quick – only 20 minutes. The airport in Bharatpur is super tiny.  (Remember the show Wings?  Yes, that small.)

 

We begin our 1 ½ hour drive to Chitwan.  Lots and lots of rice fields along the way … Remember we have seen lots and lots of rice field already but they were largely terraced.  These were flat.

A band welcomes us at the main gate at the end of the drive to the lodge and then leads the way playing music.  What a welcome!

I then proceed to make a grand entrance by falling getting off the bus LOL I literally popped down step by step on my back-side and land perfectly seated.  The band was still playing and they did not skip a beat. 😂  I was fine but I will spare you the picture of the mega-black and blue bruise. 

 

The Lemongrass juice (or water – I can’t recall its name) was DELICIOUS!!!

 

The lodge is outrageously beautifully. I don't think any of us were expecting this. There was literally no detail left unnoticed.  (It was done so well that  I turned it into a game to find out what detail they failed to address and after two days I could find none.)

 

Lunch was DELISH!  I know. Shocking.  

 

Then I head to my private lodge.  OMG – if it hasn’t already been in a magazine it needs to be.

 

It’s even cute how they do the toilet paper 🤩

The Lodge is along the banks of the opposite side of the Rapti River from Chitwan National Park.  

 

Chitwan was the first national park in Nepal.  It had been the former hunting grounds of the Royal Family (I think – or maybe I am getting that mixed up with something else.)

 

After some leisure time I walked around the property - amazing - and I saw two crocodiles sunbathing (thankfully across the river).

I absolutely love all of these bowls with beautiful floating flower arrangements. 

All of the hotels seem to have them.

The jungle lodge has the best by far. They are gorgeous and very artistic, and intricate.

Can you spot the crocodiles?

We all then head to the boats to take an afternoon ride down the Rapti River (followed by an amazing happy hour on the river which we did not know would be happening – or at least had no idea as to how extravagant it would be.)

 

We spot crocodiles, birds, monkeys and FINALLY a rhino. Super cool!

(Monkeys were too far away to get a decent picture but trust me, they were there!)

 At first the naturalist on the boat could see the tall grasses swaying along the river bank and he could spot a rhino behind.  We made out way slowly closer to the bank ... then we all saw the grasses swaying and then we heard the sound of the munching.  We could literally hear the rhino chomping on the grasses.  

We sat patiently and then the rhino began to move a bit more so we started to spot its ears, then its head, and THEN … then she burst onto the scene as if to say, “Here I am.”

 

What a sight to behold!

 

Back down the river we continue (with the woman rowing – go girl power!)

 

We arrive at the confluence of two rivers and we see tents and chairs set up along the bank with grills and cooks and a bar.  Holy cow.  Did not see this coming.

 

Hi Dorothy! Hi Sue!

It was like something out of a dream.  They serve us a dizzying array of appetizers while we relaxed and chatted and ate and drank.

 

The sunset was magnificent!!!  Plus, it was fun to watch two fishermen casting their nets across the way. 

 Almost dark, so we loaded up into the open jeeps and headed back to the lodge through a small vibrant village.   

As in every village we have gone through, lots of people outside.  Chatting, relaxing, working.  

 

Yet another good night’s sleep and up early for a Jeep Safari into Chitwan.