Feb
18th,
2010 - Tomorrow I am off to Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal. Once a hunting ground to
the elite it is now considered a shining example of nature
conservation in Asia. Think I've given up on tigers? Not a chance.
Folks seem to be slightly less pessimistic about my prospects than
elsewhere (Sumatra, Bangladesh, etc.) but we shall see.
I
am trying to avoid the Disneyland package tour that everyone and
their mother appears hell bent on participating in. It is a three
day/two night extravaganza that includes a cursory jungle walk and an
elephant ride. I am not against riding elephants (that almost sounds
dirty) but it would feel more authentic (is that possible?) if it was
a necessity rather than a mere dalliance. I am not necessarily above
it. In Thailand I gave Dumbo a spin and, although it was fun, every
time I think about doing it (just for the sake of doing it) I have an
uncontrollable desire to kick my own ass. That being said I will
probably succumb to Dumbo's allure as from what I read an elephant
may be the best way to meander through fields of freakishly tall
grass (known as elephant grass as it were). You can even help bath
them in the river. I passed through the area some months ago and saw
a mature gentleman sitting on the back of Mr. Pachyderm with
a speedo. Wrong. Just plain wrong. Can anyone really argue that this
man did not deserve to be slapped?
So
in lieu of a tour I am going to find a suitable place to lay my head
and see about hiring my own guide. Hopefully, I can find a
semi-knowledgeable naturalist. There are many treasures within this
park to include myriad varieties of flora and fauna. Tigers,
leopards, rhinos, sloth bears, and a crocodilian by the name
of gharial all
dwell within. With any luck perhaps I will get a peek at some of
these jungle denizens. There are jungle lodges within the park's
interior which would be ideal. However, staying at some of these
places requires organ donation as the rates are steep. It is probably
worth it just for the experience but I think I will give slumming it
a try before I part with a kidney.
Heeeeeeeere,
kitty, kitty, kiiiiiiiiiitty.............
Nepal has been on my list of places to visit for many years but I did not know where to go and what to see but thanks to this blog, I know now! So grateful for this article and the pictures!
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