The great white punters

So if you want Marijuana Nepal is the place to be, it grows like a weed along the streets here and is offered a number of times a night in Thamel. The bushes were particularly noticeable in Chitwan National Park where we have spent the last 3 days south west of Kathmandu, to be more precise we have spent the last 3 days minus 12 hours of bus rides at Chitwan National Park. This park is a bit of an extravagance for Nepal, mainly because it is set on highly prized lowlands where agriculture is comparatively easy compared to the heavy efforts required to grow a crop in the steep highlands. It boasts an impressive array of beasties, ranging from the Big (Elephants and Rhino's) to the small (errr... mosquito's).

We booked a package deal and stayed at the splendid sounding Royal Tiger Safari Lodge, which was actually bloody good, if rather empty. Seems in Nepal that as soon as anyone has a sniff of success then there are immediately 30 competitors offering the same product or service leaving all struggling to survive. Anyway, best food we've had all trip (we had meat, oooh yeeesss), as well as spacious room with lights that went (subject to Grid outages as per usual), ensuite and sit-down toilet! Luxury. Activities, while they sounded pretty cheezy going in, turned out to be good as well. Highlights were chasing rhinos through the jungle on elephants (pretty surreal that was), and the Tharu people cultural program - locals dancing and singing on stage, but not nearly as bad as you would expect from say "an evening of Maori Magic". These blokes had stick dances, twirly fire sticks, peacock pantomime costumes and drag queens - helluva show.

Only dissappointments were not seeing Tigers or Snakes, and to be honest on the jungle walk, after having the correct procedure explained to us for running away from different animals, I was somewhat in the "hope it gets rained off" camp.

Back in Kathmandu for another couple of nights then off to Tibet early Saturday morning.