Nepal 1998

Email - November 11, 1998 - Chitwan National Park

I was glad to read your last message. I am getting bored here because Gary is so mellow and likes to sit and read at all of the meals. He sleeps in late and takes long showers. As you know, I am more into moving all of the time.

In the Chitwan National Park we stayed at a little place in the park that took on Nature walks and boat rides every few hours. The first day and a half were really boring because they took on walks were we saw nothing and did nothing. Finally the last day we saw a Rhino. We went out for our nature walk and followed the Elephant riders on foot. We were going through the bush, getting leaches on us and thorns in us. A few times we actually had to retreat to get away from the rhino. It was really cool. Later that day we took a ride out on the elephants sitting on their backs, not in the little platforms. Elephants have very pronounced backbones. We hurt so bad by the time we got across the island an hour later. I have never been elephant sore before.

Now we are onto the shopping portion of the trip. I am looking a buying a lot of different things for a lot of different people.

I want to bring you back here some time. I think you could enjoy it. I would like to take you trekking, and jungle hunting. Most of all I want to travel with you. It is much better when you are with me. It is less than a week before I see you now; I can't wait.

Journal Entry - November 11, 1998 - Chitwan National Park to Katmandu

Got up at 5:15 as usual! These was a Rhino across from camp. He hung out until it was time to take pictures. As soon as it got light enough he took off. We went for another walk, this time with the 2 Danes and an English group. I saw the Rhino about 4 brief times. It was a longer walk than usual.

After breakfast we began the Journey home. It would sure be nice to be able to read or sleep on the bus. About ½ of the way back to Katmandu, the traffic backed up and we stopped for about 1 hour. The rumor was that a boy got hit by a car and the family was blocking the road. The boy was apparently not hurt badly. We finally got back into Katmandu and were dropped off the bus quite aways outside of Thamel. We took a Tuk-Tuk back into Thamel.

We had dinner at Fire and Ice. An Italian style pizza. It was good but like Giovannis' pizza.

Journal Entry - November 12, 1998 - Katmandu

Was a very slow day. Shopped a little, ate a lot, went back to Casa Blancos for Indian food. It was fine but not as good as the time before.

Journal Entry - November 13, 1998 - Katmandu

Shopped a lot today - bough saffron, chess set, knives (Khur???). Gary came down with a case of food poisoning. I ate dinner alone, felt crummy afterwards. Gary has his flight to India on the 15th.

Journal Entry - November 14, 1998 - Katmandu

Felt really rotten all day. Stayed in bed most of the day. Bought a rug for $60. Bought Anne some earrings.

Email - November 14, 1998

I will be leaving the hotel in about an hour. I hate this time spent with nothing left to do but wait. My bags are probably overweight, I do not know how much that is going to cost. I did get rid of all of the food and a few of the books.

I wanted to remind you about the Leonid meteor shower. It is supposed to be fantastic. Talk to Lockett about it if you want more info. I think it is on the morning 3 - 6 am on the 17th and 18th.

I will be a few hours closer to you soon.

Journal Entry - November 15, 1998 - Katmandu

Gary left today. I had him drop me at Pashupat on the way. It is a Hindu/Buddhist temple. It is weird to see a body burning on a funeral dire. As soon as I got their