CHITWAN PARK & ELEPHANT SAFARI

Heading out of Katmandu on our way to Chitwan National Park. We drove a very windy barrow road to the southwest and there seemed to be a jarring pothole at every bend of the road.. Waterfalls cascading down lush forests during the entire drive 

At Chitwan we stayed in a vast wet plain of rice farms and small villages. 

Rice paddies very patiently planted in rows throughout the area. These farmers would walk through the terraces and did weeding and tending of the plants

A little ink drawing of the paddy fields and pathway and a farmhouse in the background left.

The early morning view from our house with thick gardens and vines growing everywhere

In Chitwan National Park at the elephant reserve . Large flowing rivers supported large herds of buffalo, Indian rhinos, deer and even a few tigers wander through the preserve. We were to go into the park for two days on safari and explore the parks marshes and forests.  

We had four elephants for our group and covered a lot of miles in the two days.

We stumbled onto a pair of Indian rhinos, a mother and teenage daughter. And followed at a good distance (they are quite dangerous when spooked). We all moved pretty slow but we were told it was rare to even catch a glimpse of one, let alone a pair of rhinos

The tropical rainforest in late afternoon sunset breaking through a light monsoon curtain of clouds. The razor grass earned its name. Every time I walked through a field of it I managed to get cut at least a couple of times.

After the safari they took the animals down to the river and we swam with and then washed down the elephants. We would climb up and then jump off, climb up again and then "hosed" down by the spraying elephants trunk

Back in the village I went walking through the countryside and visited some other villages and people that lived in them.

I would see elephants all over the countryside. Frequently they would be carrying freight loads or passengers.

Little ink sketches of people working the fields 

A nice little old lady with extensively tattooed arms that I met walking on the road. Took a shot of  her and she wanted a "copy" of the photo (like a polaroid). I tried to explain that it didn't work like that. She didn't like the answer and hit me with her umbrella

Sunset in Chitwan. This was a beautiful little harbor for local fishermen.

Grandmothers tattooed hands and granddaughters dirty bottom

Local kid eating some beetle nuts and staining his hands from the juices

Small house of the one of the local "mayors" that I had a chance to sit down and chat with. He knew English well enough that we could talk a while and talk about his family and village. Pleasant chap and we had a glass of the local beer while we talked.

A little ink drawing of Hemraj, the bull elephant. I met the owner/driver and his family and spent a good amount of the day with them. Got to ride Hemraj and he lifted me onto his back with his trunk. Also brushed with teeth and felt all the way into the back of his mouth to his cinderblock molars.

Helping Hemraj's driver put his passenger carrier on.

All set, belts in place and ready to go.

Not many cars out here. If you don't walk you ride bikes. In fact George feel so in love with these certain Nepali bicycles that he bought one and had it shipped home to LA. 

The elephant owners neighbors kids. A really cute bunch and didn't need any prompting to get a great group portrait photo. I really like this photo above.

While wandering around the countryside I stumbled into the local elementary school which was just staring to fill up with students. This is the headmaster in his office and explained to me how the school worked and what subjects were being taught. Gave me a little tour of the school

I really like this little "sketch" of this girl sitting in her classroom. Place was as bare-boned as you could get with a simple bookshelf and a single blackboard at the front of the class that hadn't been painted in long time.

More kids in their different classrooms. Lord knows if they have seen how stuffed with junk and materials the average American classroom is.