After about a 1/2 hour delay (not bad!) we were back on the bus, headed for the jungle. It became slowly hotter and hotter (it is hard to guess at the temperature because the humidity felt near 100%). We were told it would be HOT but words could not describe how HOT. I was once in the amazon where I could not wear my glasses because they were constantly fogged. This was hotter. Jonathan and I guessed that it was around 100 F but who knows. We took about 5 cold showers a day and worshipped the three hours of electric fan time in the evenings. That said, it was an exciting experience and I was not in any way miserable, as it might sound.
When we arrived we immediately went on an Elephant ride and saw a sloth bear. My photo was blurry, so here is one from the internet. "The small sloth bear is unique amongst the bears, as insects are its main food source. It has a long, shaggy black coat, which on some individuals appears to have a cinnamon tinge, and there is a pale white/cream marking on the chest. The muzzle is also pale in colour and these bears have a shaggy mane of hair around the shoulders. The snout is relatively long, the lips are bare, and sloth bears lack upper incisors, all of which are adaptations for their insect-based diet. The front feet are turned inwards and have large and slightly curved ivory claws for digging. Early explorers saw these bears lying upside down in trees and gave them their common name of sloth bear." We were told that these guys are rearely seen as they are nearing extinction.
A short time after this sighting, we some some wild boar and the famous one-horned rhino! We also quickly learned that these animals, very dangerous to people when we are on foot, will ignore us when on elephant which masks our smell. I have good pictures of the Rhino's rear as it turned to walk away but will have to
post later.
We were also able to see spotted deer, lizards, birds, wild chicken, monkeys and many toads.
The bus ride back was a bit stressful and both Jonathan and I had upset stomachs for the first hour. Luckily we regained our composure for the next 5 hours.
We are leaving Kathmandu in one hour!! I need to go pack for our marathon flight plan, which, interestingly gets us home about the same time as we leave. I will update from Hong Kong if possible. Here's hoping that everything goes smoothly!
We were also able to see spotted deer, lizards, birds, wild chicken, monkeys and many toads.
The bus ride back was a bit stressful and both Jonathan and I had upset stomachs for the first hour. Luckily we regained our composure for the next 5 hours.
We are leaving Kathmandu in one hour!! I need to go pack for our marathon flight plan, which, interestingly gets us home about the same time as we leave. I will update from Hong Kong if possible. Here's hoping that everything goes smoothly!