Kathmandu to Chitwan

Kathmandu to Chitwan 

Why does the bus take up to 5 hours if it's only x kms? Well, some sections of road are "sealed" and the bus barrels along at 60kph. More often, it's 10-15kph navigating potholes and broken surfaces. We had a tourist bus because the local busses are not considered as safe. And there were 5 non-Nepali people on the 40 seat bus. The road winds along the river, with hairpin bends every 40-60m. Designed for shorter people. When someone leans back, there isn't a lot of room for taller Western legs. But everyone smiles, even those with children on their laps.

One small baby slept the whole way. The mother and grandmother alternately provided lap space. Now I am wondering whether disposable nappies have reached Nepal. I can remember seeing them in Indonesia, along the road.

Many of the places I have stayed have had a 1.5m grey wall around a compound, often with some form of storm water drainage in a trough outside. Inside the metal gate, people sit under trees, with manicured, if dusty gardens. Often you can see older people with hand held scythes cutting the grass.  

Yellow Marigolds can be up to 1m tall, pink red flowers on bushes next to deep purple flowers. Another common plant looks like vibernium, but is about 40 cm tall, with pink flowers.

Each hotel seems to be run by an extended family, and during then day an assortment sits under the trees or under a thatched roof open enclosure.  



Our rooms have AC but I prefer the overhead fan.  Our beds are hard, and I have seen people in villages airing or sun drying the  contents of flock filled mattresses.