NEPAL. NOVEMBER 2008 In 2004 we went to India and while on a train Ann talked to a young person, Shanka and said he would be welcome in the UK anytime, giving our em address on a scrap of paper. 5 years later he contacted us, stayed with us and so we decided to go to Nepal. In Kathmandu was a lovely old city (as I write this, now mostly destroyed). We went on a flight over Everest. Our first game reserve was the more little visited site of Bardia National Park, almost on our own, no electricity. Few birds or animals but village life was interesting, very behind the modern world. Next was a flight to Pokhara with lovely views of the mountains, pretty place. It was here that we picked up our driver for the rest of our holiday. Our first stay was at Tansen, an old town. The scenic drive to Tansen was beautiful. Very few tourists here, which we both like. We drove to Lumbini where Buddah was born and where there were many temples built by different countries. It was soon off to the popular Chitwan National Park where on an elephant ride we saw several rhinos At close quarters. One of our highlights was going on to stay with Shankar’s family in a small village, going with the children to school and walking around the village where there were no other tourists. Now on to Damen which is quite high up with wonderful views of the Himalayas. Our last stop before Kathmandu was at the old town of Bhaktapur with its beautiful old wooden buildings, not so many cars as only locals could enter the city. Kathmandu and home with lots of memories.