Chitwan National Park, Sauraha

We found out today that we will not be able to get into Tibet and China as we hoped. We knew that the border into Tibet has been closed and we hoped it would be open on the 26th July but it will now not be opened until early August at the earliest.
It is sad that we won't get to Tibet but hopefully I will get another chance some time soon.
This means that we leave the truck behind, fly to Thailand and do the rest of the trip on public transport.
It also means I can get rid of my thermals, no cold weather now until I get back to the UK next year, yay!

we visited a school today that has been set up to help teach the local women skills to help them earn and also to provide them with some independence. They learn how to sew, make clothes and paint. Many women have 4+ children and their husband do not contribute money to the household. There are also many drink problems here and the husbands spends all his money on alcohol. These programmes help the women provide for their families. Children are also taught here.
We also went to see a family who have been given land and a house to live in rent free until they are in a position to buy there own land and build a home. The father, Tagu, works at the hotel we stay at , The Mona Lisa, and it is the hotel owner who has provided the land and house. This is the third family who has had this chance and it usually takes around 3 years to get back on their feet.

Keshab took us out today to visit some of the local villages and the local school today. There is so much poverty here, but the majority of the people want to work and be able to provide for themselves. There is a lot of good work being done to help these people out. The people were all very welcoming and the kids were following us wanting their pictures taken. It was very humbling to see how they live when we have so much at home.

Myself, Brian, Orla and Rachel helped out at a health care day that was set up by Keshab, who is the owner of the hotel we have been staying in. He helps to improve the local community as there are many poor familes. Today was to provide free health care to the people who need it and also to teach the children basic hygiene. We spent many hours teaching them how to wash their hands and scrub their nails. They all were fantastic, and no one cried when faced with us and a pair of nail clippers!!
The children here have so little but also seem content, there was plenty of laughter and cheekiness, it was so good to see. A very rewarding day :D

this website provides some information on the work that is being done

http://www.childwelfarechitwan.be/Child_Welfare_Chitwan_english/Namaste_Welcome.html

Suresh works in the hotel and is getting marries this weekend. I arrived on the actual day of the wedding but the celebrations had already been going on for 2 days before that. He had invited Rachel, Brian, Peter and me to the festivities and it was amazing to see.
The families were very welcoming to us all and by the end we were like part of the furniture. I arrived by bus at 1230, picked up by Madan on a bike, quick shower and change at the hotel and by 130 he was dropping me off by the temple!! The bride was very beautiful and the outfits were gorgeous.
The next day was another get together, and the final day in the wedding celebrations. A fantastic lunch, in Suresh's village

Tonight we slept in the jungle, hoping to see rhinos, wild elephants and tigers. Sad to say we didn't see the big animals but we did spot deer,wild boars.and the fire flies put on a spectacular performance. There is a watch tower with basic bedrooms and plenty of viewing platforms, we arrived about 530 and gave up for the night around midnight. The night was clear and the moon was full so visibility was pretty good. Unfortunately the big animals didn't want to come out to play. Madan (our lovely guide) and Brian both snore pretty loud so myself and Rachel didn't get much sleep. Me and Brian were back out at 430 trying to make the most of first light but still only wild boar and deer made an appearance. It was a fantastic experience and one I can hopefully repeat next time I am here, obviously with the added extra of rhinos, tiger and elephants!