Last week we were able to go with our team to a jungle area in Nepal (about 180 km from Kathmandu, normally with Nepal roads about a 6 hour drive but because of traffic, accidents on the road and construction took us 11 hours). Aside from the ride there we had a really great time. We stayed in a very simple guest house with very little electricity and mosquito nets. Nothing about the trip was glamorous or luxurious in any way but something about the simplicity of it all was really fun and relaxing. We got to ride elephants, take a canoe ride, see baby elephants, bathe with elephants, fellowship together with our team, go through a really neat training time together, pray together, get to know one another better and just have fun doing something very different than the 'everyday' together. Thank you to East Cooper Baptist Church for their generous gift to us that made this weekend possible.
A stop along the way. This is what much of the hillside areas of Nepal look like.
Ryan and Bo being crazy
Keane and Gracie loved seeing all the animals along the way and once we got there.
We were able to take two teenage Nepali girls along with us on the trip to help out with the children (we had 5 children under 3 between us) during our meeting times. They were a true blessing and it was fun to experience it all with them too. Neither of them had ever been to this place before.
I loved this sign at the entrance to the jungle.
Riding elephants was so much fun. The jungle area we were in was beautiful and our guide was really great about doing all he could to help us find a wild rhino. Keane and Gracie love elephants right now but we didn't know how they would like actually riding on the huge elpehants. Thankfully they LOVED it and were so relaxed (they even fell asleep) during the ride.
Keane on top of the elephant with Ryan
Our guide had me call on my cell phone to see if our other friends on the other elephants had seen a rhino. It was funny to be on my cell phone on top of an elephant in the middle of a jungle in Nepal!
Gracie with me on top of the elephant
The elephant slobbered on me as I got off of him
Most of our team in the truck on the way to ride in the canoes
My family! I could not be more thankful for them. Traveling all over Nepal with crazy roads, crazy food and crazy animals and they did great!
Gracie and Daddy
Amber, Tenzin, Esmita, me and Keane before our canoe trip
The canoe was so big it held our entire team. It was made by hand.
Gracie seemed to really like the canoe ride
Keane did too...this is his "cheese" face
Our family in the canoe
We went to see baby elephants and one of them tried to steal Keane's blanket...that would have been BAD
The little bridge we crossed to get back to the truck
This man was sitting on the ground by the lake we crossed carving animals out of wood. We bought K and G each a small wooden elephant that they love.
We had looked all day for a wild rhino (after being unsucessful on our elephant ride) and on our way home Ryan spotted one from the truck. Of course we all got out and ran to see him
Ryan and some of our other teammates took a bath with the elephants. They had so much fun. The elephant played with them and would try and throw them off. I think the elephant might have enjoyed it more than them because it was hot and I am sure he loved the cool water!
Across from our small hotel there was a small village area and one of the villagers owned an elephant. He let us take pictures with him. The elephants name was "circuly". It was fun and the kids were a little apprehensive but they really loved seeing the elephant.
All of the little kids on our team. They had fun playing together!
It was a great time! If you ever come to Nepal I highly recommend taking a trip to Chitwan. It is a real cultural experience and there are so many fun activities to do.
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