goodbye India, hello Nepal

..goodbye...

Whenever the time arises to leave a country I have mixed feelings. Those of slight nostalgia for the people and places I have got to know and began to love interspersed with the anticipation of something exciting just around the corner, or in this case, behind the border.

This could not be more so when, the time came to leave India. I thought that after 6 months in the country I would at least be able to give some sort of summary of this vast and varied place but no. The contrasts are just too many.

From beautiful forests of the national parks, arid deserts, river flood plains and the Himalayan peaks to the unbelievably hectic cities with some extraordinary architecture, it would hardly be an exaggeration to say that India has it all. Sure, India is always the in-your-face kind of place, which can be frustrating if you don't manage to put yourself in the mood for it. but once anything is expected India becomes a great place to be in. I will certainly miss the generosity and openness of its people, as well as the craziness, surprises and freedom.

With regards to my personal journey I more or less achieved all I wanted to in India. Most notably, after many months of traveling I was beginning to feel like doing something useful as well as having a break from not knowing what I'll be doing tomorrow. And as it so often happens in life I found myself in the right place at the right time which resulted in me not only coming into contact with the Baiga and Gond tribes but also working with them and being part of a project, that is of great importance to their livelihoods and the wildlife they depend on.

It will certainly be interesting to see how they get on. Which leads me to the question. "will I come back?"
Most definitely!

...hello...

Coming from Rishikesh, the closest border into Nepal was at Banbasa.- probably the friendliest and most hassle free border crossing ever. And so far, the whole of Nepal has been pretty relaxed. For some reason that I have not figured out yet, this country seems more developed than India. which officially is not the case off course. But it is quite a bit cleaner and seems better organised. The roads are in good condition and break lights of most vehicles work! The vibrant Kathmandu where I am now is probably the most convenient city I've been to since ...well a while anyway... Everything is here- culture, history, great food. and much more.

Prior to arriving here, and a day stop in Lumbini I spent 4 days in a great little resort just outside the gates of Bardia National Park.

The Park itself is a refuge to some rare wildlife and the day trek within was certainly worth it.
There were some special moments.

I'll stay in Nepal for a few more weeks.