Our day started with an early morning jeep ride across the river into the Nepalese jungle,the Chitwan national park. Sadly it was too misty to see much although we frightened a deer and disturbed some peacocks,hornbills and stone chats. We stopped off at a watch tower hoping to see a rhino in the wetlands below but were disappointed although there was plenty of fresh dung around. We tried another riverbank but only saw some swans and ducks but enjoyed our packed breakfast. We were quite surprised to find a heavily defended army post in the jungle that we had to check in at.They are apparently protecting the animals in the park and have an elephant to use on patrol but we didn't see him.We returned toy the village to pack our bags and have an emotional farewell to our hosts.As their very first guests we hope we set a good standard for those who follow.Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and not at all grabby we all hoped it would remain so.Another 5 hour bus journey beckoned. But first because it was Shiva's second marriage anniversary and a national holiday,the kids were not at school but instead strung a rope across the road and we had to pay a small toll to cross.This carried on for a few miles ,even on the main road but by then our driver refused to stop as it was no longer small kids. Bizarrely we were told the money traditionally was used to buy marihuana as today it is not illegal to smoke it.We drove on further up into the mountains,passing alongside deep river valleys and then along plateaux with fertile terraced field systems through a few large busy towns where we stopped for supplies and loos.Some villagers were holding big religious celebrations and there were armed police on the periphery and given the number of police checkpoints (that didn't affect us we are a tourist bus) it was a reminder that not all is well politically here.In the late afternoon we arrived at Pokhara,Nepal's second city and according to Indians we met in Orcha a "party" town. we walked around the Main Street which was full of bars,restaurants and clubs.There were no beggars or people hassling you to shop etc like India and it did have a very safe feel so we could understand why the Indians would feel safe here.The young ladies in our party certainly did. For dinner we went up onto a terrace restaurant that overlooks the lake that forms a natural boundary between the town and the mountains which dominate it.It was certainly cooler here and a brazier warmed us as we ate.On our stroll back we stopped at the bonfire built in the street and watched as the locals warmed up sugar cane and then smashed them on the ground to produce an explosion.We had noticed all day people walking around with sticks and now we knew why.Not quite the traditional fire celebration for Shiva's wedding but certainly entertaining if not a little dangerous as bits of hot cane flew about.