March 2nd- 7th day in Nepal.-

Today we took an elephant safari in the Chitwan National Park. Viewing this pristine jungle from the back of its native creatures was a great experience. We were able to approach animals such as wild rhinos, deer, boars and crocodiles and observe them from a much closer distance than if we were on foot or in a car. Riding the elephants themselves was another novelty, both because of the great view and the unique feeling sitting in a wooden basket balancing precariously by two fraying straps attached to various parts of the elephant. the constant swing made it difficult to take quality photos but overall the experience was great. Cian Costello

ON our first day in Chitwan we rode elephants through the jungle, took a canoe ride in the river and watched the sunset over the river and fields. The canoe was very interesting and beautiful. We were split up into 3 or 4 wooden canoes. These were no canoes one would find in the lake house in the Catskills but rather canoes carved out of trees. The authenticity of the vessels really added to the experience. As passengers we sat in wooden seats and did not have to paddle. Nepali men stood at the back of the canoes with poles which they used to push off the bottom. We floated down the river and passed the grasslands and jungle. There is an abundance of wildlife in the park and we were fortunate enough to witness many of these animals. From the canoes we saw different ducks and egrets, but our adventure climaxed when we encountered a rhino. We stopped to take pictures but we were forced to end our voyage when the massive animal entered the water in front of us. We then walked the countryside back to the elephant breeding center, where we saw twin baby elephants. We were told they are the first in Asia and only the second in the world. It was a great experience and the encounter with the rhino made me feel that we were at the mercy of these majestic creatures. Cool!! Ben Potter.