Travelling through Nepal into India

Travelling down from Kathmandu to Lumbini on the boarder of Nepal and India was fabulous. I stopped off along the way at Chitwan National Park. It was amazing. Vast scenery, with a real local feel to it, like going back in time.

I went on an elephant ride and saw six wild Rhinos - very 'out of Africa' moment - fantastic. I also visited a local tribal village - Thuru - and met some of the local children. A very humbling experience. The families don't live in brick houses but huts made out of mud and ox manure - all the children wanted were pens and for me to take their photo - which they loved. These people have so little. No running water directly into their homes, electricity. On one hand you I wished I could change their situation but on the other I couldn't help thinking that sometimes you just can't change things. They are what they are and if even if you did makes changes would it necessarily make it any better?

Lumbini is the birth place of Buddha so for me was a fabulous experience and definitely a highlight. The area itself was very peaceful and there was a temple next to ruins which I popped into. As luck would have it sitting in the temple was a Buddhist Monk - BINGO. He wanted to bless me. DING, DING, DING, JACKPOT! I was in awe. Totally overwhelmed as not only had I visited the birth place of Buddha I was also blessed by a Buddhist Monk in the temple next to where Buddha was born. Just put this into context for you - for me it really doesn't get any better than that. I literally ticked a zillion boxes on my 'things I have to do before I die' list. I was elated. See pic above to see just how much!! FYI it's me and my healing hands (due to a reiki course) at the birth place of Buddha.

The journey from Lumini to Varanasi was long - over 10 hours, how nice - but the scenery more than made up for it. That and the 80's music which me, Kylie and Brooke insisted on playing on my ipod speakers (best leaving present ever!). Phil Collins singing 'you can't hurry love' rang through my ears as I lay my eyes on the Ganges for the first time! God love Phil.

Crossing over the boarder from one country to the next is always a bit of an eye opener as the atmosphere and the scenery almost changes immediately. You know as soon a you enter India. Different smells, mainly sandalwood burning, sounds - more honking of the horn and the enormous variety of colours ranging from the Saree's to the shop fronts. You also notice the stares. And I mean goorping stares from the men. It's really odd as you'd think they'd never seen a western woman before but nevertheless their jaws virtually drop to the floor when they see you and their gaze follows you for what seems like forever. Dark glasses help and the ability to shut yourself off from it. You get stared at no matter what so you have to get used to it. At least I definitely will as I intend to stay in India for a few months!!