Chiya brought by our friendly Hotel waitress who is a little darker then most nepalis, and similar to a few of the ladies we have seen in the past week have tattoos on the inside of their arms or on their hands. Tattoos as in some parts of Australia appear to be undergoing a bit of a trend in Katmandu at the moment, but these appear much older and more native in style. When we traveling on the metro in Delhi I noticed a few guys with them on their hands also. Will have to see whether it is a racial or religious or caste thing. It seems to be more consistent with the darker southern peoples rather then the more mongoloid northern.
Roll the bikes into the alleyway from the hotel and load them up ready to go. Slight hassle with Soph's rear derailleur but thankfully after a little resetting it seems ok. Out onto the Highway once again and join the flow of traffic heading east.
Easy rolling along flat relatively smooth tar. Towns spread at about every 5kms. Places seem relatively clean and the green patches makes the cycling quite pleasant. Surprised by Soph's exclamation of surprise from behind and a "did you see that?", obviously not. Pull over to the side and look across and a guy is wandering along the other side of the road with a stick and a massive black bear on a chain. Don't hang out or go across to the guy as I don't want to encourage the guy. It is hot down here on the Terai and I am pretty sure that the big guy would not be down here if it were not for the chain and the stick.
Just out of town the Betana Wetland conservation area which looks clean and green, quite refreshing. Race a couple of kids just to veer from the usual, and it turns into a drawn out sprint.
Little memorials on the side of road back at the edge of the jungle. Shaped in mixture of shapes from small chorten style to small house shaped likenesses.
In one section of tree covered fields small tea bushes like a consistent pruned hedge undergrowth but with large tree cover interspersed so the tea appeared to be in the shade. The Himalaya tea gardens.
Houses like you would find in either Lismore or Darwin raised houses with verandahs and ripple iron rooves surrounded by date or banana trees.
Plantation eucalyptus trees running for paddocks in the fields to our left. Further down a poplar plantation. Soccer fields in eucalyptus every now and again.
Invited to sit down outside a general store by an older grandfatherly figure. We take up the offer as we need to grab water anyway. Settle in and draw a crowd at both the store and than subsequently at the chiya place just down the way.
Stop at Damak which feels much larger then reflected on our map and seems bustling. Through town and just before the bridge over the river a Hindi temple on the left side and a Buddhist one on the right. The river itself is flowing and clear. A refreshing change to so many rivers now in central nepal. We discuss and have to conclude it is likely a population factor rather then specifically an amended system.
Tourist welcome sign that includes an owl like bird and a python. Nice. Will keep my eyes open should we choose to explore any of the jungle.
Pull over under a tree 7kms or so from Birtamod. Turns out to be next to a school and so we meet various teachers mixed with other locals out the front. It is really nice under a large tree in the afternoon light.
Make Birtamod our chosen stop for the night which similar to most of the centers since Itahari have the same style and structure. Not too bad, but unfortunately the main river in town is a cesspit. Hotel Villagio looks quite nice and out by itself. Marble floors that look really well laid and the rooms with mosquito nets and generator from 6pm guaranteed fans.
Watch kids riding their bikes through a pool of water on the far side of the road before good dinner at the hotel and a bit of cable. Bodies still a little put out by the exposure to the summer sun and heat, but getting better.
Roll the bikes into the alleyway from the hotel and load them up ready to go. Slight hassle with Soph's rear derailleur but thankfully after a little resetting it seems ok. Out onto the Highway once again and join the flow of traffic heading east.
Easy rolling along flat relatively smooth tar. Towns spread at about every 5kms. Places seem relatively clean and the green patches makes the cycling quite pleasant. Surprised by Soph's exclamation of surprise from behind and a "did you see that?", obviously not. Pull over to the side and look across and a guy is wandering along the other side of the road with a stick and a massive black bear on a chain. Don't hang out or go across to the guy as I don't want to encourage the guy. It is hot down here on the Terai and I am pretty sure that the big guy would not be down here if it were not for the chain and the stick.
Just out of town the Betana Wetland conservation area which looks clean and green, quite refreshing. Race a couple of kids just to veer from the usual, and it turns into a drawn out sprint.
Little memorials on the side of road back at the edge of the jungle. Shaped in mixture of shapes from small chorten style to small house shaped likenesses.
In one section of tree covered fields small tea bushes like a consistent pruned hedge undergrowth but with large tree cover interspersed so the tea appeared to be in the shade. The Himalaya tea gardens.
Houses like you would find in either Lismore or Darwin raised houses with verandahs and ripple iron rooves surrounded by date or banana trees.
Plantation eucalyptus trees running for paddocks in the fields to our left. Further down a poplar plantation. Soccer fields in eucalyptus every now and again.
Invited to sit down outside a general store by an older grandfatherly figure. We take up the offer as we need to grab water anyway. Settle in and draw a crowd at both the store and than subsequently at the chiya place just down the way.
Stop at Damak which feels much larger then reflected on our map and seems bustling. Through town and just before the bridge over the river a Hindi temple on the left side and a Buddhist one on the right. The river itself is flowing and clear. A refreshing change to so many rivers now in central nepal. We discuss and have to conclude it is likely a population factor rather then specifically an amended system.
Tourist welcome sign that includes an owl like bird and a python. Nice. Will keep my eyes open should we choose to explore any of the jungle.
Pull over under a tree 7kms or so from Birtamod. Turns out to be next to a school and so we meet various teachers mixed with other locals out the front. It is really nice under a large tree in the afternoon light.
Make Birtamod our chosen stop for the night which similar to most of the centers since Itahari have the same style and structure. Not too bad, but unfortunately the main river in town is a cesspit. Hotel Villagio looks quite nice and out by itself. Marble floors that look really well laid and the rooms with mosquito nets and generator from 6pm guaranteed fans.
Watch kids riding their bikes through a pool of water on the far side of the road before good dinner at the hotel and a bit of cable. Bodies still a little put out by the exposure to the summer sun and heat, but getting better.
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