Bardia National Park, Nepal 10th November 2022

Yesterday we drove from Lumbini to Bardia National Park in western Nepal, thankfully on better roads than the day before.  We're staying at Babai Resort for 4 days and today we had a full day jeep safari.  We had a day of assorted deer and monkeys.  But the highlight of the day was seeing a large male leopard walking down the path in front of the jeep.  We stayed with him for some time while he meandered around. It was a magnificent sight.  
Some of you may have heard about the earthquake in Nepal which happened yesterday.  Just to reassure you that this occurred near the border with Tibet, far from where we are.  Unfortunately six people died in the earthquake.

It's been a difficult few years for Nepalis.  The major earthquake in 2015, followed by Covid.  The economy ground to a halt and many people had no work and no income during the pandemic.  Our trekking guide, Santos, told us that as well as the effect of the virus which killed many people, the suicide rate increased.  And then heavier than usual monsoon rains destroyed peoples homes, washed away bridges and many roads. These people are incredibly resilient and self sufficient, and they have no choice but to get on with it.

Tomorrow we are going on a jungle walk; bearing in mind there are tigers, leopards and wild elephants out there, we will be armed with sticks to protect ourselves.