Before the Safari, I went on a recommended walk in the area around the Homestay. Yes Linda, I was unaccompanied!
So, Im still in the Terai, the tropical lowlands and here people live in a very authentic traditional way. Its amazing to see but, I can understand modernisation will come eventually and I don’t think I would want to live that way. It’s tough!
Everyone says Namaste, or just openly stares at me. I’m getting quite used to this as I’m always a bit off the beaten track. Or maybe its beacause Im so beautiful, hahahaha!
I can’t seem to understand the people here at all and later I found its the local language of the Tharu, peoples of Southern Nepal and Northern India.
The people work the land and use resources from the Jungle. If they lose out to the wildlife they can be compensated (my hosts support a charity for just such a thing) but, I can see there is a huge conflict as they are just scraping a living and the population is growing.
I saw a dead goat, with a woman sat looking forlorn nearby. I managed to establish from the woman it was a big cat (probably a leopard)that killed it, the hind quarters had been ripped away.
This is the risk living next to the park buffer zone. There is a fence but in places its broken or just non existent. I couldn’t read the signs so I didnt go anywhere where near. Apparently at my homestay they have had the odd elephant at the gate too!
And we worry about the odd mole or rabbit!
Lastly I want to talk about moving bushes, well not really but that’s sometimes what they look like in the countryside.
I would like to be able to catch a picture of the people from the front but, that seems just too rude when they are working so hard. Men and women carry vast loads of grass, weeds, wood, straw, leaves to their homes. They have a strap across the forehead and Ive seen the it in the city and in the country.
Can you imagine saying to someone in the UK, just go and collect food for your animals, we’d just pop to Tesco’s in the car and probably complain about the traffic!
The Travelling Bee 
You just be careful not being accompanied lady….go fund me before Christmas May be a bit hard as everyone here seems to be on strike! I agree it’s a hard way to live and we are absolutely spoilt here. Can you imagine going to Tesco’s to get your pet food and being told the only way you can have it is not in the car but strapped to your head and you have to walk it home! As you say we complain when there’s a traffic jam or an inch of snow when everything comes to a standstill…what hardship!! We really and truly don’t know the meaning of it! I am so enjoying the journey with you but stay safe and no risks! Love that they are feeding you well 😂😂😂
Much love
Linda
Xx
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