Life in rural Nepal is hard.

Life is simple but hard in rural Nepal with just the basics of survival to be considered. Many families live in houses as below and have to preform tasks as washing in the river and feeding the animals through cutting grass. Its a male dominated society which is changing slowly and you will always find the ladies of Nepal as some of the hardest workers in the world.

The first photo is of a typical Tharu house in the southern regions of Nepal, made of everything they can find locally so its easy to repair and maintain.

The second is of two young ladies performing a typical task in rural Nepal. Every family has livestock and its usually the girls job to feed them by cutting grass and carrying it back home.

The third is related to something we all take for granted the washing machine. In rural Nepal people dont often have electricity so daily chores are done by hand. 

The beauty and vastness of the Himalayas

I have to admit when i was a child I read many stories of the Himalayas and loved the photos in the books because of the harsh beauty of the mountains. But I never really understood just how vast this range was (having walked up Snowdon in a few hours and spent many days on the Black and Malvern hills) until I went on my first trek to Mount Everest. Just walking for days along tracks that have been regularly used for generations you look out into the surrounding scenery and see a land that is hard and bleak but has an attraction for many including myself. Why i really dont know but if you go there once you will see.

The starting point of the trek in Lukla from here its walk, walk walk.

The first couple of days these Buddhist markings are all along the track, one day I would like to find out what they are for.

The Mountain people have used natural materials to try and make a life here but in certain times of the year it has to be very hard. 

The highest monastery in the World enter here and feel the peace.

Chitwan

Todays photos come from Chitwan or more importantly the animals you can see there. Because many people associate Nepal with the Himalayas they dont know that just a 100 miles to the South are sub tropical areas teeming with wildlife. After a hard trek in the Mountains its a great way to relax by spending several days in Sauraha watching the world go by.

One of my all time favourite photos, an Elephant taxi rank. They even park the same way by reversing in.

 With the importance of tourism the one horned rhino has become a symbol of Chitwan and many people come to see these amazing creatures.

 I would tell everyone to do this as spending half an hour in a dirty river with such a lovely animal was excellent.