It was my 2_th birthday this year. A woman is not supposed
to disclose her age so a man his salary. So, following this statement, I am not
revealing my age either. Where was I? Yup… it was my 2_th birthday this year on
28th February, which I like to mention as two times Valentine’s day to entail
it more special, me and my friend cum sister Amrita, we two girls decided to go
on a one-night stay birthday celebration hike to Chisapani.
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| Birthday Girl |
I already had been to Chisapani before so the way was
familiar to me. I am a frank person so I had told my parents that we two are
going. They were okay but as usual, more than my parents, my brother started nagging on and about my
travel because I usually say that im broke. Hard to believe but true. I don’t know
how and why I am usually broke. I barely spend or buy new stuff and always need
to ask for money or let’s say loan. It seems I have an invisible hole in my
pocket and the money drops from there.
In Amrita’s case, going two girls only amidst the woods
brought the chills on her sister’s spines. Managing to convince the family, we
girls headed to the celebration destination. Amrita had to come from Teku and
I, from Godawari,so two different routes. Therefore, we agreed to meet each other at the
Sundarijal Buspark. Honestly, I am titled as one of the punctual ones making
people think like ‘Well, she is very punctual. Could that be she has some
relationship with Japanese?’ Well, jokes apart. This is not true. I just talked
about this because I made her wait for 30 minutes. It was not my fault either.
It was the problem of the local transport; that Sundarijal Express bus. ๐
After catching her up, we two girls started our upward
journey. The army checkpoint/ticket counter in Sundarijal is just a few meters
above the bus station. Upon buying the ticket worth NRs 105 each, one can pass
through unless you are the local villagers living up there. We were queried if
we could make it up there because we were just two girls and the place where we
were heading, Chisapani, lies in the National Park. We showed our guts and responded
bravely that we would fight with the potential harm using the sticks and
stones. Since the way was overall safe, we were permitted to enter. The danger for
me was only of humans (thieves and loot) and that’s it. I did not have fear of wild
animals because I knew the dangerous one would be just leopard and are
nocturnal. Haha! However, I just feared for my gadgets.
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| Me and Amrita |
On the way, I bought a bottle of ‘Chhyang’ (Home-made Nepali
rice beer). It just cost me NRs 20. To be honest, I have tried every of the
alcohols from Chhyang to a very hard drink as well. I would like to stress ‘TRYING’ not ‘DRINKING’. Thank you for your understanding. We walked and
talked about ourselves, the things happening around us, the girly talks to be
precise. We ate boiled eggs, boiled potatoes, fruits, and Wai Wai noodles on the way and saw the
footprints of the nocturnals (probably a leopard).
We did not take the uphill route passing through the dense
woods but took the rough motor route instead, passing through the village. We
met many young groups on the way, staring at us, who probably were thinking ‘What
the beautiful gutsy girls?’ We went through the short way, passing through ‘Dhaap’. It is
almost half an hour faster than the usual one but is very uphill like the one
we did not take. On that uphill journey, we met two middle-aged men who
asked us if we were alone. I was witty enough to say, ‘No, we are not. Five are
coming and we happened to walk faster’. Of course, it was two of us and telling
the truth in such a scenario is always a No!
After crossing ‘Dhaap’ I was shocked to see the motor-way
constructed there. The way was wider than my last visit because of the ongoing
road expansion project. Then we reached our destination. People were looking at
us and one of them finally managed to ask us if we were alone. And finally, we
replied ‘yes’! It took us about 5 hours to reach to Chisapani from Sundarijal
Bus Station including the time of rest.
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| Devastated Chisapani after an earthquake |
Then the search for the hotel was another headache. 2015
earthquake had damaged a lot of houses there which were operating as the guest
houses. There was a newly constructed, well just before the earthquake and no
damage were incurred in that hotel. We asked for the room there and we got it.
I am very quick at making relations with people. So, I started calling the
hotel owner as Uncle and we stayed there as kids. Well, we were asked our age
and the level of the study. No one needs to tell the truth to the stranger
innit? Therefore, we lied again. Knowing the truth what would he do? So we
lied. We walked down the hotel and explored the places. My friend Amrita even
climbed the Rhododendron tree. I wore the creepers crown and became a birthday
girl and we took lots of selfies. Coming back to the room, we Tried ‘Chhyang’.
Stress: TRIED.
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| My birthday dinner |
We then had our simple vegetarian cuisine of Daal, Vaat,
Tarkari, and Achar. It was not that delicious. It is because I am very picky
about vegetables. Anyway, making the stomach full, we ended our day and kept an
alarm of 6:00 am for the next morning and had a good night sleep. Since it was
for my birthday, we even got the discount on our lodging. Now see the power
of addressing people from family relationships 'Uncle'. Moreover, we didn't need to pay for the return permit as he talked with the counter man addressing as his nieces hahaha.
The next day, the foggy view of the sunrise was splendid
too. Again, we snapped each other. Then at around 7:30 AM, we left for
Kathmandu, our homes. We took another route which I have earlier mentioned
while coming to Chisapani as uphill. So, this time, it will be a downhill
journey. However, for about an hour it was an uphill way. We saw different
species of birds in the way. Capturing them in my lens, I was enjoying the
morning. Amrita was ahead of me. Then she noticed a group of Kalij Pheasants. I
could not capture them in my lens as they were very smart to figure out our
presence and they are quick to run. We were just talking about Kalij when we
heard the purring sound from the leopard. We were immovable for a moment to
make sure it’s a purring. It purred again and then we walked so fast like ‘THE
FLASH’.
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| Chisapani Checkpost in the morning |
Being away from there and walking amidst the dense
Rhododendron woods, we were bit relieved. The chirping of the birds which
sometimes was like whistling was the scariest because my friend Amrita told me
that the loots whistles as the signal for having the trap and loot. Well o
well, what needed more. There was a footstep sound coming. I ran a bit but
Amrita did not so I had to stop as well. Upon stopping and waiting on her, I
saw a man coming down. Now, what needs to be added to the fear. He approached
nearer and nearer. Praise be to God, he was alone. Collecting all my guts, I
managed to ask him if he was going to Kathmandu as well. He replied ‘Yes’ and
scolded us for coming two girls alone. As per him, it was the place where a
leopard and its cub was sighted a few days back. We thought he would walk with
us but damn! He walked so fast that we could not walk with him.
Talking about that fearful scenario and walking all the way,
it was so full of fun. One of the unique Happy Birthdays to me. Then we reached
the check point and checked out. It took us around 3 and half hours to reach
down to the Sundarijal Bus Station from Chisapani. Overall, I had a hell of a
fun on my birthday. I love this kind of birthdays. I wish my birthday
celebrations to be always in nature. I had been to Chisapani three years back
on my birthday as well but companion was different. ๐
Stay tuned for another blog of my travel experience. I bet
you would enjoy the girlish, feminine and exciting extrapolation of my
experiences. Hasta la Vista Amigos! Hugs & Kisses.
