Two Girls in the Woods:My 2_th Birthday

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.

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. 😃

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. 

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.

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.

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’.

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. 😉

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.