“Bunds”, or strikes, are becoming an all too regular part of Nepali life, with various groups trying to argue their political stance. My grasp on this is rather vague, but since the King was booted out, there now seems perennial squabbling as everyone tries to state their case for the country’s future. This usually means blocking all the roads for a day and generally causing inconvenience. As a tourist though, it can make for interesting times, as my recent journeys have proved. Leaving Hetauda for Royal Chitwan National Park then, required some unconventional means.
My sadness at leaving the refuge was quickly overwhelmed by downright fear as I found myself balancing on the back of a motorbike with all my luggage strapped precariously down behind me. Ganesh, a generous Nepali friend, had kindly offered to take me past the roadblocks on his small Honda. His first words “Quickly Mike, we are late” did not bode well and as he screeched through Hetauda I looked at my flimsy trousers and became concerned, “Not good if I fall off” I thought. About a mile further down the road, I then thought “Never mind your legs, where the bloody hell is your helmet?!”. With a 2 hour ride ahead, Ganesh began his first attempt at the land speed record whilst I held on for dear life. After a while though, my fear subsided and I began to enjoy a great ride across the Terai, with the blue Rapti river flowing to our left, and the high Mahabharat mountains to the right. We got through 3 roadblocks without too much trouble but the fourth was on fire and our chances looked slim. Some nice words from Ganesh, and a bemused smile from me though, and the kind chaps allowed one vehicle through their blockade - our trusty Honda. With a clear road ahead, Ganesh made his second attempt at the land speed record. The speedometer though, still read 0km/h. We made it to Chitwan and I had beaten the Bund, and whilst I started the day gripping tightly to a motorbike hoping to avoid the oncoming trucks, I ended it gripping tightly to a canoe, hoping to avoid the oncoming crocodile… but that’s another story.
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