March 12

Today Jeff awoke at 0600, having great internet, and it went offline by 0700 when I awoke. I wondered if we would get caught up in the blogs, that were stacking up due to my '”down time.” So we leisurely got around. I was even able to have some coffee. Our check out time was extended to 1100 am, last night by the guy checking us in, since we are coming back here for Friday night. Also, he assured us that we could store a piece of luggage there (for the three nights until we return). We went down for breakfast at 0900. I thought I was up for a great breakfast, but smelling the food cooking… well, I was feeling green. I grabbed the key and went back up to our room. Thankfully, I was able to take some nausea medicine, no issue. I went back down and only had buttered toast. Jeff ate the rest, a Masala Omelette and Poha.

We returned to the room, and rearranged our luggage. We are leaving our biggest bag here, which worked out fine. We went down to check out and have our bag stored – out of the Zostal Hostel by 1100. We went out to the main road and Jeff tried to get an Uber. No luck! I'm going to digress here… we have had our Indian phone numbers cut off! No warning, just off a couple of days ago. We both had recharged and had time left on the accounts. But we guess after 90 days, you are done, if you don't an Indian ID. This was never related to us or we would not have bought the extra time!! Anyway, enough about that, it's just frustrating and out a little money… lesson learned. Now, back to the main road. Uber was not working here, and he can't use the Indian apps now. So we got in a shared tuk-tuk. There was the driver, another guy and a lady. Our one bag fit nicely in the back, and we kept our two carry-on bags with us. We did not get very far and picked up another lady. The guy went up front with the driver, and the three of us ladies were in the official seat, while Jeff was straddling me (on a half width seat), so as not to be touching the other ladies – it a real thing here.

We arrived in the town of Ramnagar, paid for our shared ride. Jeff gave him 50 Rupees (60 cents) instead of the 40 Rupees (50 cents). His smile was priceless, amazing. We were asked to be let out on the road right by some taxis. One pulled up and Jeff bartered, and we loaded up in his car taxi. We go the six miles on gravel marginally, smoother, smaller road. The driver was using Jeff's Google map from his phone. This is common, but the gravel road suddenly came to a river (the Kosi River, I later discovered)! Our driver did not hesitate and plunged right in, crossing the river, no problem! Thankfully, so!!! We arrived at De Floresta. Whew! What a ride to start our Indian Safari Venture!!! We took his number… for obvious reasons. Jeff also paid the driver extra… for obvious reasons. 

Anyway, we checked into our Hotel/Resort. We had to wait a few minutes as they finished cleaning the room. The manager is supper nice and the head of hospitality, Mr. Prim(?) is very humble and nice as well. Mr. Prim is the only one who officially introduced himself, so I shook his hand. The manager was there and said Mr. Prim is from Nepal. I beamed and said we will be going there in eight or so days. He smiled. The resort is a very nice place, clean and comfortable. We have a hot pot for water for my coffee, and couple of chairs with a coffee table – again for my coffee. But the best is the whole bathroom! It's not going to be a wet bathroom after we shower. Yeah!!

So we unloaded, and I was finally able to put up some blogs!! Then we had a light bite to eat. We decided to go check out the pool. All swimsuited up, but having one look at the pool, we opted – we were not going swimming after all. So we went back to our room and changed back out of our suits, and went for a walk about instead. There is a nice loop on a very quiet gravel road that we did twice. We saw a camel being lead home, I assume. It was all decked out for tourists rides. We saw a few other resort type places along the loop and the monkeys. (Mr. Prim told us to not leave our doors, because monkeys would enter.) Finished, we went back to our place, for a cool down. Sure enough, a monkey came up on our second floor balcony and looked in, saw Jeff – who had moved to see him, then skittered away! Cheeky little monkeys🐵🐒!!

This place has an activities rooster, and Mr. Prim had rang our room bell at 530 pm to remind us of this event. Jeff, told him we were planning to come down. On our way to restaurant we could see sunset, but only with some difficulty. (Unfortunately, this area is filled with lots of smoke pollution from burning). Around six pm we went down for tea and cookies. The chai was good and hot, with the “biscuits” being properly dunkable. (you have to read this line with a British accent in mind😊!) No one else was there. We were surprised! Questions?! Finished, we went back to our room.

Next event was light music at 730 pm. We could hear it from our room. Again Mr. Prim buzzed our doorbell to inform us. Jeff thanked him. We down. Around five or six people were sitting around a firepit with a nice fire going. But as soon as we turned to go in the little common yard area they lit up a hookah. We casually turned back around and went back to our room. I blogged some/Jeff read. We went back down 830 pm for supper (it does not start until 830 pm.) So we thought we would be okay. No, we had to wait for 15 minutes. India time baby!! Anyway, it is so late. It was not the greatest for me. I had some sliced veggies (red carrots, red onions, cucumbers, white radishes and tomatoes with little lime sections); Jeera (coriander) Rice; a small bowl of sweet corn soup; and a 1/2 of a Roti. Jeff, sampled a little of it all – adding Mix Veg Curry; Dal Makhani (that was with the rice); Chicken Masala; and Gulab Jamun (a dessert, of which I tried a bite). It was all so good. I wished I could have had a bit of everything. But I started feeling mildly nauseated and since we were down we went back to the room. They started Karaoke as we were heading back… the first song – Yesterday, once more, by the Carpenters! We got back to the room, I took a Zofran, and then sat to finish this blog. We were serenaded to Be Gees, Staying Alive and one other recognizable tune, Chiquitita, by ABBA. It was kind of fun to hear. Then at 945 pm they stopped and went to supper! They do eat so late here.

I finished the blog and we went to bed by 1030. I don't know when the next blog will be. God bless to all. (Maybe pray we are blessed with a Tiger sighting!)