Rhinos!... and a tick in my eye 12/20

Up at 6:30 for a toast and omelette breakfast before our jungle walk departure w our two guides into the Chitwan park. It was really foggy so we didn't go until 7:30. We started w a canoe ride down the river. It was pretty cool w the fog. Although you couldn't see a ton, we could see birds, an alligator, and the sun trying to push through. I couldn't tell it was a gator, it's head was barely above the water.  

We landed and walked not for very long until we saw a herd of spotted deer. There were a tons of them, the males had huge antlers. We saw tons of birds, peacocks, parakeets, Eagles, black iris, blue heron, 2 different types of kingfishers. We came across another gator and this one was out of the water w his mouth open just chillin. 

Then we saw some rhinos!! The guides spotted them across the river grazing. We had a really good view of them. The guides made sure we didn't get too close so they wouldn't charge us. The rhinos butted horns for a bit, then the male tried to mount the female! So close, one more try and it didn't work. The guides said he lost his step on the wet grass. We watched in awe for about 20 min. 

We walked all around the park and found a place next to the road for lunch. We had a packed lunch of veg noodles (they made them so damn spicy it hurt). Then we waiting for an hour hoping a tiger would cross the road, the guide saw a couple days ago. We walked through trees w lots of monkeys trying to deficate on us. So cute. 

When we were walking through the forest, there were a bunch of gnats. In our face. I thought one got caught in my eye so I tired to get it out. Finally I asked Andy for help. The guide said its a tick, use your nails. A fucking tick in my eye?! Andy didn't have nails so the guide used his (great). They like to go for warm soft spots the guide said. Ugh. Later the guide said small but poisonous (I'm pretty sure he wasn't joking). So far I can still see out of my eye, I guess the morning will tell. 

We saw on the watchtower for a bit, enjoying to view of the grasses. When we got to the top Andy saw two blacks bears. They bounced away before I could see them. The guides tracked them to the tower. They were pretty good guides.  The locals burn the grasses "in a controlled fashion" (I missed the controlled part).  They were carrying wood out of the park for fuel. The men were only carrying one log (although it was a long one). But the women were carrying heavy ass logs on their heads. These women are beasts! Same deal on the mountain. Men doing shit, women doing all the heavy lifting. Funny. 

We headed back before 5 when the park shuts down. We had to take one last boat ride across the river, right where another huge gater was chillin. I'm glad we chose the walk instead of the jeep ride. I'm not how those riders couldn't have seen all the wildlife in a loud car. Back at the same restaurant for some momos in tomatoe soup (so freakin good), fish fingers, and veg pizza. Andy is missing meat and that doesn't sound good to me at all. We get to sleep in tonight. Tomorrow, baby elephants!!