From India to Nepal (dawn of the sport bus riding)

One of the great things about traveling through Asia is the availability of various transportation methods one can enlist. We had been traveling with a driver, van and even one of Shalab's friends Laxman to help with logistics. Kev had run out of time and it was time for him to part ways from the crew while the rest of us headed across the border into Mahindragar Nepal to experience the life of public transport in Asia.

Setting off early we found a jeep to drop us close to the border. There is a one lane bridge packed with people walking, biking, bussing, or riding rickshaws across the border. We opted for the Rickshaw option. We spent a bit of time at the India Immigration office. Though hordes of people were crossing the border we were the only ones that stopped at immigration. It seemed an entirely optional process. Once we got an exit stamp on the ole Passport we were waved through customs and entered the 2 kilometers of no mans land between Inida and Nepal.

Walking with the India rickshaw drivers we were quickly stopped by the local Nepali Rickshaw Union. It seemed we nearly started a turf war. After some stiff negotiations we switched to the Nepali Rickshaws and headed for the bus station. (photo Will Stublefield)

Arriving early we had plenty of time to secure our gear to the roof and prepare ourselves for the 18 hour bus ride from hell. (photo Will Stublefield)

(local women collect fodder for the livestock)

We headed across the wild western front of Nepal. Once a Maoist strong hold during the long years of instability in Nepal few westerners traveled through these regions till recently. 10 years ago Unisef was doing large scale food drops to feed the hungry.

The charming and quaint small towns along the Indian Nepal Highway

A typical reaction when someone sees a kayak for the first time.

After the savage bus ride we reached the beautiful mountain town of Pokhra. We would base ourselves here for the next two weeks sampling the classics and waiting for the water to drop on the Humla Karnali our big mission for the trip. (photo Steve Bates)