I started the journey early in the morning in Lumbini at 8
am checking out and saying good bye to the friendly family owner of Lumbini
Garden Lodge and headed to the main street 100m down the road to wait for the
bus. Immediately I was approached by someone offering to take me to the border
of Sunuali for 800 nepalese rupee. Its better he said by taxi for the bus will
take forever.
Now that I was traveling alone again, I was determine to do
it the local way as terrified as I was. The bus came shortly after and I hopped
on only to get off again for I needed to chuck my backpack on the roof of the
bus. It was a mini bus where they pick up people along the way all the way to
Bahraihawa. 50 Ruppee for the 1 hour ride where I was standing all the way in a
sardine pack bus.
Once we arrive at Bahraihawa everyone got down and
thankfully my bag was still there and not drop off the road somewhere behind. I
gave the nice kid who climb up and returned my precious backpack a tip of 5
ruppee.
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| Rickshaw Ride to Border town Sunualli |
Rickshaw hoarded around the bus and the first person asked
me if I want to go to the Sunuali border. How much I asked and he cheekily said
1000 rupee. I gave him my best smile and a slow hand wave goodbye. Not 10 steps
down another rickshaw guy asked the same question and this time he gave a more
reasonable price of 100 ruppee. Imagine the bus ride of nearly 30km cost me
only 50 ruppee and yet the rickshaw ride of about 5 km was going to cost me 100
ruppee. I took it anyway for I could spare the money and also I was lazy to
scout for the dirt cheap ride.
Pedal pedal pedal … it was a quiet ride, peaceful till we
were near the border. The rickshaw finally asked me a question. Where are you
from? Malaysia I told him and not surprising, he used to work in Malaysia for
two years in Malacca. He said that in another two months he will be going back
to Malaysia to work once his visa permit was finalized and this time somewhere
in Johor.
Sunuali border was as I expected a busy little town filled
with money changer and people trying to sell rides everywhere into India and
into Nepal. First order of business was to get a money changer and dump all my
Nepalse rupee for Indian rupee.
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| Sunuali Border Town |
First one I went to did not have any Indian rupee, and so
did the few others along the way. I was now going from shop to shop a small
worry starting to build up for I had to get rid of the Nepalese rupee before
crossing. I have read in the internet that across there was no money exchange
and no ATM. I needed to get rid of Nepalse rupee and get some Indian rupee to
survive. Finally one shop had some Indian rupee and I change the large amount
of 7000 Nepalese to 4200 Indian. I still had small change close to a 1000
Nepalese ….
Next was immigration. It was one of those border that you
could just walk though and no one will check if you even cleared the
immigration. Asked a few uniformed officers and they directed me to the
Nepalese immigration office which was deserted of any people. Walking in a nice
chap took my passport and thought I was entering Nepal …. Exit I told him and
he processed it and gave the departed stamp next to my Nepalese Visa …. I wont
have any problems entering next time with records of overstay.
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| Exit Gate from Nepal-Sunuali to India-Gorakphur ( Nepal Imigration on the LEFT ) |
For some reason I decided to ask him information on busses
to Gorakhpur and he said to avoid all the touts selling rides to Gorakhpur from
the Nepal side. … go into India and take the bus from there its about 93 Indian
rupee he said. What about money changing I asked and he told me the opposite which
was to change everything I had in the Nepalese side for there are many cheaters
in India money changer.
U-Turn I made after than going back to find more money
changer to change off my balance of 950 Nepalese to 564 Indian rupee not
knowing I still had 20 Nepalese in my back pocket.
With money sorted I walked over to the Indian side. If I
first thought Nepal was grime, India side was filled with rubbish and covered
with dust. At the gate the officer waved me over asking me for passport.
Imigration I asked and he said no, police check point. Looking at my bag and
using his hands to feel and molest it he was thinking if this innocent looking
guy was carrying anything illegal. He decided to spare me the full search and
wave me though.
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| Walking Over to India side of the Wall |
Immigration was a 100 meters down the road on the left he
said. I walk up to a small little shophouse with a sign that said Immigration
and that all foreigners entering India should report here. Walked in and I was
literary in their office. I think I was the only tourist for the day. Put down
your bag they said and take a seat. I passed them my passport and they assumed
I was leaving India …. No enter I/ said. … Oh.
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| After the Gate ... Spot the India Immigration Signboard ?? |
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| Walking Closer ... Immigration on the LEFT |
One guy went around rummaging the place and came out with
the arrival card. After filling up he took my passport and I saw him start up
the computer. Five minutes later he stamp the entry into India and I was on my
way.
Note : I Got my India Visa in advance in Portugal ... its somewhere in the blog
 |
| India Immigration Office |
Welcome to India.
I ignored all the touts walking straight looking for the bus
stop.
Gorakhpur? Gorakhpur?
Yes I said hesitantly and the guy offered 100 rupee same
price as the bus to bring me to Gorakhpur. Bus very long 4 hours but car only 2
hours. Why I did not take the offer I had no idea but I was stuck to the idea
of going the local way now. I mean I had taken the local bus from Lumbini to
Bahraihawa, a rickshaw to the border and now I was determined to finish it by a
local bus to Gorakhpur. I found the bus further down and it was 93 rupee to
Gorakhpur.
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| Walking down the main street to find the Gov Bus |
I was lucky the bus did not wait long and soon we were on
our way. The ticket attendant took my 100 rupee and never gave back any change.
Expected I guess. So it was a 100 rupee ticket then. Along the way we were
stopped 3 times by police checks near the border. One couple was pulled off the
bus for they did not have any papers as far as I understand. They were from
Nepal. Police or Army with guns would stroll up into the bus and poke at bags
and question the passengers.
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| The Local Local Bus to Gorakphur |
My backpack next to me was also in question. As I did not
understand a word he said I just said yes it is mine. Soon I understand he
wants to inspect it and I opened the top drawstring before he said stop and
plunge his hand as deep as he could into my bag. My only thoughts as that time
was if he was planting a bag of something into my bag. OK he said and we drove
off. I immediately reopen my bag and plunge my hand to check if there was any
forigned objects in it ….. Thankfully none.
Second checkpoint and one of the officer asked me a few
question which I had no clue what it was. English?? I asked and the look of
surprise was shown in his face. Passport he said. I gave him my passport and
with his best English or the only words he seems to know in English was – Where
are you from? Malaysia I answered and he returned my passport feeling smudge.
Third checkpoint and another officer targeted my bag just
before decided to leave the bus. Open he said and as I started unclipping the
buckles and opening the drawstring he waved me stop and dun bother sign and
left the bus. 3 checkpoints on the road and finally over with.
The bus ride took 4 hours exactly to reach Gorakhpur.
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| Gorakhphur - India |
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