Welcome to Anna’s Diary
On life, health and nature
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Nepal’s new government
Nepal’s new government is led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who took office in spring 2026. People seem to be very happy with him. Two days ago, I travelled from Pokhara to Chitwan, and we had a stop at a café. They started to talk about the new Prime Minister, and they had his photo on the wall, as you can see below.
Nepal prime minister He seems very popular, and they told me he used to be a rapper. Young people lead the government, and they have reduced the number of working days. Not only are Sundays days off, but now Saturdays are too. He will have about five years, I think, to make changes. A lot of corruption is being stopped.
We passed by a bus, and the new Prime Minister was on the back of one of the local buses.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah on a bus poster Yesterday evening, after the safari, we had a little get-together. The local people, the generations surviving malaria and Dengue fever, performed dances. We all had to join at the end, and we danced in a circle just like we do in Sweden during midsummer.
After the traditional dance I guess this must be this trip’s music. Always some music when travelling. Professor Thapa sent me to the Electric Pagoda in Kathmandu, but that evening there was no music. I had a nice chat with the owner, and he showed me how the rhinos walk in the streets in Chitwan. That made me even more curious about the rhinos.
As always, I like to be on time before travelling. Nice to relax a little and to enjoy the moment right now. Leaving Chitwan for Kathmandu. Ending by showing the new Prime Ministers rapping.
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Through the eyes of a tiger
At the moment, I am sitting on a veranda; the cicadas and some birds are singing. I know the mugger crocodile is there because I saw it this morning. Splashing before diving into the water. It is not a mother crocodile as I first thought, but a mugger. Someone who is eating another crocodile’s prey.
The mugger crocodile The moon is very sharp and shaped like a bowed machete. I spotted the Big Dipper (the plough) – not horizontal as it usually is, but vertical. There are some mosquitoes, not biting me since I have mosquito repellent. The malaria has hit hard many centuries ago, but people have survived. Our guide thought it was due to drinking rice wine, but I doubt it.
The moon I have had a fun day. A boat filled with tourists: me and people from Germany. I totally had to trust them since we were in the same boat. The gunwale was almost taking in water. We were all very still since we saw the crocodiles enjoying the sun.
Where is the tiger? The afternoon was a safari looking for tigers and other animals. I came here to see the rhinos, and I was very happy about that.
The rhino with a bird on its back. There were at least seven of them. I saw the paw of a tiger, and I told the guide I was very happy about that. That is what I do when I go for walks with Molly. We always see something like the paw prints of a deer or an elk. Then I know that they are close and shy.
Tigers paw print as big as my hand 
A shy tiger I think the tiger saw us, but we didn´t see the tiger today.
Stay safe 🐾
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Chitwan – the heart of the jungle
Today I travelled five hours to the Chitwan National Park, where the rhinos, elephants, tigers, leopards, and birds are. We passed the flood, and it was dark due to the mud. People are missing, and there are people waiting for phone calls that never come again.
Flash flood, black muddy water I am a lifelong member of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and I am very happy to learn that people work to preserve the wildlife in Nepal. Snakes are captured in the villages and carried back to the jungle again. The little rhinos are protected from the tigers till they grow up. And so on.
A glimpse of a tiger There are so many activities during the daytime, so I am totally exhausted in the evenings. No time for reading because I need to write my memories from the day. Instead, I have learnt a lot from the local people.
Chitwan sunset Tonight I am sleeping very close to a river where we spotted crocodiles earlier. I do hear birds and the cicadas, wishing that I had this sound every evening. It is so peaceful. Getting up early to meet the sunrise again.
I feel precious -
Dashain festival and floods
A big festival is beginning in Nepal. Unfortunately, a river has flooded and swept away houses and bridges. Please see BBC News:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ck86zppejjw3o
I feel so sorry about this. I got this as a little present, and it feels like I am participating in traditions. People are very friendly.
My deepest thoughts and prayers for Nepal in this dual festival-flood moment 🙏
Dashain festival -
World Peace Pagoda
I woke up very early to see the Annapurna Himalaya. I sure am lucky because the other day was cloudy, so you couldn´t see anything.
A beautiful day. Professor Thapa has a nephew in Pokhara, and I met him today. We made an excursion to a Pagoda on a hill. Swedish mountains are hills. Mountains are those with snow on top.
The Pagoda felt so close, but there were many steps to walk before reaching the Pagoda.
I will write more later, and I would just like to add some memories and write more a little later.
Professor Thapas nephew 
World Peace Pagoda 
The Pagoda 
The lake with all fish -
Machhapuchhare
I feel overwhelmed again by the view outside my window. I have a little balcony, and I couldn´t resist taking a photo even though it is dark. Machhapuchhare (the fishtail) is hiding in the darkness. It is a great feeling knowing that the fishtail mountain is there. Sharing the photos below. It feels sacred, and I understand religion in this moment.
Machhapuchhare, the fishtail mountain 
Pokhara They say I have been lucky. Yesterday, the fishtail wasn’t visible. Now, of course, it cannot be seen. I’m getting up early to see the mountain at sunrise.
