Date: 2023-06-12

Today was an adventurous day for me as I embarked on a journey to Gadhimai temple with my friends, Diwas Pandit and Bishal Jaiswal. We decided to have a bike ride from Simara to Gadhimai temple, which is located near Kalaiya, the headquarters of Bara district in Nepal. We were excited about the trip and looking forward to a day of fun and exploration.

We started our journey from Simara, taking turns riding the bike with my twin brother. The ride wasn't without its challenges, as we had to stop twice for bike maintenance due to issues with the chain guard. It was frustrating because wewanted to reach Kalaiya as quickly as possible. However, we didn't let the setbacks dampen our spirits and continued on our way.

Upon reaching Kalaiya, Bishal was already waiting for us. Before heading to Gadhimai temple, we had to go through a biometric process to obtain a passport. Thankfully, we arrived early and were the first ones in the queue. I was fortunate to be the first person of the day to issue the passport. The biometric process took around an hour, and our allotted time for the queue was two hours. I couldn't help but think that if there was even one more person assisting, it would have made the process much smoother and quicker, benefiting not just us but others as well. My twin brother even guided people during the process, saving them hours of waiting time.

After completing the biometric process, the three of us set off on two bikes from Kalaiya towards Gadhimai temple. As we rode through the plains of Terai, surrounded by a few trees in large fields, the temperature soared to a scorching 37 degrees Celsius. Despite the heat, we were thrilled by the experience. After reaching Gadhimai temple, we spent about 30 minutes sitting on the benches near the ponds, enjoying the cool breeze under the shade of the trees. We couldn't resist taking a few pictures to capture the moment.

Since Bishal was a resident of Kalaiya, he showed us some other historic places beyond Gadhimai temple. He even took us to his home and graciously offered us lunch. The spicy lunch filled our stomachs, and the cold water provided much-needed relief from dehydration. We must have finished three bottles of water between the three of us. We spent a good two hours talking and sharing stories before it was time to head back home.

The time we spent conversing under the shade of the trees on that less humid day was truly one of the best experiences I have had. The peaceful surroundings and the company of good friends made it a memorable day. Reluctantly, we said our goodbyes and started our journey back to Simara, aiming to reach our destination before 5 pm.

As the day drew to a close, we couldn't help but reflect on the exciting adventure we had just experienced. The bike ride, the temple visit, and the time spent bonding with friends were all highlights of the day. We were grateful for the memories we created and the opportunity to explore a new place together.