TRAVELS w/P: Tales of Adventure Here & There

Early morning travel to the park: we pass flowers of every conceivable colour. Moon flowers grow wild here and are still open. Pass fields of cotton and sugar cane, banana, coconut and mango groves. Villagers are just waking. Children at community well collecting water. Cocky roosters crowing and ruffling feathers at side of road. Passed one home where family of 8 (?) still sleeps - together, clothed, on mats outdoors under thatched roof.

Morning mist just lifting from forest floor. Ant hills shaped like sandcastles, some as tall as me. Worn paths leading from interior jungle to well trod watering holes. Jungle fowl (wild chicken). Towering teakwood and rosewood and sandalwood trees. Just passed a wild boar and skittish spotted deer with a huge rack, one waddling the other leaping and bounding. Golden orioles flit. Dang! Met up with another jeep; they just spotted a tiger!! Incredibly elusive. Seldom seen. Missed by mere moments. Sitting quietly now in same vicinity. Patient. Hopeful. Guides are excited by the sighting. Eyes peeled.... Another wild boar. Peacock. Languar (monkey) in tree. Wild dog chasing deer.

Awww. Back on the main road to resort. Could easily, happily spend entire day parked anywhere in this space, listening, breathing deeply, watching.

In this region I've noticed the villagers paint and decorate the horns of their cows. Seemingly across India January 15 is a festival day of the bull, an honoured deity. Everything appears worthy of honour in this wonder land.

At dinner last nite, sat with a handsome young couple from Bangalore (both are high tech engineers). One week newly wed. Three day wedding, 1000+ guests. Have known each other six months. Arranged marriage. Told them about the strange temple of many painted elephants happened upon during earlier travels. They suggested this place may have been practising black magic - Veda voodo if you will. Curious to research more about this.