Apologies if I tigeress....
I can't believe we have been out here for a week already! It feels like only yesterday that it was Christmas party time in the office...
Our day started with a "walk" (about three steps) to see the local Tharu community. These people work the local flat lands, providing for their families as well as selling on crops. Their houses were largely built of not-so-robust looking bamboo, and rendered with "holy cow dung". I'm not sure where it's the cow or the dung that is holy, but it didn't seem to be doing a great job against the elements. Once we had learned about the communities, seeing what a turmeric plant looks like and hearing a bicycle that payed jingle bells, we walked further away from the lodge for some birdwatching.
The guide was well equipped with his "birds of the Indian Subcontinent" book, and we were given a pair of binoculars to share. What ensued was a very slow amble through the misty morning, with various species of birds being pointed out to us (some of which I saw, some I didn't). These ranged from pretty kingfishers, to large storks, small warblers and more common doves. It was good to finally be able to put a name to some faces (or beaks?) but I don't think that I personally will be taking up birdwatching any time soon.
After lunch (at the usual time of 11:00) we set off for our jungle drive. The first part was a short jeep ride to a boat, where we crossed the river marking the border between the buffer-zone and the national park, and entered the park. Here we got into another jeep (best sports bra on and sit bones and shoulder blades mentally prepared) to continue into the park, via a number of army-manned checkpoints. The scenery inside the park was fairly similar to the buffer-zone, just less utilised by the locals.
We saw a large number of deer (hog, barking and spotted), before pausing to listen and look for tigers. Unfortunately I missed what was the head of a tigeress as I was distracted by a very scared wild boar that simultaneously launched itself in front of the jeep, presumably out of fear! Said tigeress or indeed any tiger did not make a reappearance, but in any case the day was punctuated by some fascinating sights. These included the "other" breed of monkey to those surrounding the lodge - a regal looking type with black faces and white manes - as well as a number of rhinos, one of which was taking a dip in the river.
In the evening we were treated to a Tharu cultural dance, given by twenty or so of the villagers. This was quite enjoyable, with a lot of banging if bamboo sticks, and wailing song. Less enjoyable perhaps was the bit where I had to join in, but oh well, all in the spirit of the trip I guess!
I can't believe we have been out here for a week already! It feels like only yesterday that it was Christmas party time in the office...
Our day started with a "walk" (about three steps) to see the local Tharu community. These people work the local flat lands, providing for their families as well as selling on crops. Their houses were largely built of not-so-robust looking bamboo, and rendered with "holy cow dung". I'm not sure where it's the cow or the dung that is holy, but it didn't seem to be doing a great job against the elements. Once we had learned about the communities, seeing what a turmeric plant looks like and hearing a bicycle that payed jingle bells, we walked further away from the lodge for some birdwatching.
The guide was well equipped with his "birds of the Indian Subcontinent" book, and we were given a pair of binoculars to share. What ensued was a very slow amble through the misty morning, with various species of birds being pointed out to us (some of which I saw, some I didn't). These ranged from pretty kingfishers, to large storks, small warblers and more common doves. It was good to finally be able to put a name to some faces (or beaks?) but I don't think that I personally will be taking up birdwatching any time soon.
After lunch (at the usual time of 11:00) we set off for our jungle drive. The first part was a short jeep ride to a boat, where we crossed the river marking the border between the buffer-zone and the national park, and entered the park. Here we got into another jeep (best sports bra on and sit bones and shoulder blades mentally prepared) to continue into the park, via a number of army-manned checkpoints. The scenery inside the park was fairly similar to the buffer-zone, just less utilised by the locals.
We saw a large number of deer (hog, barking and spotted), before pausing to listen and look for tigers. Unfortunately I missed what was the head of a tigeress as I was distracted by a very scared wild boar that simultaneously launched itself in front of the jeep, presumably out of fear! Said tigeress or indeed any tiger did not make a reappearance, but in any case the day was punctuated by some fascinating sights. These included the "other" breed of monkey to those surrounding the lodge - a regal looking type with black faces and white manes - as well as a number of rhinos, one of which was taking a dip in the river.
In the evening we were treated to a Tharu cultural dance, given by twenty or so of the villagers. This was quite enjoyable, with a lot of banging if bamboo sticks, and wailing song. Less enjoyable perhaps was the bit where I had to join in, but oh well, all in the spirit of the trip I guess!
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