January 20, 2008 Jan Webster
The seven of us heading for Mysore had stacked into our respective train compartments last evening not really knowing what the night might bring. Ten hours later, Christine sounded the wake-up call. Most of us slept well but none was eager to use the facilities. As we gathered our things, Christine and Elyse mentioned that a porter had found a camera during the night. It was mine. Finding Stephen I explained the situation and he went into full-support-mode to track down the camera. Unfortunately, the porter had taken it with him when he got off the train at Bangalore.
We stopped in Mysore for breakfast. Elyse was in heaven finding all you can eat corn flakes and COLD milk. A hot masala omelet hit the spot for Anne. After breakfast and a few more camera related phone calls we piled back in the car for a 2 & 1/2 hour ride to Mudumalai Park. Sugar cane fields and rice paddies dotted the landscape as we moved beneath overhanging banyan and eucalyptus trees. Traffic slowed a bit as we drove over what looked like layers of long grass spread across the road. Stephen explained that rice farmers lay the stalks out so that cars will run over them. This process separates the rice from the stalks and is a much quicker method than beating the stalks by hand.
A narrow road took us into Mudumalai Park a national forest and tiger reserve. Spotted deer crossed the road in front of us. Stephen said he was missing Sheeba because she has a special knack for seeing animals hidden in the brush. Soon we arrived at our destination the Chalets Farm and Guest House. The guest house consists of six individual cabins made of brick or concrete block, brightly painted and brand new. January 1st was the opening date.
As we waited for our rooms to be readied, we sat on the open air, thatched covered veranda. A cool breeze, clean air, wide open space and the shadow of Mt. Ooty created a sense of serenity. We pooled our resources for an appetizer course of masala Cheetos, orange cream cookies, salted crackers and Anne’s Dogaba chocolate with chiles and nibs. Roma presented each of us with an individual packet of toilet from Australia – 3 ply with tulips. Continuing the spirit of generosity, George offered me the use of his extra camera. I gratefully accepted.
After a delicious lunch and a short rest we jumped in a jeep and headed out for a safari. Spotted deer started our list which soon included brown monkeys, grey langur monkeys, wild boar and Sambar deer. Alas, no tigers or elephants were seen. Searching further a field, we did a bit of offroading and ended up at a river where our guide had previously seen a herd of elephants crossing. No such luck for us, though the scenery being sunset was gorgeous. After a delicious dinner, we tried a night safari. Wild boar, monkeys, and deer again made the list joined by a bison and a couple of rabbits. Tigers and elephants continued to elude us. Our guide was diligent and eager to find large animals for us but after a couple of hours we returned home. Some hit their beds and fell asleep immediately. I enjoyed a hot shower, yes I did say HOT and crawled happy, clean and relaxed into bed.
Meanwhile, back in Porur, Ruth and Ginny relished a day of leisure. Ruth spent the day in Chennai where she attended mass and then relaxed and got a hair cut at the Courtyard Marriot Hotel. Ginny joined a friend of hers who lives in Chennai and his family for lunch at the Ambassador Hotel. Back together Sunday evening, the two adventurers decided to head for the nearby Residence Hotel where the team had previously enjoyed having dinner. After walking for quite a long time in what turned out to be the wrong direction on the wrong road, they hailed an auto-rickshaw and made their way to the Meridian Hotel. It turned out to be a great evening, good food and good company as they enjoyed comparing impressions of India with a couple of American managers of the Caterpillar Corporation.
Thought for the day: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
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