The big vehicle goes much slower than the smaller jeeps we were in the other day. There are 5 sections in the park and only a certain number of vehicles are allowed in every day. When you get to the park, the guide gets to pick a number and that determines where you go. The morning safari drive was in section 2.
We saw monkeys, deer, birds, peacock, and beautiful scenery. There were huge 'rooty' banyan trees and lovely rock formations. On our way out of the park, someone in the group spotted a tiger! Photography was impossible with all the dead, dry branches but I did catch her for a fleeting moment.
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| See the tiger? Really, it's there! |
We could see the walls of Fort Ranthambore way up high. It was quite a drive to get there plus our guide told us the walls were the most impressive thing about the Fort so we didn't go there.
A buffet breakfast was served when we got back, then I hurried to my room to have a shower. Hot water is only available from 5 - 11am and from 5 - 11pm. I located a Diet Coke and a lovely table and read for a while.
At noon I went for an aryvetic foot massage. It was supposed to be 30 minutes long but it was more like 40. The masseur was quite young and I was surprised to find out she has only been doing this for 4 months because I thought she was great. She applied a lot of pressure to unusual spots on my feet and my sore spot was very painful. But afterwards it felt marvelous! I asked if I could take a photo of her, then she wanted one of me and one with me and so did the other lady in there. Indians sure take a lot of cell phone pics!
Lunch was another buffet and it was quite delicious! At 2 pm we gathered for another safari. The weather was nice and warm but not overly so. In the second safari ride we explored area 4. We saw most of the same animals as before but also crocodiles swimming and sunning themselves on the banks. There was a beautiful lake in zone 2 and birds were swimming, feeding, fishing and a male antelope (?) was pulling up water grasses and chowing down while various birds sat on his rump looking for ticks.
We spent a lot of time sitting around waiting and changing places. It wasn't the most exciting safari I've ever been on and the guide wasn't as good as this morning's guide. C'est la vie!
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| It's not a great peacock picture but they are very difficult to photograph |
There was tea or coffee waiting for us at the hotel and I enjoyed 2 cups of chai. It sure tastes much better here than at home and everyone else thought so too. Back at my room, it was pleasant to sit outside in one of the chairs on my porch while I typed this diary.
