Jan 16, 17 (Kashipur, Jim Corbett Park)

(Post by Kristie)

Last I left off, were headed to Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve for a safari day. We boarded an open-air bus around 11 and set off - it was pretty much just our group and one newlywed couple we picked up along the way. After completing their own Indian adventure, they'll be moving to Schaumburg, IL. Small world!

The safari felt a lot like a tour through one of our Iowa state parks - it was very hilly (we can see the foothills of the Himalayas from here) and thick with forest and jungle growth except for the incredibly narrow path for vehicles. We had heard that only 30 vehicles can be in the park at any given time - but we did see several tours on these Jeep-like vehicles called Gypsies. As you might imagine, there aren't very many roads within the park so we often had to negotiate passing over roads and bridges that didn't seem wide enough, but always were. After traveling on Indian roads through crowded towns we were well prepared for a few close calls.

I was mesmerized during the first part of the trip at how quiet and calm and still and fresh the park was. To smell moss, trees, grass and damp earth was a nice change to the dust and smoke that greets us each day.

So here's the bad news: we didn't confirm seeing a tiger. But here's the good news: we decided that if we didn't stop to really check it out, we could convince ourselves that we had seen several. I personally counted 7. We also saw: spotted deer, barking deer, samba deer, monkeys, peackocks, a partridge, wild boars and a jackal. And a rare jungle fowl. (Okay, it was actually a red jungle fowl but rare jungle fowl sounds so much better. Almost like it's not just a wild chicken.)

Midway through we stopped at a lodging area to take a walk and look at the dry riverbed below (which we drove over and through several times - it was amazing to see all of these large smooth rocks for a distance in either direction and imagine it being filled with water during rainy season). We stupidly had left some of our lunch in the bus, and one particular monkey made quick work of stealing it as soon as we departed. I have a photo of him eating away at a sandwich on the side of the vehicle.

Jason thought he'd use this opportunity to take some shots of the monkeys, so he was following them around for a little while ... until one slowly started to approach him from the side. When Jason turned to look at what was approaching, the monkey bared his fangs! According to the story, Jason screamed like a girl and then ran away without actually getting a shot of the monkey trying to attack him, which he regrets today.

We continued on to an area that was more of a flat prairie with tall grasses ... and then headed back to our starting point. It was a long day, but a great adventure!

After reaching the hotel, we rested for a bit and then had dinner with the Rotarians at the hotel. Jesse had found some microwave popcorn somewhere along the way (he's been craving it the whole time!) so was happy to find that the hotel staff was more than willing to pop it for him. He understood that there was a microwave at the hotel, but was surprised to find that they had taken it out of the bag and popped it the old fashioned way, then delivered it in a basket! This hotel has excellent service and they make every effort to accomodate every request. We've been spoiled!

Jan 16
We slept in a bit this morning and are now checking email. We will have lunch back at the hotel, then set off for a 2-3 hour drive to Pant Nagar. We understand this is an agricultural area, so it will be interesting to compare it to home.

We have just a week left, yet so many things to still see and do. We're all missing home a bit, but are anxious for each new day in this amazing place. We're definitely creating memories for a lifetime. Thanks to all the love and support from home!