I am not sure if I have mentioned before that there are two sets of entrance fees - one for Indians and one for foreigners. We have registered as residents of India so we are supposed to get the Indian rate (if we can prove it by carrying around the paperwork, which is not a card, but full size papers).
The difference is HUGE - like 10 rupees vs. 250. Sometimes the sign says "Indian National" and not "Resident" but we always push for the local price. Randy tells them he pays plenty of taxes here! At the bird sanctuary, the guy wasn't going to but after arguing for a minute, he gave in. I think it was 85 rupees total - 25 each for Randy and I and 5 for each kid plus 15 to park. :)
So in we went. This sign was just inside, and it shows the number of birds seen there. There was an interpretive centre, but like so many things here, the idea is good and it may even be set up well, but it isn't maintained and so none of the interactive exhibits work and you just get to look. They had cool maps of the migratory patterns of each bird with buttons to push to light them up.....yeah, no worky. Oh well.
The park is large (359 acres) with a big swamp and some wooded areas too. There is a path that goes around the perimeter. I wish I knew how long it was - maybe some math head out there can figure that out, based on the acres...? Anyway, right away we climbed a watchtower to get an overall view. WOW! no buildings, no garbage, no people.
There are many deer in the park too, of several varieties. They are kind of blue in colour and a bit beefy. The national animal of India is a small, dainty deer. This is not it.
Here is Sam and Alex poking their heads out of the tower. We were surprised how safe it felt. No handrails or anything crazy like that, b
ut it was solid. Isaac didn't go to the top - I think he is not nuts about heights. Miranda did, and with all the running and climbing and jumping around, I decided I am not nuts about her up on heights!
The path is raised and paved with bricks. It is pretty smooth but I wouldn't want to have to bring a stroller or anything.
There were little offshoots of the path so you could get closer to the swamp and thus the birds. Sam took lots of photos. Of course, my camera batteries were almost dead and my extras were in the car and Ajay left to get lunch, so I didn't take as many as I wanted.
CHECK THIS OUT!!! This guy is PICKING UP GARBAGE!!! We have never seen this, in 5 months in India. Not anywhere. Ever. It was worthy of a photo. Of course, the park is supposed to be closed to food, and it is a national park, but like that matters. There was still garbage. And despite his efforts, there was still quite a bit in the grass along the paths.
This is what we loved - no cars, no noise (other than birds of course) no smells, no filth, NO PEOPLE! we have never been anywhere that you could look in any direction and not see ANYONE. It just doesn't happen here. It was a strange and wonderful feeling.
Lots of birds
, none of which we could identify. We did see some large prey birds, and some heron types, but that is as specific as it gets, folks!
Four kids, getting tired from all the walking.
We didn't really realize how far it would be - there was no sign indicating the path went all the way around the swamp. I had only one tiny chocolate bar for their sustainance. Harsh. But they did survive.
A pretty field of... mustard? don't know, but it's still pretty! These labourers were building this brick fence, and I was trying to be subtle about taking their photo, so I missed the best shot - a lady (wearing a sari, which always seems so wrong to me) with a HUGE load of bricks on her head, taking them 30 feet and then dumping them. I suspect productivity would go WAY up here if someone invented the wheelbarrow.
I finally got the video to work! yay! here is a 360 degree view I took when the fact that we were ALL ALONE sunk in. There were other people in the park, but only early on - they never came in as far as us.
There were little offshoots of the path so you could get closer to the swamp and thus the birds. Sam took lots of photos. Of course, my camera batteries were almost dead and my extras were in the car and Ajay left to get lunch, so I didn't take as many as I wanted.
CHECK THIS OUT!!! This guy is PICKING UP GARBAGE!!! We have never seen this, in 5 months in India. Not anywhere. Ever. It was worthy of a photo. Of course, the park is supposed to be closed to food, and it is a national park, but like that matters. There was still garbage. And despite his efforts, there was still quite a bit in the grass along the paths.
This is what we loved - no cars, no noise (other than birds of course) no smells, no filth, NO PEOPLE! we have never been anywhere that you could look in any direction and not see ANYONE. It just doesn't happen here. It was a strange and wonderful feeling.
Lots of birds
, none of which we could identify. We did see some large prey birds, and some heron types, but that is as specific as it gets, folks!
Four kids, getting tired from all the walking.
We didn't really realize how far it would be - there was no sign indicating the path went all the way around the swamp. I had only one tiny chocolate bar for their sustainance. Harsh. But they did survive.
A pretty field of... mustard? don't know, but it's still pretty! These labourers were building this brick fence, and I was trying to be subtle about taking their photo, so I missed the best shot - a lady (wearing a sari, which always seems so wrong to me) with a HUGE load of bricks on her head, taking them 30 feet and then dumping them. I suspect productivity would go WAY up here if someone invented the wheelbarrow.I finally got the video to work! yay! here is a 360 degree view I took when the fact that we were ALL ALONE sunk in. There were other people in the park, but only early on - they never came in as far as us.
1 comment:
Wow Alex! You're almost as tall as Sam. You weren't standing on your tip toes were you? You must be growing and perhaps Sam has stopped or slowed. Don't remember seeing you as close in height.
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