Damdama Lake (or, more appropriately, Damdama Puddle)

The guidebooks mention a tourist recreation area just south of Gurgaon called Damdama Lake. Since we live at the south end of Gurgaon, we thought this fabulous early March weather (about 80 degrees - NICE!) would be a good time to go check it out. It was not really what we expected (things so seldom are). It took awhile to get there, since you wind thru fields, and villages, past chicken farms and fuel facilities, and the road is not that great. But we saw many interesting things on the way, of course. The next blog will cover all that. For now, take a look at this stunning "tourist" area!
We arrived and parked by the hotel (it is the brick building in the photos) and then walked out to the lake. Lake is almost a stretch right now! It was so low that it was more along the lines of a marsh. We went thru a fence to walk to the edge of the water, and as we walked we heard bells tinkling. They were around the necks of the cows that apparently roam freely here in the "tourist" area. Then we watched the pigs trot over and wallow in the mud along the shore. Off in the distance we saw these women carrying their loads on their heads. (As an aside - I LOVE to see this - I am amazed at the size of the loads - and how do they get them up there?! Is it heavy? What exactly is it, where are they taking it, what is it for and what is it worth? And are those pretty outfits really their work clothes?? These are my questions - inquiring minds want to know!) So, you know, pigs, cows, mud, labourers, typical tourist trap stuff. NOT! But I think this is for tourists, not foreigners. There is a difference. We sat on the grass to eat lunch in the shade, and luckily Sam had brought her magnifying glass so she could start something on fire. ....yeah. That's my kid. Then Randy tried too! They got smoke, but no fire.
After a nice lunch beside the carousel and ferris wheel (did I forget to mention them??

They are operated by human power, and there was NO WAY you could have gotten me in that thing! I have seen how they maintain their stuff, and I know safety is NOT Job 1 in India!) we rented a paddle boat for a half hour (cost - 96 rupees - 16 rupees per person). Of course, eveyone is gung-ho to peddle until they discover it is kinda hard with 6 people in the boat! And really, the fun job is to steer! The boat needed some WD40 in a bad way, but it was still pretty fun. I didn't get to steer, but I didn't have to peddle either!

We saw lots of interesting birds, and closer up than we got at the bird sactuary. We also saw this cow up to his neck in the water. Cool.

After the boat, Miranda wanted to ride the (very bored) camel but we didn't have 20 rupees change, so she didn't.
It was a nice break from the city, even if it was HOT and not very nice.