A Wild Weekend
on Jana Gana Mana (India), 30/Mar/2011 11:18, 34 days ago
We have just returned from a(nother!!) weekend away. It was originally planned that my parents would join us, as part of their trip to India - unfortunately they were unable to come to India - so just the two of us set off, on Saturday.We had the luxury of a driver and a car - for our 6 hour journey to Corbett National Park.We had two nights books at Jim's Jungle Retreat, which is just on the outskirts of the National Park. After the noise and business of Delhi - to be somewhere quiet and slower was bliss.We stayed in a "luxury" tent - complete with air conditioning and flush toilet!Luxury tent!The retreat had a range of lodges, cottages and tents, along with a dining room and swimming pool, and in the evening there was a campfire for guests to relax around.On Saturday afternoon we went with a guide on a walk (5km), across the dry river bank and into the forest. We saw a range of birds, monkeys, deer, as well as elephant and tiger footprints, in the dust and the remains left by vultures (cleaned bones).We were raised from our good night sleep, on Sunday morning at 5.15 to go on our safari into the National Park where we had a fantastic time - seeing elephants, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al-kMrUACEs) monkeys, deer, jackals. We got to see tiger footprints and to hear it roar, but an actual sighting alluded us.monkeying around in the jungle!  We were encouraged by the guide to go again in the afternoon, we declined, preferring to relax by the pool, but the afternoon safari did see the tiger - oh well some things aren't meant to be!Following a relaxing afternoon, we had a chilled evening around the campfire, eating freshly cooked chicken tikka and tandoori nan - freshly cooked in the tandoor oven.The journey home seemed longer on the way back and the condition of the road appeared to have deteriorated! Better start planning our next little getaway ..........