As I have related to some of you, travelling to India is a LONG (-ass) way to go. Central India is on the back side of the planet from Houston, you can fly east or west to get there...doesn't matter, distance is same.
So, my typical trip is to leave on a Monday or Tuesday, stay the week, stay over the weekend, then come home the end of the second week. On a shorter trip, you'd spend all your time flying.
We've visited three refineries in Assam, and very nearby is a wildlife refuge call Kaziranga National Park. The refinery town's are small, so the best place to stay is near the refuge.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
As usual in India, there is a bit of driving time. We flew first Delhi to Jorhat, then drove west to the first refinery. After the visit, we drove on westward toward the park, arriving after dark.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
Also, you need to coordinate visits to Assam to arrive after the rainy season is over...they get a LOT of rain in Assam. As the sun came up on Saturday morning, the dew was heavy, but the sky was a beautiful blue.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
The lodge restaurant is on an open air deck, overlooking the Diphlu River. A local rsident slips by on a raft built of a few bamboo poles.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
It's called the Diphlu River Lodge. It's a tiny place, with only 12 bungalows.
Small, but with very nice, professional staff. Made us feel quite welcome.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
Similar to the lion preserve (Gir Forest) in western India, they take you in open jeeps to tour the preserve and look for wildlife. You can see hundreds and hundreds of bid species...
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
The biggest danger driving on the road is NOT hitting a deer.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
In lieu of jeeps, some people go by elephant. If you think you are significantly safer on an elephant instead of being in the back of an open jeep, Google "
Kaziranga Tiger Attack"...
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
To keep guests from getting trampled by accident (presumably), guests walk up stairs and can feed some treats to the elephants before boarding. As we watched, one young elephant climbed halfway up the steps before being dissuaded by the mahouts (...because that's where the treats are !)
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
Lots, and lots of birds...some posing...
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
Others "less interested" in posing...
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
All sorts. Some even posing with other park residents.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
I mean ALL sorts, here are pelicans headed to one of the lakes.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
And there, on the far side of the lake, was one of the prime targets of the visit. The Asian Rhino. This area has many, but the place we would see on Day 2 had many more, and much closer.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
We stopped to climb up a watch tower, always wary of what may wander (or pounce) from the forest of elephant grass.
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
Momma and her baby...
 |
| Photo by Mark W. Laughlin |
Other residents hanging out at the river.
More in the next post...
Y'all take care.
- Mark
No comments:
Post a Comment