December 30, 2014 -- Continuing Vacation Saga

We left early Tuesday morning for the final leg of the journey to Jim Corbett Park. Good weather again – sunny and very warm. We did some good birding along the way -- storks and vultures and cranes, oh my! Don’t worry, pictures attached. What’s that? You’re saying you are NOT worried? You’re saying, “Oh crap, not more BIRD PICTURES!” 

Well – too bad!

Anyway, we arrived at our resort -- called Nadiya Parao -- not quite in the park but in Corbett which skirts the park.  A great place, and quite luxurious by our standards. It did have me worried for a minute though, as Jonny drove down their long driveway past construction materials, workers, half-finished buildings looking like they might SOMEDAY be a resort. All I could think was The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  However, at the end of the driveway was, indeed, a beautiful resort. There are several buildings of cottages, a large lovely dining hall on the lawn, and a reception house. I believe that our building has two apartments on top (we are one of them) and four below. The top two share a great hall/lounge area, (as do the bottom four – a different one, obviously.)  Inside, we have a huge living space, an alcove housing the armoire and coffee area around the corner, and a spacious bathroom. But the best part is a very large veranda, surrounded by overhanging trees, in one of which I yesterday discovered a monkey (langur) staring back at me from eye-level. That settles it – I‘m in heaven!

Our first night, in bed with Rob asleep, I thought I heard a baby crying, and then many – and then I realized I was hearing jackals howling in the night nearby. Then in the morning – when the coffee was made – we heard them again, and sure enough, they were out there is the predawn dark baying their little hearts out. Rushed out onto our balcony but could see nothing. Imagine! I’m hearing JACKALS outside my window. What a RUSH!

Wednesday we went on a jeep safari into the park grounds. There was a chance we would see a tiger – they say the tiger number is 600 strong now. But, we didn’t. We had a driver and a “guide” but the guide actually seemed to know his birds and what to look for where, so we were glad to have him. Because of him, we spotted a Changeable Hawk Eagle calling, at the top of a tree. There were termite mounds aplenty, plus many spotted deer and sambar deer. 

Termite mound

Sarus Cranes

Asian Openbill

BTW, the guide stopped at the gate before our jeep proceeded -- for a bathroom break. He asked us if we needed to use the facilities and we both answered no. Here’s a tip. Say YES. If you take one jeep with minimal suspension, add many severely rutted, dirt tracks, dry, bouldery riverbeds, not-so-dry riverbeds and one old bladder, you are going to get a   V E R Y   L O N G   jeep ride.    

Rob in our jeep

We are in the foothills of the mountains, so the air is thinner and the sun feels deliciously warm. We are happy to have chosen to be here for 5 days.

Today we are taking an elephant to somewhere (great name for a book) and wherever that is, it takes two hours to return. We actually thought we were on the 1 o’clock elephant, but are booked for the 3 o’clock. Stay tuned for that report.

Hansi