Day 4 - In search of Tigers

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So the morning started with a bit of a shock. My room didn't seem to have hot water. It was luke-warm at best. Big Sigh. I am a totally spoiled american!!

We had cookies and coffee while waiting for the jeep to arrive. Sorry Tyler, it wasn't red - it was a green jeep. It started to drizzle a bit while we were climbing into the jeep. There was no roof on it and I had no waterproof clothing. The hotel gave me a blanket and I wrapped it around myself a bit and put the hood up on my hoodie.

There was a guide, a driver, me, 2 german guys and an italian couple. We were told that we would take route 4 today, but when we got to the park we found that the rain had made route 3 impassable, so we went on Route 2. We saw monkeys, summer deer, spotted deer, antelope, birds including buzzards ... but no tigers. At some point we had to pull to the side to let a larger truck get by and we got stuck in the mud. We climbed out of the jeep and the driver got unstuck. Then at the half way point the skys opened up and the rain came pouring down...huge raindrops...I couldn't keep my eyes opened as there was so much water. The blanket became soaked...we all became soaked!! Somewhere in India there was a very warm and dry tiger laughing his head off at the tourists. Finally the rain let up a bit and then we came to a traffic jam. As one of the German guys said "Everywhere in India you find a traffic jam" One of the larger lorries had gotten stuck and we had other jeeps and lorries full of wet tourists backed up behind it while they tried to get unstuck. They finally managed that and we got back to the hotel.

The afternoon safari had me, 3 Indians who were visiting (a couple who live in Seattle now, and a friend of theirs who lives in Bangalore) and another indian woman who had a vacation house in Ranthampur just to visit the wildlife preserve. So she was our second guide. We saw preety much the same animals as the morning but also saw some crocodiles...still we didn't see tigers. Oh well - now I have a reason to go back. It didn't rain in the afternoon trip so it was much more comfortable.

In the evening there was some traditional indian musicians and a dancer at the hotel.

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Photos

Ranthambore
Ranthambore National Park

Ghost Tree
Ghost Tree

Spotted Deer
Spotted Deer

Monkeys & Babies
Monkeys & Babies

Comments

[CHRISTINE]

JEEP
WELL MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE CALLED AVIS AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A REDJEEP , AND THAT ONE MAY NOT HAVE GOTTEN STUCK !

[Virginia]

Sounds like you are having a real adventure. Since you left Shar, Daniel (the young one) and Rebecca got kicked off the Biggest Loser. Now Rebecca and Daniel are boyfriend and girlfriend. Rudy needs to go. Have fun. Virginia