Sep 22, 2008 01:07 PM
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Me and weekend gateways in & around B’lore are synonym for each other.This time this Royal Bengal Tigress decided to take a look at her buddies in Bannerghatta National Park, situated about 25 KM from the city limit.
The Saturday started in an unusual way - by getting up early in morning. I also, wanted to experience the latest feather of BMTC – the AC Volvo. Saw this red angel and was in love in the first darshan itself. Oops, I to speak on my buddies but not on this angel [may in some of my future review].
We got into the bus near Shoppers Stop on Bannerghatta Road. About one hour journey @ Rs 25 and reached the place. This time the park said welcome in a very different way! Not much crowd [or read no crowd at all]. Safari was the first thing – to opt for. After-all am here to meet my buddies and where else do you think I shall find other Royal Bengal Tiger/Tigress : ) So, this tigress decided on the Royal Safari [with a small pinch on Rs 125 per head]. The safari starts at 10 AM, so had to wait till they open the gate. Mean-while enjoyed hot Nescafe from the nearest stall.
I was the first one to get into the van and needless to say occupied the first seat. I bet it was fun seeing my pals roaming open outside and they mocked too seeing their friend inside the mobile cage :D. First we were in to herbivorous area and got to say ‘Hi’ to Bison, Deer, Sambar, Neelgai in their natural habitat. As a visitor I must say – things are neatly maintained there.
The place seemed clean & found all my folks healthy & active there. The soft sun, green lush around with the lively dost-log made the complete environment cheerful. It did actually made me to wake-up in real sense and I didn’t miss keeping my fingers busy clicking them. As a kid, heard a lot about Bhaloo [Bear] fever or its preferences over the alive shikaar.
While all these going on in mind we entered the carnivorous section. One segment is separated from the other with pit-boundary and electric fencing. They have huge metal slide separators for commute between. Few bears eating watermelon and posing for our camera, few were too ignorant to the visitors and busy digging termites from soil. And finally reached the core area – where I get to see my close pals freaking around. Noticed they too are suffering with Saturday early morning syndrome [all were lying or replied my Hi in a lazy way [Have a look at my album reflecting their various mood]. The white-tiger was sitting alone – may be because of its firangi look. Where as the white cub was busy playing with other ones, little aware of it being white :D
The van kept moving, on the way got to see the ROFLing [that’s how the photo is named by Santosh] lion, the sherni - while on her morning-walk on the wrong side of the road. Before even this tigress could realize, the journey at core part completed & we were back to the main area. Now something sizzling could only help me to keep myself awake. And there I noticed the bhutta. Oooowwwwah!! With lot chatni & nimbu made the roasted corn more yummy. And now we head for zoo. Starting with my bhai-bandhus - monkeys from various parts on India.
Met couple of hippo on the way busy eating and growling around. Elephants, alligators, pelicans and then comes the rats’ call inside. I mean the long stroll made us feel hungry. We were carrying food along. Selected a place in the garden area and opened the dabbas. Samosa, fried-rice etc was available in a stall inside but I would request folks to restrain from the stall as the food was cold & the place looked unclean. The Park authority had provided Agora like places for visitors to sit n take rest or to eat food. And the place is clean enough [of-course credit goes to crows and dowgies] else sensible visitors [???] left no mean to make the place a mess.
Well, after the sumptuous food and little rest we continued with the bird, porcupine, iguana, turtle park [spent about 20 minutes time to see how a small turtle had a fall on its back while climbing a stone and its expedition to be back on its feet – A LEARNING TO BE TAKEN FOR EVER]. The snake section is an amazing part [rather not to be missed one] with wide variety including the python and much venomous ones like black cobra etc.
Well, like nothing is endless – Tigress’s Day out also was to end. She was happy to meet her buddies @ the park and full of joy! So, the tiredness just was hidden somewhere. But she was hurt seeing the behavior of visitors. I feel the credit/discredit for visitors’ misbehave goes to their primary education. Irrespective of warnings like – not to feed them, not to tease them or to use the bins for disposable, majority of so-called civilized visitors enjoyed doing just the reverse. Do we actually deserve to be free out with the tag Civilized! Point to ponder…
PS: Photos on my album :)
