Skip to main content

Indelibly Rajesthan Part 5 Keoladeo National Bird Sanctuary ( First posted on thebarefootfoodie.org 2 Nov 2014 )

 




Apart from the fact that I collect owls, I am no bird lover. The shit that lands so frequently on my car bonnet does not make them more endearing. So the visit was meant as a time-filler, since it happened to be a UNESCO world heritage site, and would add a tick to our pursuit of such places on this planet.
 
You have the option of walking, hiring a bicycle, or a rickshaw rider at the Park. None of the bicycles were designed for a short woman so that option was out. While studying  the rates of rental on the signboard, we were approached by a young man who offered his services as a guide. We were so thankful he came along because he made the place come alive, with his eagle eyes and penchant for spotting the winged creatures and others in the most unlikely haunts. It also helped that he had a good set of binoculars with him which I hogged for most of the trip and that the SS brought along the ultra-zoom lens which set him off clicking excitedly. All in all, a most satisfying outing, and yes, we did see some owls. 

 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Perspectives

  So What If The Day Started Badly This morning, as I was reversing my car out of the porch for a dental appointment, I drove right into a van who just happened to park in front of the house across the road, right at the very instant. The knee jerk instinct was to feel sorry and angry with myself at the same time. I said a little prayer for comfort and that the rest of the day would turn out better, with small mercies along the way. I also texted G, telling him what happened and that I was a little shaken by the incident, trivial as it was. The text came back " No worries". It was all the comfort I needed - no judgment, no reproof, just a quiet understanding and acceptance. The Rest Of the Day Got the tooth fixed, had my comfort food for lunch, left car with dented bumper with mechanic, took a bus to Ang Mo Kio library to while away the time. Along the way, discovered my favorite Yong Tau Foo franchise had moved to the food centre here, much nearer home, and also picked up a ...

Embracing Empathy

Embracing Empathy Walk a Mile in My Shoes I will not say to another " I feel your pain", or " I understand how you feel..." again - because the truth is, I do not feel, nor can I understand. In all of my 50 ( exactly ) years, I have not been under a knife, stayed over at a hospital, nor have ever truly grasped the notion of what pain, sickness or infirmity is. My GP and family doctor would have long gone bust if he'd relied on our visits for his posterity. I cannot remember when was the last time we saw him.  Whenever flu or other symptoms threaten, it was promptly taken care of with a good dose of honey, water, rest in bed with a kiss and prayers. My mum was shocked when she could not find the usual over-the-counter self administered medication in our fridge one day whilst feeling a little under the weather and need a dose of paracetamol. I directed her to a bottle of honey instead. Lest I be accused of going to extremes, I DO exercise due diligen...

Special Residents of Istanbul and Ephesus

 My recent road trip of Turkey traversed several cities. But it was mostly in Istanbul ( and a few more in Ephesus ) that cats who roamed the streets with the familiarity of a resident, independent and free, yet well-provided with food, shelter, water and loving affection.  On our very first day, we bought a bag of cat food and fed them whenever we encountered them. Some were hungry and responded to us, but others kept their distance, or came over to sniff at the kibbles and walked away. It warmed our hearts to see these adorable creatures as part of the landscape and culture of a most memorable trip in a land so richly endowed with the legacy of the past facing a challenging future ahead. Here's a gallery of cuteness overload. This link best sums up the history and back story of these adorable felines.  https://consciouscat.net/relationship-between-istanbul-and-its-cats/