Wednesday 10 February 2016

Wild Haven, Mundamali

Because of difficulties with road closures today we were up early to make sure we could get to the point of closure before it closed.  What is the saying, best made plans and all that?? But sunrise was beautiful...


We managed a quick, cold breakfast, in my case black coffee and bananas on toast, before heading off to the park enterance.


  And then it all went wrong.  Joseph negotiated hard and for the first few miles it looked as though he had been successful.  But then the official roared up on his motorcycle and to cut a long story short, turned us around and sent us back. No cycling through the reserve to day!


Cue more hanging around whilst Joseph organised not only transport for us, but also the bikes.  He tried his best to get us cycling through, but this time it wasn't to be.  So we had an hours journey in a jeep to where the road was closed.  Now if we couldn't ride that 7 km, it was a 3 hour bus detour.  But talking worked this time, the barriers moved and we were on our way.


Trouble is it was getting hot, I hadn't had a big breakfast and just didn't find my momentum so I didn't really enjoy the ride and was so glad when we finally rolled into Wildhaven.  


That said, I did see an elephant's bottom - and here is photograph proof:


After lunch on the terrace and a change of gear we were off on a late afternoon walk.  Don't the mountains look magnificent? We'll be cycling/walking them in the morning...


But for now it was a farm walk.  


Even the most humble of garden flowers look more vibrant and colourful in India.  Interestingly the marigolds seem to be being used in the vegetable as a natural deterrent just as we use them in the allotments in the UK.


The vine growing up the tree is pepper, it needs to ripen and harden before it can be used for crushing to season the food.


There was coffee frowning near by but more fascinating 


Was the giant bambo, my goodness was that tall....I left the people in the picture so you have some idea.  The termite mound was pretty big too, but funnily enough no one was prepared to stand next to it!


There was a very friendly herd of goats grazing nearby, well the kids were friendly - they came zooming around all over the place being nosey, as only goats can do.  We couldn't go further as wild elephants had been spotted earlier in the day, so we turned around


and walked back to the farm.  No mater how rural or 'poor' there always seems to be a satellite dish fixed on the roof.




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