Freezing in India
The weather forecast was promising. Promised rain and a bit snow. But we wanted to get into nature anyway. After we worked us through our breakfast. Our host tried to spoil us beyond any limits: fruit, porridge, french toast, omelette, sausages, mushrooms, baked tomatoes, bacon, toast, banana bread, coffee, juice, jam, honey, home-made butter and mustard. And certain, I’ve forgot a thingĀ or two. Sure, we can take a hike on at such base! And: we’ve got a lunch box with us, just to prevent us from starving on the trip.
The taxi ride to the wildlife sanctuary was interesting as always. There at the gate, we stepped into the office, where 6 people were sitting near some heaters. We also were asked to sit down. Then the ranger asked our names, phone numbers, address of our host and how long we thought to stay in the woods and if we had any camera with us. All, just to fill out a form. Which were registered in a guestbook. So much for ‘just buying a ticket’. Then they let us go. Even inhere, it was not much of an orientation issue: you are just allowed to use one path in (7km) and the same path out. Easy choice with the camera: one lens on the way, the other on the way out. Much less work! Thus, reserving to take a close-up from the flowers at our way out.
When we started our walk it also started snowing. And kept snowing. Some snow. More snow. Some more snow was blown up the mountain. Snow flakes kept growing. It was a lovely serenity around us. We saw some bird we didn’t know. Near a bridge we spotted some kind of deer; the ranger later called “walking deer”? Along the path, they builded several sheds, probably to watch the wild life. We used it to get out of the snow for a few minutes. It even stopped snowing! (For a while.) We could see the mountains, the woods, a village across the valley. After almost two hours walking in the snow we decided to go back. The chance of spotting more wild life was next to zero. The wind started blowing again, we heard some thunder. Half way back, the ranger was upcoming with his bike (not builded for snow, for sure) He walked with us for a while, told us over de sanctuary and his work and left us again when we almost reached the gate. At that point we already walked through 10 cm of snow. No chance to get a close-up from any flower anymore. So far for smart choices.
Our taxi driver was glad he had no longer to wait in this weather. Safely he drove us back home. What an experience was that, with the Indian traffic, in snow, at not-wide-enough roads.
After a short rest I went into town, looking for a working ATM. The first was officially out of order, the second just didn’t work. The third, we stood with 4 people around and helped each other with the transactions. No shame, no privacy, no secrecy. We all needed cash and we solved it together. Surprisingly, non of the locals used Hindi or an other local language at the ATM, they all choose immediate English. Wondering, why. Walked the Mall and partly the Ridge, again. Watching people and business. The fresh food along the way, and the curiosity of people towards me as definitely a stranger in town – foreigner, woman, traveling, alone on her way…
Tomorrow, we go back to Delhi. Will be an interesting trip, again. That’s for sure.