Elephanta reveries

Fulvous fruit bats inside the Elephanta caves. 

Trekking along the Indus

Getting to the camera site along the Indus in the valley opposite Ikpadoc involved a 4 kilometer trek (one way) by straight road dimensions. This was due to the fact that the only available bridge to cross over to the other side was strategically built that far away from a potential camera site. Well, 4km doesn't sound all that bad if you're at the gym on a treadmill or jogging in a park. 4km over a gazillion rocks, sand, silt, undulations and grass is a lot more tiring. However, the tiresome trail was compensated by the constantly changing scenery. It started off with lush green, grass banks with clear, cool water flowing slowly in the river. The shallow streams from the Indus were full of little schools of fish and grass and moss that shimmered green in the sunlight. The rocky trail began soon after. Walking or jumping from rock to rock was the only way forward with no sign of flat ground in some places. Narrow ledges with just enough room for a foot followed and so did ups and downs in the valley. We took a small break to eat some (wonderfully sweet) oranges and I took off my stinky boots and dipped my feet in the icy water. It was more refreshing than words can describe on that sunny day. There was warm breeze blowing all day and it felt so good to walk around in just a t-shirt. The sky was a constant, gorgeous deep blue and remained cloudless for most of the time. The mountains and plains around us and the valley before us were just lovely. There were patches of ground dotted with dried up tufts of grass and some with the ground cracking from extreme thirst. In those 4km I saw extreme lushness and extreme dryness. It was surprising to see green in this barren land and was soothing to the eyes. Walking along the Indus river with its water flowing slowly or gushing in rapids and hearing it bubble over the rocks was just tantalizing on that warm day. Had the water been any less icy, it would have been hard to resist jumping in. I did dip my hair and head into the water on our journey back, though- which was heavenly with the breeze. It took us two and a half hours each way.

Also, we crossed the bridge back with dzos and dzomos (really large and hairy cows) leading and following us. Quite an experience packed into a day. Loved it.

Birds and animals we saw

I maintained this list while riding along the curvaceous roads in the old Gypsy. The encircled numbers are day numbers. We saw a whole lot of blue sheep. One group was nonchalantly grazing within 10 meters of us. The birds were numerous and pretty. They were little exciting gems that popped up every now and again. The cutest animal we encountered would have to be the pika. Like a rather large hamster, it just sat there doing nothing. The partridges are odd birds. Shaped like a bowling pin, they waddle around the place looking silly. Well here they all bees.

 

Brown-hooded gulf

Blue sheep bums

 

Lammergeier (what is spelled as lamagair in my list.)

 

The royal pika

The royal pika still sitting.

 

Blue sheep- male and female.

 

Wagtail and white-tailed redstart. 

Wagtail

 

Female redstart

Many blue sheep. (The way they glide up steep mountain sides is astounding.)

 

Dzomo- a very large cow (female).

Shaggy and umm, cheeky cow.

Lizard (can you spot it?)

Man and Cow

Umm..

Spread out your feathers

Startle your whiskers

Stretch your feet

Uncurl your tail

Wiggle your feelers

Feel the bone in your wings

Itch your scales

Brush your teeth

For it will take a very long time

(The previous stanza did not rhyme)

To evolve into that

Oh shoot, dammit, drat

Which animal would need

Wings, scales and webbed feet?

Perhaps in a world

That has fallen sick and hurled

Its oceans over every shore

Leaving no land and therefore

A need to swim

And to fly at whim

This was amusing

For while I was drawing

Was simply reclining

No poem came to mind

No theories opined

Only animals combined.

when the world annoys you....

.....show the world your bum.

Not cats