From Kashmir we decided to travel South and East to be under the Himalayas rather then on top of them!
We drove from Srinagar to Jamu in a 4x4 Taxi, the driver said it should take around 8 hours but we had heavy traffic most of the way so it ended up being 14 hours, fortunately we had given ourselves plenty of time before our train was scheduled. On the platform of the train we met Rohit and his family who were travelling on the same train as us, Rohit is living in New Zealand but from India originally. He made sure we were settled on the train and talked with us for some time.
The train was a 3rd class AC which meant three beds upper, middle and top on two sides of a cabin so 6 of us... really it was quite good and we all slept well, waking up the following morning feeling good and able to enjoy the rest of the journey.
We arrived on Hariwar train station and the place looked like a mess!! Fortunately we were soon in a prearranged taxi and on the way to Kota Bagh and the jungle.
We had seen monkeys on the road the day before but this was the first time that Lili had seen them properly and pretty close, we arrived at the driveway and climbed down the path through the banana trees. We were greeted at the bottom by Arun our host and a few other volunteers. Quickly we were aware at how beautiful the place was and how alive it was! Plenty of birds like bee eaters and others that I had never seen before.
The first night was spent having a drink with everyone which was quite fun and entertaining, largely due to Arun who is a rich old drunk crazy Indian guy, at least that's how he described himself... he was quite fun but really changed after a few beers and a bit of rum!!
The next morning I went for a walk by the river and quickly bumped into many spider webs... I remembered the scene from Lord of the rings when Frodo had problems with a big spider!! The spider here though seemed quite friendly towards humans or at least they ran away when I put my hand near them, which was comforting.
We drove from Srinagar to Jamu in a 4x4 Taxi, the driver said it should take around 8 hours but we had heavy traffic most of the way so it ended up being 14 hours, fortunately we had given ourselves plenty of time before our train was scheduled. On the platform of the train we met Rohit and his family who were travelling on the same train as us, Rohit is living in New Zealand but from India originally. He made sure we were settled on the train and talked with us for some time.
The train was a 3rd class AC which meant three beds upper, middle and top on two sides of a cabin so 6 of us... really it was quite good and we all slept well, waking up the following morning feeling good and able to enjoy the rest of the journey.
We arrived on Hariwar train station and the place looked like a mess!! Fortunately we were soon in a prearranged taxi and on the way to Kota Bagh and the jungle.
We had seen monkeys on the road the day before but this was the first time that Lili had seen them properly and pretty close, we arrived at the driveway and climbed down the path through the banana trees. We were greeted at the bottom by Arun our host and a few other volunteers. Quickly we were aware at how beautiful the place was and how alive it was! Plenty of birds like bee eaters and others that I had never seen before.
The first night was spent having a drink with everyone which was quite fun and entertaining, largely due to Arun who is a rich old drunk crazy Indian guy, at least that's how he described himself... he was quite fun but really changed after a few beers and a bit of rum!!
The next morning I went for a walk by the river and quickly bumped into many spider webs... I remembered the scene from Lord of the rings when Frodo had problems with a big spider!! The spider here though seemed quite friendly towards humans or at least they ran away when I put my hand near them, which was comforting.
The first week we shared the house with Jimmie and Sara, Jimmie and myself both liked taking nature photos so were happy to go off on early morning walks looking for good subjects to snap! Sara is Spanish so it was nice to hear that language again after a few months.. We painted the house of Arun and cleaned his garden of weeds and in the afternoons went for walks.
The second week I met some of the local villagers and got talking to them. JP Pants and family will remain close in our hearts as true Indian family who wanted nothing from us other than our friendship and maybe a diamond ring when his daughter gets married! But Mr Pants you are a true gentleman and scholar and a good friend and yes I will write to you!! Easier if you join the world of the internet though!
Kota bagh village was about a 1 hour walk from the house, just as we entered the village there was a school which had lots of monkeys roaming around the grounds, we went in out of curiosity and of course the kids wanted to talk to us and take pictures etc... it was all very cool and the boys were good to chat with and have fun with.
On the final days before leaving the rice became ready to harvest, so the girls joined the other women in the fields cutting the rice and having a good banter with them as well.
After 11 nights in the jungle countless spiders of all sizes, three scorpions, hundreds of butterflies and birds and some new friends it was time for us to leave and head for Rajasthan!
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