subject: Close Encounters and Summer in India [print this page] Close Encounters and Summer in India
I have been lucky enough to have had many close encounters with wildlife getting within a few feet of many great predators including both tigers & lions but nothing quite prepared me for my recent polar bear encounter in Spitsbergen.
I have heard it said many times that polar bears are the only animal that actively hunts humans and was aware that visiting bear country in the Arctic means travelling with an armed guide.
What I wasn't quite so prepared for was during a zodiac cruise seeing a large male polar bear sleeping high on a ridge, on hearing our zodiac he got up and sauntered down to the beach where he settled back down for a further nap - apparently. However watching closely you could see he had settled himself down carefully pushing his back paws deep into the sand behind him. Resting his head on his front paws but never quite closing his eyes, fidgeting and opening them to check where we were. He hung his front paw down over the rocks which made him look so gentle and peaceful. He was quite clearly trying to lull us into a false sense of security, enticing us to get closer for that ultimate photograph. From his perfect position a lunging jump into a zodiac was an easy meal option. I was glad of my camera's long lens which gave me a great view well outside his striking distance along with a guide who was well aware of the bear tricks.
This was just one of the many highlights of an amazing Spitsbergen voyage on which we saw plenty of polar bears, literally tons of walrus, arctic foxes, huge bird nesting cliffs & friendly reindeer set to a backdrop of mountains, tundra and calving glaciers.
Having never visited India, I went with an open mind and now I'm back I am already planning my next trip. I was overwhelmed by their hospitality and friendliness and the sheer beauty of Kerala. A colleague asked me what the highlight of my trip was and I said I couldn't choose one as I thoroughly enjoyed every day.
I spent one day in hot sweaty New Delhi, taking in the sights of India Gate, the parliament buildings and Qutub Minar. The high temperature was soon forgotten as I become engrossed in the history of Qutub Minar and the detail. I stayed in a homestay outside of Delhi and enjoyed a swim in their pool in the evening.
The rest of my time was spent in Kerala, so very different to the hustle and bustle of Delhi. Our first night was spent in Fort Cochin and home to the famous Chinese fishing nets. We then spent two nights in the mountains of Munnar. Our homestay was in a perfect location with incredible views and wonderful hosts. We spent a day travelling higher up into the mountains with a visit to the highest tea factory in the world. My photo gives you an idea of the lush, rolling green hills of the plantations - it was lovely to have a cup of tea too!
Thekkady was our next destination and another beautiful spot. I hoped to see a tiger but maybe next time, however I really enjoyed my trek in the Periyar National Park. Another highlight was visiting a school next to our homestay. We were greeted with huge smiles and welcomed into their classrooms.
I was excited to reach Alleppey and go night fishing. Vembanad Lake was on the homestays doorstep and the fisherman was waiting for us. We enjoyed fresh lobster that evening in a typical Keralan home. The next day we went out on the lake again but in one of the famous houseboats. They are fantastic and we all relaxed whilst taking in the scenery. I couldn't have asked for a better final evening, locals came to our homestay and played live music for us.
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