GOA

HAMPI. THE MAGIAL CITY

ON THE WAY TO HAMPI

BANGALURU AGAIN

this is a hotel that i met rohmann at when he returned from NEPAL. it had the best buffet ever but the silliest swimming pool.

THE RIVER TRIP WAS SO PEACEFUL

WE HAD LUNCH ON THE RIVER BANK, IT WAS A TRADITIONAL LUNCH, SO GOOD, SERVED ON A LARGE LEAF AND EATEN WITH FINGERS.

WE HAD BREAKFAST NEAR THE ELEPHANT CAMP, AGAIN LOCAL FOOD AND SO GOOD, I JUST LOVE THE FOOD HERE!!!

GOVERNMENT ELEPHANT CAMP

I TOOK AN ALL DAY TOUR TO THE ELEPHANT CAMP AND THEN A RIVER TOUR TO SEE HOW THE LOCAL RIVER PEOPLE LIVE.

WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE ELEPHANT CAMP IT WAS STILL BATHING TIME, SO WE WEE ABLE TO GET RIGHT IN THE RIVER AND HELP BATHE THESE GENTLE GIANTS. WHAT AND AMAZING THING TO FEEL THEIR SKIN AND HAIR LIKE THAT! ONE WAS AN OLDER FEMALE AND THE REST WERE VERY YOUNG...LESS THAN 3 I THINK.

AFTER THE BATHING THERE WERE MANY PICTURES. WHEN THE YOUNG ELEPHANTS WOULDNT BEHAVE THEY WOULD GET A THWACK WITH A BAMBOO STICK. ONE WAS VERY BAD AND THEY BROUGHT OUT THE METAL STICK WITH A HOOK ON IT!!! YIKES, RIGHT TO THE HEAD....I SO COULDNT WATCH THAT! THE BABIES HAD THEIR LEGS CHAINED TOGETHER SO WHEY COULD ONLY SEPERATE THEM A FEW INCHES.

I KNOW THAT WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH THAT MANY TONNES OF ANIMAL YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BUT IT WAS PAINFUL TO SEE. (NOTHING LIKE THE ELEPHANT TRAINING CAMP IN MYANMAR, IT WAS MUCH NICER)

SOME OF OUR GROUP WENT ON A SHORT ELEPHANT RIDE AFTER ON THE BIG FEMALE, BAREBACK, NO SADDLE, I DIDNT GO.THEN WE WENT TO SEE THE ELEPHANTS EATING AND WE SAW THE BIG MALE. HE IS SO BEAUTIFUL, BIG TUSKS. AND HE IS CHAINED WITH ONE BACK FOOT TO ONE TREE AND THE FRONT ONE TO ANOTHER TREE. HE ISNT GOING ANYWHERE. broke my heart.

IT GOT WORSE, THERE WAS A BABY ELEPHANT, IN A PIN COVERED IN TARP SO YOU COULDNT REALLY SEE IT. YOU COULD SEE ITS FEET, AND CUTES TOES EVER, AND FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES YOU COULD SEE IT, ALL ALONE IN THERE. WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT ITS MOTHER WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS TAKEN FROM ITS MOTHER IN THE WILD.....

THAT IS HOW THEY GET ALL OF THEIR ELEPHANTS. THEY DONT BREED THEM THERE.

THEY ALSO HAVE A SMALL ZOO. WITH ANIMALS IN SMALL DIRTY CAGES. THEY HAD A LARGE WILD CAT IN A CAGE SO SMALL THAT IT COULD REACH HEAD TO HALF TAIL. NO DIRT FOR IT NOTHING, JUST METAL. ONE OF THE WOMEN WITH US STARTED TO CRY. I WANTED TO JOIN HERE BUT I TOLD HER TO BE STRONG AND TELL PEOPLE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

I KNOW THIS IS INDIA...AND IT IS GOVERNMENT...BUT HONESTLY!!!