Hyped up picnic, but relaxing

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  Sunderbans, India
Monday, November 14, 2005

after reading the 'hungry tide' (excellent book, thanks meg), we were drawn to the idea of visiting the sunderbans area, south of kolkata. the trip two days (pretty cheap 17 pound each all inclusive), but our guide book warned, that there was not much delving into nature.
so with a bit of pessimism, kate with a belly ache, and Danny with a champers ache, we head off to meet the bus at the un-godly hour of 7 in the morning. lots of people, a comfortable bus, but no bus is good for a hangover or tummy ache, but we nodded off to ease the pain. 'UGH, whats that', kate wakes me from my pool of dribble, unfortunately luck has not been on kate's side this week, and the little kid (or bastard, depending on whose version you want) had taken a bit of an aversion to traveling by crazy bus, and in his attempt (rubbish attempt (kates words)), to distribute he's breakfast out the window, had managed (wind assisted) to spray kates arm, bag and trousers. the aromas for the rest of the journey, really added to our already wonderful moods.
Anyway, off the bus, onto a little boat (was worried this was the boat), and then off the little boat, and then on to our luxury diesel liner. then we sat down, and admired the water and the banks. and thats pretty much it for two days....................
the sunderbans is mangrove marsh land, which is flooded regularly by the tides of the ocean, it has lots of wildlife, including crocs, dolphins, sharks, etc, and the highest population of tigers in the world, the man eating Bengal tiger, who is fairly notoriously not willing to make any kind of apperance, for a bunch of rich noisy tourists.

so the slow lazy boat ride, relaxed and talked, made some new english friends.
we made a few stops at tiger observation towers, but the chances of sightings were slim, as indian tourists are loud, and quiet please signs are largely ignored. our friend john, got shouted at from 20 m, 'have you seen any tigers', replied with 'no, and not likely to now'. we finished the day with a few beers, and some good conversation (thats us not you john), and retired to our quarters. we were the only two people in the rubbish accom (out of about 30-40), where we managed to sleep on bunks, the rest were filled with the crew, which was nice, until they woke up at 5.30, and shouted continuously until i stuck my headphones on full blast. i think we were meant to get up for another tower, as when we did get up at 7.30, the boat was empty. oh well, nothing to see, once that lot get there anyway!
we were back on the bus by 2, and in a bar with our new found friends by about 7, and smiles and beers and good food was had by everyone, johns lack of ability to string more than a few words together, be a constant amusement, not a surprise to find out that his is an arsenal fan.

today is the last day in india, fond memories, sore tummies, legs, noses, and heads, flying, swimming, and saying no, monuments, temples, new friends, and rickshaw enemies, we will miss india, but i think 6 weeks in, and we're ready for a new challange, and hopefully more excitement, and less pain. goodbye india, we'll be back, and next time we'll be ready!

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3. No Tigers, but mangroves a plenty	4. Sun and Sunderbans	5. A hint of nature   Comments!	6. Waving in the Sunderbans
7. The Captain	8. Random hay boats

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