Monday 28 February 2011

28th February

Having enjoyed our time in Kochi we set off with our driver to the Hornbill Camp by the Thekkadi National Park. The camp turned out to be in a beautiful setting by the river Periyar and for the most of the day we had the place to ourselves which was very peaceful. Unfortunately late afternoon there was an unseasonable rainstorm (Marsha's theory) but it soon passed over and we managed a 2hour birding session with the camp guide (and...no not in that sense!) see Pete's birding bits for more detail.

When we returned we had been joined by 10 bikers having roared in on their Royal Enfields. So that gave us some lively company for dinner plus free beer.

The next morning we were up at 6 for birding before it got too hot.having set the alarm there was no need as the local temple played none stop music from 5.50 to 6.30! We had a lovely walk through the forest about 20k away and saw lots plus the amazing trees about 150ft tall canopies we are certainly developing stiff necks on this trip. We also saw Malabar Giant Squirrels.Back at midday then lunch and a rest again until birding again at 3.30pm. This pattern continued for the following day as did the monsoon downpours in the night!
We are now in Munnar up in the Western Ghats. We are staying at Olive Brook which we highly recommend, the food is the best yet in Kerela and hopefully Pete will pick up a few tips tonight as there is a cookery demo before dinner. It is like an old tea plantation bungalow with just five rooms and beautiful gardens full of all the houseplants we know in UK. We look out across the hills so quite idyllic really ...I wish we had more time here. After two sessions of local birding yesterday we travelled further this morning over the Ghats to Chinnar National Park about 60k away so another early start! The scenery was fantastic first travelling through the pristine tea plantations then over and down into forest. We birded on the way and then had a lovely walk along the river through the forest. Came across elephant dung but no actual elephants.

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