Wild Elephants at
Periyar Wildlife Preserve
Tiger Poop
Report Number #3

Dear Friends: Greeting from Kerala. Just arrived here yesterday, Sunday, January 30. Kerala is full of waterways, so far, something like Seattle, but much more populated. Yesterday we were at the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. We took a morning trek. 7:30 AM. You can imagine how chipper I was at that hour. Trek was really a good word for it as I've never walked so fast in a pair of sandals. We did get a chance to observe a group of elephants with 3 little babies. Otherwise, the wildlife not so visible. The guide would stop, point to some poop and say, "wild dog." A little further on he would stop, point to poop and say "water buffalo."Next we stopped to observe the poop of "tiger." Personally I was glad that it was not still attached to the tiger.
We also had a ride across an inlet on a bamboo raft. It was four long
bamboo stalks lashed together with two across for sitting on. When you got on the whole raft was slightly underwater so you rode across with your shoes submerged. When we reached the other side the boatman said "Tenneech." What? we said. "Tenneech, tenneech." I thought we were getting some greeting in Tamil or Mamalayam but you've probably guessed it was ten rupees payment.

That's all folks, more soon! Love Maye

boat ride at Periyar
Merrily we roll along...
tra-la-la (She's partially
underwater here folks and smiling anyway). I was
hanging on for dear life
mind you.
back