The forest has a calming effect which nothing on this planet can possibly produce. The quietude of the environs, fragrance of the fresh earth and herbs, and the absence of human presence soon absorbs you into its fold, and even the most disturbed of minds soon settles into equilibrium...
Random thoughts, old songs and blah playing in the head ended within a few minutes of entering the forest. Writing this takes me back to the Paradise i had to leave unwillingly...
A cuppa tea refreshed back the senses, and it was time for business! Barrel stocked, magazine loaded and finger on the trigger, it was time for hunting! It was high noon when i set out for the first foray with my tracker (not to be confused with trekker) and guide, Joma, a native of the forest for some sport shooting. The forest was quiet due to the heat and the only sound to be heard was of the cicadas buzzing. I took great pride in spotting birds and animals, even the slightest of movement in the bush when scouting in the forest, but compared to Joma, i was but a fledgling!
"Chirrup, chirrup, chirrup" a slight call could be heard on the side of the road in the bush. I ignored it because spotting the bird in such a thicket was difficult. But Joma immediately played out the bird's call he'd recorded in his mobile phone. Before you know it, a flash of gold with a black cap and a throat tainted red was sitting on a branch hardly 3 feet away from me. "Shoot it sir, shoot it" Joma's voice was just as excited as my pulse!
Barrel raised, target locked and the trigger pulled off. The gun went off with a bang and the bird was bagged! The bag? A full frame picture of the Ruby Throated Bulbul staring grimly at me, looking every bit the bandit of the forest :)
Managing a telephoto lens which weighs over 2 kilograms with no more than the nimble use of fingers and yet maintaining stable hands lest the picture be shaken can take its toll on the forearms. By the end of the excursion and a few more pictures, the arms were screaming in pain, begging for mercy (Insert a picture of you with the camera lens in hand)
The forest guards and Joma were insistent that we head back for lunch 'fore the food goes cold, but the i'd not paid premium money for eating and sleeping when there were trophies to be bagged. Nevertheless, i had to give in! Darn!!
Nothing much to report except wide eyed delight as rare birds came out to pose and cavort before the camera and the triggerhappy finger was only too occupied through the evening...
Engrossed in the shooting but i couldn't help but notice a cloud buildup in the meanwhile. The air was smelt of rain, and i had nothing by way of rainwear or even a plastic bag for the camera and lens. Caught while walking through a stretch of timber forest, Joma and i had to run for a half a kilometer before we could find shelter from the pelting rain in a wooden shack.
You can judge the amount of rain that's being received by observing the water that's washing off the soil and ground litter. Twenty minutes were spent just watching a leaf getting gradually pushed then dragged finally washed away by the water flowing off the road. The downpour finally ended and the day had to be wrapped up 'cause nothing more could be seen after the rains.
Traveling in rural and wild places sounds all gung ho and exciting, but more often than not, its a long and endless wait to get the transport vehicle, either a State Transport bus or a local SUV which'll drive you around for a slightly higher fare. The Indian villager's patience has stood the test of time. We waited for a record 60 (or was it 45) minutes just waiting either for a bus or an SUV to take us to Dandeli Timber Depot (the timber forest). The pace of life is dead slow, and the only thing that moves faster than time are a few cows meandering on the road, halting at times to ruminate over current affairs (nothing more complex than a mouthful of cud!)
Be it a song, dance, fight or tantrum, i was silently playing it out all in waiting for my transport to arrive. A few minutes before an SUV pulled up, i was almost ready to sleep off on the side of the road. No worries about pollution, only dirt and clear grass and a clean tarmac. Perfectly fine to sleep off if need be! :)
What's next? Rein in those wild horses! More's to come shortly :)
Random thoughts, old songs and blah playing in the head ended within a few minutes of entering the forest. Writing this takes me back to the Paradise i had to leave unwillingly...
 | |
| Jibbery jab, jabbery jib, jabber, jabber.. |
A cuppa tea refreshed back the senses, and it was time for business! Barrel stocked, magazine loaded and finger on the trigger, it was time for hunting! It was high noon when i set out for the first foray with my tracker (not to be confused with trekker) and guide, Joma, a native of the forest for some sport shooting. The forest was quiet due to the heat and the only sound to be heard was of the cicadas buzzing. I took great pride in spotting birds and animals, even the slightest of movement in the bush when scouting in the forest, but compared to Joma, i was but a fledgling!
"Chirrup, chirrup, chirrup" a slight call could be heard on the side of the road in the bush. I ignored it because spotting the bird in such a thicket was difficult. But Joma immediately played out the bird's call he'd recorded in his mobile phone. Before you know it, a flash of gold with a black cap and a throat tainted red was sitting on a branch hardly 3 feet away from me. "Shoot it sir, shoot it" Joma's voice was just as excited as my pulse!
Barrel raised, target locked and the trigger pulled off. The gun went off with a bang and the bird was bagged! The bag? A full frame picture of the Ruby Throated Bulbul staring grimly at me, looking every bit the bandit of the forest :)
 | |
| Ruby Throat's what they call me! |
The forest guards and Joma were insistent that we head back for lunch 'fore the food goes cold, but the i'd not paid premium money for eating and sleeping when there were trophies to be bagged. Nevertheless, i had to give in! Darn!!
Nothing much to report except wide eyed delight as rare birds came out to pose and cavort before the camera and the triggerhappy finger was only too occupied through the evening...
Engrossed in the shooting but i couldn't help but notice a cloud buildup in the meanwhile. The air was smelt of rain, and i had nothing by way of rainwear or even a plastic bag for the camera and lens. Caught while walking through a stretch of timber forest, Joma and i had to run for a half a kilometer before we could find shelter from the pelting rain in a wooden shack.
 |
| It's gonna rain, its gonna rain! |
Traveling in rural and wild places sounds all gung ho and exciting, but more often than not, its a long and endless wait to get the transport vehicle, either a State Transport bus or a local SUV which'll drive you around for a slightly higher fare. The Indian villager's patience has stood the test of time. We waited for a record 60 (or was it 45) minutes just waiting either for a bus or an SUV to take us to Dandeli Timber Depot (the timber forest). The pace of life is dead slow, and the only thing that moves faster than time are a few cows meandering on the road, halting at times to ruminate over current affairs (nothing more complex than a mouthful of cud!)
Be it a song, dance, fight or tantrum, i was silently playing it out all in waiting for my transport to arrive. A few minutes before an SUV pulled up, i was almost ready to sleep off on the side of the road. No worries about pollution, only dirt and clear grass and a clean tarmac. Perfectly fine to sleep off if need be! :)
What's next? Rein in those wild horses! More's to come shortly :)
 |
| Until we meet again! |
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