Bandipur National Park - Day 1

When we reached Bandipur we stretched our legs, put our things into our hut, had a bite to eat, then hit the jungle in a small jeep for our wildlife safari.

Lots of deer - both the small spotted variety and the large ones called Sambar

Annika was the official photographer of the jeep safari

A wild elephant in the grass

At one point we saw a large gathering of elephants off in the distance in the tall grass. Our safari driver turned off the engine to the jeep so we could sit and observe them for awhile. After a while one of the elephants decided he didn't like us sitting there and started charging the jeep!

Annika was in the back of the jeep, closest to the elephant and I started screaming. She was just looking at me wondering what was wrong. And if the elephant got to us it would probably have flipped the whole jeep but if he wanted to grab someone with his trunk Annika would have been his easiest target. Luckily our safari driver knew what to do and turned the engine back on and drove ahead about 20 feet. This stopped the elephant (there are no photos due to the adrenaline I was running on). Once the elephant stopped running we stopped the jeep again and observed. After a short while the upset the elephant again and he came charging at us again!! The driver turned the jeep back on and we took off. Wow, that was crazy.





After the jeep safari our jungle hut hosts lit a bonfire for us to enjoy while dinner was being prepared. For dinner they tried their best to make mild Indian food for the kids then we went to bed to prepare for our early morning trek in the jungle.

People taking photos of the kids

I don't know what people do with these photos but wherever we go people always seem to want their picture taken with the kids. The kids always have the option to say no.


This girl ran up and gave Auggie a hug and a kiss on the cheek while her friends took a photo - I think Auggie blushed a little afterwards.

Leaving Ooty

We left Ooty about 10:30a after a casual morning of having breakfast and packing up. We needed to be in Bandipur by 1:30p. We took a different route out of Ooty which took us by some different sights and eventually a waterfall.

Annika was starting to complain of car sickness from all the twisty windy mountain roads and it just so happened that when we were looking for a place to pull over there was a "photo point". We got out and saw a large, dry, brown hill in front of us with lots of people walking up and down. As we started to walk a man came forward and asked if we'd like to take a horse instead. Annika had been asking to ride a horse the whole time we were in Ooty so I agreed.

Eventually Auggie got over his fear and asked to join his sister on the horse.


There were bus loads of people at the top and most of them seemed interested in the kids. They would run up to Annika on the horse and have their friends take a photo.


Back on the trail after the "photo point" we drove by a car accident. I'm shocked we didn't see more considering how people drive in the middle of the road on these narrow twisty roads and have no idea what's coming around the next bend.

Then we made it to Pykara Falls




Nice way to break up the drive to Bandipur

Coonoor

Our second day in Ooty we took the toy train to Coonoor. The toy train takes you on a scenic journey into the hills/tea plantations from Ooty up to Coonoor. The cost? Rps. 3/ a person! Wow! A tourist activity that was beautiful and cheap!

The que for "standing room only" tickets, luckily we got a seat.







To make more room on our seat Annika sat on my lap - she fell asleep 15 minutes into the ride. At least she got a good nap in!


The white figures on the hillside are tea pickers.


One vista point called Dolphin Nose had a horse you could pay to sit on and have your photo taken with.

The kids just enjoyed petting it.

Until the horse stepped on Auggie's foot.

Views from Dolphin Nose



Nice guard rail... watch that first step, it's a doozy!!

Views from Lamb's Rock




Tea pickers sorting their leaves