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India is seriously cultural encounters of the 3rd kind, they say they have a 3rd eye, and they seriously need it for driving on these roads which are lethal. It seems I tempted fate when I said no accidents had occurred, as when I returned to my group the same evening, one of the girls had been flung from her cycle rickshaw, rag doll stylee, with the thing almost landing on top of her. She escaped with her life,but has the scratches and bruises has her road trophies, and the memory of the irate driver who cheekily demanded his 100 rupee fayre, as she lay there cut and bleeding still stranded miles from the hotel.
Continuing on an upbeat theme, I had to have my second rabies jab, luckily there are two nurses included in our motley crew of travellers so I thought I was pretty safe - mistake no 1. Apparently the needle that comes with the injection kit is pretty brutal, then they couldn't get the liquid into the syringe, so next I was warned that it would also be pretty blunt - I'm sure you can imagine the scene; in some pokey grimey room, surrounded by hot sweaty travellers, and a blunt dripping needle heading my way - I was not a happy bunny, and there are unfortunately a series of photos to prove it! However with the torture treatment out of the way it was time to head over to our next stop Keoladeo bird sanctuary.
Happily we were told we would be visiting the bird park, but that there would be no birds...hmmmm! THis is apparently because of the lack of rains, which usually create rich marsh lands & insects for them to feast on. I did get to see some cool birds still, as well as turtles, antelope and deer, as well as the first sunset viewable through the polluted haze since arriving in India.
We were taken by cycle rickshaw, and I felt rather guilty when I found out my driver was 75 years old, and had to work from 5.30am til 6pm - that's a seriously long day for a grandad, carting overstuffed white tourists around the park all day; Although I think he got his own back by giving out false information to tourists and seeing how much they would swallow. He told me tha t the national bird of England was the Pelican. Can anyone confirm or deny this statement? Answers on the message board please!!
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