Nameri National Park

“Everyone must believe in something, I believe I’ll go canoeing”

- Henry David Thoreau

Today it was up before sunrise as we needed to be on the road by. 7.00am as we had to drive 2 hours before so we could go on a float down the river. As the sun rose it burnt of the fog to present clear skies and beautiful sunshine. Once we arrived it was. 4 to a boat with 2 rowers/guides at the back. The river is renowned for its birdlife so there was lots of anticipation on what birds we would possible birds for. Bhutan or Iran who knows as long as they stayed away from me! Once you had your life jacket on getting into the boat was easy step over and take a seat how easy is that admit the wooden seat was very very hard after two hours. The water was clear fast moving between .70 cm to 100 cm. It was cold when you were splashed occasionally. There were some small rapids to navigate but a very enjoyable way to spend 2 hours in the sunshine with the Himalayan mounts as your back drop

Birds were what we had come for they pointed out a kingfish I believed them but couldn’t see it next an eagle in the sky I saw something but it could have been a pigeon. Finally duck noises on the rocks there were 2 Ruddy Sheldduck or Brahmins duck very pretty gold colour splashing making a lot of noise according to other boats the sited many other birds I was happy with my 2 ducks and none landing on me.

The 2 hours moved fast we had reach the end and then trauma getting out after such a simple process to get in you couldn’t stand up as you were in water you were told to put your legs over the side and push up well that was never going to work I had sore knees they 2 young Indian boys came to help buy pulling you up well that wasn’t going to work especially when your laughing so much. So I’ll like to say gracefully I fell to my knees on the small mud landing and crawling to the steps then stood I not the only one to do this. Thankfully no photos to show how graceful I was!!!

Then late morning tea before being bused to lunch the guide was concerned my knees and leg were too dirty to visit the village they tried to clean me with small amounts of water without touching me, eventually I was clean enough to visit. I left the camera on the bus so no photos of the village walk or our lunch at a eco tourist lodge.

But I did take a nice photo of the sunset that night