17-Aug-2002
Saturday
We were scheduled to take the
elephant ride, and reached the place around 8 AM.
While we were waiting, Jainy and myself
walked to the river nearby to see the elephants bathing on the other side of
the bank. There was a small baby elephant refusing to come out of the river inspite of its mahouts
persistence. The elephant which we assumed was to take us soon came out of the
water, and then started climbing up the steep slope. It was incredible to see
such agility in such a huge animal. It climbed with ease... slowly and
carefully. Then a baby elephant was brought and it slowly started climbing down
the slope... spreading its feet wide apart at some points. It first tested the
water with its trunk and slowly got in to enjoy a good scrubbing from its
mahout.
It was around 8:45 when we finally left on our massive tusker which padded
slowly and silently into the forest. The mahout controlled it by constantly
prodding behind its hears with his feet. We saw a herd
of deer, probably the same herd, which included some stags with elaborate
antlers and also a few curious fawns.
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