Leaving Ranthambore

Post birthday celebrations included a day lounging by the pool with the fellow birthday revallers and doing as little as possible, I joined them for lunch and I watched their faces as we were served by running naan man, the novelty having worn off on me but not my companions.

The only slight inturruption in my day of nothing was the overly attentive staff phoning me enquiring if I would like another safari. I relented in the end and, on the condition I could keep the room till my intentionally late departure, was booked onto a 6am tour.

I awoke bleary eyed and stumbled to reception joining the other early risers indulging in the free coffee and pastries provided. Soon enough I was picked up and got into the jeep with 2 Italians a loud Australian and a Scottish couple from Glasgow. At the park we were allocated zone 4, pleased not to be assigned zone 1 I felt good about this safari...I shouldn't have. Again the tigers were nowhere to be seen and despite notification of a sighting and a whacky races style rumble through the jungle with 5 or 6 other jeeps we were again denied even a glimpse of our elusive stripy friend. It wasn't a complete disappointment, again the company was good and this zone did included one of the largest lakes in the park which at daybreak was a hive of activity with everything from monkeys to wild boar sharing the communal watering hole.

I returned a little disheartened and drowned my sorrows in the breakfast buffet before retreating to my cool box (I ramped it back up to 18°C, tropical compared to the day before). Making use of the pool for the last time I realised this was probably going to be the last time I was to have this indulgence for a long time, my future intinerary taking me to Agra, Delhi then up into the hill stations of the North, this justified an extra hour or so by the pool.

After packing and dragging myself away from my haven I headed for reception where I was met by the owner, he insisted on me joining him for coffee and I accepted on the prior arrangement that if he made me miss my train I would get a free nights stay. I was on time. His driver that took me to the station saw to that, what took 20 minutes there was covered in about 10 and as we pulled in, through a no entry section, right to the door of the station I just got out without uttering a word to Evil Kenevil next to me.

I got onto the train and ousted the free loader who occupied my seat and had a rather subdued journey back to Jaipur. I was booked into the same hotel and once again I was bundled into the Pussy Wagon and once again, I was subjected to the hard sell for the guided tour, only this time I accepted...