Greenwoods Birds and Butterflies Blues: Thursday, November 5th!

He is a hard man who is only just, and a sad one who is only wise. -Voltaire, philosopher (1694-1778)

Next Monday Colleen will lead us on a hike through the hills behind her place. We will park at the end of Evergreen Dr. at Crow Place and Penrose Court. However there isn't a lot of space so we will carpool as usual at Home Hardware in Penticton (south eastern parking lot) and leave there at 9am. Summerlanders can carpool from IGA at 8:40 am meeting us in Penticton at Home Hardware at 9am. After an approximate 3 hour romp we will descend on OPUS for coffee and a debrief. Pam

Hi Ferry Man! Just went for a walk around the grounds and had a face-to-face with the fierce-some gobbler. He even followed me back to our room to make sure I left his coterie of Guinea Fowl alone!

Really enjoyed watching the video clips of the elephant family. I think I'll have to wait until connectivity isn't as prone to interruption before I'm able to up load to UTube. In the interim, from the minute to the majestic and more! See you on the farm! Cheers, National Geographic Photographer, Patrizzio! 



Hello Calamity and Whirlygig!

Just a very quick note as was only able to send a single message yesterday. Connectivity was so erratic that before I could compose anything, even cutting and pasting from Word, server was lost!

We spent yesterday morning on a trek through part of the Periyar Tiger Park. Ferry Man, (Jugos Dom Pedro, aka Peter Lighthall), pulled us across a narrow part of the lake on a bamboo raft, using a rope attached to both shores and charged us twice the going rate for his efforts!

After walking around the shore of the lake, for about an hour our guide, ahead of us, signaled us to be as quiet as possible and we were incredibly fortunate enough to be able to stand remarkably close to a family of elephants, about seven, four adults, one newborn and two juveniles, one a male with visible tusks. Must say I was a tad apprehensive after John, our tour guide here, had mentioned that two tourists had been trampled to death a few years ago! When one of the large females trumpeted and the others closed in around the baby, my heart lept into my mouth and I pushed Cora Lee in front of me, cowering in the bushes, shaking like a leaf!

Safely back at the hotel, I went for a walk around the grounds, while our room, (wonderfully appointed and very comfortable), was being serviced, and had a face-to-face with the fierce-some gobbler. who wanders the grounds. He even followed me back to our room to make sure I left his coterie of Guinea Fowl alone! He seemed rather attracted to Lady Mary as well! Before dinner, (fab food everywhere so far!), at the hotel we were treated to a wonderful traditional, classic Indian dance, performed by a gorgeous 17 year old who has been studying this style/form for 14 years! Her eyes, exquisitely made-up were so expressive that one could hardly take one's gaze off her face. Her stunning costume, lithe body and unbelievable hand/finger movements were similarly mesmerizing.

Really enjoyed watching the video clips of the elephant family I managed to shoot. However, I know I'll have to wait until connectivity isn't as prone to interruption before I'm able to up load to UTube. Stay tuned! In the interim, from the minute to the majestic and more! Enjoy your weekend. Fondest regards from Cora Lee to you both. Must away as we are off to breakfast and then last minute packing for drive from here to Alleppey where we board a house boat for the afternoon and night. Even bought two bottles of local wine for the mini-cruise! Cheers, National Geographic Photographer, with Raj's, (park guide's), help, Patrizzio! Ferry Man hard at work, with royalty sitting behind. Notice Lady Mary's umbrella handle. I'm forced to carry it to protect her from sun and rain!