No Tree Frogs, Please!

Nature, lovely nature. When I saw the three basic but intelligently made bamboo huts in Karadimalai Camp in Chengelpet, I was excited. We were in a forest, with a hill for a backdrop. The hut was raised on short stilts with water at the base to keep out crawlers. Wow! That was just cool!

Silent, except for the chirping of the birds. No sounds of traffic or human beings even. We were the only couple there at the time, with one boy to tend to our needs.

We went to a Tribal herbal centre in Tandrai 20 minutes from the resort. Many plants look like common garden plants, but have medicinal property. What a pity we don't remember much of how it is used. There seemed to be a leaf for everything - right from common cold to kidney stones!

A tasty hibiscus tea prompted me to buy a few packets of dried hibiscus leaves.

Making herbal medicines

A bonus - a sudden excitement in the centre when a bronzeback snake fell on the fence from a nearby tree. You can't probably make it out in the photo on the left - it is so well camouflaged!

There is a worm in that ring that traps ants!

That evening we trekked up the hill. That's Janaki Lenin, wife of Romulus Whitaker - the Snake Man - leading us up the hill. Apparently they had lived here for almost 10 years before they came to know that the hill was visited by a leopard. They got to know because their dog, Karadi, was killed by it. And incidentally, that's why it is called Karadi Malai, and not because it has bears!!!

This looks so cute, sleeping in a swing

The next morning, we went on a snake trail, seeking these slithering friends in the field. More of that some other time. But I was amused. While out in the open, I am willing to meet any number of animals. I hoped to sight the tiger and the wild cat and the porcupines on the hill. I desired to see the snakes on the ground. Scorpions and spiders seemed almost cute.

But what I was not prepared for my cohabitants in the hut - the tree frogs. We saw one in the room during the day and one in the bathroom. But at night, 2 became 8! That was not fun. Mercifully there was a mosquito net. But when we woke up in the morning, a bat was busily circling our bed. The frogs were hopping around and so were we, trying to get out of their way.

When I complained later, my brother pointed out that we were out there to be in the wild, close to nature.

Yes, I was in the wild to be close to nature. But I realise that when I am back in my fortress at night, I want the wild to remain outside! My love for nature has limits!!!!

Even after I returned home in the city, I couldn't stop scanning the bathroom before shutting the door.

Now, a week later, I confess I feel I was overreacting. Maybe it just needs getting used to.