Living in India & Eating Rose Petals!

Sadly, on March 12, there was a horrible “Great” earthquake in Japan, the largest scale disaster since WWII, which wiped out whole communities- with a countless number of lives lost, and where the surviving people continue to be affected! The International Community is rallying around Japan as all are pitching in towards the efforts to recover from and comprehend what has happened. In the midst of the nuclear melt-down threat, I’ve received many heartfelt messages from around the world, like “hope you and your loved ones are safe” and “have been thinking of you all day.” We live >240km away from the center, but we are keeping a watch on the events as they unfold. I was able to contact my husband right away, even though the phone lines were down, thanks to Google Chat! It was so comforting to be able to see him and talk to him. This reminds me that our network of friendship and connectivity (thanks to the internet) is a blessing in itself. I am rich because I have such good friends.

Thankfully, all my family members and friends (I don’t have many in that region of Northern Japan) were ok so far as I know, but I continue to send prayers to the millions of lives- people, plants & animals- that were affected by this tragic event…with many many more lives will be at stake.

A Languar Mother looks down at her baby.

I am tugged by guilty feelings of being here in India, enjoying a sweet life of doing nothing more than working on my Tiger Projects. Well, I have been doing things other than that, I have been eating (not cooking), shopping, touring Delhi, and going to Yoga or walks in the park! I also visited the International Peace Center, SGI’s community center here, and had a great time with the members who took me home for dinner!

Today, at the house where I’m staying, the grandson came to visit the family as part of the celebrations for his upcoming wedding. Naturally, the conversation turned to the earthquake, and the mood became a little somber. But being around family and over a delicious dinner, it brightened up again and we enjoyed a lively meal with laughter, arguments and talking about family history.

For dessert, the grandson had brought some really fine sweets, including one made of fig, cashews and rose petals. It’s my first time to eat rose petals, and it was a very delicate sensation of fruits and nuts! Very tasty!

My entire experience here has been so warm and welcoming, I feel like I’m part of the family. I have not updated my blog so much because I’ve been so busy. Everyday I am working on my computer with this project or that, and I am spending late nights up working on them as well.

A Cheetal or Spotted Deer looking back at me.

Since my last update, over a week ago, I visited Ranthambore National Park, where we had 4 tours of the park (Anjana was participating in the Park’s committee meeting).

Commemorative photo of the Park Committee Meeting with a backdrop of a 500 year old tree. Anjana, Officers of the Park, and the Park Director lined up for a photo op.

A local villager waiting for the national park guard.

Then, I finally got to see a wild Tiger! For this trip, it was the first of many I hope to see while I’m here, but she was really beautiful…sitting on a hill and we were on the opposite side of the hill, just far away enough to barely see with the naked eye, her facial expressions.

With the binoculars the view of her was great, because she was out in the open. It was too bad she wasn’t closer for better photos, but I liked that I could take in the whole landscape, surrounding her – an amazing throne to be sitting upon!

I say she, but we don’t know for sure if it’s a he or she…but to me it looked like a she. It doesn't really matter, as the tiger is only one of many amazing animals in India's forests that need help. Her survival depends on a whole ecosystem, including the humans that are killing her. Many people go to these parks to see the tigers, but really, what is being done for the WHOLE forest? I would like to use the Tiger as a catalyst for change in the way of thinking and taking care of the habitat.

She made a big yawn, and was enjoying looking around. We watched her for 30-45 minutes, maybe more. Perhaps she's bored with my THOUGHTS and wants to see my ACTION?

It looked like she was going to go somewhere, but she decided it wasn't worth it and just laid back down.

I have also met with and talked to many amazing people who are working hard to protect the resources and inspire others to conserve our precious remaining ‘postage stamps’ of natural areas.

This was one person that I missed the chance to meet, was Fateh Singh, known as “Mr Ranthambore” as Gandhiji called him. He was an institution, literally with a school named after him, in the area around Ranthambore. He was at one time the Park Director, and then went on to establish Tiger Watch and take up the fight for various issues regarding conservation. On March 3 at 73 years of age, he passed away from cancer which took over his body quickly but his family said he passed peacefully. We went to visit them to offer our condolences and I was sad that I didn’t get to meet him.

I am sure the park animals he worked so hard to protect will dearly miss him

Sambar walking in the lakes of Ranthambore that support lots of bird and animals through the dry season. Freshwater Crocodiles also make their home in these lakes.

Thanks to Anjana’s extensive network of people, I had interesting conversations and ideas to share with them.

This is the Dev Villas Hotel Manager, who is working hard to bring the community together and support the parks as well.

I need more feedback! So my problem is that I’m not from here. I don’t know what’s been tried and failed, or not tried at all. I don’t know what might work, and what’s a pipe dream…to me all my ideas are pipe dreams until someone says, “Well, that’s something new & we’d like to try it!” So here I am vetting all my ideas until I can come up with something solid to work on as a future project. The hardest sell is to Anjana, who’s got to help make it happen and do the actual work…because I live long distance away. I am only trying to help with new projects that can be worked on.

Visiting Gonesh temple, just outside the park, which is another popular point for local visitors.

On March 9, I gave a powerpoint talk to about 90 students from Vasant Valley. Unfortunately, I don’t think I told them anything they didn’t already know about Tigers! But I talked about my motivations and how I came to love Tigers so much. I hope that something I said touched their hearts, and helped them feel some sense of pride in being home to the majestic Tigers! It’s been so long since I gave a talk in front of this level school kids…I had dumbed it down too much! I learned so much from this talk it’s too long a list for here, but I only hope to improve from this point forward!

A cute bird that was hunting for bugs around the 500 year old tree.

I only have a few days left in Delhi, and things are very coming quickly to a close, so I have to work extra hard! I also need to prepare for the Clemson group and Vasant Valley Exchange program! Goodnight for now!

Jumping from one tree to the next, this Languar was showing off his athletic abilities!

A fast running striped hyena was a rare sighting during the day! It was hurt, perhaps attacked by a tiger?!?