[gd1418]

The bottom one is better.. What did you do?

[sach.sri]

Originally Posted by gd1418

The bottom one is better.. What did you do?

Nothing much - just adjusted the white balance.. incredible the amount of change that brings to the pic.

[sach.sri]

one more tiger cub spotted in Sariska - the total number of tigers in Sariska is 7 now. Eagerly awaiting the opening of tourist season starting 3rd Oct to go and visit them


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...w/16619141.cms

[sach.sri]

Sadly - the season will not start on 3rd Oct. The hearing got postponed till 9th Oct, so dont know whether it will even start on 10th :(

All plans to goto visit the new "heirs" to Tiger Dynasty (documentary by Mr. Nalla Muthu on Sariska tiger relocation programme) in Sariska went down the drain. Eagerly waiting with fingers crossed.

[v&v]

Sachin,

I recently went to Bharatpur. The ban is one of the hot topic of discussion. The general air is it will be allowed with core and buffer area will be identified along with different charges. Also no of visitors to core area per day will be limited. Once the tiger is spotted then the same batch cannot visit the core area again !!!
Not clear how these are going to get implemented.

These suggestion have be put forward. Lets hope the court lifts the ban.

By the ways if any Sariska visit is coming up post verdict then do let me know too , as i would like to join you guys on Sariska visit.

Thanks in advance.

[sach.sri]

Originally Posted by v&v

Sachin,

I recently went to Bharatpur. The ban is one of the hot topic of discussion. The general air is it will be allowed with core and buffer area will be identified along with different charges. Also no of visitors to core area per day will be limited. Once the tiger is spotted then the same batch cannot visit the core area again !!!
Not clear how these are going to get implemented.

These suggestion have be put forward. Lets hope the court lifts the ban.

By the ways if any Sariska visit is coming up post verdict then do let me know too , as i would like to join you guys on Sariska visit.

Thanks in advance.

Sure. Am waiting for the verdict to happen. Let us hope a favourable decision comes in quickly. Will surely let you know of the plans to visit Sariska.

thanks.

[v&v]

Just saw the news, it now deferred to 16 oct 12

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tiger-tou.../299379-3.html

[sach.sri]

well - does not look like getting resolved quickly. I guess we should plan for other destinations to go with the sanctuaries being ruled out for now :(

very sad...

[samarjitdhar]

Originally Posted by v&v

Just saw the news, it now deferred to 16 oct 12

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/tiger-tou.../299379-3.html

Originally Posted by sach.sri

well - does not look like getting resolved quickly. I guess we should plan for other destinations to go with the sanctuaries being ruled out for now :(

very sad...

Status quo restored .

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...w/16835975.cms

The Supreme Court has lifted the ban on tiger tourism in core areas of reserves and sanctuaries.

Though the new guidelines from what I read would only result in higher entry fees . Oh well.

[v&v]

That's great news. This was expected. IMO along with fees , No of visitors too will be restricted.

Any plans ?

[sach.sri]

Originally Posted by samarjitdhar

Status quo restored .

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...w/16835975.cms



Though the new guidelines from what I read would only result in higher entry fees . Oh well.

Originally Posted by v&v

That's great news. This was expected. IMO along with fees , No of visitors too will be restricted.

Any plans ?

Yes - this is indeed good news, looks like finally the tourist season for wildlife enthusiasts is finally going to get going

[sach.sri]

Sariska - here we come. Planning to goto my first wildlife trip of the season to Sariska coming w/e with GD sir.

Let us hope we get to welcome the new members of Tiger Dynasty .

BTW - sometime soon, 3 new tigers will be relocated to Sariska. Making of another trip

[sach.sri]

Sunday 21st Oct - GD sir, Ashish and myself went to a day trip to Sariska. This was the first trip that we were doing in this season and going by the reports from the Jungle, chances of Tiger sightings were very less - still, after a loong wait of more than 3 months (last trip that i did was on 29th June) we decided to go ahead and visit the jungle.

As usual - started at around 3 am, Ashish had already reached GD sir's place and they were waiting for me when i reached there.

Loaded up the Scorp with their kits and off we went.

NH8 was its usual nasty self with loads of trucks and a huge traffic Jam after the toll extending till a couple of KMs before the turn from Dharuheda towards the Alwar-Bhiwadi highway. It cost us around 1 hr to reach that turn and we were running late, thankfully there was little traffic on the SH and we were able to park our vehicle the reserve office by 6 AM.

The parking was totally overgrown with weeds showing the neglect of 3 months, and the ticket window as not open yet. It was dark and we 3 were the only people there other than a guard.

GD sir called up Hari Singh and we started preparing ourselves for the Safari. Prep for Ashish and me was just taking out our cameras and donning the "safari" apparels. But for GD sir - it was much more, involving taking out lenses, swapping them and other stuff. He has recently got a new D800 and was showing off the FF camera to us.

Winter has arrived in north india and the air was nippy and chilly. I had kept a jacket and a wind cheater as i knew it would be cold in the morning - but GD sir was in his half shirt . Thankfully - he managed to squeeze himself in my windcheater (i must say, my windcheater did make him look dashing ).

Off to the Safari

Sariska welcoming you


Sun was coming up - one of my many sunrises captured here.

Sunny side up


Darker rendering - to get the fiery red coloring of the infant sun


The jungle was green and dense

All misty and green jungle


We had a abundance of BlueBulls - male, female and juvenile variety




Graceful - female BlueBull in a Canter






Shrike

[sach.sri]

The route alloted to us was Zone 1 - which is ST6 territory and we did all the usual suspect spots where we could find ST6 - but there was no news of the elusive beast and the jungle was also in a slumber. Along the way - we also got a puncture and had to get down the vehicle for rajender and harisingh to change the tyre.

With the spare tyre replacing the punctured one, we again got in and went towards Kalighati - via Brahamnath aniket. It was totally full of water and nothing moved.

Kalighati also did not offer any news and we took the time for some shots of our arsenal and ourselves

Ashish playing the photographer


GD sir - fiddling with his new toy - D800


The master and the pupil - showing off





While coming back we did see the footprints of the cubs - but not the animals themselves.




The evening safari was even more dissapointing - with me taking only 9 shots out of which mostly of the wagtail!

Wagtail







The safari ended on a low note - and we started back towards home at around 6 pm. Stopped at Hotel Naman for chow - Ashish was fasting and could not partake in the "gourmet" dishes whipped up by the chefs in Naman - but BCG sir and myself gorged up on the delicious fare and totally sated started back - reaching home at around 10.30 pm after settling the financials.

So long... Till the next time

[gd1418]

I was not showing off. You guys wanted to see the new hardware. And thank you for saving me from the chill. I had miscalculated. So, I was looking dashing in that wind cheater? Hmmm..

Originally Posted by sach.sri

He has recently got a new D800 and was showing off the FF camera to us.

- but GD sir was in his half shirt . Thankfully - he managed to squeeze himself in my windcheater (i must say, my windcheater did make him look dashing ).

The 100~400 with its reach beats the competition.

Originally Posted by sach.sri

Attachment 1007860

Attachment 1007861

Shrike

Attachment 1007862

Everybody is a pupil. It is learning for me everyday. I'm not a master.

Originally Posted by sach.sri

The master and the pupil - showing off

Attachment 1007866

The wagtail has come out quite nice..

Originally Posted by sach.sri

Wagtail

Attachment 1007869

Attachment 1007870

Attachment 1007871