Periyar, tiger territory.

Periyar, tiger territory, 20-11-1994. After a full five years I`m back in Periyar and staying in the very same watch tower as at that time. But not alone this time. The boats that cruise the lakes of Periyar cost 50 Rp. for us foreigners and only a fraction of that for locals. They are loaded mostly with indian middle class holiday makers, all in their best clothes and eager to see a real wild tiger, camaras at the ready. In sheer excitement they start shouting like a pig that is about to be slaughtered, whenever a they see a deer, wild boar or whatever sticks its head up. I`ve a nagging suspicion that they`ll have to wait a very long time for that tiger they`re so keen on!!! We need this boat to get to our watch tower which is deep inside the park. We`re well equiped with a whole tola of grass, tabacco and food for the next couple of days. This is all pretty much deja vu for me but then Periyar has always been my favourite wild life park in India.