A story set in India. Think Rudyard Kipling 'Jungle Book', except this was no fairytale! Tiger bite It is an early start in preparation for a 6am pickup. The air is cool just before sunrise, the only people about are a few hotel staff and my jeep safari driver. I am introduced to Mullikum, a lean and wiry young man who speaks just basic English, although it is a lot better than my Malayalam which is limited to a simple greeting, ‘namaskaram’. ‘See you at 3pm’ says the ever-smiling hotel receptionist. This confers with one of the two pieces of pre-safari verbal briefing notes I received, a nine hour safari deep into a designated conservation park, the other being wear shoes, bring nothing else. You can appreciate it was easy to follow and comply. I am full of anticipation and curious as to how the day will unfold. Mullikum is not about to pre-empt anything as we traverse the streets of Thekkady, me in the passenger seat of an open jeep, its bodywork deco...
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