Monday, May 31st, 2010 - Day 9

14:45 Hrs. Forest Trails, BNP, Karnataka, India.

Pre-monsoon is long gone now. As fear of the impending storm rose, we made our way down from 'Rock Hill' (as the mountain spot is now dubbed), the clouds having cheated us out of a sunset. We discussed for awhile our future field projects based on the wealth of new info we had. The goal is for each of us to perform a research project in the area and upon our return, compile them in a professional, scientific manner. Then the notebook can be used by future EVRN-India students to replicate or build from (we are the first; the guinea pigs), creating potential long-term studies.

After dinner our guest arrived, Dr. Ganesh (not the same as from ATREE), an expert botanist and taxonimist. During introductions, the Indian monsoon season kicked in the door and demanded attention. Apparently India wasn't pleased by our scoff at its drizzle Saturday. The wet season had arrived. As we struggled to hear Ganesh over the immense torrent, we pulled out our sweatshirts, ponchos, and umbrellas for the first chilly night. We turned in earlier, trying to sleep to a chorus of frogs, in preparation for another early morning.

During our walks around the hill the next day, we stopped at various viewpoints to see the stunning beauty of India's deciduous tropical forest land and the Ghats shooting up in the distance. As the days press on and the sights, tastes, smells, and experiences become second nature (such as eating with bare right hands and cleaning with the left, gashed though mine may be), I must stress that they never lose their impact. The beauty of this country, both in its land and in its people, is vast and magnificent, and ever present. Every meal we sit down to is an experience in and of itself, as we consume unknown, delicious morsels, struggling to remember the names that Geeta rattles off.

Every member of our group has wonderful traits to bring to our trip and experiences, as well as their own knowledge base, interests, and humor. I'm considering introducing them here in a later chapter perhaps when I know them all better.

~Falling into a pleasant rhythm,

- David