On August 7 of 2010, I did post a comment on Beate's blog in reply to her question: 'Are Elephant babies hard and rough to the touch?'
They are surprisingly fuzzy and soft! Very cute, smart and mischievous creatures:
Loved those fuzzy babies!
Travel back with me to March 11 of 1990. We were working as consultants for Pond's India and on Sunday we left the hotel very early at 6:30 AM, together with a staff member from Pond's, Sarath Chandra and his lovely wife Sudha. Wish I could get back in touch with them again... Her mother lived in Hyderabad, that's all I know as they moved away from the Ooty area in the South of India.
On this map, you will find Ooty towards the bottom (to the right of NH 67!). That's where we stayed, an old British Hill Station high in the mountains.You can find out more by clicking on the hyperlink.
The Doddabetta is Ooty's highest peak at 2,623 meters, one of the highest in South India and a famous tourist place.
We drove through the Mukurthi National Park to spot the Asian elephant and other wild life as we went on our way to Mysore, you can see that city straight above Ooty on the map, as we were making our way through two more National Parks.
One man didn't give any fee and the baby-elephant grinned with a twinkle in its mischievous eyes.
It gave some change of its own, by squirting mud from his/her trunk - soiling the man...
I swear that it laughed for doing this; they are very intelligent!
Fuzzy and frolicking baby-elephants... so cute!
Here we stop alongside the road that led through the Sanctuary. Just a tea break + snack... with sweet Sudha and her husband Sarath Chandra.
If anyone knows where they are now: PLEASE get in touch with me!
Sarath Chandra, Sudha his wife, husband Pieter and me...
Our excellent driver and tour guide!
We are good to go after this tea break.
The mountains in the back are in a mist...
Looking down from that bridge, we could see the elephant droppings, lower left corner alongside the dried up stream. It was a very dry season and that meant those elephant bulls would be dangerous due to the lack of water...
We got lucky! Alongside a hill we spotted soon some bison and elephants! Just look for the elephants above the letters Ele... This is zoomed in from quite a height. Very exciting to see and hear them.
A wild peacock crossed our path...
Here a Muntjac deer or Barking deer looking at us...
Oh and here we have the baby elephants!
Demonstration how those soft and fuzzy babies pick up money with their trunk.
It gave some change of its own, by squirting mud from his/her trunk - soiling the man...
I swear that it laughed for doing this; they are very intelligent!
Now they get their reward; a nice bath.
Baby-Elephant SPA...
Will show you another time about Maharaja's Palace in Mysore!
they ARE surprisingly furry! how cute!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! What an adventure to meet with baby elephants. They are surely very cute.
ReplyDeleteIve seen them, not touch them, though. You look so pretty and both so elegant to go check at the elephants! You led a wonderful life dear Mariette..very excitying and adventurous at the same token. Have a great week ahead.
ReplyDeleteFABBY
You have done and seen the most amazing things Mariette. You are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove, Rebecca
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeletewonderful pictures! it must have been so exiting and a wonderful adventure to see this place and the baby elephants! I never touched one, no.
Have a wonderful new week,
love and hugs,
Claudia
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteWIE EIN TRAUM: ZAUBERHAFT!
Herzliche Grüße
Elisabeth
Ze zijn zeker schattig...er is er hier een geboren in Amersfoort dierenpark...zo liefff...fijne week!...xxx..
ReplyDeleteDear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteHow sweet are those baby elephants! I love their fluffy hair.
You really have seen a lot of the world.
I hope you have a lovely week.
Hugs,
Angela.
What a wonderful experience and the little elephants are so cute. So sorry that you have lost touch with your friends. Have a nice start to the week.
ReplyDeleteHugs
So cute! Happy to hear that they are are as fluffy as they look. Breezy, our shepherd, was fascinated by elephants after we got the big flat screen tv.
ReplyDeleteHoi lieve Mariette,
ReplyDeleteLeuk voor jullie om op zo'n manier kennis te maken met jonge olifanten in India.
Oh...Mariette jij bent volgens mij ook altijd mooi en vrouwelijk gekleed,zelfs bij de olifanten.In mijn gedachten steek ik jou even in safari outfit,volgens mij staat jou alles charmant ;-)
Ja, ook ik was ooit dicht bij de olifanten en wel in het olifantenweeshuis van Pinnawela op Sri Lanka wat sinds de oprichting in 1975 door het Sri Lanka Wildlife Department uitgegroeid is tot een van de belangrijkste toeristische attracties. Het weeshuis ligt ten noordwesten van de stad Kegalla, tussen de hoofdstad Colombo en de koninklijke stad Kandy. De olifanten worden dagelijks getraind en gevoerd maar zijn verder vrij om rond te lopen. Uiteraard worden ze wel door verzorgers in de gaten gehouden. Tweemaal daags nemen de olifanten, onder het oog van de toeristen, een bad in de Maha Oya rivier. Dit is een goed moment voor het maken van foto’s en te genieten van de speelse jonge olifanten, en dat deden wij ook!!!
Verder bezochten we verschillende natuurparken waar we in jeep,met chauffeur en ranger
spannende uren beleefden en ook o.a. grote en kleine olifanten tegen kwamen onderweg.
Fijne dag en lieve groeten!!
Ger
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteWow, you sure are global person♡♡♡ How lovely they are!!! I've never seen an elephant before. How lucky you are that you could see how their noses work. Kind of curious for me. haha.
PS> We used to have a Shetland sheepdog when I was before 30 years old. He died only 5 years and I was so sad. My husband has seen my grief and it took long time to get over from it. So he is always not so happy of the idea having a pet(^^;)
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan to my dear American friend, xoxo Miyako*
Hi Mariette, What a wonderful trip and your pics are outstanding. I love the baby elephants. Just a gorgeous place on earth.I hope some day you can get in touch with your dear friends again.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week my friend.
Hugs, Celestina Marie
Dearest Mariette .. I love these posts travelling back in your travels. What a breath taking memories you must have ... thank you for sharing them with us. I have not touched a baby elephant ... but on my trip to Thailand I did get to feed some adult elephants and they are super intelligent! Wishing you a fabulous day, xo C. (HHL)
ReplyDeleteOh my, what a wonderful experience you had! No, I have never touched elephants before. I didn't know baby elephants were so fuzzy:-)
ReplyDeleteThey are so cute and precious!
I made the mistake of wearing white pants when we went to visit the elephant orgphanage in India one time -- one of the baby elephants was checking me out with his trunk which was very strange feeling. I had dirty spots all over me after that but it sure was fun! Lovely photos from the past. Wishing you a great week. Tammy
ReplyDeleteHi Mariette, even gauw langs bij een paar blogs, nog bedankt voor je lieve comments, ik had de laatste hardop voorgelezen, was echt erg lief van je, dus nee, ik ga me niet meer verontschuldigen, drukte hoort nou eenmaal bij een land verhuizing zoals je weet, ik ga naar bed, groetjes en tot snel weer!
ReplyDeleteMaureen x
Dearest Mariette
ReplyDeleteWhat great pictures and story.
I would very much like to "talk" to an elephant because there is infinite wisdom in their eyes.
Hugs to you
Kajsa
Oh, die donshaartjes. Geweldig om ze zo in hun eigen omgeving te zien.
ReplyDeleteLieve groet,
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI can see with your touched elephants I feel thinking of your very intelligent.
My memories was only at Melbourne word place. I don't remember very much now.
I still thinking go with my young children that is good idea.
Hugs and love to you always.
Michiko
Dear Mariette, what an exciting life you have led! This is a beautiful place and seeing these sweet little babies must have been such a thrill. I can imagine touching their fuzzy little heads, but I would not want to end up with spray all over me! How pretty you look in your lovely suit and your friend is equally lovely in her beautiful sari. I do hope that you find them again. Hugs, Karen xx
ReplyDeleteDearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI 'am never touch one of them, surely a nice experiences.
I live the way you dress, classic always elegant.
love to you