After witnessing the match at Bristol, we reached Reading at 6.00 (AM). We(My roomie, another friend of ours and myself) did have plans to make the most of the weekend by visiting the Safari @ Longleat. My roomie just reminded me that we have to take the train at 7.15 (AM) to start our exploration. Huh! I could barely listen to what she said as I dropped on my bed, my eyelids longing for sleep, sleep and yes just a few minutes of sleep. “Please wake me at 6.30 dear. Please” is all what I could tell her, which she promptly did. Meanwhile, she had prepared wonderful breakfast and packed them in two boxes, knowing well that the time left is just enough for me to freshen up and get moving towards the Reading Railway Station.
We reached the station at 7.10 and could not find our friend who promised to be there by 7.00! OOps! I dropped my cute mobile(Samsung E870) on the floor. The feather touch, light weight cutie I bought for 140 Pounds failed to restart! How do I contact him? Thanks for the first few weeks without mobiles, I managed to memorise a few of my friends numbers. We contacted him only to find that hes just entering the Station. “Hey, look I made it in time!”. We settled in our seats, me still drowsy.. but the sight of the breakfast boxes my roomie opened, just put me in a reactive mode, for my stomach was grumbling! I ate without uttering a word. She smiled at me and said, “First time, you didnt speak anything for nearly 15 minutes”. Didnt comment.. for I was too hungry to give attention to anybody!
Salisbury - We got down at this station while waiting for the connecting train to Warminster - the nearest station to Longleat, we met another friend here, who said hes gonna take the hot air ballon ride at Salisbury. Without a second thought, all three of us agreed that our calanders for next weekend should point to this place. The route from Salisbury to Warminster was like travelling into a denser forest area. We picked up a small argument with an African family as the tickets pointed to the same seats, but they had boarded a different coach. We arrived at Warminster and took a cab to Longleat.
We were in the queue to purchase tickets for the safari bus. We were given the pamphlet that listed all attractions at the place including a maze, bat house, simulators etc. We unanimoulsy agreed that we would do the safari first! We boarded the bus, preferred the top floor (Who knows when the animals r hungry!). It had no grills, actually the top floor had open glass ventilators. Apart from the bus driver, all others in the bus were tourists. We anxiously waited as the bus drove(did I say drove? It should be “the bus crawled” - as there were an array of cars ahead and following too - all moving at a snail’s speed) into an open landscape with minimal trees. The first animal we saw was the giraffe, trying to come around our bus, yes it looked lovely. But we were more curious to see the cat family.
Time passed, we were now viewing foxes, wolves and deer- dont remember in which order!. My eyelids reminded me that I have to catch up with some more sleep. Some lions walked very close to the bus, the driver also played the role of a commentator. He said that these cubs were born and brought up here in the safari park and never knew what hunting is! They are really the “CATS”. I pitied them, for they are out of their natural way! I looked at my roomie and my friend, the world turned blank and and ….. I dozzed off in the bus! I felt better when I woke up in time to get a glimpse of the tigers. But ofcourse a bit embarrased to notice everybody looking at me when my friend commented - “Have you ever witnessed a person who dozzes in a safari?”.
Before I boarded the bus, I imagined all sorts of wild animals surrounding our buses (grilled), posing for our camera, a security escorting us etc etc. as though its going to be THE risk zone. But in reality, nothing thrilled me in the safari. I didnt get the feel that I was in a forest, where the wild animals felt at home!. They were actually caged, but just that the walls of the cage spaned several acres. The line of cars on the road making very slow progress added to the typical zoo effect. All my adventurous dreams got shattered
The way back, we debated on whether it was a visit to the Safari or the zoo. Needless to mention, I got a bizarre stare from my friends for suggesting this bizarre safari !
