Summer
Tuesday, May 23rd 2006
In the maps Nasalot seems inconsequential, a mere footnote. We had driven past in the morning ignoring the weather-beaten signpost and the smoking shacks of the wardens.
On the way back the Lutheran decided to take the diversion. We crept past the still smoldering building which said ‘Head Quarters' – it had been deliberately torched, for there had been a termite infestation. In this part of Kenya , humanity is still dwarfed by the rigors of nature. All the rangers now roasted inside brand-new termite-proof, prefabricated tin structures.
“How are you?” one of them got up and said.
The Lutheran was a German, with a double-barreled name, which she now pronounced in an unfathomable manner to the lurching warden.
“My name is ________ _______ and I am here to….”
He waved us in hurriedly, still staggering under the blows of Franconian Deutsche.
We drove in silence. Every few minutes, the Lutheran's companion, a chubby woman dressed in a foolishly youthful checked shirt (‘chubby checker') whistled out a sentence with typical German pessimism: “Zere is nossing here…nossing at all…”
Nasalot is a big empty question mark of scrub, howling dust devils and towering termite mounds, which marks the borders of South Turkana with West Pokot and Uganda . Nobody ever comes here.
The bush trail appeared to end at a plunging precipice, the northern border of Nasalot. “We go south…” the Lutheran said with some certitude, after consulting an oil-drop compass. “But, zere is nossing…” chubby checker still whined.
Southside, the desolation is obvious, scorned even by termites. The Lutheran starred straight ahead and continued at a furious pace.
It was visible from afar, elsewhere it might have appeared ordinary, but in this vast emptiness, the solitary tree stood like a beacon.
“Felsblock…?!” chubby checker said, pointing towards the tree. The elephants appeared like boulders, carelessly placed in the shade of the tree. They had converged in the only available shadow for miles –and they stood there now glowering at us, as if worried we might take it from them.
The Lutheran and chubby checker squinted and said a prayer in German.
Comments
no subject
by neha on Tuesday, May 23rd at 07:13 AMThis is such a brilliant photograph. A little story would make my day - where, when.. and how?
And how big is this tree exactly?
PS - I love elephants.
no subject
by Ashok on Wednesday, May 24th at 02:38 AMI can certainly provide you some background.
It was in place called Nasalot, in north western Kenya.....
One of the elephants was an almost full grown savannah elephant, which makes the tree pretty big considering where it was...
no subject
by paul on Wednesday, May 24th at 03:35 AMYour fragments and language are always entertaining. And yet, they always leave one wanting, feeling like there is so much more behind them. I hope you are writing more than these few paragraphs every week, because you have a talent for sharing these experiences.
wow.
by pavan on Wednesday, May 24th at 01:03 PMashok, i've been reading ur blog for ages. Missed it a lot during your hiatus. Amazing stuff.
I completely second paul's comment. You do have a talent for sharing!
no subject
by malathikona on Saturday, May 27th at 03:59 PMhai,sorry i want to spread this information every one so i am useing this like a comment pl dont feel bad.i know every one agree with me.
Dear friends !
petrol in pakistan is Rs 17 per liter
In malaysia Rs 18 Rs per liter
In India Rs 48 per liter
Why this difference in Asia it self ? World market CRUDE OIL IS NOT THE REASON FOR THIS. It's all gain for private owners ? As we are the general public,we have to raise our voice or at least let's raise thrugh E-mails,pl forward this information to all Indians who care.
It has been calculated that if every one did not purchase a drop of petrol for one day and all at the same time,oil companies would chock on stockpiles.
At the same time,it would hit the entire industry with a net loss of over 4.6 Billion Dollars, which affects the bottom lines of these oil companies.
Therefore 'THURSDAY SEPETEMBER 22 nd HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED BY OUR PUBLIC 'STICK IT UP THEIR BEHIND'DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF INDIAN NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF PETROL THAT DAY.
The only way this can be done is if you forward this information to as many as you can and as quickly a syou can to get the word out. Waiting for the GOVERMENT to step in and control the prices is not going to happed,i thing every one know ..this what happend to the reduction and control in prices that the Arab Nations promised few weeks ago ?
Also we have to remember, not only is the price of petrol going up,but at the same time Airlines and Trucking companies are forced to increase their prices,which affect the prices of every thing that is shipped prices for things like food,clothing etc,too would increase.
We can make a difference,if they don't get the message after one day.we have to do it again and again.
Please do your part and spread the word and forward this information to all who you know.Mark your calendars and make SEPTEMBER 22 A DAY THAT THE INDIAN CITIZENS SAY 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH'.
PL REMEMBER 22nd 2006
malathi kona
no subject
by Realty on Wednesday, August 22nd at 01:11 AMHaha, yes, This is such a brilliant photograph.
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