Snakes on my mind

My in-laws had an unwelcome visitor this week, in the form of a huge snake, coiled up on the cool bathroom floor! It slithered past the housekeeper as she went to clean up, she let out a shriek loud enough to summon the whole neighbourhood, and fled from there, slamming the bathroom shut behind her!

My mother-in-law, with remarkable alacrity rang up Just Dial (an information service - +91-44-2644 4444), got the number of the Guindy Snake Park from them, called the ranger there, (+(91)-(44)-22200335,22301328) who promised to send a snake catcher. Within half an hour, the catcher arrived, and from all accounts knew his snake-catching! He calmly proceeded to the bathroom, by which time the snake had disappeared under the wash basin drainhole, and was nowhere to be seen. He checked regarding the drain plan, asked for hot water to be poured down the drain, and then waited at the other end, in the garden.

Sure enough, in a minute the snake emerged, and was skillfully caught by the trapper. My in-laws commented that he kind of stroked the snake to calm it, and then put it into a bag, to be added to the collection at the Snake Park! He told them that it was a venomous snake, but we dont know the variety - it was not a cobra. It couldn't be the Krait, since the markings are so distinct, could it be a viper then?

After this incident, I realised that I knew so little about snakes - which ones are venomous, and which ones are not. Yes, I've been to the Snake Park and yes I possess Whitaker's book, and yes I've studied those glass cages and looked with somewhat horrified fascinaton at those slithery reptiles, but it somehow does not stick in the head. I dont find them as attractive as, say birds, nor are they as "handsone" as a tiger, as graceful as deer.

I think there are snake people and there are the others, and I dont know if it has to do with any exposure or awareness. My mother is positively fascinated by them, so is a cousin of mine who now lives in Atlanta, then there is a classmate of my husband who regularly caught them. I am not a snake person, and I have to make a conscious, rational effort to overcome the rising, irrational fear of them.

Of snakes and Scruggs, in Atlanta, Georgia

We saw this snake sunning itself in the undergrowth in one of those large parks near the Fernbank Museum. What was it - Midland brown? Earth snake?


Another day we stopped by at the Chattahoochee river that flows through Atlanta, and saw these ducks swim by,


before chancing upon a Steve Scruggs show. Steve Scruggs seems to be the American equivalent of our very own Rom Whitakers spreading awareness about snakes.

Quite the showman, check out these two little video clips of what we saw.

This one is to do with a common Georgian, non-poisonous snake.



And this one shows a rattlesnake.



Stone Mountain

Atlanta memories also include our trip to Stone Mountain, though totally unrelated to snakes, bear with me while I ramble!  After all this is Madras Ramblings remember.

Stone Mountain is very unimaginatively named.  It is, well a stone mountain you see.  I guess if we can have yezhu malai and anai malai, they can have Stone Mountain!  if I'm not mistaken its the world's largest exposed granite rock.  (Ayers rock in Australia is sandstone.)  

Can you imagine what a sense of regret our granite quarry owners must feel seeing this - so much untapped money!

We took the cable ride up, but you can walk up as well.  The views all around are lovely.  About 3,000 acres around the rock is like a nature park, so its lovely and wooded.  there are lots of touristy and kid-friendly activities all over the base park area, but you dont need to do those things.

A walk up, enjoying the views, some birdwatching, and its a lovely day out in the open.

If you are lucky, you may come across these stoneworts, which grow in the little pools of water that collect in depressions and crevices on the mountain top.