Kabini lodges Indian inspiration...

I am starting to understand this whole Indian experience all thanks to the Kabini Lodge Resort. The Disney like whole safari theme was a great look but I think the real wildlife animals were the visitors. Every person in the truck beds were ready with their 4 times optical zoom lens and on the look out for gawking gaurs, spotted deer, enormous elephants, and most of all the infamous tiger.

I couldn't help but to laugh sometimes how fast everyone was to get their camera ready to snap a photo of a large branch and a tiny bird with feathers. I came to realize these animals are consciously laughing at us obnoxious humans.

I kept trying to make some connection as to why our group of international business students from the University of Minnesota were brought to Kabini. Indians are much like these animals in a way. (Disclaimer: I am not equating Indians to animals --you brought us here, this is my illustration.) The animals are in control of their environment. They control what, who, and when we get to see what they want us to see. It is completely arbitrary. The spotted deer were the most abundant and visible throughout the safari ride and reminded me of the helpless poor Indians who crawl the streets surviving every ongoing day. The ride was a clear metaphor of the path to India; it's defined and well traveled but only those who are persistent will find the forbidden treasure --seeing a Bengal tiger.

Varma mentioned Indian's chain of authority as a necessary component of its cultural norm. Our driver was continuously stopping without giving us hint as to why he was stopping. It was nothing like the Australian crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin. Irwin would narrate every step from putting his arm down an alligators jaw to jumping in the water to chase it; our driver and guide did none of this. I thought as to why he wouldn't ever inform us about what was to come of this safari and it is probably because it's the cultural norm to report information only to their superior; thus the chain of command. India operates within a democratic system but simultaneously integrated a high disorganized centralized environment kind of like the jungle. The elephants seem to run the show but are corrupt by tigers who are feared because of their strength and prowess-ent like power over governing forces.