Feeding the Lions

हजारों ख्वाहिशें ऐसी कि हर ख्वाहिश पे दम निकले (thousands of breath-taking wishes are there) and this was certainly the one which could have taken the breath away – literally – that of playing with and feeding the lions.

This weekend, it became a reality to some extent. We took off to Beppu, where we went on an African Safari trip and ‘it was marvelous’ will be an understatement for the same.

I have been to zoo many a times and have seen animals in the cage. But this was the first time, the role was reversed. We, the human beings, were caged and animals were roaming around freely. We were asked to sit inside a fenced vehicle fitted with glass and grille. A tray was provided to us to feed the animals from and we were strictly told not to use any other thing.

After crossing the area of bears and deers, we entered the kingdom of the king of jungle. At least a dozen of lions zoomed towards us – all roaring and seemingly hungry and there went the screams of some of our co-passengers – a scream filled with excitement, thrill and a mock of fear. Our caged vehicle was surrounded by ‘the clan of the kings’ in no time and we were all eager to feed them with our hands – actually by the tongs held in our hands. The hungry animals were all set to have the meal but alas it was a monkey’s share given to the lions and they made hell of a noise for that. The jaws wide open, piercing teeth and raring sound – what a combination! – enough to drive anyone to tearful fear!

td>

But the protected environ gave us assurance and we kept on enjoying the process. So many cameras went live and the immortal moments were captured by the lenses. The smile was overflowing. Later the same was repeated while feeding tigers and leopards. There were other animals like elephants, giraffe etc but nothing could stand up to the excitement caused by the lion. Lion is not called the king for no good reason!

A trip to Hell

Once again, not literally but that’s what they call the trip to Jingokus in Beppu. First we thought it is a spelling mistake and an ‘e’ has replaced ‘I’ but it was not to be so and why – we came to know later.

Once we were through with feeding the wild ones, we decided to take up the trip to this mountainous hell. Jingokus are hot water spring. Hot enough to produce steam capable of pulling one and half cats of the train. The steams generally have smell of Sulphur. Some of the Jingokus were used to breed crocodiles too. Add to that the ashen color of some Jingokus, which not at all pleasant to look at. So basically it was all set to scare you off and deservedly called the trip to hell.

But in contrast these Jingokus are surrounded by beautiful landscape and flowers. The lotus, lily and so many other flowers in white, pink, red and so many other colors are attractive enough to make you forget the misery of the ‘hell’.

All in all it was a trip worth waking up early in the morning and rushing all the way to a city at more than 2 hours of train journey.