Independence day

Today is independence day in India. This year they are celebrating 65 years of independence from British rule. Even out here in the country there were modest celebrations. We saw streamers hung in the villages, gatherings for public speeches, and dance performances. The most notable thing about the weekend was the number of visitors in the park. Most Indians had a three day weekend and took the chance to get away. We met a nice extended family who was staying at our hotel for the weekend. On the drive up to the temple, we experienced the full crush of the holiday weekend. We drove up a narrow mountain road all the way to the top. There were so many cars up at the top and people lined up to get inside the temple. We enjoyed the amazing views and headed back down. On the way down we passed six tour buses! There was barely room for a car to turn around up there, I have no idea where the buses were going. Gabe thought they would back all the way down. We heard some fire cravers in the evening from the village.