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Network only in the middle of the lake!

There was one problem, though. Our mobile phone had network problems and we couldn't call home. Being a Sunday evening, the shops were closed, and so we couldn't make a call from anywhere. It worried us to think that our family would be anxious not having heard from us. But there was nothing we could do.

Early next morning, we set out for a boat ride. It was a bright day with clear blue skies. Lake Chilika is famous for being a breeding ground for several residential and migratory birds, the most notable being flamingos, egrets and herons. Birds come from as far as Siberia, Iran, Iraq and the Himalayas to nest and breed in October and stay on till March. Part of the lake is protected by the Chilika Lake Bird Sanctuary, which has more that 150 migratory and residential species of birds. The famous Nalbana Island is classified as a Bird Sanctuary under the wildlife protection act.

We hired a motorboat for our morning trip around the lake. Of course, the din of the engine shattered the peaceful atmosphere of the surroundings and most of the birds flight -- leaving us feeling awfully guilty. The boatman had no second thoughts though. He proudly guided us through the waters, and soon, the drone of the engine faded into the background and the birds returned to the waters. One good thing was that, right there in the middle of the lake, we managed to get a network connection and called home to tell the family all was well!

Also see: Weekend hotspots for you to explore

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Share YOUR travel stories and pix!
Have you been to Chilika? Where did you have the best meal? Do you have a hotel to recommend? Please post the information on the message board below so other readers can benefit from your advice. Remember to add information on what was special about the restaurant, hotel or sight you visited, along with relevant telephone numbers and addresses.