Irula people don't get stung

"It was while i was cycling from Chennai to Puducherry ... earlier this year that i thought of visiting Irula tribes. A legend says that goddess was interested to create people who could collect honey without being stung by bees, and she created one out of her sweat, who was successful in collecting honey without being stung. Even now it is said that bees and wild life flee at the smell of Irula’s sweat."

This paragraph is from the blog I See Birds, which I have been following for a while.  Saju Depalan usually writes about birds he's seen (the Plain Prinia this time), adds a good photograph and a poem or two.  There is always something that intrigues me and I try and find out more about it.  His latest post got me looking up the distance between Chennai and Puducherry, and it's a good distance.  There and back would make a good 300 audax.

And what about the Irula tribes!  A little googling about Irula honey hunters gets you to the most fabulous The Bee Photographer site.  Absolutely wonderful!  I couldn't choose a favourite picture.  Do have a look, out of interest in people and bees!