Claudio Padua, Institute for Ecological Research

Dr. Claudio Padua is cofounder, with his wife Suzana, of the Institute for Ecological Research (IPE), which works on conservation projects throughout Brazil.

When the average person has a day off, it usually involves rest and relaxation. No one wants to miss a chance to sleep late, wake up, stretch, and lay in bed thinking or dreaming before getting up. No one likes to lose a chance to refresh and savor laziness. Wildlife specialists like me aren't different, you see, except that one of our greatest pleasures is observing wildlife, which must take place principally at dawn or dusk.

I say this so readers understand why at 6:30 a.m. Suzana and I were already in the lobby of our hotel ready for a visit to Lal Bagh, the botanical garden of Bangalore, with our colleagues from the Wildlife Trust Alliance -- guided by Basker, one of the kind and efficient researchers at the Asian Nature Conservation Foundation. The objective for the day was to do a little tourism, so we resolved to follow the maxim, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." We divided into groups to take small local taxis that are like little jails on wheels, with motorcycle motors and uniformed drivers as crazy as the traffic patterns in Bangalore.

Sweating adrenaline, we took one of these motorized bowling balls through the streets of Bangalore toward the garden. The adventure was more than worth it: The park is big for an urban center, with 240 reasonably well-conserved acres, great scenic beauty, numerous trees, and fantastic, easily spotted animals. We walked around for several hours among locals taking their morning jog or daily meditation, observing the fauna and flora. The return trip was as adventurous as the ride in, and hungry from the walk, we were well-compensated by a big, energy-restoring breakfast.

The remainder of the morning was dedicated to visiting various tourist centers in Bangalore, such as the Governor's Palace, the market, the Temple of the Bull, and the Palace of the Sultan. In the early afternoon, we were taken to a restaurant serving local specialties. The tables were cafeteria-sized and the plates were enormous. The waiters came around with pots of food and served everyone by tossing big servings on our plates. The food was delicious, with huge portions, and we ate what they gave us -- with our hands, as is the custom here.

The rest of the afternoon was dedicated to shopping. Suzana and I bought a very pretty rug, although it gives me pause to think of carrying it back on the long trip home to Brazil. I know that once it is in our house we will appreciate how beautiful it is. Still, I must confess that lugging the thing home is not a task I'll enjoy.

Our day ended with a typical dinner in the house of a colleague, Parveen, who works with tigers. His lovely wife and pretty daughter welcomed us warmly, and we enjoyed the company of a couple of his friends. Again the meal was delicious, with many local specialties.

The night was fun, but I must confess that I am tired and tomorrow will be challenging -- we will be working on the Wildlife Trust Alliance's first joint declaration, followed by a press conference. It will also be the day of our banquet, with a regional dance. I am looking forward to this event and will tell you all about it tomorrow.

While it may seem like a waste of precious time together to have a day of leisure, these enjoyable hours with colleagues from around the world mean that our serious discussions tomorrow will go much more smoothly. Mutual affection and trust go a long way toward helping to resolve differences of opinion.