The Road to Serka Zong

In modern times, the Kingdom of Anandapur has become a destination, both for ecotourism in the area of Anandapur Township as well as for adventurers with their sights set on conquering the highest peak on Earth, Mt. Everest. As such, all manner of tourist-focused enterprises have sprung up in town and along the road to nearby Serka Zong, the point of origin for many mountain climbing expeditions.

In the world of the theme park, some of these businesses are functional, while others exist in graphic form only to help further create the sense that this storytelling environment might actually be a real place. We can't actually stay at the Leopard Lodge or Kataka Tiger Camp, no matter how enticing the mountain views may sound.

Most of the signs are in English, since most of the tourists speak it, but English is not the native language here. Because of that, you sometimes come across some interesting wording. "For Home Stay & Economic Tourist" and "Human Fit Tailors" are just two examples the Imagineers actually came across on research trips to Asia.

Some entrepreneurs have gone to great lengths to attract the interest of passing tourists. The operator of this vending bus has decorated every inch of his vehicle with murals and metallic art, depicting some of the wildlife and other famous sights of Anandapur.

Look closely. In addition to camels, monkeys, peacocks and tigers, you'll also spot paintings of the royal towers and the Tiger Temple along the Chakranadi River.

A nearby ice cream vendor has similarly decorated his cart, this time with an image of Kali enjoying frozen treats among the peaks of the Himalayas.

Tucked in the bushes just behind his business cart, you may also notice this more modest wagon. This contains the vendor's personal things. In order to make enough money to support his family, the ice cream vendor would push his cart out to the roadside early in the morning and stay there most of the day. Having this wagon handy allows him to prepare a snack or lunch for himself, without having to close his cart to potential customers.