Week 2: Historic India

So, lets pick up where i left off last time, Mysore. The second largest city in the state of Karnataka, Mysore is also the former capital of the Kingdom of Mysore. Basically, it's a very historic city, near a big hill, with lots of old places in and around it......and it has a massive Cathedral too!

Basking in 34 degrees heat, i lashed on the factor 30 (i already have the X Factor) grabbed my camera and hit the streets of Mysore for the day. I was heading towards the main palace and about to go in when a local guy recommended i hold off my visit till later that evening, as it would be much cheaper to get in and they were having a party too! He insisted that i head to the Spice Market instead, flagged down a tuc tuc, shouted at the guy to not rip me off and told me that he'd take me there for 20 rupees (24p!) and look after me. I ran the situation though my 'scam' analyser, but it all seemed fairly genuine, so off i went to the spice market. The tuc tuc driver took me around the market explaining everything that happens there to me (they sell spices!). I got the chance to take loads of pictures as everyone was very welcoming and are always interested to see a white person!

The Ginger and Chilli Lady, this is all she sells!

Next door to the Spice Market is the meat market.....i say market....it's more like a farm!

After the market tour, we headed back to the tuc tuc and on the way, i saw a beautiful old car, called an Ambassador, based on the British Morris Oxford Series III from 1957. The owner was a very nice Muslim guy and was ecstatic that i'd given his car the thumbs up! His mum bought it in 1957 direct from the dealership and when she died, it passed to him.

So, off we headed to the incense factory. They extract oils from loads of different plants and flowers and make loads of joss sticks too. One lady working for 10 hours can produce around 8000 joss sticks a day, that's over 13 a minute people! They cut bamboo into thin strips, then make a putty with resin, mixing in the desired scent. The old lady, then takes this putty and rolls it with the bamboo stick. After they dry a bit, they then get coloured as per the scent, so red for rose etc. 

After the factory tour (having been offered loads of things to buy, so the tuc tuc driver could claim his backhander), we headed up Chamundi Hill on the edge of the city. The views are fantastic and you can see for miles. Mysore is quite a well off town. They breed race horses and have a track in the area too. They even have a supermarket which was awesome to find!!! So, up the hill are 3 sacred temples.

Once you've see one, i think they're all pretty similar and non Indian tourists are charged a fortune (£3) to get in, so i just had a look around the outside where i came across this cow.

The previous night, there was a festival that they celebrate in the north of the country call Holi (the festival of colours), but some people celebrate it in the south too. They grab a hand full of turmeric and sandalwood powder or other syntheticly mixed colour powder and throw it at each other. I think this poor cow hadn't seen what was coming!

So, after a few pictures of me in the tuc tuc, it was back to base for food and a siesta, before heading off to the palace for sunset.

The party turned out to be a light party, where you sit in the grounds and watch as they tell a story (in Hindi) just after sunset, and light up the part of the palace it's related to. The light show was done very well, but dragged on a bit!

It was here i bumped into Juan Pablo and Isobella from Chile. They offered me a lift on their pre-booked horse and cart to a bar recommended in the Lonely Planet guide.....how could i refuse! A few beers later, and with some good tips for Chile under my belt, we decided to take a break from Indian cuisine as JP and myself had both spotted the US Pizza place on the way to the bar! 

The next day, i was off in the afternoon, back to Bangalore  so just had a wonder around the local area in Mysore before i left. Back in Bangalore station, i got my next connection which was the Hampi Express to Hospet. Everyone i'd spoken too was raving about Hampi, so i was looking forward to getting there and having a look around. It was a night train, so off i went to sleep. I say sleep, it was more like a sweaty doze, as it turns out, i'd caught something.....the dreaded Delhi Belly!!

In Hospet, i got a rickshaw straight to Hampi and found somewhere to stay for 2 nights. The first day was spent in bed, which is fairly similar to my second day too. I did bump into a nice Irish coulpe Rich and Kat when popping out to buy water who were also staying in the same guest house as me. Rich asked if i wanted to watch the Liverpool Game, so i jumped at the chance to have some company as the telly in their room was on the blink.

Still not 100%, on my 3rd and final day in Hampi, i got a rickshaw to whizz me round the top sights to see in 2 hours i had before my next train.

I can see why people like Hampi and am gutted that i didn't have more time to go exploring around it on a bike. Alas, i had to head for my next train to start my massive 20 hour trip back to Mumbai. India has been a real eye opener for me. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. It has some great places to visit and see, but it's a poor country in many ways too. Litter and rubbish is a big issue, as is basic needs like electricity. An experience none the less!

I'm now in Thailand and have arrived at my Muay Thai boxing training camp where i'll spend the next 4 weeks improving my fitness and getting some Krav Maga self defence training too! Watch this space :)