The Golden Triangle - Delhi-Agra-Jaipur

I arrive in Delhi and meet my host Virender.  He asks me to meet him at a Metro stop and it takes me a while as I have to negotiate where to pick up the bus to the Metro...then it occurs to me I don't have to take a bus, as the metro goes to the airport.
I did ask...too funny.
Anyways as it would turn out I was on the bus that had to gas up and so I was on the bus for 1/2 an hour just chaffing at the bit.
The metro at Delhi is very nice!
Better than the C-Train for sure.

I meet him and then we continue on the Metro and change lines twice and then finally we are at the last station where his car is parked.  We get out and Virender says to me I will show you something no one will show you in Delhi. He says see that mountain?  I do, it's a very large hill a few blocks away from the Metro station and it has some trucks on the top.  I say okay.  He says that is a garbage pile!  I am shocked.  Yup, it will probably be a prime piece of real estate when they green it!

Wow.

I get into his little Suzuki and we head off to his family's place.  I didn't know that he was outside of Delhi by 15 kilometers.

Now I ask where my hosts are located.  You can feel very trapped if you are not allowed to get out and enjoy normal tourist things especially if you are in a town outside of the City you are supposed to be in.  It displaces you.

When we arrive I am given a big hug by his wife and meet his daughter and son.
I am given a room upstairs and come down for a quick dinner and then have a conversation with his daugter who is 14 and his son is 12.

Virender knows that my pilgrimage is to place my mother's ashes in the Ganges.  We discuss that all though I wanted to do it in the Viranasi, Hardiwar is the sacred place that families make a pilgrimage to.

I am grateful for him for guiding me on that point.  So the next day his children take a day off of school because there is a big festival in Delhi.  So we all pile into the car...except his wife...???
She says she doesn't want to go.  I so wanted to get to know her a little better, but what could I say?
I went to the fair and paid for the whole group of us to get in. (am I stupid or what)?
Anyways it was marvelous as it had all different kinds of handy crafts and there was music and local dancing but also dancing from many different countries.  It was so colourful.

Delhi Market with Virender's daughter and son

Local dancing

She's cute isn't she?

So then after that Virender asks if I want to have him take me to Haridwar which is where I will place my mother's ashes in the Ganges. He outlines what the costs may be and I say that at the very outside I see this costing me 8000 R.  That is a lot of cash ...and as it turns out Virender is using me to take a vacation on my bank roll.  Enough said.

I went to Hardiwar and Rishikesh, but the highways were horrible as they are trying to build a new multi lane highway...and hopefully it will get done soon...on Indian time are we?

After the first night and the rate that Virender is helping me to spend my money I decide that we should go back but that doesn't happen and as a result we spend yet another night in Hardiwar and he says he wants to go for a nice breakfast in the morning.  It ended up costing me 400 R.

Now I usually don't spend more than 50 rupee on a breakfast...so you get the idea of what was going on.

I was not impressed as he clearly took advantage of the situation.  I decided to try and get the train that night to Agra.
Virender wanted me to pay for his gas. I then twisted off.
You see the Indian male likes to talk, talk, talk and particularly with Virender I could not get a word in edgewise...and when I would start a conversation he would just bulldoze over my conversation.  It was clearly irritating by the end of 4 days.
So I just twisted off.  Finally I could tell him what I thought was going on and there we were shouting at each other.  It worked out in the end.  I did pay him to top up his gas tank and then unfortunately I could not get a train so I had to come back to his house that night....I really did not want to.
But I was pretty much in the middle of nowhere and he insisted he could not leave me to take a auto rickshaw.

I came back for the night.  He had promised me that I could get the bus at 7:30 am, but that didn't happen and as it turned out I had been invited to a wedding that was happening in the family, but my time was getting short as this was the second half of my time so I needed to get my finger out.

I declined the wedding but I didn't leave at 7:30 either although I was ready...this is how it happens in India. But no explanation is given.
I finally got on the bus at 2:30 pm on my way to Agra.  I made it there by about 6 pm when I met my next host Vikas.  He had a nice place 20 minute walk to the Taj Mahal.  The mos luxurious room and a GREAT shower.  He even...asked if I wanted use the washing machine.  Now you know that those words can set my heart aflutter!

Taj Mahal

Red Fort Agra

I spent three nights in Agra...and it was pretty hot here.  I then booked all my onward tickets on the train as it was getting a lot harder to get the bookings I wanted. It took me three hours with a travel agent.  Whew!

I left and went to Jaipur on the train.

Now I need to express something.
In India, the trains are most often described as Express...I need  to resolve this...there is nothing express about these trains.  I waited over 8 hours to get my train from Agra to Jaipur and waiting at the train station is not a relaxing event. Where to go to the bathroom?  The bathroom in Agra was okay, but you can often smell the bathrooms in the waiting room...so smelling that for 8 hours can certainly curb your appetite...perhaps that is why that is done???? Dunno.

I stayed here three days in a hostel called the Babylon guesthouse where I met some interning young people who were doing internships teaching in school or even interning at the jewlery shops here...I think that he term interning is used as word for working in India.

Anyways there were three French girls one 18 and the other two 23 and a woman Metha from Slovakia.

It was nice to just chill for a couple of days and not do anything and not try to understand what someone was saying to you.  Very nice break from the host track that I've been on.

Amber Fort Jaipur

I left Jaipur three days later and headed to Jodhpur.  I did the sights here the first day but because I can't get an onward I stayed the three days.  I took the train from Jaipur, and again it was called an Express  train.  I waited 5 hours at the station that day.  Clearly frustrating.  

I am staying currently at a hostel called Zostel.  It is okay.  They screwed up my reservation and so I am in an 8 girl dorm.  I don't do 23 year olds well anymore.  Most are just plain stupid with no regard to others in their space.  I did meet a nice girl from Italy who we spent the day exploring together and actually had some very good laughs.

I will leave here tomorrow and go to Amristar.
This will clearly be my longest train trip should be 17 hours...but folks do we have bets that this one might crack 24 hours before I reach there?

Okay, if you make money on this bet you will have to buy me a nice tea....please be on time....

From there I will take a train back to Delhi and then I have a flight into Nepal...are you excited...I absolutely am!

So please keep in mind that in the next while I expect that the wifi and internet connections will be very poor when I get to Nepal.

I will try to post when I get to Amristar.

Take care and don't laugh too hard at my expense....it could be much worse!  I could be pregnant!  :P

Kolkata - Feb

Internet access has not always been available.  Geesh I can't believe reading this...I sound Indian...I have to make some corrections....:)

I arrived back in Bangalore on the 25th of Jan and Siddu had said that I could stay with him.  In his fine fashion he decided 24 hours beforehand that he could not host me....er he wasn't there...go figure.

So no problem when I came into the airport I decided that I will just purchase a ticket and continue my travels to Kolkata.

Obama was in Delhi and so the military presence at the the airport was crazy. I think all the airports were crazy.

I purchased at ticket outgoing for the next day to Kolkata.  

My flight left at 11 am and I've never been through these kind of security checks.  Every five meters you had to open your bag and go through a detector.  The only thing they did not do is give you exlax.  The only safe place was the bathroom... Even on leaving the plane in Kolkata they were checking bags as you came off the plane.  I said to them where do you think I came from?  Do you think that I dropped out of the sky? All I can say is thank goodness he is gone!

I was staying with a man about my age named Sumit but his 420 lifestyle didn't leave me too comfortable.  So I got out of his place after two days.  Other than his wanting to set up a NGO with me..could take 3 years, but we could have a child too...yeah nothing like moving fast...I'm outta here.

I finally had an offer by some young women to surf me and their names are Indu, Rano and Sangmu. All of them are working in IT and they make about $400 a month.  

So you should know the Indian sleep together.  They will have one large kingsize bed and then you sleep on the same surface.  These girls sleep together on one bed and I have the single bed.

I am so grateful for these girls that I was able to make contact with women and ask them some questions about their lives, hopes and dreams. The first night I was feeling a little sick but the next day my fever exploded.  I asked if there was somewhere in Kolkata I could go and rest and Indu said you can stay here.  I went back to bed and pretty much didn't get out of bed. I was soooo sick that I couldn't move.  I finally went to the pharmacy and got some antibiotics in a fever induced haze and Rano came with  me.  I was pretty much out of it for 3 days.  Finally, now the cough is breaking up and this is where my plans are going to change.

I can't tell you how thankful that I ended up at this place with three young women of 23.  They have been absolute angels  Fussing and taking care of me all the while working very long hours.

This is my first place to connect with women and its been sweet.  I have to talk to them today and see if I can stay another couple days.  I don't think they are concerned I'm pretty harmless, but I don't want to overstay my welcome.  I'm a bit of a project which I think they enjoy.  Otherwise it would be boring for them and they would just watch their soap operas and Indian music videos.

What I have found is that the Indian people like you as the distraction and so they don't want you to leave.  So they say that they worry about you and then they say they will meet you somewhere all along you think that they will, and I do believe that the intention is good, but they cannot.

They care about you deeply and I've had people text me saying that they have heard that I am sick and want to know that I'm okay.  They have a genuine concern for you and they bring you into their family quickly.  It is amazing.  We treat travelers differently.  I'm not saying that you wouldn't get attached but you also know that traveler's...well travel.

So I was recovering at home when I sent an e-mail to Yuliana who is the first CSer I met when back in Mumbai.

Here is the drama.  She is 21.  She met an Indian guy and all her plans went south.  (I had told her to make her own plans and let him pursue her).

She then got pregnant and is looking for funding to get a termination.  Well, that will certainly take a toll on your holiday.  So there she is in Mumbai crying because she doesn't have any money for either the termination or a flight back home.  So if I think I'm in bad shape and feeling sorry for myself...obviously I'm NOT in bad shape after all! 

Jeesh, shit really does happen in India!

Update as of Feb 9th.
I just need you to know that I was pretty sure via the Mayo Clinic website that I had pneumonia.

The girls were so worried that they kept on me to see a doctor.
I went to the doctor here at the Eden shop.  He works three days a week from 6-9pm.
So here is the Appointment:

He asks:  What is your name?  I give it to him
He asks:  How old are you?  I tell him
He says why are you here?  I tell him I think that I have had pneumonia.
Why do you think you had pneumonia. I told him. ER VERY high fever, cough, rattling in my left lung, and it was relieved once I started antibiotics
He says I don't think so.  Okay.
He says Can I see the antibiotics you took.  I show him.
He says have you suffering from fever/hot flashes and heart palpitations:  I say at my age that is something that pretty normally happens.  He chuckles.
He says do you find your nose runs?   I say only when I am eating Indian food.  He says I see.
He asks where I am from.  I tell him.
He says I need for you to hop  up here and sit on the table.  I do.
He listens to my breathing and then takes my blood pressure.
I ask him if my chest is clear.  He says yes.
His professional opinion is that I have had a severe allergic reaction to the Indian dust (er do you mean Indian pollution?) and that I should go home.  I told him that won't be happening soon.  So then he goes about prescribing me a entire treasure chest of antibiotics...er didn't you say ALLERGIC reaction?

Oh, before you go can you pay me for my diagnosis?  Sure what is the cost.  R300.

Now when I get home Rano asks me what I paid.  I tell her and she says to me that the last time she went to him it was R200.  I told her that I am getting used to paying the foreigner fee.

Yesterday, I went to the movie Birdman with the ladies.  I was very excited to see a movie but I must say what a painful movie to sit through.  The Indian movies always have an intermission halfway through the movie.  Does that remind you of anything?  The reason Sangmu chose the movie was that apparently it is suggested for an Oscar....hmmmm I found it difficult to stay awake.  PS don't waste your money.

So now today the 9th of February and I've decided to fly to Delhi. I have booked my flight and will will be leaving on the 11th.

I did so much want to head north to Darjeeling and then into Nepal but it is too cold and with my current issues I will forego going north for a while.  Just a while....

So off to Delhi I go and then I will head north in the next couple of weeks to Nepal if I get to the point that I'm not constantly coughing.  Altitude being what it is....
BTW I am getting pretty good at hoarking...just thought you should know....when in India......

Maldives 2015

I know you are just dying to hear from me so I will try and hurry and get this post out so you will stop worrying about me.

I left Mysore and took an overnight train to Bangalore.  In Bangalore I took the bus directly from the train station to the airport.

Just an aside...I was food poisoned two days before leaving Mysore.  I was so sick it was brutal.  I broke one of my absolute rules about watching the food being made.  I had returned from Ooty and it was evening.  By the time I settled into my place I went looking for food.  I should have stuck with fruit and coconut....well  that will teach me!  Lesson learned.

My flight to the Maldives left at 11:15 am on Jan 15th and it was very exciting to take a break.  I was so wiped out I really did need a vacation.  Planning your trip along the way and putting up the with ever persistent Indian male...I have to say I needed peace and quiet.  We really don't know how lucky we have it in Canada.

Airport bus Hulhumale

So I arrived in Hulhumale and relax.  This is a little man made island (reclaimed) that holds the airport for the Maldives.  I decided to stay here in a nice hotel and wait for Barbara to meet me here two days from now.  It is interesting because they have the signs on the beach don't wear bikini's on the beach and there are women in full hijab in the water.  I just go down in my shorts and t shirt and sit in the ocean.  I don't want to offend, as the islands are all strictly Muslim and there is no alcohol or pork or dogs on these islands.

This is the view across the street from the airport

Two days later I go to the airport and meet Barbara coming off her flight that routed her through Moscow.  She looked a little tired and I took her back to my hotel to shower and change (it's a little hot - about 30C. )  

We then have to go back to the airport in order to find the ferry to Male.  We arrive at the ferry and head on over to Male.  We decide to head over to the market to pick up some fruit.  The ferry we require isn't leaving until 3pm.  So we purchase a few things and spend a little time conversing with the men shopkeepers.  It isn't mango season :( but  they have some to sell and holy cow they cost so much.  The mangos are very small so I figure that the stone will be the same as the mango...I decline, but darn I like mangos!

Okay a little crooked but it is a picture of Male across from Huhulmale

We take a taxi over to where the ferry is and low an behold as we approach the ticket counter we ask if we can purchase tickets to Maafushi.  The woman behind the counter says that the ferry is out of service.  She has a very smug look on her face. I ask again (I thought I had misheard) she says that they have to service the ferry and so there is no ferry.  I say to her isn't that convenient given that it must be a very busy day to the islands. I ask what should we do.  She shrugs.

As it turns out I do know there are speed boats that are for hire, but they come at $150 US.  I would prefer the ferry at $2 US.  

The tourists are collaborating as happens and as a result we find out that is in fact what has happened. 

I go to the boat which says Maafushi Ferry and speak to Ardel.  He says that the ferry that he is loading is only for goods not people.  However, he has arranged for a speed boat to come to the harbor for only $20US/person.  Well what is our choice?  I agree to secure a ticket for Barbara and me and onto the ferry we get to get out of the sun and await the speed boat.  Barbara then tells me that when she went to ask the woman at the ticket counter she was rude and held up a sign saying Cancelled. 

As we start to collaborate on the boat (it is about 2 pm) something doesn't seem right...hmmm what could that be???

I start to see locals load onto this 'ferry'?  Huh?  You bet.  The tourists can afford to pay for a speed boat but the locals cannot.    I didn't figure out what happened until our departure from Maafushi.  It would turn out that when they leave Maafushi to do their shopping the ticket collector from Maafushi will offer them a return ticket.  So he knows exactly how many seats are available on the return.  However, it is more about commerce than anything, as they all know each other and they can make their brother some money by selling seats on the speed boat.  

Oh well, the speed boat does get us there in about 40 minutes and we show up at the guesthouse early and then our concierge Jowel says that he wasn't expecting us for another hour.  Oh, well.  We deek into our room get on bathing suits and head down to what they call bikini beach.  They have put a palm tree fence around the place so that the locals aren't inundated with images of half naked people. Just us....  There are a few foreigners here and so into the turquoise water I go.  It is quite beautiful.  And then I think what would it have been like during the tsunami....hmmm...I'll have to think on that.

Barbara has not ever taken a vacation like this and there is a perma smile on her face  I have brought two sets of snorkels and masks with me and am happy to be using them instead of carrying them around.

There is no music or discos or bars to drink in on the island.  Nor can you bring this to the island.  So it is time to chill.  Perfect for divers as you can't drink before diving anyways..

The winds change in Maafushi in the high season....go figure.  So what happens is that the manta rays go away but the water is exceptionally choppy.  FYI I don't do choppy water very well.

So we  go the next day we go to the opposite beach...I fondly call wrecked beach as there are two abandoned fishing boats on this beach.  Barbara and I head into the water with the snorkels.

Nothing much to see at the tip of wreck beach.  Until that evening.  I go in at about 4 pm and I'm snorkeling around for about an hour and decide that the visibility is getting poor because the sun is low.  I am heading in when I have an eagle ray glide right by me.  It was surreal as I was only in about 3 feet of water.  

I jump up am saying to Barbara who is on the beach YES! YES! YES!....and so it begins.

Every day we would get up and there is a reef approximately a half kilometer from the beach that the waves crash down on.  Both Barbara and I found that you could almost snorkel out to this point and there were a number of corals that were pretty sweet.  You could snorkel for hours and at points it was sandy so you could stand up.  Rest, clear your mask and continue....over and over again!

So I had investigated the diving in Maafushi before coming and had a response by one diving outfit called Maldives Passion.  I went to a couple of places when arriving but because they were the only one that responded and corresponded with me I decided to finally head out with them.

The water as choppy and I do have issues with that so by the time we stop and ready for the dive you hear me shout, Let's get off this boat!

Down we go and the first dive is amazing.  I've never dived with so much sea life and large fish all around you feel like you belong in the school of fish. There are white and black tip shark and all different sizes and sorts of fish.  I am handed off from one dive master and a new diver - to another group -  as the other group is advanced, but I am good with my air.  So I am handed off to the other group to use more of my air. There were only 5 people all together.  Add three dive masters and it was a pretty private dive.

This is when I hear dolphin. They are singing to me. I am looking all around trying to spot one but can't.  The dive master is making the sign of a dolphin and I'm nodding but the other advanced divers don't know what he is trying to tell them.  Alas we have to surface and there are no dolphins!

We all get up on the boat and are taking off our gear when there is a visit by 6 schools of dolphins they are around the boat and there is a boat next to us and they are playing with us and it is amazing. We sing and beat the boat and the other boat next to us does the same.  It was pretty sweet!  They stay with us for about 5 minutes and then head off pretty quickly.

The second dive wasn't as good and I came up from what I call the washing machine pretty sick...bleck!  The divemasters didn't want to disclose the strength of the currents.  I guess the reason is that they don't want me to know before the dive...or is it because all the dives have pretty strong currents....

So I needed a day off between dives.  But time was getting short so we decided to take a snorkel to turtle reef  the next day which was pretty rough for me too, but it was rewarding we did see two turtles but because we were snorkeling not too close.  I was hoping for something more Disney...(yeah I did say that)

So on Friday I decided to take out another dive with Maafushi Passions and went down for the first dive.  I had made the decision that if it was too rough I would only do one dive.

So it was a little wavey but I was diving with a dive master from Switzerland, Rene.

Down we go and the current is very strong.  The best way to describe it and what was running through my head is this is like being in outerspace...weightless.  We are moving along and have to hang on with our fingertips not to be taken too quickly.  It was absolutely amazing and then we see them...the turtles very close.  I am laughing and Rene is hanging onto me ( I should have had another kilo weight on) but I squeeze her hand and I'm laughing.  It's so cool. So we get really close to the turtle and she keeps looking over her shoulder to me but not in a hurry to get away.  Yes, I'm just another fish...it was so cool as I wanted to get up close and personal to a turtle and here I was!

Turtle

So we continue on the dive and Rene taps me and points behind me... and all I say in my mind is: How did you get this big?  This Napoleon was at least 4 feet long...seriously.  He is watching me quite closely....I guess that's how he got this big.

Napoleon...he was this big!!!!  

Saturday we took the morning ferry back to Male and over to Hulhumale and settle into our last night in the Maldives.

I had chosen my flight so that Barbara and I could leave at about the same time.  It was time to remember the good memories made and head back to India.

Mysore to Ooty

My train ride was somewhat better in that they give you sheets and a blanky and a pillow that is reminiscent of a pancake...I don't understand the comfort.  Anyways, as I get on the train now I just say as I place my backpack down that I want to lay down.  There was a young man on my berth and he says - Now?  I say yes. He gets up and moves across and then tries to make conversation with me.  He wants to know where I am from and we make some small talk and then he says that he has a wife that is coming who is taking the top berth.  
He fusses about and makes noise well past 11 pm and I'm getting a little flustered.  I finally settle down and don't you know she must have come on another station but she comes with a child and now they need to settle into the bunk above.  He is fussing about and just so you know this isn't done in whispers...(I don't think that word exists in the Indian vocabulary) this goes on for 1/2 an  hour and now my patience is clearly past the point of return.  He has the curtains going back and forth and then I take the curtains and place them back.  He says to me  2 minutes...I say probably more like 5 but thanks.....  This continues for a 10 minutes when I finally say "Go away!"....he does.....thank goodness.

Now here is the time to say that I don't know if it is the horns all the time but are all Indians deaf?  Do they have to shout all the time?  Or is it me?  You are on a train and it is one in the morning.  The guy in the next berth gets a call and he takes it.  Does he speak in a whisper, nah uh.  WTF????


I think as westerners and Europeans for the most part that we are polite.  I am learning to be just a little less polite.  I still say please and thank you and for good measure I raise my voice every once in a while and push back in the bus and train stations and tell them to back up.  It gets a little of my space issues back in line.

Well, my stay in Mysore was a bit of an ego boost, I guess.

I was invited to stay with a CS young man of 25, named Summath.  He had a professional profile with good English and one negative comment.

I had arranged with him to take a pre-paid auto rickshaw to his place and arrived at the Mysore Mall at approximately 1/2 an hour after the train arrived.  I was about to phone him when he called me.  I didn't notice at the time but it wasn't the same phone number as what he had originally given me.  He said he would come out and meet me as his apartment was close by.  I waited and then he came to the street and waved at me and I followed him to his house.
It was in fact very close to the mall.  I brought my stuff in and he said that I could put my stuff in the living area.  I asked if I could use the bathroom.  I have this conversation with all my hosts and that is that CS seems to have turned into a dating site.  I am not interested in dating but I am looking forward to an authentic CS experience.  All my hosts know exactly what I am outlining when I say this....

Now for all you guys that are unaware there are probably two things that a lot of ladies look at and that is the state of the bathroom and the kitchen.

Well, I've seen bathrooms that are worse (Hampi) and so I figured well with a little cleaner  and some of my own elbow grease I could be happy.  (there are two bachelors here...Indian bachelors I might add).But the thing is that the Indian people I get the impression, look down on you when you do any kind of cleaning.  It may be that they think it's an affront on their hosting, or that you are now considered the cleaning lady which then puts you in a different class than them.  I haven't quite figured that one out, and maybe I need to ask.  But they always say no, no let the cleaning lady do that but...where is the cleaning lady...???

Anyway, here is a picture of Summath:

Summath in the bonsai gardens Mysore

Now, he was very attentive, calling me beautiful etc., and saying I needed to loosen up.  I am thinking is he a player??? Usually when guys play on me like that I back off.  I am not being suggestive in any way.  He takes me to this ashram (above) and then we head back to his place. He says he has to work out, and we will have dinner later.  All the while each time I am left with the bill.  Now I need you to know that I don't mind and often ask to pay the bill, or offer to take my host out for a meal, but it is always denied.  In this case he says no, but I still am paying the bill....hmmmm.

So we go out that evening and he says he's a foody.  From what I see in his kitchen I don't really know that the represents to him.  but just wait....

So we go out to the Chamundi Hill and there is a very nice temple there.  We wander around and he buys me a trinket...hmmm.  I am clearly on my guard.  He then visits the temple and does his prayers.  Then we leave on his motorcycle and he grabs my hands and places them around his waist.  I am thinking...hmmm. He takes me to a hotel restaurant and orders drinks.  Well as you may know from my Turkish experience I am very cautious about drinking with the men that I meet in my travels.  I have one drink and then he says that he wants to ask me 5 questions and I can do the same afterward.  I say okay!  So he starts with a couple no brainers and then he gets into the nitty gritty.  He asks me if size matters and if sex is important to me. Yup, HERE we go!

I tell him I'm celibate.  I don't think he knows what to do with that.  Do I care, not really.  I try to enjoy the rest of the meal.

The next day I go to the Mysore Palace.  What a beautiful place.  I get caught taking pictures inside the palace where the guards only blow their whistle at you and shout put the camera away.

I go over to a private area and sit under a tree watching the elephants that they have chained up there. Another woman comes over.  I find out her name is Naomi and that she is from the UK.  We start to exchange information and I explain my past CS experiences versus my present one and she says that the guy that she happens to be travelling with has asked the Indian guys what's with the young guys and the older women and they said quite directly to him they use them as an ATM.
GOT IT!!  Just needed to confirm it!

So to fast forward to that afternoon when I go to the market and as I decide to make my own food in his kitchen he realizes that I am not interested in paying for the bill anymore and he does this pouty thing.  I am thinking it is time for me to push off and go to Ooty when he comes home that night and says casually that his cousins are coming into town.  He says I don't have to leave...oh, yes I do.  The past two nights I haven't been feeling well and I've told him the same.  He is now saying that there is something smelling in the room and could it be my socks.  I say to him NO!  I am definitely getting it. (I do my laundry every other day....yeah, it's not me smelling brother!)

That night I don't even go out to eat in the evening because I am not feeling well and although he offers to make a rice meal to share I say I am not hungry, and I'm not feeling well.  He leaves me to sleep through the night and then in the morning I start to pack and he says that I don't need to leave until tonight...yeah, no.

I tell him I will figure it out and I leave and head to the bus station where I get on the first bus going to Ooty.
I really, really like this place.

YWCA in Ooty

I am staying at the YWCA in Ooty and it is my first contact with the tourist scene other than Hampi while in India.  It's been a lot of fun catching up with some of the other travellers and exchanging information.

Ooty is COLD at night, but I have my emergency blanket with me and I've asked for a couple more blankets.  But it is a great place to stay and I am planning my route back to Mysore and then Bangalore on Tuesday night as I fly to the Maldives.....Ah, that will be so much fun.  A vacation from my vacation.

Hampi and Hubli and onwards to Mysore...whew

I am learning Indianenglish...I can almost make myself more understood.  I have to speak
S L O W LY.
Sorry I haven't posted any photos that is due to the computers here...

So I decided that although I could book a ticket that allowed me to leave Hubli then go to Hampi and then to Mysore...my mistake was that I booked the ticket to Mysore first...and it's an express train.  I am not exactly sure what that means in Indian terms but I think something like this:

• All the locals know that the train will be late and so they show up late...
• You should just get on the train and not book...what are they gonna do throw mama from the train?  
• No train is on time (actually now I am am just saying, oh, well, I'm on vacation...what can I do?)
• For some reason when I book second class no air, all I have is men in this area of the train.

 Bus Station in Hampi

 Train station in Hampi

 2nd class non air sleeper

Chai and coffee wala

I decided that I needed to take a break from watching HBO at the place in Hubli and head out to Hampi (four hours on the train)where there is some wonderful ruins there...sort of the size of Angor Wat.  Anyways because I could not cancel my original ticket from Hubli to Mysore I decided to book a train ticket to Hampi from Hubli  R100 and arrive early the first morning and then stay overnight and then go back to Hubli the next day in the early evening.  So I booked there and back for R100 and went to the bus stop on New Year's day to get on the train at 0600. Imagine my surprise at having a bunch of women also going to the train station at the same time waiting at the bus stop.  R16 to get to the train station and the buses in Hubli start at around  0500 and go to 1230 am.

The train left the station at Hubli left on time but we were delayed an hour on the tracks and so I guess it was only fitting that on the return trip that it should be an hour late too...didn't get the memo though...


Here are some photos of Hampi and some of the ruins:

And I will be heading to Mysore tonight on the 2nd class Air con...so I will give more details about how that upsized my experience on the train.