Is this where the moti wallers are?

A journey into the depths of Mumbai for a necessary retail experience.

they might be this way

along here?

or perhaps this street?

Found them.  Time to stock up on mirrors, beads,

and other embellishments.  Happy shopper.

Travel blog over and back to work.

Beach Life

To Colva, South Goa, again a return visit.  A few years back 

we stayed at the Skylark, recently opened by Debbie and Snowkon. 

 It was 'basic' to say the least, but comfortable. We kept in touch 

for a while, so it was good to renew our acquaintance.  Well look 

at it now.   A transformation.

South Goa is more relaxed, less crowded, than North Goa, 

plenty of good sandy beaches to explore.  The Arabian Sea, 

whilst not turquoise, was deliciously warm. 

So we walked, sat on the beach, swam, read book(s)

and enjoyed the harvest of the seas for supper.

mending the nets

and away

a traditional boat 'stitched' together

supper

beach boy with a god's head on a tray

and Sonya - more of her later

Mysore - Part 2

We had to decide what next to visit. High up on our list was 

Chamundi Hill.  The last time we were here we took the bus,

and returned to Mysore as guests of a party of Indians on

an outing.  How kind, no seats, so we sat, or squashed

ourselves next to the driver.  A hairy drive, suffice to say

if you were to walk to the top you would have to take the

1000 steps - it's a long way up, and down.  This time,

very sedately with car and driver.  The views from the

top are pretty amazing 

Sri Chamundeswari Temple

Walking past the temple we found the storeroom

full of festival kit.

including this wonderful elephant

Now to find the 5m high Nandi - Shiva's bull

vehicle.   I remember being overwhelmed with

the size last time, no railings then.  It glistened

with ghee and marigolds.  I wasn't disappointed.

Mysore

A five hour drive to Mysore took us through Nagerhole National 

Park.  Two hours of 'jungle' - monkeys jumping about, small 

villages with at least one domestic elephant.  Flat roads, 

only interrupted by too many road bumps.  Huge teak trees,

majestic flowering bamboo plants.  Think upside down teepees.  

And so to Mysore.

We booked into Green Hotel.  Fabulous.  The main building is

a century old palace built for Wodeyar princess - we were in

the annex, our room was huge.  A truly eco hotel, everything

is sourced locally, and it donates profits to charity.

First off, forward plans.  We realised it was increasingly

difficult to arrange train tickets, etc.  Enter the Travel Desk

Man.  Our next stop South Goa.  He kindly tried to book

a car and driver for two days.  We already had spend too

much time in a car, so digging deep into pockets, we booked

a flight to Goa, and from there to Mumbai.  And relax.

Next stop Fabindia to replace my torn kurta and ripped

churidar - my I was having a good time!  Delicious supper

in the garden, and so to bed.

We had only one day in Mysore, but this was a return visit.

To make the most of our time we hired a car and driver.

Siriangapatham - Tipu Sultan's fort.  Not a lot left after

a battle with the Brits.  The Summer Palace, Darla Dulat

Barg just beautiful - no pictures please.

Travelling along the road I spotted this cart

The driver tells us that he can take us to the village where

they are made and painted.  Apparently this carts are much

sort after all over India.

The motifs painted and being 'lined' out. This brought

back images of my father.  As a young apprentice

he was taught this art.  As a child, after supper, 

the dining table often became his work station,

painting sign boards.  Holiday money. He also

 re-guilded the church clock - obviously this was

done on site!

The reverse side completed.   It seems the carts are

'limited editions'.   Several in the village have this design,

but I have the feeling after a certain amount have been

finished, another set of colourful motif are designed.

To Kanartaka

After five days chilling out in Kerala, we moved on to the next

 state, Kanartaka.  We hired a car and drove up and through the

Western Ghats. Magnificent.  An eye popping drive, through 

nine hairpin bends to get to the top of one mountain, and then

down again.   Cars, buses, lorries, and even a little rickshaw.

So lush you could almost hear the vegetation growing.

tea estate

coffee beans

a lake at the top of the mountain

Our final destination, Mysore.  A beautiful city, and

a visit to the market.

banana leaves wrapped in paper ready to

go - disposable dinner plates

of course, bananas, and there are so many

varieties and sizes.  Really yummy.

the garlic dance.  I often wondered who

broke up the garlic bulb, imagining ladies

sitting for hours, chatting away at this

task.  All is revealed.

Jasmin garlands

paint powder, for paper, body, and

Rangoli designs

roses and marigolds to make

into garlands

Slowly through the backwaters

We walked with our guide through a garden which was a living 

spice cupboard - pepper. nutmeg, curry leaves, cumin, vanilla, 

naming but a few, plus tea bushes and coffee plants.  Lush

and green.  Eventually to our rice boat and a morning just

drifting through the backwaters.

Life is simple here - or so it appears.

Glimpses of fields abundant with banana

groves, spiky pineapple plants.  In wider

parts Chinese fishing nets.   In the water

fish and snakes (non poisonous we were

told).  Above bright kingfishers, parrots,

tiny bright birds and raucous crows.

Coconut palms every where,  Along the

way ladies making coir 'string'.  The husks of

 the coconut are soaked to release the fibres.

   When dry they are gathered into a bundle

and wrapped in a corner of a sari.  

A handful is  rolled. attached to a

cording machine. The ladies walk

backwards, feeding the dried coir.

Coconut leaves are woven

Banana leaf mat and coir string

Note the stylish bicycle baskets

Not your usual family pet

Going South - Cochin

At last we turned right at Mumbai airport and headed south 

to Kerala.    This trip was more about relaxation after a hectic

 few months. Lots of soothing green vegetation, harbours, 

backwaters - eventually a golden beach in Goa.  No rushing 

around Rajasthan being bowled over with colour and textiles 

this time.  Just do nothing!  Hmmm.

Years ago we stayed at Bolgatty Palace, www.ktdc.com.

Once the Residency of first the Dutch, then Portuguese 

and finally the British.  Then it was untouched, just as it was 

left in 1947.  Now it is definitely a 'resort'.  Very pleasant,

 with peeps of it's former glory.   Our 'honeymoon' cottage was 

still intact, minus the round bed.  Everything 'squared' off.

The tree still spreads over the balcony, looking

towards the Arabian sea.  Tranquil scene, with

boats like these gliding past.

Of course, there are the noisy tourist boats, and in the

evening the disco boats.  Oh yes, health and safety 

has reached India - all clad in bright orange life jackets.

Taking a ferry over to Fort Cochin is delightful, and there

time almost stands still.  The glorious Chinese Fishing Nets,

said to have been introduced by Marco Polo on his way

home from China.

Amazing mechanical spiders, they dip down into the sea,

by lowering and lifting these stone weights.

When the nets are lifted there is a general scramble

between birds and fishermen to gather up the catch.

Small fish and prawns mainly, which can be bought 

to have cooked at a local restaurant,  Yum.

Strolling through the old spice markets we found

The Ginger Factory - over 400 hundred years old,

The ginger is soaked in lime and left to dry in the

sun.  It is then pounded in to a powder to make

ayurvedic medicine, which I am sure will cure all  

ills, unfortunately it is only available in India!

another lane, eventually leading down

to the waterfront.

Now that's relaxing, isn't it?!!