mysore Sunday

When I left the internet cafe last night it was pouring with rain. A torrent and the roads were almost rivers and no one was around. I rushed round the corner to my hotel and bashed straight into the biggest cow ever! It was lying across the pavement and even sitting down its head came up to my shoulders. It was huge and it really freaked me out to begin with and then I just laughed, the poor thing was as shocked as me. Cows really are the supreme power in India, they are the creatures with total freedom and all look so content and chilled out. But God, this one was a monster!

Slept well in my huge room even though there was a power cut whilst I was having a shower, that was tough feeling around in the pitch black for everything. This morning up early and I got eaten by mosquitos as I was gettting ready. Now I have really painful blisters between my toes and on my knuckles of my hands. weird creatures, mosquitos. Bought some cream and "my sores" aren't so sore any more.

Decided to do a tour today. It was with loads of Indians from the North. It was rather strange because we ended up with 2 hours in the zoo and only 40 mins this afternoon in the palace. This lack of organisation annoyed me so I decided to jump ship and not return to the tour bus. I hope they didn't wait too long for me! We also went to a Hindu shrine high up on a hill which was crammed full of worshippers and cows. It was all fun and interesting but a bit too commercial for me with hard core street traders trying to palm off rubbish wooden flutes and crappy wooden junk of some holy creature.

When we entered the zoo we had to pay for use of our camaras. It really amused me coz the guy selling the camara passes was a complete freak. He was the oldest, most perfect looking dwarf I have ever seen. When I got the pass I had to bite my tongue because i really wanted to ask if that meant I now had permission to take a photo of him. I obviously didn't (I have a few manners) but it did make me laugh and he was definitely the highlight of the zoo for me.

The palace was amazing. So big and grand. Because it's Sunday it was packed out and I felt a bit like herded cattle. The Princes of Mysore ruled for years and years until 1974. There were loads of pictures of them along with ones of Edward the 6th or 7th with his wife Alexandra and other overdressed pompous British fellows. You could see why both groups liked each other because the Brits and the princes were all into regalia, pomp and cross dressing.

I stayed in the grounds of the palace for ages and then went to the central bus station to buy my bus ticket to Cochin. yes, my last horrendous bus journey awaits me and Ive booked a few nights in a homestay with a woman who runs cookery courses. yes, I can't wait to do one of them.

Well I'm being kicked off again. the photos can't be moved but they are of the palace at night, lit by 50,ooo light bulbs only on a sunday evening between 7 and 8 pm. I ws lucky to see it. It was very beautiful and because of the rain, not many people were there. the other one of the palace is a good one at sunset. Right. I'm off. Hope i don't bump into my old friend again.

This is a cow from the shrine on the hill. For those who are into Hindu mythology (that's all of you, init!) this is the place where Durga the female incarnation of someone, killed the evil spirit living inside a bull. She was the only person with the power to kill the bull and banish the spirit. (Even strong he-men had failed.)