3/13-3/19
Just say that out loud a few times "Sravanabelagola". Lovely in't it?
Anyway, Mysore, lots of people trying to sell you or scam you into buying incense, but in a really nice way, so it didn't bother us.
The fourth day there we were eating breakfast when Hozumi spots a guy walking past the window.
"あれっ！あの人はAlan じゃない?"
Sure enough, it was Alan, whom we'd first met on a ferry in Malaysia almost three months previously!
...and a random guy who just wanted to be in the photo.
Alan had returned to Japan, worked for a few months and then flown out to India on his Spring vacation, only to bump into us, still travelling two and a half months later! Coincidence is a wonderful thing sometimes.
The Mysore palace was very impressive, and the scam attempts we encountered fairly interesting too. Access to the palace is only from the Southern gate, as the others are reserved for kings or something. Walking around the palace past the East gate some guard waved us over and offered to let us in, implying that we'd be able to ride a royal elephant and skip the entry fee, all for just a little baksheesh. First it took ages to understand what on earth he was saying: "you like elephant riDDin'?", then we were unsure how to even start negotiating the bribe value, then I dragged out of him the fact that we wouldn't be able to get into the palace itself without tickets anyway. Essentially we'd be giving him cash to save ourselves a few hundred metres walking and lock ourselves out of the reason for entering in the first place. Great deal!
The first guard snagged us here, and directed us to the gate pictured.
The second guard came out to negotiate the bribe. Don't think he wanted to be photographed!
Through the South gate, into the palace itself and equipped with our audio guides I was taking a photo in the first corridor when a guard hustled over and informed us we'd now have to pay a 500Rs fine and have our camera confiscated for a minimum of two days. We were a little affronted, and couldn't recall having seen any signs forbidding photography and told him so. He made a show out of checking we hadn't revealed our camera in front of any CCTV cameras and offered to let us have our camera back for a little baksheesh. We dithered for ages, feeling really awkward, but I was also aware that the longer it took the cheaper we'd be able to get out of our predicament. Eventually, after going back down the hall to check the signs, we offered him a measly 10Rs which he turned his nose up at. Finally he waved us off and started looking for easier prey.
The palace interior was amazing, truly palatial, with one massive hall straight out of an Arabian Nights tale. Three-sided, with the absent wall providing a view of the palace grounds and city. Massive columns lining the hall, and large mirrors lining the walls. Beautiful.
Our last day in Mysore, sick of curry, we made the mistake of ordering a pizza on special offer at Dominos. I swear they had substituted mayonnaise for cheese. Made us feel quite ill.
Sravanabelagola! Great place. The only accommodation available is through the temple, but they had clean rooms with 24 hour hot water for only 135Rs! That's $3 or 185 pennies (I miss having the pound symbol on my keyboards). Teeny tiny village flanked by two big hills, their temples and a huge naked colossus.
Toes the size of a hundred coconuts!
You can just make out the colossus poking out the top of the temple there.
Anyway, Mysore, lots of people trying to sell you or scam you into buying incense, but in a really nice way, so it didn't bother us.
The fourth day there we were eating breakfast when Hozumi spots a guy walking past the window.
"あれっ！あの人はAlan じゃない?"
Sure enough, it was Alan, whom we'd first met on a ferry in Malaysia almost three months previously!
Alan had returned to Japan, worked for a few months and then flown out to India on his Spring vacation, only to bump into us, still travelling two and a half months later! Coincidence is a wonderful thing sometimes.
The Mysore palace was very impressive, and the scam attempts we encountered fairly interesting too. Access to the palace is only from the Southern gate, as the others are reserved for kings or something. Walking around the palace past the East gate some guard waved us over and offered to let us in, implying that we'd be able to ride a royal elephant and skip the entry fee, all for just a little baksheesh. First it took ages to understand what on earth he was saying: "you like elephant riDDin'?", then we were unsure how to even start negotiating the bribe value, then I dragged out of him the fact that we wouldn't be able to get into the palace itself without tickets anyway. Essentially we'd be giving him cash to save ourselves a few hundred metres walking and lock ourselves out of the reason for entering in the first place. Great deal!
Through the South gate, into the palace itself and equipped with our audio guides I was taking a photo in the first corridor when a guard hustled over and informed us we'd now have to pay a 500Rs fine and have our camera confiscated for a minimum of two days. We were a little affronted, and couldn't recall having seen any signs forbidding photography and told him so. He made a show out of checking we hadn't revealed our camera in front of any CCTV cameras and offered to let us have our camera back for a little baksheesh. We dithered for ages, feeling really awkward, but I was also aware that the longer it took the cheaper we'd be able to get out of our predicament. Eventually, after going back down the hall to check the signs, we offered him a measly 10Rs which he turned his nose up at. Finally he waved us off and started looking for easier prey.
The palace interior was amazing, truly palatial, with one massive hall straight out of an Arabian Nights tale. Three-sided, with the absent wall providing a view of the palace grounds and city. Massive columns lining the hall, and large mirrors lining the walls. Beautiful.
Our last day in Mysore, sick of curry, we made the mistake of ordering a pizza on special offer at Dominos. I swear they had substituted mayonnaise for cheese. Made us feel quite ill.
Sravanabelagola! Great place. The only accommodation available is through the temple, but they had clean rooms with 24 hour hot water for only 135Rs! That's $3 or 185 pennies (I miss having the pound symbol on my keyboards). Teeny tiny village flanked by two big hills, their temples and a huge naked colossus.
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