Touring India

When we arrived at the Holiday Inn last night I thought what a great end to a great journey. Boy was I wrong! It was only the beginning! Ramesh picked us up at 8:30 am so Peggy could catch the scenic train ride to Coonoor. I opted to ride to Coonoor with Ramesh. It was a beautiful day for a drive. On the way I got to talk to my brother Kevin who called me on his way home from a night out in Charlotte. This was the first time I had talked to him since the tradegy at VT. It was good to touch base with him.

Peggy arrived on the train and was excited to tell us of all the folks who wanted to take her picture. Unfortunately, her camera battery died right before the scenic bridge so she did not get many pictures for herself.

Once we picked up Peggy we were on the road again. This time to Dolphins Nose. We first stopped at a scenic overlook and saw more monkeys. They were scampering around the platform when Peggy brought my attention to a couple of them near the road. It was a momma and baby and oh so cute. They hung around just long enough for one picture. We were then back in the car, and up the hill.

There was another scenic overlook at Dolphin Nose where we could see St. Katherine Falls. I asked Peggy to hold my still camera so I could get video. When I turned back she was posing once more with a group of folks. I was asked to join as well. Again everyone is curious about where we are from. I have taken to answering, "Florida, U.S." because no one here would have a clue if I said Casselberry. The falls were beautiful and we stopped at a Kothari Tea stand and had some chocolate tea. It sounds strange, but it was very good. I should have bought some there. We had the tea proprietor take our picture with Ramesh. We have been calling him our god, Ramesh. He has been the best tour guide and the most skilled driver.

After the seeing the falls, Ramesh took us to the tea factory. When we walked in there was an older gentleman explaining the whole process to a couple and their son. He quickly included us in his tour. He explained how they dry the tea and how the different processes work and he walked us through the whole factory. Orthodox tea is mashed and CTC tea is cut. We saw lots of big machines, but it was clear, lots of this work, such as sorting and bagging, is done by hand. We enjoyed a cup of tea outside the factory and were soon joined by the group that had asked to take our picuture at Dolphin Nose. Later we found out that our tour guide did not work for Brooklands Tea, but was the driver of the family he was giving the tour to. His father used to work there and he knew all about the place. No wonder we were getting strange looks from all the tea factory workers!

After we purchased some tea, we headed out and thought we were heading back to Mysore. Ramesh told us that the highest peak was not that far and it was definitely something to see, so off we went on the twisty, winding, narrow, steep, hair-pin bending, bus-eating-pothole-filled road! By the time we got to the peak we were exhausted, and we were only passengers. The ride had taken it's toll and both of us needed to freshen up in the ladies room, or so we thought! As a rule, we avoided public toilets, but this was a pay toilet, so it should be better, right? The question was, better than what? I wasn't sure what protocol was, but there was a hole in the floor, a faucet, a bucket, a cup and no paper! The woman who went in before me sounded like she was taking a shower! Whatevever we did in there probably seemed unclean to them, but they probably got more Rupees out of us than necessary.

So let's just get back to Mysore, back down that road, and back past Ooty, and back through the Wildlife Sancutary and on the road to Mysore. (Sounds like a Hope/Crosby film). Peggy and I settled in listening to our iPods. (Ok, mine is not an iPod, but you get the point.) Before long we were turning off the main drag into the very narrow streets of a village. Ramesh kept stopping and asking everyone the way to the Mysore road. What was this? Our god Ramesh has lost his way? As it turns out there had been fatal accident on the main drag the night before and the village residents were striking the use of the road. That forced quite a bit of traffic into their village. We were stuck for quite a while behind a large truck as he and another truck coming the other way decided who was biggest. During this time, we gathered quite a crowd of villagers and most were pointing and staring at Peggy in the front seat. I am glad I didn't go for those lighter highlights in my hair last time. This blonde lady was quite an attraction for them.

When we finally got moving and to the intersection, there was no way we were turning left on that road to get back to the main drag. There were cars and buses as far as the eye could see. We headed straight, assured by the villagers that we would find the road up ahead. Peggy wasn't so sure. We were putting a kink in their herding that afternoon and we didn't think they were thrilled to see us driving through their herd.

We finally made it to the main drag and Ramesh starting driving very fast. Peggy assured him that if we didn't see the lights at Mysore Palace tonight, it was ok. When we arrived in Mysore, Ramesh was confident that we had enough time to check-in at the hotel and still make it for the lights. We said ok. We got to our rooms and decided the Palace could wait until tomorrow, even if we wouldn't be able to see the lights. We ordered room service and retired for the night, our heads still reeling from the day we had!