Mysore, December 19 2008

Today is my second day in Mysore. Mysore is not extremelly exciting. There is a nice Maharaja Palace, a colorful market (great) and the 1000 stair uphill walk that leads you to a famous temple (Chamundi Hill)
I'm in Hotel Dasaprakesh which is a very nice, simple but old Indian hotel. It seems that many years ago this was a very luxurous place. Today it is kind of old. Everything in the room is quite old, but works. I have a bathroom and shower with hot water (my 1st hot shower in a month).My plan was to meet here my two German friends Vera and Lisa which I met in Hampi and maybe go with them to Kerala (Cochin 1st). It seems that Lisa got food sick and they will come later to Mysore. I was a bit depressed in the beginning. Not many tourists, not very exciting place.
But as I've been saying, everyday is a new day. The 1st highlight was an India restaurant which I found serving amazing Indian food. I ate a delicios Dosa. Then in the Internet cafe, the only one around I met Danielle's, Yoel's 1st girl friend. What a small world, here in Mysore to met her after so many years. She is travelling with her sister and some other Israeli guys/gals.
As I don't like to be alone, I'm becoming pretty good at approaching other tourists to get together.
Suddenly I see this western woman in the streets, and I ask her if she wants my company to do something together. Her name is Tania and she is from Germany. It was the end of the afternoon. So we go walking for a while and then sit in a restaurant, have a beer, etc.
Destiny is that Tania's room is beside mine. So we become friends and decide to do sight-seeing together the next morning. Its being wonderful, she is a social worker and has been on a volunteering assignment in India. She lived with an Indian family for 2.5 months and is now just on vacation. She is from Berlin. She is an angel in looks, talking, etc. Soft and easy willing to try food and everything else. She is going to Gokarna, another famous beach. Not in Goa but in the state of Karnataka. The beach is supposed to be much quieter and more authentic than Goa's beaches. So I decided to change my route and I'm going to Gokarna too. She left yesterday, I'm going tonight. Amazing people you meet here. Meanwhile another German woman joined us (living in Switzerland) Benedetta, and I'm spending the day with her. It much more enjoyable if you are not alone.
Yesterday we spent many hours going to this temple on the top of the hill. It is a 1000 stairs uphill which supposedly the pilgrims use. We decided to walk up, and it was amazing. We found on the way tens of monkeys, very friendly. I took many pictures feeding them, giving them to drink. It was so nice. Then we went to the market, where the colors of the fruits, flowers, vegetables, the smell of the Insense, the people make this place be magic. At some point I felt
in a drug trip with the scenery and the atmosphere.
So tonight I'm taking an 8 hour train to Mangalore and then a 7 hour bus to Gokarna.
After a while you get used to this long trips, not always confortable but part of the experience of travelling in India. So most probably Christman and New Year will be in Gokarna.