The day started so well, with Kaveri swimming in the Kaveri.
After a quick change, that’ll. Be five rupees thank you.
Being watched by the cheeky monkeys.
Lucie was picked up much later and then wouldn’t leave the car.
Rat snakes, cavorting but not dangerous and easily managed by the snake man. She has disappeared. He was relaxing and recovering from all the hard work 🤔 so he was slow, lethargic and easily nabbbed.
After soooooo long without leading tours, they are now coming thick and fast, recently with a tour each week and for good measure a short cycle ride with a little known girl.
Grabbing a dosa for breakfast on the island is becoming popular
Todays tour was for Tilley and Jessie friends from the UK who I know through a very good friend Emma. Also on the tour was someone who will remain ‘nameless’ for a little longer.
They are travelling throughout India and I’m exhausted hearing about it, but its sounds that its been fun and as with all of us learned so much from the wonderful experiences that INDIA provides to us all.
Spotting the sheep, flowers, goats, butterflies and birds, not to forget the general craziness, has always been a popular part of the tour, a new interest has become the dung beetles. They’ve also met Kaveri, or at least the goddess, and the mini version of her will join us for breakfast.
Today we had to contend with the guide running out of petrol en route to the island, a political demonstration and our route blocked by trees. Nothing is ever straightforward in India seems a slight understatement.
MyCycle Tours will be available again in September.
Kaveri (also anglicised as Cauvery) is named after the holy river, one of the seven holiest in India, a Hindu goddess, who is known for her strength of character and giving nature. As usual the stories vary.
The Kaveri river rises in the western ghats in Kodak (Coorg) passing through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
On its journey east it splits to form three islands, one of which is Srirangapatna, featured on our main mycycle tour.
The river helps feed the irrigation systems especially around Srirangaptnam and is source of conflict between the two states.
Thankyou to Aarthi, mum, daughter Aria and son Aroh, oh and the irrepressible dad Ajit — visiting from Canada — for a lovely opportunity to meet and get to know each other. We had great fun cycling on the amazing Srirangaptnam.
Well done to Aroh for cycling the whole distance independently on a child size cycle.
What a wonderful family who have reinforced an important lesson.
It was equally a pleasure to meet Paul, originally from the UK who after a spell of work in Bangalore also joined the tour before returning to Australia where he now lives.
There’s lots of interest on our tours… history, culture, birds, each other and….
It’s why we do it…. What? …. It’s meeting and connecting with people and hopefully adding to their enjoyment of their visit to Mysore. We’ve been doing it since starting Mycycle tours and Mysore Bed and Breakfast ten years ago.
It is especially important as with the loss of my Manjula combined with the closure of the business because of the pandemic I’ve become more isolated. Haven’t we all?
The advice from the new book I’m reading is ….
that …. Connecting with people, realising how we’re part of something bigger and helping us feel good is critical for a healthy heart.
Obvious really but we need reminding…
Thanks guys…
What better way is there to connect than to lead cycle tours and share our home?
So MyCycle Tours are now available again as will be Mysore Bed and Breakfast.
Kaveri has compared us to famous characters.
Big Panda and Little Dragon
I love the reflective insightful beautifully balanced relationship. I am surprised little dragon doesn’t get fed up with Panda’s clever-dickness or in our case my bossiness.
Masha is a handful and the bear constantly stumbles to manage her whirlwind. Not unlike us. Kaveri can be challenging. 🤔
Stephen and Kaveri have a mix of both relationships, above all it’s fun.
I’ve added ……. another
Pooh and Piglet.
My new best friend and gang leader (she’s promised that I can join) has returned home today.
Kaveri leaves for home on Saturday so we fitted in a few more activities.
But what is it all about and who is Kaveri?
We celebrated with…
One Temple visit and
a cake … no
Two cakes …..
Feeding each other cake on one’s birthday is common here in India.
We often see groups of young people cake sharing in our park. Some believe it’s imported from England. I don’t think so ….
We’d catered for Kaveri’s auntie, uncle, grandmother, and wonderful that her mother and partner visited from the other side of Mysore.
That’s confirmed for me that there’s positive results from our ‘summer camp’. …. more later
I’m in another farrell flurry
In hospital (more later) and just realised Kaveri’s birthday is tomorrow and not two days later as she told me.
So I’m getting the team activated from my angio bed.
I need to fill you in more
One of the summer camp activities was shopping for clothes for the birthday princess
No the rich Firangi didn’t buy them all
More food on the top floor and we were a magnet for attraction.
I don’t know why.
Eating a lot
But still not enoughD
She’s too thin and her grandmother worries.
We’ve already established a few goody rituals. Stopping for Pani Puri or rice bhath on the street or an ice cream at our usual cafe or as today the whole lot plus roti, dhal and fruit salad back at my house.
She will often ask for a parcel (take out) of what’s leftover her her teenage auntie back at her grandmothers.
A generous foreigner is too good an opportunity to miss and it is summer camp.
She isn’t greedy but is keen to share her good fortune.
