Tag: India

Happy Birthday.

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I’m in the park to wish Manjula happy birthday and hang out with billet-Doux, butterflies (messengers from Madam) and too many mosquitoes!

Here’s the lovely video created by Faizan through which many old and new friends have met Manjula.

My ulterior motive on being here was to be security for the flowers and stop people stealing them.

I failed

But it can’t affect our celebration of her wonderfulness.

As I completed a video call to my son Oliver in Vancouver, —and realised I was due back to make breakfast—three sets of neighbours walking in the park saw Manjula’s poster and wanted to know her story. I’d never met them before a mom her son , another young woman and an elder.

We all shared smiles and joy.

Summer Camp four 2024

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Just to ensure you got it….. the following activities have formed this year’s camp for Kaveri …

Swimming, skating, trying out new things…

and dropping into the summer camp organised by Manjesh of Chirayu Dance Institute here in Siddarthalayout.

That’s not to mention, watching movies, walking Lucie, visitors to Aroma for treats, pestering for one thing or another, especially screen time.

Making me a bracelet as last years is about to fall off.

Predominantly staying at Mysore Bed and Breakfast with auntie — sorry sister — Radhika, but what is the old git doing?

Apparently traditionally thanking the guests for joining the final celebration of Chirayu’s Summer Camp.

Visiting Leela vet hospital as Lucie, the old dear has developed a limp. Dodgy Joints? not to mention it’s too hot for her!!

Tomorrow is someone’s tenth birthday.

Five years ago

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A light wavered.

It didn’t go out as she’s very much with me.

Todays Pooja

Today on the fifth anniversary of losing her —- physically yes —- but not in any other way.

We remember Manjula

A meal is prepared including all her favourite things.

A packet has to be freshly opened as ‘leftovers’ are not acceptable.

We offer it to her and by praying to her God we help her spirit find her way to the next incarnation.

New discoveries.

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After a cycle tour I sometimes meander (MAnjula would call it a ‘rounding’ ) through the countryside exploring new places.

After today’s tour with Anni and Sankar I passed through Channahalli, one of my favourite villages, rediscovering another trail only to stumble across newly painted sculptures.

Crazy colours which usually seem to be the original stone colour, they caught my eye.

They’re ‘hero’ stones often a strip of three images. The hero in battle, the celebration afterwards and Pooja to god, usually shiva.

Fab

Summer Palace

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Our most popular cycle tour is on Srirangaptnam, the capital of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu’s empire for forty years until 1799.

Tipu’s Summer palace is his wonderful guest house on the island. It’s beautifully painted carved wood with fascinating murals of the second war of Mysore. One of our most regular guests Anna took these great 👍🏽 photos on a recent visit.

previously photographs were not allowed.

After the cycle tour many guests stay on island for lunch and to visit the palace.

Today’s adventures

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On or way out we noticed the elephants and cannons. A practice for the procession next week
We were ordering a new MAnjula sign in Kannada to go next to her garden in the park, followed by a visit to the stone carvers.
and a drink in this traditional Brahmin juice shop for sarsaparilla and fruit salad with ice cream .

Electricity in India.

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Helpful insights

Sockets and plugs are the old English system with three and two pin, as below…. it’s 240 volts.

It’s easy to buy a low cost converter in India like this …

So it’s unecessary to buy one of those expensive fly-anywhere-converters

We ask our guests to use the USB phone chargers in the adapters in each of our lounges. …

There’s regular power cuts. It’s not a problem for long but at Mysore Bed and Breakfast we have a UPS — uninterrupted power supply, on each floor, (assuming it’s working) 🤔.

Do feel free to ask any questions.

Stephen.