Tag: isolation

making connections

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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.

Coconut water continues to be an essential part of our tours, complete with SS re-usable straws.

There’s lots of interest on our tours… history, culture, birds, each other and….

dung beetles….
Soda bottles using co2 and a marble to seal the bottle were a great discovery, now being carried back to Canada as a souvenir.

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.

Virus update 1

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15th March

America recalls students. India sort of gets involved.

We’re at the end of season so our very last guest left today. a PHD student Adam who’s been recalled to the US. Eric another student who was to look after the house and Lucie while I was planning away for three months has also been recalled. He’ll not be available to help me. They have no choice as their funding was to be withdrawn if they didn’t return. It seems OTT (over the top) but who knows. Isn’t it creating unnecessary worry and travel? But Donald (Duck?) is in charge so it’ll all be OK.

I have to rethink my plans.

As I return from walking Lucie there’s a gathering of neighbours in the street. There’s been a visit from the city corporation and foreign tourists have been asked to leave. Exactly as happened to Sally in Kerala. I explain that there are no more tourists expected until August. That seems to satisfy them.

Fact is it’s only been friends staying here this season. 

I am however a foreigner, so where does that leave me?

India is typically consistently inconsistent. In this case no different from anywhere else.

Here’s a few headlines from the local paper.

closing places to reduce passing on the virus and continuing big events….. it’s a conundrum


In England, one friend and her husband, have isolated themselves in a country cottage. Everyone seems uncertain and confused

Happenings create opportunities for the powers to promote their agenda. This may be a way to polarise and emphasise ‘the other.’

It could lead to all sorts of social changes and new challenges, both positive and negative.