A palace, a hill temple and a couple of markets; and the photo opps award goes to the market. We actually hit two, one of Mysore’s quaint old markets and its bustling Devaraja Market. They were filled with the usual Indian fair of vegetables, spices and flowers, but this one had something special, vendors who welcomed a camera pointed at their goods.

The Royal Palace is the attraction that brings the tourist though. Personally, I found it a bit hotel like. Perhaps this is due to the British design, intended to mimic Indian style. Magnificent workmanship though made it well worth the tour. A short trip out of town to climb the stairs of sacred Chamundi Hill was well worth the effort too. Continue reading Mysore Market and Palace →

We came down from the cool hill station air of Kodai to tropical Kerala. First stop Fort Kochi (Cochin); the Portuguese, Dutch and British cultural melting pot, where there is a Christian church every few blocks – with a pile of parishioners shoes left outside, distinctly Indian style.  The historical trading town still has its Asian Fishing Nets (see the photo below) in use, making for a classic port scene of old meets new. Continue reading Kerala →

Our first stop in India threw us right into the thick of their infamous polluted, congested cities. However, the Tamil people proved to be set on ensuring our stay is pleasant. In the thick of honking horns and swerving motorbikes, trucks and rickshaws, approached people would patiently greet us and offer their best advice, often helpful. One such case resulted in an escorted cross-city bus trip back to our hotel neighborhood, complete with a stop for tea and a guided walk through Triplicane, Chennai’s, Parthasarathy Temple temple. And, believe it or not, unlike my experiences traveling the North ten years before, there wasn’t even a hint of opportunism; the university student refused my insistence on paying the cafe bill. Continue reading Tamil Nadu →