Text: Peter Johansson
Editing: Christer Lundstedt
Photos: Christer Lundstedt, Peter Johansson
Videos: Christer Lundstedt
Saturday 28th of July
08.10 It's another morning at the Rialto Hotel (http://www.rialtohotel.in) in Bangalore, the city which since 2006 is officially named Bengaluru. It is the name in the local language Kannada. A moment ago, we were connected to the internet. Today we are going to do something we have done in several continents before, including countries such as Peru, Mongolia, Romania and Morocco. We're going with a train.
08.46 We have returned from breakfast. It tasted delicious but was not quite satisfying. I miss something stable like sausages and bacon. This breakfast is at least better than the previous ones in Chennai and Pondicherry. 09.04 On television, it is reported about "Blood Moon", a total lunar eclipse that occurred here in South Asia yesterday. 09.24 We are now sitting in the comfortable sofas in the lobby. We are waiting for information regarding how much we owe for the food we have eaten here during our stay. How are we going to summarize our time here in Bangalore? The hotel was very good but the city is huge. We would have needed a week to have seen it for real. Now it was just a short stop before the further journey. 09.54 The costs of eating wasn't what we had calculated, they became lower. That's good news. A yellow and green tuk-tuk took us from the hotel to the railway station Bengaluru Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station. Now we are at platform 10. A train is already on the track, is it ours?
Yesterday´s Blood Moon is in the news.
The roofs of Bangalore.
We will soon leave The Rialto Hotel.
10.01 It was the right train. Christer asked a railway employee to be on the safe side. Now we and the luggage are inside. There is little space here. We thought we would get better places than this. It's a good thing there won't be a long trip. We're going west here in the state of Karnataka. Today's destination is the city of Mysore, also called Mysuru.
10.48 India is the forty-fifth country in the world in which we go by train. In Asia, it is only seven. 11.42 Salesmen of various food and drinks go through the train set. Outside passes forest and fields. 13.24 The train is delayed and the fact that we are standing still at the moment does not make it better. There is no panic to get out. The is falling outside. 13.35 I didn't tell the truth when I wrote that we were delayed. We have actually reached Mysore and main Station Mysuru Junction at the right time. It was probably we who had access to an incorrect timetable. 14.01 We have once again traveled with a tuk-tuk or auto rickshaw as they are also called here. A short trip took us to The Quorum Hotel (http://www.thequorumhotel.in). While waiting for the room to be ready, the staff has offered us to enjoy the lunch buffet that is still being served. Our backpacks have left us. Are they in the room? Are they also in our room? 14.40 The stay here got a pleasant start. Food makes me happy most of the time. We were also lucky to have our food just before a larger tourist group arrived at the restaurant. In fact, the staff in the restaurant first thought we were part of that group.
Lots of fans in our train.
We are traveling from Bangalore to Mysore.
Peter is having lunch at The Quorum Hotel.
14.45 We were asked to wait for a while in the lobby. A man took us to the elevator. It got overcrowded and I had to step out. The party in there and Christer went to the 5th floor.
14.50 Everyone but Christer and the man got out. They went down to floor three and waited for me. I had to wait for the elevator return before I was taken to the right floor. Now we are in room 2023 with a bed on wheels each. The backpacks are here as well. Good! 17.39 This is the best room so far on the trip. The view of a tractor and a tired dog is not so exciting but the standard here is excellent. We should, in order to avoid getting bored of the room and to get us local knowledge, go out for a walk. 18.15 The local area did not have much to offer, just a long street without something exciting. Back at the hotel we asked about how to book bus tickets to the upcoming destination Ooty. We had the hope that the hotel could arrange it. This was however not the case. We have now in addition to the times and buses we found online, information about additional times and buses. What's the reality? 19.50 It's time to start studying another menu. This is with us in the room. Dinner is getting closer. 20.01 We sit in the hotel restaurant on the ground floor. Something that confuses us here in South India is that the waiters are shaking their heads to confirm the order. I'm used to nodding and often think that what I ordered does not exist. 20.24 Fresh vegetables, cucumbers, carrots and tomatoes have been served. Beside them is my cocktail, a gimlet. It consists of gin and sweetened lime juice. It is a tradition for me to try local drinks but this time it will be an exception. But gin and tonic is supposed to have been founded by the British here in India.
A dog is resting outside our hotel.
The Quorum Hotel, Mysore.
Hunsur Main Road is the street outside our accomodation.
21.10 We were served delicious meals and beverages tonight. But what is wrong with fancy hotels? Why can't I place the food on the plate on my own? The food is brought in and put on my plate. There are plenty of staff here in the restaurant but most seemed confused. Are they new at work and nervous?
22.03 We have changed our mind when it comes to accommodation in the upcoming city, Ooty. The one we booked in advance felt simple and have received lousy reviews. You can't be cheap if you want it to be good. We have booked a better hotel, smooth and free of charge. Booking.com is great! 23.05 Techno music flows through the hotel. What's the point of letting premises in the hotel for music? There are guests who want to sleep.
Sunday 29th of July
07.49 It's Sunday today and it seems to be cool both indoors and outdoors.
09.37 Today, mostly for change, I avoided the Indian cuisine for breakfast. I had cereals and milk, pancakes, toasts and coffee. We ate the breakfast in the same room as yesterday's lunch and dinner.
10.38 Do we really want to go out? It's so nice in the room. However, we need a change of air and what's worse, my pens are on strike. I think I'll have to buy new ones soon or the journal will end here and now.
10.44 There is a magnificent palace to see here in Mysore but also a zoo that received good reviews. It's going to be hard to cover both of them. When we found out that it is forbidden to take pictures inside Mysore Palace and also some other complicated rules, we chose to see animals today. However, we hope to have the opportunity to see and photograph the palace from the outside.
11.10 On the way to new views, we waited for the green man at JLB Road. When the green man came, we crossed the road but didn't make it all the way over before it turned red again. On the other side, there was a police who said; you are supposed to wait for a green signal before you cross. We said we did. OK, the police said, Where are you from? Sweden, was our answer. All right, have a good day. Had other nationalities been fined?
11.18 We have seen a tired cow rest and have wandered towards the centre along Vinoba Road. We'll try to find a lunch restaurant somewhere half way to the zoo where this walk will end.
11.35 Garuda Mall, which was our first stop, is not very interesting. However, they have a man employed to manage the elevator and also a fast food restaurant, KFC. We've been in the elevator and are now on the top floor at KFC. Today's lunch will be chicken burgers. Otherwise, there is a lot that is closed here in the mall. However, it is not temporarily closed, it is mostly shops and eateries that have closed down or not opened yet.
13.44 There are plenty of people at Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens also called Mysore Zoo (https://mysorezoo.info). There are hopefully also animals waiting here for us.
16.09 We have been up on the roof terrace, where there is a swimming pool and a beautiful view. By the pool there were plenty of children from the on-going party at the hotel. We photographed and made a movie before returning to our cleaned room.
Monday 30th of July
07.17 A long journey awaits today, a fairly early journey is underway. That's why we're up earlier than usual.
12.06 The road has become much narrower, crooked and steeper. We're heading up the mountains. Right now we were driving past a gray truck. A sign along the road indicates that it is the drivers who are responsible for damage to the vehicles made by elephants. Now a man just got off. In the past, this was the Wild Park of the local Maharajah. Now it is a national park, a tiger reserve called Bandipur Tiger Reserve & National Park here in the state of Karnataka. On the other side of the state border, in Tamil Nadu is Mudumalai National Park.
15.58 The bus drove back and forth again and again before it came to a stop at Ooty's small bus station. We were surprised that no one came and offered us transportation. It usually is so. We had to find ourselves a suitable vehicle. A young woman drove us in her auto rickshaw/tuk-tuk to the beautiful hotel Sullivan Court at a height south of the city centre. In anticipation of check-in and room we got welcome tea with the taste of ginger. We live in room 102 and have no AC but a heater. We are now 2240 meters above sea level. It is among the highest we have been in Asia and the highest we have so far slept in this continent. But I am not truly sure on this.
20.53 We went down to the restaurant for dinner. It turned out to be a buffet this evening. It was delicious but as so often in India, a lack of meat options. On the vegetarian side, there was a wider range. The naan bread we ordered was heavenly.
Mysore is an Indian city which is easy to walk around in.
We continue straight ahead.
A cow is resting.
Vinoba Road, Mysore.
Christer has reached the end of the street.
Chikka Ghadiyara, Mysore.
KR (Krishna Raja) Circle with the statue of Nalwadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar.
Toilet advice at Garuda Mall.
Chamaraja Circle, Mysore.
We could see parts of Mysore Palace here.
A symbol can have different meanings in different countries.
Historical clock tower at Ashoka Road.
Jayachamarajendra Circle, Mysore.
Christer is planning how to walk past these cows.
We have reached Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysore Zoo).
Christer is taking a break during the animal experiences.
Peter is writing in his journal among the zoo visitors.
A sleeping jaguar.
These signs at Mysore Zoo can´t be misunderstood.
It´s time for a meal.
Elephants are always nice to see.
Our friends from Africa were here.
This day´s last zoo animals were the giraffes near the exit.
Views from the top of the hotel.
From the roof terrace we can see the DC Office (Deputy Commissioner’s Office).
We are waiting at Mysuru Central Bus Station.
Our driver takes us out of Mysore.
The road is getting more narrow in Bandipur Tiger Reserve & National Park.
We are leaving the state of Karnataka and have reached Mudumulai National Park in Tamil Nadu state.
Beautiful views in the Nilgiris mountains.
These hills are perfect for tea plantations.
We have made a food stop at Foodies.
Our bus from KSRTC.
We were welcomed with tea.
The beautiful hotel Sullivan Court in Ooty.
The hotel lift at Sullivan Court.
We´re looking out through our window.
Room 102. We´ll stay three nights in this room.
You can see 17 photos from July 28 in this photoalbum.
You can see 72 photos from July 29 in this photoalbum.
You can see 27 photos from July 30 in this photoalbum.