Apr 182012
 

An early morning flight from Kochin to Bangalore was easy and smooth taking less flying time than crossing Kochin in the morning traffic. We landed at an airport built since we were here six years ago. Immediately we noticed drier air and cooler temperatures but the astounding and famous building boom in Bangalore had the biggest impact.

Our comfortable coach joined the mad morning rush hour commuter traffic and negotiated the perimeter road skirting high rise Bangalore and we headed north to Mysore. Braking and beeping we made it through miles of highway construction and morning congestion onto a smooth road headed north through rice fields, sugar cane, banana plantations, small truck farms and livestock. What amazing contrasts!

Lots of delicious street delicacies today! Pooris (puffed wheat bread) served with sambar and chutneys, a scrumptious snack served to us along with lots of Indian families traveling.

As we arrived in Mysore people were heading to market to buy food for dinner and we joined in the bustle. A ride through the the colonial neighborhoods and by the two palaces gave us glimpse into how this mini-London of India pandered to both the Raj and the English who were stationed here or here for the East India Company. (two separate Mysore blogs.)

Two full days in Mysore and our final day of our main trip we were back on the road to Bangalore. Our coach left Mysore after breakfast.  It was a fresh morning with the dust washed off everything by last night’s rain . We made fun stops all along the way. The first was to see the ruined fort where Cornwallis redeemed his American humiliation by defeating the Moguls and bringing India under English/East India Company control. The battle ruins are in a village where we daily village life going on without any notion of the surrounding history–just a daily river bath.

A three day cattle market was well underway, colorful and filled with interesting transactions. Farmers were shopping and negotiating for handsome bullock pairs and stud stock. Offers are made via hand gestures done under a towel or cloth so the price is secret between buyer and seller.

A coconut central market where the farmers brought their harvests to sell and be distributed throughout the region. Local coconuts are shipped via brilliantly decorated trucks to population centers in north that don’t grow them. Small plantation owners bring in their harvested crops and sell them at auction. Coconuts are a staple in Indian cooking for most meals whether curries or chutneys.A small village sugar making process was underway and we were welcomed into observe.

Our final stop was a village Hindu wedding then straight on to downtown Bangalore.

We flew to Goa mid-morning of the next day.

(Double click on the first image to begin a slide show)

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