We spent a relaxing last day strolling through the botanical gardens of Bangalore. It was sunny, of course, but mild with a gentle breeze. The flower gardens were pretty with roses & marigolds ect. but the trees were magnificent with bright purple, yellow & pink & red blossoms on the top of the trees like in a rain forest. The many birds were noisy & busily flying everywhere. A pair of Brahmin kites (like eagles with white heads but chestnut brown bodies) seemed to be following us as we strolled.

Fr. George chose a lovely restaurant with a variety of foods & many tourists. Even the lamb burger was too spicy for Martha Ann but she did enjoy apple pie & ice cream.

In the afternoon we spent more than our last rupees at a market outside the art museum. Lily is going back for more tomorrow. The museum was excellent with a wide variety of modern paintings & sculptures. I almost bought a painting for Mark but really couldn’t fit it in my bag.

We’ve enjoyed doing the blog. Thank you for all the comments esp. Kate. We are putting together a slide show but don’t hold your breath.

To all those travelers/seekers we would recommend India esp if you have the Lily & Doug to plan & explain the culture & help bargain at the markets. The Redemptorists priests were very gracious in sharing their time & making us feel welcome. Martha Ann especially wants to thank the cook who made some non-spicy dishes. It has been pleasure to experience the loving, prayerful community.

We hope Doug & Lily will continue to enjoy thier trip & keep us up to date with this blog.

Signing off from India,

Mary & Martha Ann

We arrived at this magnificent hotel where we werre greeted by a cool wet towel & a cold drink. The pool & garden is lovely with many colorful flowers & green parrots flying everywhere. We just had our third swim. Dee is teaching us a new way to swim using little movement. The room had all the amenities without asking. the breakfast included western food & all the nummy Indian things. The hotel shop included many soft pashim scarfs. After dinner last night we all decided to help Dee buy one. By the end I was driving off with the sales clerk in the middle of the night to an ATM because we had spent all our cash. We are, this am still pleaswed with our purchases.

Our van has a short circuit so we are temporarily delated for todays trek to Pondicherry. We’re enjoying the break.

Sunday late morning till the heat of the day we explored the Birhadeeswara temple with the huge Nandi bull. The setting was lovely but the road/floor of granite blocks were popping hot. Our bare feet were not happy. The inner HIndu temples were open so we could go inside. The Brahman blessed us with the white powder which our guide earlier had said is baked cow dung.

Yesterday we came to Trichy for the fort & temple but also went to OUr lady of Lourdes church. It was the feast day so there was a huge clebration with 21 priest & thousands of people processing with floats. We got caught for an hour in a traffic jam of bikes & motor cycles & tucktucks. I will try to post pictures.

Mary

The last post was Martha Ann being blessed

by the temple elephant.  This px is Mary, Doug

and Lili enjoying a morning ride. (This is

actually Martha Ann writing cuz Mary got

frustrated with trying to post and I need to stay

near a bathroom this morning, again.

ug

From the thin air of Ooty.  Ooty is one of several “hill stations” where colonials and wealthy Indians would go to stay cool in the hot months.  We are experiencing a welcome change from warm weather in Mysore.  It has been a rich tapestry of experiences for MMD and fun for us to share their excitement.  I got up early this morning and walked into the fields and along a track enjoying the shadowed forest first in the mist and then penetrated by rays from the Sun peeking over the hills.  Air is fresh and clear.  Sarvan, our driver was out in the van getting organized for the day.  Said he spent a chilly night in the room assigned for drivers.

Typical India — we decided to wait and get malaria pills here where they are much cheaper and convinced Deirdre to do the same.  A preliminary visit to pharmacies near our Mysore hotel came up empty, so we asked for help from hotel staff.  Jeffory of same called around, located a potential source and ordered Larium from them to be obtained that evening.  Doug went with Earol, the day manager in a 3-wheeler to pick up the goods.  Pharmacy says “we don’t take orders without deposit”.  Doug pleads.  Pharmacy says they will try to obtain and will call hotel the morning of our departure.  We wait that morning, no call.  Decision made to go to pharmacy street for doxycycline [a viable alternative to Larium].  Doxy purchased, return to hotel.  5 minutes later receive call from pharmacy, Larium in hand and can be delivered right away.  Wait for delivery……no show.  Finally, does come.  India!

It is clear & crisp everywhere, including our room. Martha Ann gets up early so she turned on the electric heater & the water heater for showers. It is peaceful here with few people, a nice change.

My only bummer so far is that I lost my camera at the craft factory/store. I may have set it down somewhere or it may have disappeared out of my pocket. Anyway, I will have to use my Itouch. We did call after about 20 min but no one at the store had seen it. I feel especially bad because Mark had spent so much time carefully choosing it for me for Christmas.

This place is sort of like a conference center with cabins spread out all over the hill. We had fun last night using the entertainment center. We tried to teach Dee how to play ping pong. She is an excellent athlete, very coordinated, but couldn’t master the serve. It got funnier & funnier. I have never seen Doug laugh so hard. Lily will teach us how to play Kaarams which seems a bit like marbles with chips.

Namaste,

Mary

Lily speaking.

Got up early to work on the computer & found Mary had been there all night. We are in Hotel Sandesh, the Prince. Breakfast here is fabulous. It is cool in the morning but warm during the day. We went to the Maharaja”s palace twice once lit up at night  & then the next day. It is beyond description. We saw some temples at the top of the hill overlooking the city of Mysore. Also went to the big garden outside of town with beautiful water fountains. We were mobbed by vendors again & managed some good bargains.

namaste,

Lily