Mutton intestines

Trip Start Mar 10, 2007

119

153

Trip End ??? ??, 2007

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Flag of India Mysore, India
Sunday, January 20, 2008

My first point of call was the Devaraja market, a mass of colourful flowers, fruits and spice sellers amongst the usual market stalls. Very used to tourists, the spice and incense/perfume sellers will accost you and bring out their guest books supposedly signed by people of your country (they even have differnet books for different countries) with comments about how great their shop is and how much they enjoyed buying from them, then a huge list of what they supposedly bought and how much they apparently paid. Still its all done in a friendly, non threatening way and i was also treated to a showing of how they make the incense sticks. First they mix up a few of the fragrance powders with a little water to produce a paste like substance, then they roll this like dough into a thin line, before they roll the doughy line around the stick and sun dry for a few hours. Interesting stuff. The flower section is very beautiful and colourful and well worth a stroll around too.
Next i went onto the Maharaja's palace, the main reason most people come to Mysore

Market

. Today the whole Indians pay 20 RS, foreigners pay 100 RS really annoyed me, but i paid and went in. To be honest this is one place where it is really worth going inside, for the decor is fantastic and really worth seeing. I was most impressed with the sheer detail of the paintings in the 'Peacock Pavillion', and how up close some of these had been painted to have a 3d look, which appeared to change when looked at from different angles. I managed to glean a little info from one of the security guards in the room too, who told me the floor tiles were from england, the wall tiles from italy and the glass of the dome from Belgium. He also pointed out a made in England signature on a floor tile, much to my amusement. Sadly photos aren't allowed in the palace, but its well worth a visit.
Tried to visit the sandalwood factory on foot, till i found out it was 6km out of town, so i tried to walk to the silk factory instead, which again turned out to be miles further than i thought it would be. Got there eventually to find out it was only open until 2:30, so i was hours late.
Had an unnecessary though tasty rice/curry combo outside my hotel and talked to an Indian guy there who said i had to try their special dish here. Even though i had just eaten and was pretty full, he was a nice guy and pretty persistent so i thought why not and had this too! Very very tasty mutton intestine curry and parotta followed, though the 40RS was a little more than i had wanted to pay, especially as i was already full and my first curry was only 10RS. When i expressed this feeling he responded with the typical 'but you are English, you are rich, this is less than half an English pound for you!' I guess he is right, in the sense that in his country i guess i am rich, though he was shocked to learn i am budgeting myself so i live on around 200-250 RS a day and then offered to buy all my meals for me whilst i was in Mysore! Nice guy like i said, he woudlnt refuse this so i said i'd accept so he would let me go, but obviously i didn't take him up on the offer! Now full to bursting point, i had to go back and sleep.