Beep, Beep, Whistle, Whistle
Mysuru
Our time in Mysuru was lovely and we hope to return for a longer stay in the future. We stayed in Gokulam Family Home, a lovely home that gave us room to spread out and had a small outdoor space we all enjoyed. We especially loved grabbing coffee around the corner. The coffee was amazing and the man running it quickly befriended A5, shouting out his name and hello each time we walked past. Our area felt authentic but was also full of yogis from abroad, giving the neighborhood a vibe we found fascinating.
While in Mysuru, we spent time relaxing in our personal space but also explored the town. We went shopping in Devaraja Market and nearby. We took in sites and smells, made some good purchases, ate good food, and learned about the making of incense. K got an outfit and managed to find a tailor to adjust the fit. A2 got a fun outfit that held together until Delhi. A8 showed off her negotiation skills buying bangles (her secret: she is absolutely willing to walk away if she feels the price is not right). And we discovered that sugar cane juice was a tad too strong for the kids.
We went on a few good adventures in Mysuru, including visiting the Mysuru Railway Museum, climbing Chamundi Hill to Chamundeshwari Temple, exploring Mysuru Palace, travelling to Srirangapatna, touring the Tipu Sultan Summer Palace, and meeting animals at the zoo. All along the way, our older kids willing to pose in various photos with local strangers. In Srirangapatna, we had a particularly heartwarming experience. As we approached the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a school group was setting up for an upcoming festival. After stopping our oldest and chatting with her, they invited her to help them set candles on the railings using cow manure. She enjoyed chatting and helping until one of the grownups wanted her to leave because she was too much of a distraction. What was the most common question we seemed to receive from locals? It was either “what did you have for breakfast?” or “what do you usually have for breakfast at home?”. While waiting for my jean jacket to be mended at the tailor, his friend chatted with me. He wanted to know a typical breakfast for me and how much an egg cost at home.
The Milk Coffee Vendor
Every morning in Mysuru I would wake up and go downstairs while most of the family slept. A5 would often wake up right around then, so we’d grab our shoes and walk through the small courtyard. The cows sleeping off the side of the road in front of our place would hardly move as we walked by them towards the intersection. Then, turning the corner and just past the colorful Ganesh Hindu temple was the Milk Coffee cart. The vendor would open up and push forward his cart, and call to A5 by name. We’d order two milk coffees or the occasional coriander coffee and watch as he hoisted ladles of liquid out of the cart and tossed them back and forth between cups to create the perfect brew. A5 would chat with him, and he’d laugh as he answered questions. We’d take the small glass cups with milk coffee back home for K and me to enjoy, and he trusted we would return them later in the day. This whole experience was a small moment in Mysuru that K never knew about, until we would later walk by and A5 and him would exchange pleasantries like old friends.
Leave a Reply