Roll over the sea, roll over the ocean

Asia
July 19th 2009

Published: July 19th 2009

Right well lots to update. From Ooty we took a bus to Mysore which, thankfully, was warmer and didnt rain at all! In Mysore we saw a palace which was very big and grand, markets, clocktower. Finally replaced my sunglasses that got nicked in Egypt, they cost less than a pound! We also got a bus up a hill and only had to walk 1000 steps down, which was a suprisingly quick walk, well once we found the path, that alone took us 2 attempts!

From there we got a bus to Bangalore, and celebrated with a KFC, incase ur wondering yes even KFC is spicy in India... We saw a little palace and a fort, a mosque. Walked up to the race course and on the way saw a Scout and Guide sign, so in we wondered. We had stumbled accross the HQ of Guiding in this district! Managed to explain that we wanted to see a group. We returned a few days later to be driven to a really huge posh school called Oxford. We met the principle and the director and we treated like royalty as we were there first visitors. While we were small taking and drinking tea, Scouts, Guides, Cubs and Brownies were assembled in the huge courtyard space. We entered and were sat on a stage and formally introduced to the kids. We were then asked to speak, Carina chicken out but Russ chatted for a bit about the difference between england and indian scouts. They took lots of photos of us and did the same to them! We gave them some badges and they showed us some of there songs, prayers and promise.
One song they did was
"roll over the sea
roll over the ocean
together you and me can build a better community"
Obviously with lots of actions, again, and again....

We finally actually had a quick chat with them before they were whisked off to lunch! The girls thought Carina was beautiful with a lovely accent!!!!!!

For them Scouting/Guiding is something they do in school time, 3 times a week for 1 hr. They have a paid teacher who is incharge. They can either volunteer to do this or cadets!
We also saw there trophy cabinet, they were very proud to win 3rd place in marching in 1995!

In Banalore they also have a highly entertaining musical fountain, but you can only go when its open....we managed on the 2nd attempt to see it. Saw another palace and walked aroung the business centre.

Then we got a bus to Hampi. Hampi is set in the remains of a 15th centuary ruins of a city. From the bazzar area where we are staying we walked to the royal centre saw remains of Queens Bath, underground temple, elephant stables, lots of temples, secret temple, octaganal baths.
We also walked to some waterfalls, well we tried. Very poorly sign posted, local man who was infact a guide took us there thru banana planatations, over rocks and thru reeds and high grass. Eventually got there like 30mins later. Apparently ppl stay overnight on the rocks by the waterfall and in high season he sets up his shop in a cave for the tourists! To get back it was either trek thru the vegatation or take a boat, we went for the boat. The boat was round, made of bamboo, plastic tarp and string. He told us we might wanna take shoes off, we did. As we left it rained, but in we jumped and he started paddling and the boat started filling up with water, but it was ok as he kept stopping to bail us out with his pan! Really good fun, especially when we hit the rapids😊

The next day we walked a different way and saw another village via lots more ruins. Tried to get to a village on the other side of river, but couldnt as bridge had collapsed. So again we took a larger bamboo boats with 2 motorbikes to the other side! walked to village saw a craft shop selling local handmade stuff. Then climbed 500 steps to Monkey temple which was sadly not that impressive for the trek up there, but true to its name it did have lots of monkeys at the top.

Moving on today to Goa, so started our maleria tablets. Another overnight bus, hopefully only 10 hrs if all goes to plan.

Roll over the sea, roll over the ocean

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