elephant bums and shackels

---

It took about an hour by bike to get to the park, then we had to pay a safari jeep about a tenner to drive us around for 20 minutes, but we were really excited about seeing elephants, so we thought it would be worth it. We got pretty bounced and banged around in this jeep and we managed to see some big red squirrel things, a few spotted deer and an elephants bum dissapearing into the bushes, pretty dissapointed but we knew it was completly down to luck and the people 3 days before us had seen tigers and familys of elephants so the animal spotting luck had all been used up. We set off early from Mananthavadi to drive to Mysore, a big city full of things left from the days of the Raj. On the way we went over a little bridge and suddenly I just saw this maaaasive tusked, male elephant strolling by the river. We stopped to look and then to the other side also saw two big females and two babies as well. I can't describe how amazing it was to see elephants just strolling about swinging their trunks and eating grass, next to fmailies washing cloths and pots and pands in the river. We sadly noticed that the male had chains around his front ankels and a big bell around his neck, but we think this was maybe for the safty of the villagers, or that he may be a working elly?
Mysore was a pretty nice city, big wide streets lined with the biggest trees I have ever seen and massive old buildings built by the English in the Raj days. Stayed in a decent place with yet another Mosque outside our room and blarring airhorns of busses from 5am onwards! In the centre of the city was a massive seriously impressive palace with gold turrets and big gateways. It's full of mosaic floors and stained glass inside, but we didn't get to go in when we had the chance because some silly old indian man told us it was open in the evening for free and all lit up. neither of which was true.
Stayed 2 nights then headed to Bangalore. Bangalore is the city of apparently the friendliest people in India and I think this might be true. As we were driving around in the mental traffic trying to find an area we had been recommended, people were driving along side in cars and bikes trying to have a chat with us in full spead traffic! It was hilarious being asked "where are you from" "ohhh your bike is from Goa, long way hey?" ect whilst speading along. Lovely but slightly cookoo!
Found a nice cheap place after getting stuck in the most ridiculous one way system ever, the road rules are stupid here and as well as one way rules, we also got woken at 8am this morning to move our bike to the other side of the road as the road rules say you have to rotate the side you park on daily??!!
Went to a Pizza hut for a change as indian food can get boring after 2 months, only to discover that my pizza was also spicy.I am longing to eat a meal that doesnt make me sweat! This is also known as the pub city and there was quite a few options of where to drink but we seem to often find people with heads of tables looking green, I'm not sure they know how to handle booze yet!
We are meeting up with the people we met at new years who live here tonight so party time I believe, but they love heavy metal ( ohh nooooooo!)
The weather is cooler in Bangalore too and we have a chance to do some shopping, stocking up on the cloths we have wrecked with grub! Oh for you oldies who aren't so technical, double click on the first photo of the blog, you can then see them bigger and scroll through that way 😊 Love to everyone Lis xxx

---

Comments

[Hilly]

i miss u
WOW lis the photos of the elephants are amazing, and u got so close to them, that must have been scary! I hope u had a good night with your bangalore friends! I am loving hearing all about ur adventrues -so keep em coming! love u lots and miss u like crazy! i have much to tell u, so gonna send u email tomoro. love to u and Russel xxxxxxxxxx