Mysore, Karnataka

Today we went to the famous Mysore fruit, veg and everything else market where we marveld at the colours of the tikka powder ( seen here). A little Indian boy informed us that "the powder is used for many things, Madame" and then he drew some lovely drawings on our hands with the bright powder.

Mysore is alose known for its sandlewood oils and insence. In the market we were dragged though the alleyways by a boy begging for us to see his shop. When we got there, he was more than willing to show off his skill of making insence. So here we have him rolling the powder around the stick. Once this is done, the incense is the dipped in a scent and sold to tourists for too much money!!

Fresh Jasmine flowers being poured out of a burlap sack. A multitude of sacks just like this one are dumped out and sold in the market everyday.

Devaraja Fruit & Vegetable Market. A local women picks through the mounds of fresh flowers for her daily fix.

Enjoying a delcious traditional meal, Thali, eaten best with the right hand! Look ma, I'm eating with my hands.

Sarah, after days of talking about it, proudly rides her first camel around Maharaja's palace. Yehaaa!

Anette and myself on our very first camel ride.

Every sunday night, the Maharaja's palace is illuminated by 97,000 lights.

Hampi, Karnataka

Early morning sunrise over the sleeping city.

Hanging around in Hampi with Anette.

We were extremly fortunate to meet the man in the tourqoise suit, wild looking hair and classic Indian moustache. He is one of India's most celebrated Bollywood actors following in the footsteps of his father, who sadly passed away the following day. As a result of his shocking death Bangalore, his birth place broke out in major riots all just to see and touch his body. 130 buses were burnt, 10 people lost their lives and 100's more were injured. He is one of the most most respected actors of all time.

Just one side of the 100's of spectators who came out to see the making of this movie.

ACTION!! We were lucky enough to be in Hampi while a real Bollywood movie was being filmed. Have no idea what the movie was about but it was really neat being there nonetheless.

Delicious food from our favorite restaurant in Hampi, The Mango Tree. Here you see Falafal Chapati (but I traded in my chapati for Nann), ohh and I can't forget the lovely raita (in small silver dish). I washed it all down with a cool coffee milkshake with cocnuts bit inside...ummmmm! All of this for Rs 75 or $2 Canadian...

Official Hampi tour guides! Don't let thier age fool you as they are savy business people. We didn't pay them for their services, but they insisted on wearing our sunglasses and backpack for duration of the tour.

A carved statue of one of the many Indian Gods right in the middle of the bathing river.

Here we are doing some clothes shopping in Hampi. This isn't you regular shopping mall.....it's much better!!!

Anette (our German friend) and I keeping cool from the hot sun beneath the enormous boulders of Hampi!

Every morning, the town gets together down by the river to bathe, and do the washing of the clothes ( yes Sheila, they bang the clothes against rocks to get them clean!!). The pictures don't bring justice to actually beign there, but at least you get an idea.

Hampi, Festival day!!

once a year in Hampi there is afestival celebrating the marriage of Shiva and one of his two wives. We, along with 20,000 other people, were lucky enough to catch the big day. We were standing on a rooftop, where we safe from teh mob pf people down bellow.

Here we are in Hampi having our hands hennad by a wodnerful woman named Lakshmi.

Month of March in Sri Lanka

Hi everyone!

Sorry it has been so long since we last updated this page, but time flys. After having spent three weeks or so in Sri Lanka, we managed to visit Kandy, Dalhouse, Negambo, Hikkaduwa and few other small places. The weather was beautiful, the food was delicious and the people were warm and inviting, for the most part. Travelling through the country was a wonderful experience and some of the views were breathtaking.

Kandy, Sri Lanka

Here we are at the Elephant Orphanage, just outside of Kandy... where over 70 orphaned elephants reside. Here they are raised from a young age in a safe habitat. They get to bathe twice a day in this near by river.

A traditional Kandian fire eater !!!! Did not burn an inch of his body !

Rush hour in Kandy in a trusty tuk tuk (three wheeled vehicle with seating room for two or eight if you are a Sri Lankan family).... It was nuts and we seriously feared for our lives.

My dream of holding a monkey came true. Meet my new friend, Otto.

botanical gardens, Kandy

The botanical gardens, just outside of Kandy, were well worth the visit. The walkways we lined with leaning evergreens and beautiful flowers. We spent a whole just wandering around and enjoying the scenery.

First stop: Hikkaduwa

On the south west coast of Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa is a surfer's paradise. Beautiful water, crashing waves and super friendly people serving up great food and accomodation.