In the Union Territory and former French colony of Pondicherry, we had the pleasure of breakfast at a patisserie. Happily, the French influence in this town extends beyond the red pill-box hats worn by the policemen and I can confirm that the warm crisp apple danish and the pain au chocolat were superb. Real coffee was also the order of the day, although now I’m beginning to take this for granted and feel grossly insulted if I get served Nes-shité.
Prior to...
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This morning we had to be up at 4am to beat a proposed roadblock for road repairs in Masinagudi. So after viewing the amazing weekly illumination of Mysore Palace last night, we all took to our beds early.
On our arrival at the Jungle Retreat we are served a fantastic western breakfast including banana pancakes. They also have the most delicious berry jam, and a honey that is rich, dark and runny, with a distinct floral taste.
After this we have free time to swim,...
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The ragged blue Nilgiris loomed above us as we edged out of the Jungle Retreat’s driveway. Somewhere up there snuggled Snooty Ooty, ex-summer haven for Colonels and their ladies, the only thing saving them from the insanity of the lowland summer heat.
Climbing the edge of the Western Ghats took some time as we clung to each hairpin turn – 36 to be precise – as the yellow and black signs counted them down, or up, to be more accurate.
Dervla Murphy complained that...
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On saying fond farewells to the remaining group members, I was presented with some valuable gifts. Jane had discovered Indian toilet paper was better than she had expected, so gifted me with a huge luxuriously soft US bog roll, as well as some water she knew wouldn’t be allowed on the plane. From Lis I scored some Body Shop shower gel (woo-hoo). Kay and Leslie, I discovered, were planning to jettison their famous stripey bags that had allowed them to travel so...
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Reading the Deccan Herald this morning over my breakfast dosai, I noticed a regular feature called SSLC Mentor – to sharpen students’ skills. Today was factors and factorisation (one of my old favourites) with the spotlight on surds. It’s a pity we don’t have some of this in our own papers at home, as it’s not just student minds that need exercising.
Another two articles titled Braving an American Typhoon and India Can Ride Out the US Turbulence analysed how the...
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Dervla Murphy would no doubt be delighted to know that Virajpet is still nowhere to be found in Lonely Planet’s guide to India, although it does say that catching the local buses allows you cheap viewing of scenery that is as 'pretty as a picture'.
Waiting for our bus to leave, an elderly man with a magnificent white handlebar moustache and wearing a navy baseball cap gets up from his seat to peer into my face. He asks me if I'm English, German or American.
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This morning’s SSLC Mentor touches on Biology and is all about hepatitis symptoms, effects, methods of transmission and prevention. There are also a few interesting multiple-choice questions on the subject of food adulteration, which is still common in India. Apparently coloured saw dust is used to increase the offering of chilli powder, and black papaya seeds for pepper.
This recalls to mind an anecdote from a collection of essays by the wit and general brain box,...
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