With all the adversity of the day before there was an incredible chatter over breakfast this morning, akin to that of jungle chatter, which was very fitting given that we were at a jungle retreat called Silent Valley.
It transpires that the mechanics had spent most of the night up on the mountain side trying to fix and recover the damaged cars. They eventually arrived back at 5.15am, with having had to tow two of the cars back.
Rain had moved in during the night. Given that this was the first rain in a long time over here, the roads were going to be pretty slippy, which was going to make for a treacherous drive down the mountain side for those cars with bald tyres, and even more treacherous for the car without working windscreen wipers, which ironically belongs to the Chief Exec of Unicef, one of Karma Enduro’s main charitable sponsors\beneficiaries. The money that we have raised for Unicef as part of this trip (approx. £75,000) is going directly to supporting aids relief and prevention for the children along the route which we are driving, which is extremely poignant, but it would appear that David and his daughter Katie have been given a greater endurance challenge than most of us. Their 13 year old car went on to break down 5 times today, once cutting out in the middle of the road. The also experienced two punctures the day before – definitely a test for the most patient of personalities!
Our drive down was spectacular from a scenic and enjoyment perspective, through the coffee and tea plantations once more. In particular watching the people harvest on near vertical mountain slops was little short of incredible. India is most definitely a land of versatile and resourceful people.
During our morning chai stop we came across a group of 7 children and so kicked off a game of cricket once more. Within 5 minutes the number of children had multiplied to over 50 as word got around about the rally in town, and the game of cricket being played by the roadside! I forget how many hands we shook and how many times we introduced ourselves, but what a pleasure …
We also had opportunity to stop off at the Belur Temple, which was constructed nearly 1000 years ago, and still in pristine condition, and design with such intricacy. Roy and I had an appointment with a charity in Mysore, our next destination and so quickly grabbed a quick Thali at a restaurant recommended by the locals. We counted 13 different dishes. The bill came to a staggering £4 for both of us including drinks! Spurred on by the experience, we put our foot down and headed the remaining 200km to Mysore.
Having cleared with the rally leader that we would be travelling directly there ahead of the group, we gave them a toot on the horn and flew solo all the way into the city an were greeted by a spectacular Indian 5* hotel (3* in European standards, but feeling like 5* after many of the places we had been staying thus far!
Billie, our travelling Indian guide had very kindly organised another trip, this time to see the old Maharaja’s Palace. On a Sunday evening between 7pm and 8pm it is lit up with over 99,000 light bulbs, and looks incredible – think Harrods at night with more lights and 6 times the size and in the shape of a palace and you should et somewhere close to the spectacle that we were treated to, before a 40 minute detour from our tuc-tuc driver as he tried to introduce us to the shops of various family members, followed by a lovely dinner in the hotel.
