I got on a bus to Mysore, the second largest city in the state of Karnataka. I found a cheap room here and decided to go see the Royal Palace. In my book it said it was 20 rupees, but when I got there the sign said 200 rupees for foreigners. I decided to skip this and just walk around the city.
Right now, India has 22 official languages. In the state of Karnataka, the language of Kannada is used. It is not just the spoken language, but this state has a unique script used to write the language too. This is a similar case in most of the states in India, but luckily English is one of the common languages across all of India. A lot of people speak English, but it isn’t everywhere. For example, the signs on buses are in Kannada script, so I can’t read those at all.
I see a pattern in Indian hotels: no screens on the windows. They usually have bars or some kind of open vent somewhere in the room and that means mosquitoes can come right in. So I’ve had a mosquito or two at every hotel so far in the middle of the night. Tonight, I sprayed the repellant all over my face, burning my eyes. The rest of my body is ok. I didn’t sleep too well.
I don’t think I like Mysore too much, the street is so loud with horns and engines that I think I need earplugs and all the autorickshaws with their 2-cycle motor polluting the air make it hard to breath. Think I need a gasmask too.
There is a really good restaurant right next to the hotel though. I think my first favorite Indian dish is called Masala Dosa.