Belur & Halebidu temples

Today, Tuesday, March 17, our group drove west of Bangalore towards Mangalore about 220 kilometers for a "cultural day" visit. First, we walked around the Belur temple and then the Halebidu temple in a nearby town. Both temples were built in the 12th century.





The Belur temple is a Vishnu god (moderator of all living beings) temple while the Halebidu temple worships the Shiva god (destroyer of evil).

Kajsa's 9th birthday!

Happy 9th birthday, Kajsa!

Today is your birthday and St. Patrick's Day!
I hope you enjoy your special day and even though I'm far away in India, please know that I wish you all the best, miss you and love you!

A huge hug and kiss,
Dad

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Mysore visit

Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, we traveled to Mysore which is a famous historic city in Karnataka state. We boated around the Ranganatittu bird sanctuary and toured the Brindavan Gardens later on Saturday afternoon.

The wonderful Saturday evening illuminated water fountain show was set to Hindu music.






We stopped at the Bull Temple of the Nandi bull god. Some "cool guys" wanted their pictures taken.

Another stop was at the St. Philomina's Catholic church in central Mysore.

Camel rides were available at the palace but we GSE members all jumped at the chance for an elephant ride! Wahoo!

In the evening, we returned to Rajendra Vilas Maharaja Palace for a magnificiant look at the illuminated palace!

Donna's friends in Mandya

On Saturday, March 14, my Rotary GSE team, some Mandya Rotarians, several others and I visited Prakash Prabhu and his wife Ravati. I enjoyed a visit at Prakash's brother's house last week - Veejendra and wife Sheela Prabhu. They live in a wonderful house in Mandya filled with interesting antiques. They served us a large pre-noon assortment of many delicious foods and beverages. Thanks to Donna, we were all about to enjoy a special visit with the Prabhus in Mandya en route to Mysore.

Bangalore Palace

Here you see the Bangalore palace which is still owned by today's regional Maharaja, the 26th one in their family lineage.









Old, real, elephant and lion stools...


The Maharaja's car with a license plate stating his 1953 birth year.

Shaila and Preethi Bhat with the GSE team outside the palace.

"Big 92.7 FM" radio station

On Friday, March 13, I visited one of Bangalore's most popular FM radio stations, "BIG 92.7 FM." Happy Harsha and his co-host showed us how they do their talk show. Harsha will come to Minnesota for a month with their Rotary District 3190 GSE team.

Later, he interviewed me and also my host, Shailaja Bhat. Preethi joined us for a photo at the end.

Bangalore penpal exchange

Today, Friday, March 13, I visited Sishu Griha Montessori School in east Bangalore to establish a penpal exchange with Mrs. Kelly Kluck's fourth grade students in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (USA)

My Rotary host, Mrs. Shailaja Bhat joined the school principal, Mrs. Jayashree Kumar, Mrs. Geetha Chandran, vice principal, and Mr. Suryanarayana Rao, administrator, for a picture before our meeting with the 22 students.

Mrs. Seema Shah, the class teacher, has a sister living in Virginia. Her students were all very polite and cheerful. She wore a turquoise colored scarf and outfit.

A visit to "The Art of Living"

On Thursday, March 12, we drove with the Rotary South Parade club out to tour the "Art of Living" temple and meditation center. From left to right: Nirmala, Sujatha, Jayashree and Padmini, wives of the Rotarians.

25 years ago, His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar founded "The Art of Living" with a vision that encompassed the whole world - the coming together of human beings across the length and breadth of this planet in service, celebration and joy. Today, it's the world's largest volunteer based charitable organization, active in 144 countries.

His portrait is displayed in the information center. After our tour, we all ate lunch seated in long rows on the floor of a huge meal hall.

Breakfast bar with our friendly hosts

We ate breakfast on Thursday morning with the Rotary South Parade club. At the "S N Refreshments" breakfast bar, we stood outside at stainless steel tables and indulged in various dosas, iglis, chutneys, and round vadas . . . . . and "cafe au lait" as I would call it.

Holi powder - Holi fun!

Yesterday, Wedneday, as Shailaja, Preethi and I were driving down the street, I photographed these cheerful, fun-loving guys on their motorcycles.
They were covered with pink "Holi festival" powder so I thought a great photo op...
They thought it was a opportune time to pink powder an American with a camera. . . they got me big time!

We stopped in front of the Karnataka head government building to brush off the dust; can you see the pink powder on me?

Thanks to Donna! Teatime at Prabhu house!

Thanks to Donna Anderson from Gloria Dei, I spent an enjoyable morning with some of her friends in Bangalore. Veejendra Prabhu and his wife, Sheela, invited me into their lovely home filled with beautiful artwork and British colonial antiques!

Veejendra's sister, Sumathi Nayak, and her husband, A. Narayan, also joined us there.

To my surprise, Bangalore Rajmahal Vilas Rotary club president, Kirti K. Mehta, showed up at the front door to join in our fellowship and teatime.

Gandhi Bazaar

Yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, March 10, our GSE team visited the Gandhi Bazaar with our Rotary club hosts. Lots of merchants were selling fresh flower garlands, fresh fruits and vegetables and a myriad of other items.

























These three guys were painted up because of the special Hindu Spring "Holi festival," a "festival of colors" celebrated throughout India with lively parties and people throwing colored powder and water at each other. Drats - I didn't have the right outfit for such a party!























We posed with some rather stiff but lovely sari models along the street...




















Hey! Where's the guava fruit salesman when ya' want some fresh fruit?!