Visit to Prakash's Village!

The day after going to Gouri's house, we went to Prakash's village. On the way, we stopped by the town of Nelamangala to do a little bit of shopping - particularly so Laura could get lungis (a traditional men's wrap) to bring home as presents and Jon could get lungis for everyday wear.

Hey! Everybody looks Indian in their salwars.

Prakash teaching Jon how to wrap a lungi.

Wow! Who are these two locals?

Enjoying the tour of the farm. Hey, did Jon's lungi just get shorter?

Posing on the stoop.

We rode around the village on a motorcycle and a scooter for a little while. It was fun to be out of the crazy city traffic and able to do this.

Prakash holding his sister's baby. For nine months after the baby is born, she stays at the family's house. After that, she and the baby will move back in with her husband.

Enjoying some incredibly fresh coconut water - picked right before our eyes!

Laura gets the traditional parting hospitality from Prakash's mom.

... and so does Adina.

Visit to Gouri's House!

Gouri invited the four of us over to her house for dinner and fun with her family!

As always, Manoj enjoys playing with Jon!

Gouri and Mandi pose in front of her pooja (worship area.)

Laura enjoys some Indian hospitality as Gouri serves her dinner on the traditional South Indian plate, a banana leaf. Gouri had also braided the fake hair into Laura's hair, and arranged flowers in her hair, very Indian style!

Manoj is enjoying the Pez that Laura brought for he and Manju from America! Manoj ate all of his that night!

Adina shows off her lovely flowers that Gouri braided into her hair, using the same fake hair after it fell out of Laura's hair!

We brought the boys Monopoly, India Edition! Manoj enjoys all the money he gets in the game~ he always wants to save it, never spend it!

Gouri hospitalitizes the three of us with parting gifts as we leave!

Train Trip!

We flew to Kerala, but we took an overnight train trip back! The trip form Kovalam to Bangalore was a 17 hour journey on the train. Quite a long time...

Laura getting ready for her first Indian train experience. Unfortunately she found it a bit too long.

Just as the train was leaving, we were enjoying the coastal view. Notice the bunk beds that we slept on!

Just hanging out on the train in India.

Kerala Trip--Kovalam Beach!

Our next stop in the Kerala trip circuit was yet another gorgeous beach, Kovalam!

Here we were reminded that we were still in India: A woman was herding her goats on the beach!

The view from our hotel! Again like in Varkala, we were off the main strip where it was much more peaceful.

Enjoying the view from the hotel restaurant!

A beautiful picture of a brief cloud cover.

The lighthouse of Kovalam Beach.

Laura enjoying some rock exploration!

Walking over to the main strip for some dinner. Enjoying some window shopping.

The next day we walked around the main strip doing some actual shopping!

Kerala Trip--Varkala Beach!

The next stop on our Kerala trip took us to the beautiful beach of Varkala! We enjoyed some relaxing on the beach and exploring the beach town. We stayed a little bit North of the main touristy beach which was great because it provided us with a more private, relaxing beach!

Jon enjoying the water!

A lovely rocky coastline!

Laura and Mandi enjoying a walk along the coast.

We all enjoyed the twilight over the ocean! It looked like it was glowing!

The hammock in front of hotel room provided some wonderful relaxation!

Laura ready for a day of relaxing on the beach!

Jon and Mandi went for a walk over to the main touristy beach in Varkala and enjoyed the sights!

A look from the cliff down the coastline! It was picture perfect!!

Kerala Trip--Alleppey Backwater Cruise!

Jon, Mandi, and Laura took a trip to Kerala that included a backwater house boat cruise and some lounging on 2 beautiful beaches!

Here we are on the houseboat in Alleppey, Kerala. We stayed overnight and enjoyed the peaceful and beautiful surroundings! The houseboats are quite large and well appointed. We even saw some two-story boats.

It was interesting watching the people living their lives on the backwaters, just doing ordinary everyday things like laundry.

Adina arrived in Alleppey and called us, but we were already on the houseboat! Luckily, an autorickshaw driver sped her over to a place where we could stop on by and pick her up!

A beautiful view of the scenery, palm trees and tropical lush greenery.

The local transport on the backwaters, a coracle.

Enjoying a refreshing beverage and some relaxation on the boat!

Mandi is actually driving the boat!! Really!!

Once the boat was docked for the night, we got off and explored the local town which just consisted of a walking path, a row of waterfront houses, and rice paddies behind the houses.

Jon pretending to do laundry in someone's front yard!

Laura enjoying the houseboat!

In the morning, we travelled through some lush waters, filled with Lilly pads!

Mysore and Chamundi Hill!

Laura and Mandi go the next day to visit the Mysore Palace.

Laura was overwhelmed by its beauty!

A picture of the palace!

A view of the front of the palace where the King held his court.

Prakash takes a picture of random people asking us to take a picture with them. This was Laura's first experience with this! I am not sure that she enjoyed it.

Me and my Sis in front of the palace.

A boy charms a snake outside of the palace. He wanted to put it on me, but this is as close as I would get to it! He also had 2 baby monkeys that you can sort of see hiding behind him.

We also went to Chamundi Hill, a Devi (Divine Mother) temple on the top of the hill in Mysore.