Mysore Zoo's Most Popular Exhibit!

WHITE-SKINNED HUMAN

Natural Habitat:  North America, Europe, and Australia

Adults, and especially their young, are rarely seen in Southern India.

Laugh and stare at the interesting antics of this unusual mammal.

Photography encouraged.

This is how the girls have felt, not only at the zoo (although it was nonstop staring and photography there), but in most of India.  When Faith gets tired of being noticed, you know there's an issue :)

We could relate to this naked ape, who hung his head in shame as the crowds stared (and he even threw stones at a few, which we were tempted to do too!)

And the grammarian of the group had more fun reading these signs than looking at the animals.

I don't think the Hindi language has a translation for "sugercoating".  My interpretation is that they do not provide medical care, just an escort out of the zoo.

I can't believe another week has gone by since I've posted.  We've started, stopped, and are ready to start again.  We left Goa a week ago and took a few days to drive across southern India until we arrived in Auroville on Thursday.  Our worst "stay" experience happened our first night.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but this room had dirty walls, dirty sheets and pillowcases, a bare lightbulb, and open rafters in the ceiling that hosted who knows what.  I laid awake most of the night wondering when that rat was going to run across me!  And in case you're wondering, it was dark and late and there weren't a lot of other options.

We made some stops at temples along the way.  The girls quickly got templed out and were a little grumpy about it, but this one (Shravanabelagola) had gorgeous views--and a naked man idol!--when we reached the top.

Hopefully this was my worst fashion moment of the trip!  Ugly straw hats that Mike bought to be funny.  He got mad when the girls wouldn't wear them so I took one for the team.  Mismatched scarf in case my shoulders needed to be covered in the temple.  And socks they sell because no shoes are allowed for the climb.

We spent two days in Mysore which was a fun city.  That's where we visited the zoo (2.5kms long!) which had some great exhibits.

Most of the time we all piled into one rickshaw, but this time we divided into two.  It was our Amazing Race moment.  Our driver seemed old and slow, but suddenly at the roundabout he overtook Mike and the other girls.  Too bad there wasn't a million dollar prize waiting at our hotel.

People watching never gets old.  SO much is going on...everywhere...all the time

We visited Mysore Palace which is at times a more visited Indian attraction than the Taj Mahal.  I can see why--it was beautiful and interesting since the Maharajah continued to live there until the 1970s.

Near Bangalore, we made a quick stop to tour DOOR International (Deaf Opportunity Outreach).  Mike had been at their opening with Ella.  They call the deaf one of the largest unreached people groups for Jesus because most can't read or write.  They are producing signed videos to teach the deaf the stories of the Bible.  This is a group from northern India who are being trained and then will go back into their communities to work with the deaf there.

This one's for Kelli!  No "holy beef" in India, so the Big Mac is the Chicken Maharajah Mac and 98 rupees is about $1.50

Mike and I brought the Kindles for ourselves, but the girls are going crazy with them!  The novelty of a device has made reading a whole new thing.

 And now we're in Auroville.  Mike is here to check in on a blockmaking machine that they've been working on jointly.  This is one unique place.  Started in the late 60s as "a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities.  The purpose of Auroville is to realise human unity."  This big gold ball (named Matrimandir) marks the center and is a place for meditation.  There are about 2500 people from 50 nations who live here and many others who float in and out for a few weeks or months.

Our mode of transportation has been scooters.  The traffic is much calmer here than in other parts of India.  However, I've never driven a scooter in my life and gave up after two completely nervewracking trips--especially because I had to carry very precious cargo with me.  Now Mike, Ella, and Faith are the drivers and the other three of us ride as passengers.  The girls love to ride them around the back roads for fun.  I just close my eyes and pray.

Tomorrow we fly to Sri Lanka.  After this long in India, it feels odd to be leaving.  I can't wait to go because...scooters.  The girls really don't want to go because...scooters.