16th Feb - Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel

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We decided not to go for breakfast at the hotel as the food was so bad last night. We wanted good coffee and so arranged to meet Miranda in town at the Ginger Hotel and went for a coffee. As it was starting to get late on in the morning we decided to the head to the Metropole Hotel for a big Buffet Lunch instead of having brunch. The Metropole is another posh Hotel in true Colonial style. We felt very decadent sitting drinking, chatting, eating in the shade in the beautiful surroundings of the Hotel and Gardens.

Over the last week I have really warmed to Miranda. When I first met her she was rather vacant and distant - but not in a shy way - just not really interested or engaged. As time went on she caught up sleep she changed into a very funny, interesting person.

Miranda, rather matter of factly, referred to the last week as like being in a vortex. All of time and space seem to slow down in the vortex. Time seems to disappear - lunch takes 3 hours, a couple of evening drinks ends in a drunken mess but not quite sure how we got there, a trip to Mysore for lunch takes 3 days, popping to the swimming pool for a dunk becomes the major event of the day. All of these things mean that I have not done any of the paper work things I need to do before I leave here. Neither have I travelled very far up through India yet..... Oh well having lots of fun.

In fact today we were going to head back to Masinagudi first thing and not stay in Mysore... but then coffee happened.... then lunch.... then some shopping.... and before we knew it we were leaving Mysore at about 3. We said good bye to Miranda as she is staying in Mysore and then heading on to Bangalore and then Nepal.


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The drive home was lovely through the countryside. We stopped off for pancakes and coffee and a roadside cafe called Dream catcher and I had a little nap in the hammock.

It was strange Miranda not being there when we got back. We had got into a routine over the last few days and it changed the dynamic her not being here.