Top Tip 4

Is about tipping

Its quite amazing how many people forget to tip or think its not done to tip (really?!)

Tip, Obviously if you’re happy with the service you’ve received provide a thank you in the form of a tip. Round it up, minimum 10 Rs maybe five to ten percent of the cost. There is no golden rule. but do tip. Try to remember the people behind the scenes: the one who clears the table, the cleaner wherever you stay, they get paid the least and may not see anything of the usual tips. The minimum wage is 200 rs per day and with the growth of the middle classes and effects on tourism prices are seriously going up. It just might not seem it to you.

If you’re not happy then it’s an important statement not too.

I was a bit mad when I first visited india twelve or so years ago. Someone just had to look in my direction to get ten rupees. At one hotel, with a lift, every time I went up or down I gave him a tip. Now that was too much. I was his best mate. 😉

It’s really easy to forget, especially if you’ve had an itinerary arranged by a company so you’re not paying for things as you travel around.

So its important to tip but also to keep in mind what’s an appropriate amount. If we go the other way and tip too much then it feeds foreigner inflation. Maybe we’ll do another top tip covering how to work out the correct price to pay.

I was amazed to hear that some travellers had read advice that you shouldn’t tip in India, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Please do tip.

At our house we have a tin for tips that go directly to the cleaners and the gardener. Manjula only takes for the money she’s given to pay for any meals she makes.

If I ever get any tips from delivering a cycle tour (it does happen once in a blue moon), they go to charity.

So what to tip?

we’ve found a great intro to how much to tip on this site

Created by our wonderful friends at Indiasomeday, (check their main site, they put itineraries together for people) whose guests when visiting Mysore come stay with us at Mysore Bed and Breakfast.

Here’s our inconsisten take on what to tip. (On reading it again, it definitely seems like I’m a bit tight.)

Just today we were at one of our favourite lunch time ‘hotels’ (meaning restaurant) the cost of the meal was 600 Rs, we left a 20 Rs tip (its shared amongst all the staff) tip and another 10 rs to the car park attendants (its maybe not shared!). I’m from Yorkshire and we’re known to be a bit tight but we DO tip.

In Hampi, during our last visit (check the blog for more info) Manjula and I were discussing the young guy working at the Guest house. I can’t believe it but Manjula gave him 200, now she’s acting the Maharani. He said that foreigners never gave tips, just the Indians gave. Astonishing!

Oh and another thing: Drivers. they are of course a mixed bag but we do tend to get a little bit fed up of them trying it on all the time. (We have found a selection of great drivers who promise no hassle!) So I’m really careful how I tip a driver. I want to tip to reinforce good behaviour (the ineffective stick and carrot) so if they use the meter, are helpful, do their job well, I’ll definitely tip. I see it as an encouragement to be nice guys. In particulate our drivers will not be tricksy ( I hope) and if they’ll been hanging around at the airport for your flight, they’ve been helpful with the baggage and generally driven well, please do get them a tip.

On the other hand if you get an auto driver that will not use the meter, don’t use him (if you can be bothered) and if in anyway he’s tricksy make a point of demanding the exact fare. and wo wo wo if he wants you to visit a shop to help him get a voucher for petrol then he’s just lost his tip and any future work!

That’s my approach anyway. It might be pushing a rock up the hill to try change the approach of the drivers but I’m trying and our drivers are pretty good!

05/10/2017 1

Our gardens.

Opposite our house is one of a series of parks offering flower displays, places to walk and hang-out and relax, children’s climbing equipment, badminton and even roller blading. The one’s opposite are especially good at the moment as we approach Dasra.

17/09/2017 0

Top Tips

Number Two

India will change you. It’ll take you out of your comfort zone and you’ll not want to find your way back. Maybe 😉

Most people love India and it’s people, and admittedly a very small number find it a step too far.

Whatever you feel it’s unforgettable.

You just need to be aware that it will seem contradictory, and unfathomable but it’s a good thing.

It helps to find somewhere extra easy for the first few days while you find your feet.

If we’re from the west. We often wish to experience, analyse and understand. We try to place things in boxes and stick on a label. India by contrast is consistently inconsistent, so to put it mildly you need to expect the unexpected.

It can’t really be boxed.

It’s important that you ‘go with the flow’ you might be the equivalent of bobbing about in the river, shooting the rapids or on the ups and downs of the rollercoaster.

But whilst it’s exhilarating just follow the basic traveller rules and it’s safe with mostly helpful people that want you to love their country.

At times it can feel a bit full-on and in-your-face, so you may need to build in places to stay or find hangouts that provide some respite so you can just switch it off.

There’s a great article on the BBC that might help, check:

Here

Any questions?

17/09/2017 3

Local Tourist Spots

Mysore is a city that feels like a town (although the traffic is getting busier) there are many places to visit that reflect its heritage, religious or other cultural aspects of this warm welcoming community. We’ll always help you ‘get under its skin’ and can arrange safe, reliable, fairly priced transport. Here’s a few examples of places to visit close to Mysore Bed and Breakfast and the distances:

Transport Hubs

Mysore Bus Stand 3.6 kms 09 mins, prepay auto rickshaw available

Mysore Train station, 4.9 kms 16 mins, prepay auro rickshaw available and pick-up

Bangalore Airport 154 Kms, four hours, pick up can be arranged

Mysore Airport 12 kms, when its working

Tourist Attractions

Mysore Palace 4 kms 10 mins

Devaraja Urs Market 4 kms 12 mins

Srirangapatnam 24 kms, 30 mins

Chamundi Hill 9.4 kms, 19 mins

Indira Ghandi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya 3.4 kms, 9 mins

Somnathpur Temple 30 kms 42 mins

Karanji Lake 2.7 kms, 7 mins

Government Silk Mill 6.4 kms 16 mins

Zoo, 2.9 kms, 8 mins

there are many many more places to visit…. check elsewhere on the web site or send us and email to tours@mycycle.co

14/09/2017 0

BHS update

Accommodation.

Do check back to main page for more info here

If you're thinking of visiting Belur , Halebid, Sravanabelagola here are a few suggestions for accommodation from one of our regular guests, Stephen Fleming who also knows a thing or two about bees!

A message from Stephen… to another guest, the MysoreBnB community growing :)

I have stayed in Belur in 2014 here

It's OK, very conveniently located and with a restaurant. It has a spacious courtyard, but my room was so big I just brought the bike inside.

I also stayed in Hassan (city is a bit grim) here

It's a modern hotel — with all that that entails — but the food in the restaurant, which is very popular with locals, was great. It has an underground garage for bikes.

In Mandagere there was tree-house accommodation on an organic farm with a very friendly family. It's not easy to find, but worth the search. Ask me if you need an accurate map (gold dust in India!) check the link here

Feel free to ask about other places in and around.

Stephen the elder (yes there are older Stephens-SF)

Interested in bees? Check Stephen's recent article on one of his trips to South India

11/09/2017 1

an earlier form of Brexit?

The British – EXIT isn’t a new thing….. North America, Middle East, India there have been so many retreats and now Europe …. and often with their tail between their legs. Want to find out about this one? Then join one of the world famous MyCycle Tours to get the inside story from a Yorkshireman.

Farrell Factoid

This is no way supports the Empires of the British or any other country or corporation, for that matter.

23/01/2017 0

Tours

Tours …..

Our guests at Mysore Bed and Breakfast are staying longer in Mysore as they realise there is so much to see and do.

To help, we’ve put together different types of tours: cycling, walking, auto rickshaw or taxi, Pillion ride on our motorbike, Jeep, even an Ambassador to suit the range of diverse interests amongst our guests. These are provided directly by us or our friends who we know will provide a high quality service.

This is to help you have a wonderful and fun visit to Mysore.

If you’re interested in anything listed here contact us at Mysore Bed and Breakfast by emailing tours@mycycle.co or visiting http://www.manjulasmysore.in or follow the links below.

STOP PRESS

We’ve introduced a new idea in response to requests from guests…. Taster Tours, a mix of the different things on offer in and around Mysore. The first of these is a focus on Health and Wellbeing and includes a yoga class (Hatha or Ashtanga at our local gym or Mysore Mandala), a visit to the Mysore salt cave (yes we do have one from the Himalayas, details here), Ayurvedic massage and subject to availability singing bowl therapy, chiropody, Jag therapy, Henna designs… these can all be combined in one day or spread throughout your stay. You choose what you’d like to do and when.

or check our comprehensive range of established tours below….

MYCycle: guided cycle tours of Mysore or Srirangaptnam or bespoke, introducing the local culture, history, people and places for all skill levels and experience, including children and Elephants.

Fare’s Fare: Rickshaw Rides , they’re not Tuk Tuks! ;-)... half or full day tours of Mysore, Chamundi Hill, Srirangaptnam or Somnathpur with our trusted friendly drivers with between them decades of service to Mysore tourists.

Tanu’s Tours intimate and personal tours, tailored to your specific interests whether it’s bird watching, people meeting, the environment, photography, organic farming, silk (sericulture), cotton weaving and more. Contact Stephen at tours@mycycle.co and we’ll put you in touch with Tanu

Ani’s Tours of her monastery in Bylakuppe, more details here. We can arrange a car to take you to the Tibetan Settlement.

Royal Mysore Walks the original! offering insightful walks and Jeep Tours, in and around, Mysore introducing our heritage, artisans, local food and much much more.

There’s so much to do in and around Mysore and one of the highlights are the wide range of traditional crafts and lifstyles to be seen whether its on a cycle, walking, in a Jeep, Boat or Rickshaw.

Stephen has just started helping our good friend Vinay launch an Academy and website for those who wish to create experiences for, in the first instance, tourists visiting Mysore but in time it will grow to cover other locations. Check current progress at Gulliver

Tell us about your interests and we’ll find something to suit or create it specially for you.

30/09/2016 0

Mysore Weather

I’m British and we like to talk about the weather (we’re usually complaining). Here, in Mysore, I’m denied that dubious honour as the weather is pretty good throughout the year.

Even in the main Monsoon period of June, July and August, we mostly receive just limited rain, maybe one shower per day.

After Monsoon and throughout winter is the best weather. It’s in the 20’s and sometimes might reach the 30’s with a cooler evening and night.

It can get quite hot, into the 30’s and sometimes at the top end of the 30’s, that’s in Summer which is April, May and June.

Whatever, the heat is quite dry so we escape the humidity that’s often found elsewhere in South India and especially on the coast in the summer months.

Having said all that, India is anything but predictable so it can change. Over the last few years we have experienced earlier summers, even less rain and cooler nights, but it’s still really good.

So, Mysore actually is a great all-year-round destination.

Our roof top sit-out is available to enjoy it!

26/08/2016 0

one night stands are not all they’re cracked up to be.

yes, one night stands are just not enough!

most guests, once they’re here, wish they had the time to stay longer.

When we first started sharing our home and leading cycle tours, most guests would stay just one or two nights. We now find that most guests choose to stay longer, as they realise how much there is to see and do. Some even base themselves here of most of their holiday.

Here in Mysore, we’re a bit laid back and not so good at ‘blowing our own trumpet’. If you look at the promotional material, you’d be forgiven for thinking there is little to do here.

But its not true!

Our web site is designed to introduce you to who we are and what we do but above all to help you to have a satisfying experience. To enjoy Mysore and to want to return. So this web site offers information to help you plan and make the most of your trip. Introducing:

Things to see and do
Places to visit
Maps to help you get around
Aspects of ordinary life to get an insiders view

If it would help we can put together 3-4-5 or more day itineraries or offer advice to create your own, in advance or once you’re here.

We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful city.

Manjula and Stephen

19/08/2016 1

Why Mysore?

Wonderful people of Mysore

I’m often asked by guests of the Bed and Breakfast or friends back home, why Mysore or for that matter, why India? The answer is not at all straightforward but it’s found here on our web site or our story on wwww.meandmycycle.com one of the simplest answers that is true for many of us.. It’s the people that make the place. India being the rich tapestry that it is has such a wonderful mix of people, places , ideas and experiences. This link introduces you to some of our local characters. Why not come find out for yourself?

Please check the links at the top and bottom of this entry for a great article and radio series.

See the history of India through these people