Tumkur

We spent the second day with Dinesh visiting his sister in Tumkur. She and her husband own and run a contracting firm there. We visited their crushed granite pit and their home. As part of Dusara they give all their employees their annual bonusses and throw a big party. They decorate all their vehicles. It was fun.

That afternoon Dinesh took us to a local park where we climbed a peak. There was a structure at the top that Dinesh thought was probably about 1000 years old. See the pictures. After the hike, we settled down on a rock in a small village for a picnic dinner and watched the stars come out. The hike and dinner were some of the most relaxing enjoyable activities we have had on the trip.

About 10:30 that evening, we found out that we couldn't get a reservation for Bondipuhr, a regional gamepark. Dinesh's sister got on the phone and within 3 minutes had us a reservation at a private resort outside of Rajiv Gandhi Park. She even landed us a major discount. People here keep telling us it is all in who you know, and it seems to be true.

Dinesh seems to be doing well for himself. His firm, Servelots, only has a few employees, but he doesn't seem to mind. He thinks like me and Kathy, that there are more important things than making lots of money.