Some important hints for coming to Mysore

These are in no particular order, just the way they have some to mind.

1. Bring herbal tea if you don't drink Caffeine. There is none here.

2. If you are into fashion and clothing, bring pictures or things that you love to be copied here. They prices are so cheap and Manju (Saraswati's tailor), Lokesh at Krishna tailor are both great. Also Nissar is fantastic!! HE is the best but most expensive. I have had my wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses made by him and he really has an amazing eye for design and fit.

3. The cheap book shipping deal has stopped. SO don't buy too many books even though they are so cheap. (I am struggling with that problem now).

3. Bring good comfy walking shoes. Not just flip flops. I found that my feet were hurting so much as I walk a lot here. You can get rickshaws everywhere but I felt guilty taking them too much.

4. Be conservative in the clothing you bring. Or just bring yoga clothes and buy stuff here. Having a scarf cover you front is really optimal.

5. Bring at least one jacket/fleece/sweater. It was chilly some nights.

6. Bring grapefruit seed extract.

7. Bring sea salt. I looked everywhere and couldn't find any.

8. If you study Sanskrit seriously, bring index cards. A must!

9. Know that you will probably have to buy bedding when you get here. I slept with sheets as hard as cardboard for a couple weeks. Yuck. Then Cathryn and I found a nice shop on Deveraja road that has really nice soft sheets!!! They were not too expensive but worth every penny.

10. Beware of the dogs here. I have heard of so many people getting bitten. Just stay away from them.

11. Be selective about your place. Stay in a hotel or just pay for one week the first week while you have time to look for a better place. Your first week here is crazy. There is a vast selection from a moldy room with a mattress on the floor to really nice places. You have to be selective. Also try to find a place with electric heated water. I stayed at a place with solar heated water and I never got a hot shower once.

12. If you get Internet at your place make sure you keep track of the time you last paid the bill. I had the guy come earlier and earlier every month and then charge more and more. Just keep receipts.

That's all for now.