05/02/2012

Today we got up at around 8:00 and then went for a 9:00 breakfast. Afterwards we spent a couple of hours planning our onward journey to Mysore, Wild Haven and onwards to Kochi. It was brilliant because both Ajith and Laika were involved in the process and we were told a lot of stuff about options and how to get around at the borders of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Afterwards Claire (well, I was there too, taking pictures ;-) was treated to a trip out to an Equestrian centre and stud farm by Laika and Ajith and we spent the afternoon there meeting and watching Sylva Storai, the only professional female Jockey in India, train a bunch of horses in a menage. After a couple of beers outside and after a nice lunch for us all in the lounge, Claire was also brought out for a ride for about an hour while we retired to the lounge. At 16:45 the Indian Derby kicked off, which we all watched in the lounge.
It was a great and very relaxing day, which we all enjoyed.
When we returned to the guest house Claire and I sat down in the lounge with Ajith and Laika where we were talking and having a couple of beers - shortly after we were joined by an English couple Roy&Sue, whom we had previously met on a couple of occasions in Laika, who sat and spoke to us for a bit before going for a dinner. Laika left a short while after and Claire, Ajith and I continued to talk and have beer and a pizza from Dominos (yes, kid you not - they are ubiquiotous around the world ;-) before we retired at around 23:00.
Indeed a great day, especially for Claire!

Horse training in the menage

Sylva with one of the horses after training it in the menage

Great picture of the horse being trained in the menage

Claire with one of the horses that was given a run-around in the menage

The horse that Claire rode for about an hour while there

The stables and all the horses standing at attention ;-)

Laika, Claire and Ajith outside the stables with a couple of Kingfisher beers for refreshment ;-)