Hampi

Wednesday 5th January

The sights around Hampi are quite spread out. You could take a bicycle but we decided to hire a tuk-tuk to take us around. So after coffee at the Chileans' we met our driver, Mr Paul, and headed out to the ruins. Well, it was ok, but we were templed-out before we started really so we just wandered around, enjoying the sunshine and scenery, rather than feeling the need to know much about the temples. We had lunch then I left the Chileans to catch their bus. Went up to the high boulders for the sunset but too much haze. Gangster movie back at the hostel. Good chat with Danish Alun about Nook, Greenland, cricket and his political activism.


Thursday 6th January

Slept in again. Partly laziness, but also because I have 5 days to kill here, not that I am complaining. After porridge I hired a bicycle and headed out into the countryside, and had a great time. It was good to see rural village life again. Kids coming out to say Hi, guys bathing their water buffalo, ladies sewing crops, guys ploughing with either animals or a tractor. Hampi is great but the town is all based on tourism. Every shop is either an internet cafe, travellers clothes shop or money exchange. Where is the real Hampi? Its been similar in other towns. So that made today's ride in the countryside so much better! Along the way, I climbed upto the monkey temple and admired the 360 view from the top. I unwittingly rode in a 3 hour loop, then headed into Anegundi village before heading home. There is more to see so will probably go out again another day.


Friday 7th January

Didnt do much today. Sitting around reading. Walked up to Sunset point and met Austrian Katrin and made plans for tomorrow and had dinner and a movie.


Saturday 8th January

After porridge, met up with Austrian Katrin and 2 American guys and we hired bikes. We headed towards a small village and then onto the resevoir/lake. There is a very old sign that says Beware of the Crocodiles but we asked the locals and they assured us there are no crocodildes - hmmm...Well anyway, we found a quiet spot on a rock and jumped in, the water was cool and refreshing. We sat there in the sun and read until it got quite crowded. The others went onto the Monkey temple and I came back.

As i arrived back, there were more police around than usual and I thought it might be a drugs bust, but I had missed the demolition derby as some brick bungalows next to us were knocked down by a bulldozer cos the owners never got planning permission (or paid enough baksheesh). The police were there to make sure nobody tried to stop the demolition.  In the evening went to see Trainspotting with Ollie and Chris.

Sunday 9th January

Sleeping, reading, internet is off in Hampi. Huge, delicious falafel for lunch. More sitting around with Aussie Emmanuela. Cards, watched Into the Wild. Its going to be hard to leave Hampi!