Karnataka

Oops just realised I published Kerala and forgot to finish this one! This belongs between Goa and Kerala.

It's not easy to leave an idyllic beach, so it was with our bottom lips poking out a little that we headed into the state of Karnataka and towards Hampi. By the middle of the afternoon we were happy again, realising that we had swapped paradise for paradise. The village of Hampi sits in a boulder strewn landscape that has seemingly randomly piled up rock in strange arrangements and shapes. The rest of the landscape is rolling paddy fields, with a picture perfect river running calmly through the middle. We had heard of huts across the river from the village where you could stay, that provided the perfect view of the scenery. Hopping with our backpacks into a little boat we popped across the river and walked for what felt like miles down hot dusty lanes searching for the hotels. Eventually we found them and were not disappointed, the view was utterly spectacular and being the off-season it was just about all ours alone!

We had two full days before an overnight train onwards. The first day we got up late and in the afternoon we hired mopeds and set off round the countryside. Neither of us had ever been on a moped before, but luckily other than cows there was very little traffic to get in the way of us. We spent a smashing afternoon cruising round the sights, including a monkey temple that required us to go up over 500 steps to get to it. Our plan for the next day was to get on the bikes again and see the other half of town with the biggest temples, we'd saved the best for last. Unfortunately that night fate saw to it that we never made it out the next day. We went to the cosy little restaurant round the corner that we had discovered the daqy before. You sat on comfy cushions on the floor, they put a film on and you could just lay back after eating and watch it - perfect. Just at the end of the film I (Matt) started to feel pretty rough, so we agreed to pay up quick and get home. Two minutes later that wasn't an option and I had to get to the toilet rather speedily. I got so dizzy on the way to the toilet I collapsed and hit my head on something metal (???) and then felt like I nearly died in the toilet. Eventually Chrissie came and dragged me back to the restaurant where I had a lie down. Feeling like my entire body was vibrating and still uncontrollably dizzy I thought I'd just lie there and calm down for a few minutes. I thought it was about 10 minutes, but afterwards Chrissie told me it was over an hour. Guessing I passed out a little?? Unfortunately this meant we didn't make it to the temples the next day, but by the evening I was okay to go get the overnight train. It's fair to say, I will never eat Falafels again - damn veggie food'll kill ya!!!

Next stop was Mysore, which was nice enough, but we planned badly as we had a day too long there and would've rather had the extra day in Hampi. We visited the Palace which was pretty spectacular, but not particularly old or steeped with interesting history. Other than that, there were pretty standard sights which we plodded our way round. I was just happy to eat without nearly dying really!

Right, that fills the gap, after Mysore, we headed to Kerala.

Love

Chrissie and Matt
x x x

---

---

---