Ears the latest update

Well, it's fair to say that I have broken the golden rule of blogging - 'Keep it Current'! Never was very good with rules. So, I am now left scratting around in the depths of my diminishing memory trying to remember how I have occupied the last few weeks. Here goes...

Let's go back to January 28 2008 (ouch, that sounds so bad!)

Goa never really figured in my pre-departure itinerary so it was a surprise even to me that I ended up there. But I'm glad I did.

I travelled to Goa with Liz, my new travelling buddy, who I met on the trip of Rajastan. After much deliberation about where to head we plumped for a small village called Agonda, which is one of the southern beaches, just 7km north of Palolem. We managed to bag ourselves a hut right on the beach and it really was the tonic that we needed after such a hectic couple of weeks.

There's not much that I can write about a beach stay. It was a lovely village and relatively unspoilt, for now. Aside from swimming, walking, sleeping, eating and reading, we went dolphin-watching one morning and also saw a couple of otters playing about in the shallow waters.

Definitely worthy of a mention was 'The Earman'. Whilst I was having a dip in the sea I noticed somebody speaking to Liz on the beach. Assuming that it was a wallah (sales person) trying to flog her something, I thought nothing of it and continued splashing around. Quite a few minutes passed and this person was still there and seemed to be touching Liz's head. Curious as ever and concerned that she was being hassled, I came out of the water only to find that she was having her ears cleaned by this fella. Caught off guard, I too ended up with a metal instrument inserted into my middle ear. You just wouldn't believe what is lurking in your middle ear! I had three stones in mine!!! I'm still flabbergasted just thinking about it.

After 3 gloriously relaxing days it was time to move on. The next stop was Hampi. I had heard many positive things about this place so I was extremely excited about our visit. Little did I know what the day would have in store for me.

We made the 6-7 hour journey there by train and pulled into Hospet station (the nearest train stop to Hampi) at 3.30pm. Noticing the hubbub of rickshaw drivers on the platform I thought it would be a good idea to compose myself on the train and put my backpack on properly before facing the crowds. Backpack secured, I made my way down the carriage. It seemed that people were actually piling onto the train whilst I was still one third of the way down the carriage. Feeling a bit panicky we all tried to push forward, and then the train started moving! Liz on the platform, me on the train. What to do?! After a lot of shouting and pushing the train stopped once more but only for a few minutes and not enough time for us all to clamber over the metre-high stack of bags that were blocking the aisles. The train started moving again and I really thought that this was were Liz and I were going to part company in a spectacular fashion. I received instructions from the elderly italian man behind me to push his wife (she was dithering a bit), and in the end we managed to jump off the train just as it was picking up speed again. Phew! So that was how our visit to Hampi began. Things could only get better surely....

We were accosted by rickshaw drivers on the platform as predicted. They wanted to take us on the journey to Hampi, which is where we wanted to go, but we wanted to go by bus. These drivers were extremely persistent and we were finding it very difficult to obtain directions for the bus station. We asked a French couple who appeared to be on their way out of Hospet if they knew where it was and that's when the day got better.

It turns out that we weren't the only people who wanted to visit Hampi for a few days. The President of India also had it in mind and as a result the whole of Hampi would be closed for four days. Nobody was allowed into Hampi, and everyone who was in Hampi was forced to leave to make way for the 1500 strong police entourage! Oh man!

So, stuck in Hospet (somewhere you would recommend your worst enemy to spend their holiday), we weighed up our options, which were sleep rough or leave, and we decided to leave on an overnight bus to Mysore - the city of Sandalwood.

I spent three days exploring Mysore, the highlights of the stay being:

Yellow cows
It is a Hindu custom in Mysore to colour fresian cows with turmeric in January every year and as a result all the cows were yellow and black (photographic evidence to be supplied shortly ).

Experiencing my first Banana leaf thali
Had lunch in a great local restaurant and was first of all provided with a banana leaf that you are supposed to wash down with a drop of water. A slight twitch of my elbow resulted in me pouring a whole load of water from the jug, drenching the banana leaf, the table, my lap and surrounding restaurant floor. A dollop of steamed rice is served on the banana leaf followed by 3 sauces and some pickles. Then you have to try to eat it all, using only your right hand, with an audience. Despite making an almighty mess, it was absolutely delicious and Liz and I managed to create much amusement to onlookers. And all for less than 50p.

I also visited the Palace at night which was lit up like Las Vegas; had a wonderful experience at a Hindu temple with hundreds of pilgrims on top of Chamundi Hill (before the 1000 step descent); and visited a colourful market just like the ones that you see on postcards but with smell-a-vision effects!

Strangely enough, I didn't see any sandalwood!

Although it is 18 March whilst I am writing this, I'm feeling slightly better about getting you into the February zone with this blog so will sign off for now. Be back soon!

P.S. Thanks for all your comments. It was great to receive them and sorry for not replying to them all personally. Let me know if you have any questions for me e.g. have you met an Indian man without a moustache yet?, and I'll do my best to answer them in my blog.

---

« Previous Entry Next Entry »

---

2 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message

April 2nd 2008 - louise white: Wow eeee!

Hey Andrea, It all sounds fantastic, very Lara Croft jumping off moving trains! Well done you! It sounds like India has lots to see and do, i hope you are having lots and lots of fun babes. Still missing you here! But its good to hear your blogs, keep up the hard work.. Take care Lou xxx

April 23rd 2008 - Lisa: Adventures....

Those adventures just keep coming hey Spango! Sounds like you are having a ball little lady. Glad to hear you're going to make it to Nepal - I know that was a key destination for you. Keep those stories coming - they certainly keep us entertained. Was with KJ today for her scan - very exciting. Will try to give you a wee call soon. Lxxx

Add Comment
All Comments