rocks and temples

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We stayed one night in a small, not very friendly town called Chittradurga..or something along those lines. The people stared without smilling, pretty much constantly and it gets pretty depressing after a while as we've got used to smiling happy Indians of the south. We had to stop there though as it was about 2 hours after sunset and it's not safe to drive in the dark, there are no lights on the highways and most roads and lots of pot holes and animals that seem to jump out of thin air!
We headed off at about midday for Hampi, it's not so hot in land around Bangalore so driving at midday is barable. We got to Hospet, which is the next town to Hampi and it seemed a bit mental, as we drove closer to Hampi there was just loads of people everywhere with flowers and fairylights being strung up above the roads and on buildings. We figured some kind of festival was going on and when we got to Hampi we realised it was a big big festival. As we were going round the corner we heard the drumming start and loads of guys dressed in red pants and tribal wear jumping about, I hopped of to get some photos and that's when I saw the elephants! They were massive and all walking down the street painted in beautiful drawings, one elephant was obviously hungry though as he ate a mans camera, hehehe.
About 1500 police were staying in the tiny town..that explains how many people there were and so we had to ask someone to help us find somewhere to stay. A little funny local man found us a room for 600 ruppess which was a god send and it was a lovely little room in a side street of rural cottages with cows chickens and babys toddeling around outside.
The next day we moved to the other side of hampi which is across a river that you have to get a boat over. To get to the boat you have to go down about 5 flights of steep concreet steps (Ghats) and then get into a packed tiny boat, we were told to wheel the bike down and take it in the boat, but being sane in the heads we decided this was a realy rubbish idea and so I headed across in the boat to find accomodation while Russ took Emily and our bags a different root.
Before Russ headed off we heard a commotion behind us and then saw the elephnats from the previous day being walked down the steep concreet stairs to the river, they then waded in a rolled around like they were puppies, it was a lovely sight!
Any way, so 5 flights of stairs might have been a good idea as the alternate root which Russ and Emily took was in a round floating wicker basket which a man fitted, Russ, 3 other men and two motor bikes in!
We got a lovly little room with a shared court yard with swinging bedchairs and a cafe with lounging sofas, very nice indeed!
Hampi is mad, its all boulders and temples everywhere you look and the festival is celebrating the 500th annivesary of the crowning of the king of Hampi. All the temples are lit up at night with multi coloured lights and there are powder dye paintings on the floors and hundreds of people everywhere.
The down side of the big crowds is the men. I was gropped 3 times yesterday, one a swift bottom pinch which in return he got wacked over the head with my water bottle, a disgusting groin cup with which the slimy man recieved an elbow in the stomach and a load announcment that he was a pervert and then a nice back rub from the man next to me on the boat home. Days like that make me hate Indian men. I know it's not all of them, only a few but its disgusting and makes you on edge constantly around them, everyone who then asked for a photo since, pretty much got yelled at and all hand shakes were swiftly avoided by a wave and a quick moving onwards step!!!
Before going on a walk today me and Russ went back to the river and there were the elephants again, we got right up close and they were led down, nearly completely submerged appart from belly and trunk sticking out and they were being scrubbed and splashed by about 5 men each, they looked like some very happy ellys 😊
Me and Russ are now trying to master chess as yoga didn't last a week and our brains need entertaining and focus. Life in Hampi is nice and slow and walking around looking at places that really should be one of the wonders of the world, and eating 40p thalis and seeing elephants washed in rivers everyday makes us feel really lucky to be out here and have this experience. Flights to Thailand have been booked for the 16th of February and we are going to really miss this mad, beautiful country.
Love to everyone, Lis x

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Comments

[Joss]

Hey Liss, I knew you'd like Hampi, you certainly seem to bring exciting vents with you, or maybe it's seeing the world through the eyes of a child which makes it a much more interesting read. I'm getting well nostalgic, enjoy your time and get in touch soon. Lots of Love J

[anonymous]

baby love reading ur stories love the ellys very cute!!sorry havent written will write u something propper with plans soon much love!!xxx oh how brown are u guys !!!!!!!!!!xx