Blogs from Hampi, Karnataka, India, Asia - page 11

I traveled by night train to Hospet and then took tuk-tuk/rickshaw to Hampi. I wasn't sick during the night as i hadn't eaten anything for the last two days which was good as the train loo's are really dirty. When I got off the train I was asked/hassled by about 20 people for a rickshaw ride to Hampi but I wanted to take the bus as it was about 10Rs instead of 150Rs. I arrived at about 9am in Hampi so I wen to internet cafe before looking for a hotel to kill some time. I checked into the Shanti Guest House which was about 20m from the main temple and only 150Rs (1.70pounds) per night, room was lovely with my own private bathroom - much needed. In the Shanti Guest house all rooms were centered ... read more

For anyone traveling Goa to Hampi, do not get a bus!! We were told not to by other travelers and the travel agency that we booked with but had no other choice; the trains all book up 2 weeks in advance. Firstly we had no aircon which we had paid for, that wasn't really a problem but one of the drivers smelt like drink and didn't know where anyone was supposed to be sitting. That said, and although we were very aprehansive it all went fine.....untill..... the second driver took over... They must work to schedules or just want to get home early because he was driving as fast as possible and didn't really see the point of speed bumps! We were sleeping at the back of the bus and we could clearly feel the intended ... read more

Wednesday March 4th Squashed ourselves into a van full of backpackers, like ourselves, and headed to the airport. One kid, who looked a little green and carried a freshly cut suit, admitted he’d been up all night and we were glad we hadn’t. Obviously, Thai Airways experiences technical difficulties and we all have to get off the plane we’d been sitting on for an hour. We arrived in Bangalore late, and were hustled into a cab. Apparently, a new airport had been built in the last six months and it was miles away from anything. The air smelled noticeably and distinctively of cookies. The driver and his mate couldn’t find our hotel of choice for ages, and when we eventually found it (right where it was on the map) it was full. Instead, we were taken ... read more

The three musketeers set forth unto a new adventure. Well, sort of new, for some of us. In our absence, Jasmine had visited a few places and decided that she liked it so much that she wanted to go back to Hampi with us. Were were really happy to hear that since it was definately on the top of our list of things to do and weren't sure how we were going to convince her to go back there with us. Things just work out sometimes. The train ride from Goa to Hospet is beautiful. With rice paddies and palm trees lining the rail road tracks. Hampi is jaw droppingly gorgeous. That's what I want to say, firstly. Its absolutely amazing and very unique, Guillaume and I have never seen a place quite like that before. ... read more

This is probably one of the coolest places in India, an abandoned city covering 26 sqkm that you have all to yourself. The city was once the capital of a vast Hindu empire that covered the south of India and was devastated by a six-month Muslim siege at the end of the 16th century. Everywhere you look there are old bazaars, temples and roads with not a soul to be seen, it's as if you have discovered a lost city. It's a real challenge to put into words the magical feeling you get here. It is so serene and the monuments appear much older than their four or five hundred years, there is a real sense of having stepped back in time and you can't help but wonder what the hustle and bustle of life here ... read more