Our days in Hampi

We had heard a lot of wonderful things from other travellers about Hampi and we really wanted to come here, but we almost didn't. It meant a 4 hour busride to Madurai, a 10 hour train ride to Bangalore and then a 10 hour train ride from Bangalore to Hospet...which is not far from Hampi. But it was all worth it. Hampi is stunning. Probably the nicest place we have seen so far in India. It is just a small town, 4000 people or so. The town itself doesn't have much to offer beside some restaurants, guest houses and a few shops. It is what surrounds Hampi that is amazing. Hundreds of ruins from the 1200-1500's that cover about 13 sq km around Hampi. A temple in the centre of town...a river that winds it's way past the town, the temple and the ruins and them piles of giant boulders that look like they were strategically piled...but are too big to have been put there by anything other than nature.

We have been here for 4 days now (2 of which poor Deb has been ill). But we had our best day in all of India here in Hampi. We rented a scooter (for about $6). It was all very official. I gave him my name and the guesthouse we were staying in, he gave us the key and told us to be careful...if anything happened it was our responsibility...and we were off. No forms to sign, no extra insurance to buy. WE spent about 3 hours driving around the countryside, checking out all of the ruins, came back to Hampi for lunch and then drove teh 13kn into Hospet (nearby town). WE drove through several small villages, where children stopped what they were doing, ran beside us, sometimes jumped out in front of us screaming "Where come from", We had rickshaw drivers honk at us, people in general amazed to see 2 white women cruising through Hospet on a motorbike. It was wonderful. We really felt a part of India. It was also good because we were moving fast enough that even if people were interested in us, we were moving fast enough that they couldn't bother us or do anything about it.

We were blessed by the temple elephant which was wonderful as well. You put a rupee in his trunk and then bow your head, he places his trunk on your head and you are blessed. Both Deb and I were amazed at how squishy it felt when it landed on your head. Apparently he lives in the temple, bathes in the river and blesses those who come to Hampi.

Hampi is also hugely populated by monkeys. Every morning Deb and I are awakened by the sound of monkeys crashing on the roof overhead, and the sight of them hanging from the trees outside our window. The other day as we were leaving the guest room, we looked up to see about 4 monkeys hanging their heads over the roof, looking down at us with the same amount of interest as we were looking at them with.

We are leaving for Goa tomorrow on the train...if we can get on it. We are #62 on the waiting list...so we will see what happens and if Deb is feeling well enough.