Sights..Sounds..Smells..

Since there's more to a holiday than just what you do, I'll spend a bit of ink on where we went too (in this case, ink means free internet space!).

But before dwelling into that, I need mention a few more things missing from the Lonely Planet. There is no network of most telecom service providers!! Yes, I'm blaming the time lag of this blog on the lack of network! The phone booth concept, eradicated in most parts of India because of Mr. Ambani's dream of 'one phone for every Indian', is still thriving here. And thank god for that.
Then comes THE MOST IMPORTANT thing missing from LP : when in Hampi, act like a firang. Its the only way to get some effing respect! A lot of the localites mistook us for foreigners almost cent percent of the time, but the minute we clarified that, we' be greeted with scowls and "oh, Indians, why bother!"...TO OUR FACES. Eventually we gave up and acted Russian. They lapped it up. Suckers.
Funnily, even at all monuments where the entry fee for Indians is Rs.10 and for firangs is Rs.250, we were asked to speak in Hindi to confirm our nationality! Luckily they didn't ask to see our passports or the miffed me would've given them my fist in their face.

More on the places visited, later. I need to deep breathe and meditate a little bit first.

*oooommmmmmm*




Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

On the other side

12kms on cycles... Lee and I ventured the road less traveled - the other side of river Tubgabhadra. You get there by crossing the river on the one and only motor boat, it takes less than 3 minutes to cross.. Once you get to the other side, you know Hampi is not "dry" any more.. You get booze and all other forms of "pleasures" ;-). That said, cycling was awesome fun but came with a price.. We are two shades darker now!
More later!

- KA
Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

Under The Mango Tree

16th October 2010.. @Hampi with a friend from a decade ago.. A much awaited holiday to an even more awaited getaway! It feels like heaven when you skip the routine.. no ironing clothes, no skipping breakfast, no traffic, and no office.. Just a small town life away from the hustle bustle of a metro!

It's amazing to see what tranquility can do to you.. You are at peace with yourself - a perfect balance with nature. And that's how life should be..isn't it?
Hampi offers more to the mind than to the eye! And that's cause your mind is absorbing more than your eyes.. You think in simple ways, you learn to adjust to what's being offered.. materialism takes a back seat..

The need to look sharp and seem smart doesn't appeal to the aura surrounding our thoughts.. What our hearts yearn for is the slow entry of peace and calm into the crescents of city-life-being.. Hampi encouraged that craving and satisfied that like a crescendo peaking orgasm..

Sitting for breakfast at The Mango Tree, we do nothing but overlook the Tungabhadra river.. Our minds are free of any thought, our life is free of any stress.. Without trying, we meditate...


- KA
Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

Reached!

The Lonely Planet is grossly inadequate with some of the important details of Hampi.

Hampi is a dry area, and I don't mean topographically! There is no alcohol available on the Hampi side of the Tungabhadra river. Its a sacred place with temples pockmarking the landscape, hence no alcohol, no narcotics and *drumroll* no non-veg!!! Luckily tobacco is allowed. The 'no smoking in public places' ruling isn't applicable in this tourist locale apparently, as all restaurants allow it.

Another important detail left out by the lonely planet is that there is no railway connectivity to Hampi. The train station closest is Hospet which is 13km away. We took an auto rickshaw for Rs.130 after bargaining and it took us 30 minutes to get to our destination. These were the most interesting 30 minutes I've ever had in a rick! We met Dollar (a.k.a Guru), a very colourful man with 4 firang girlfriends and a wife n 2 kids. He speaks Israeli and Russian along with English and Kanada! With him chatting us up non-stop, we reached Rocky Guest House.

Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

Etiquette...

Life is full of 'right and wrong'. But most often that not, these rights and wrongs get overridden by "etiquette"!

There's phone etiquette (no speaking loudly on it, keep it on silent in public areas, don't stare at it when you are in conversation with someone, yada yada), office etiquette (dress professionally, speak softly, boss is always right, yada yada), table etiquette (eat with your mouth closed, keep napkin on lap, don't gobble, chew, no loud noises, don't burp, there's A LOT of this one...), etc!

So I figured if I'm sharing my sleeping space within a 4feet radius with a stranger on this train, there HAS to be something of an unwritten train-journey-etiquette!

Like its weird how almost everyone sleeps with their heads toward the window and feet sticking out into the aisle...why? In etiquette-world, I'd prefer if they slept the other way around. 1) they'd make sure they fit into the space allotted and 2) I wouldn't inadvertently run into someone's smelly feet when I'm running down the aisle!

That brings us to another rule, is running in the aisle allowed? I think not only should it be allowed, it should be mandated! There are so many benefits to that, I'll list a few: 1) u get from place A to place B faster...a little efficiency never hurt anyone! 2) if everyone is running, people will automatically keep the aisles free of their overstuffed luggage! 3) it gives everyone privacy! There no longer will exist the creep who walks slowly, assessing everything about who's doing what, where...and there also won't be the creep who stares at everyone passing by, deciding on which one to grope!

Loo etiquette on the train: if the loo is occupied - DON'T stand around waiting for whoever is inside to come out, just go back to your seat and wait. Its really embarrassing to see the guy outside glance at his watch and frown when you step out!! Yes, I took time...and so will you! Now stop judging me...jeez!!

The-common-table etiquette: so the table is for everyone sir, PLEASE keep your jhola with 5kgs of rice somewhere else!

There's a lot more: the-smelly-food etiquette, the-i-know-u-have-the-window-seat-but-its-december-and-its-5AM etiquette, the-loud-chatterbox-family etiquette.

But the king of all etiquettes to be taken VERY VERY seriously: the-kids-between-the-ages-of-being-born-and-13-are-unanimously-annoying-so-put-a-leash-on-them etiquette!!!

Surprisingly, my compartment has people who share my etiquette (I can't type this word anymore, the 5 letters are getting loose :P) opinions! :)

Bon nuit!

Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

The train traveler...

The constant hum of the wheels on the railway lines has a instant lullaby-effect on everyone (umm...except the kids! They have non-stop abundant energy and high pitched voices!).

Kavita reads all about the kings of the 15th century city of Vijaynagar and World Heritage Site of Hampi in the Lonely Planet. I decide to roll my socks on and tuck myself into the blankets provided by the Indian Railways.

Ni Ni time...zzzzzz.....



Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

The clock at the station...

15 minutes to go...



Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone