HAMPI

The over night sleeper bus took 11 hours. We had a bed (if that is what u can call it. In reality it resembled a coffin. Luxury sleeper bus it said on the side! Every bump in the road is felt and sleep is almost impossible. By 6am we are stuck in a traffic jam; a convoy of circus trucks (is what they look like).

Celebrate

Hampi is beautiful from the second you drive in there are ruins everywhere. Rickshaws chase the bus with drivers pointing and shouting to us wanting our rupees. We go to one of the guest houses in the guide book - it's highly recommended. It smells bad and the price has double, then a man from next door asks if we would like to look at his rooms, we agree and at 250 rupees a night we take it. It's hot, blistering hot. We shower and decide to go for a stroll, there's a lot to see.

Colourful day

Hampi is split in to two parts by a huge river. The main part is where the bus drops you, then you can take a boat across the river or you could swim across as some crazy people do. I'd recommend that you spend a few nights at both sides as they are so different. As we walk along the river bank road two local boys begin to chat to us selling post cards but mostly they just want to speak in English. They are about 10 years old, speak 6 languages and are full of local knowledge. We talk, walk and laugh with them then go the famous Mango Tree for lunch. Everyone gathers here for lunch. The food is delicious and the view is spectacular.

Feeding time

We ended up spending 7 nights in beautiful Hampi and I don't wanna bore you with all the day to day stuff so I will just give you the high lights.

We spent 2 nights at Sanju's, his wife makes great coffee, then moved across the river for 3 nights and stayed at the Laxmi Beach Resort. There is no beach but it has a huge pool which they kept telling everyone they were going to fill but never did. At Laxmi we stayed in a beautiful cottage with stunning views across the rice fields watching fire fly's dancing in the night sky. There was little electricity and not a lot to do and plenty of rain. Then we spent two more nights at Sanju's because the Holy Celebrations were starting and we didn't think it would be as much fun in a big city which was our next destination.

Hanging around

Holy is the most amazing fun I have ever had. Basically you wear your scruffiest, oldest clothes and get covered in paint. They throw dry powder paint, mix it with water and squirt it from bottles and the entire village comes alive with the most vibrant colours I have ever seen. As you will see from the pictures we looked a sight, but then so did everyone else. The children were the most fun screaming 'colour, colour' and holding their hands out waiting for you to give them some to through back at you. It lasted 4 hours and ended when we paraded round the back streets and made our way to the river to get washed. My perfect blonde hair was streaked bright pink, green, purple and blue - these are only the colours I remember there were so many. Most of my skin was blue, green and pink and Ben was awash with every colour in the rainbow. At the river the paint refused to wash of our skin and I knew then that my hair would be multicoloured for weeks to come, but long after the paint or dye is gone this is one day that will remain with me for the rest of my life.

Kids will be kids

Oh, I almost forgot. I had the freakiest experience in Hampi which I really must tell you about. Ben and I had been on a bike ride, which is a challenge in its self since I don't remember last time I rode a bike. After which we went to the Mango Tree for lunch. We had not long been sat at our stone table when another couple came and sat next to us. Ben and I were just chatting away when the guy next to us asked where we were from and I said Huddersfield then he asked if my name was Rosey! I said yes then looked at him as if to say 'who the hell are you?' Turns out it was Darren Hall a lad I used to go to school with and I haven't seen him in 20 years!!! And I probably won't see him for another 20! Life is so strange some times.

Looking good

To be continued. . . . .

Lotus Temple

Palying around

Please sir

Rain

Royal elephant stables

Stone Chariotte

The night before

Top day

What a sight