We went for a long weekend up in Hampi, it's a gorgeous ruined Hindu city that had it's glory days about 400-500 years ago. The city had canals, long bazaars, temples and lots of roses! But when the Sultan got involved with muslims nearby they invaded and a 6 month siege signaled the end of the city. It's not one of the seve wonders of the world but it should be! Hampi is now a small village, FULL of guest houses, restaurants and shops selling items for tourists. As an estimate, tourism accounts for about 95% of the villages economy! But even so there still aren't hideous numbers of tourists, we went out of peak season thankfully!
We took a train through the night both ways, 10 hours (express train)there 16 hours back, which wasn't too bad (especially since we had bunks each or nearly each). The guest house we found was fantastically cheap! The guide book said 150 Rupees (Rs) per room but we got them for 100 Rs (50 Rs each, that's about 60p per night and cheap even by Indian standards!). We befriended the man who worked there and found out that the other guests were paying 350 Rs per night!! We can bargin baby!! He was a great bloke, and offered to take us to a great place to see the sunrise, an offer we accepted and it was a good choice! It was on top of a mountain of boulders, topped by a temple to Shiva (hindu creator goddess). About 600 steps, although steps is probably the wrong word and stone planks in a reasonably random order would better describe some of it! Slightly scary at times, especially climbing up in the pitch black, and I'm gutted I didn't take a photo of the route! We had an amazing view of the temple complex we walked round the day before and the village (and of course the surrounding area). If anyone could tell me how Hampi's rocky landscape was created I'd be really grateful, it's so Flintstonesque!
We went cycling for part of a day, down to a nearby village with kids that loved showing us their spinning top toys ad having their photos taken! They were so friendly! On the last day, much to Miles' disgust, we had a 'designated shopping time' (he went off climbing again instead!). I bought 3 gorgeous skirts for the equivalent of 8 pounds, loving Indian prices still, and made friends with the bloke who runs the shop. He's got 7 shops one of which is in London (Portabella, i think it's called Topic and I've promised to visit it!).
But anyhow, I'm now back in Bangalore safe and sound, waiting to go to Mysore next weekend!
School is going well, I've got classes everyday with standards 2 and 4, they're great kids. We're doing a project on extinct and endangered animals, so far we've only done the dinosaurs. They drew the cutest pictures for it! I'll write again soon and add hotos later xx
5 comments:
Glad to hear from you Clarey, I heard about the train bomb on the news and panicked. I know 'in India' is a bit vague, but I still worried about you a wee bit. But glad to hear you are safe and sound and still helping to make the world a better place! I totally want to go to Portobello with you, I love London, and the clothes sound awesome!Maybe you can get us a discount, seeing as you know the owner! I suspect the prices might be a bit more expensive in england though! Please can we have a trip please!
Keep having fun, lots of love and cold hugs from Durham xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Woops, that was Kathryn by the way, I forgot to say! xxxxxxx
hhi clare this is grandad bashing the keys so you will have problems sounds as tho you are havin a grate /time whoops enjoy you were missed on the panto weekend jonn the minibus wanted to no where you were bristol mqob here this weekend culture yesterday museums and the tate cath and me are off to kew to find our ancestors dave walking to the owl ona memory trip phil has also joined us rachel has gone skiing i think to austria has christel got aplace over here where u can donate? it wasgreat to talk to you on the panto weekend all this nite clubbing grandma has never let me go to a night club in case i went astray and ran off with abelly dancer cheerio continue to enjoy
granddad
Hi, Cathy here helping grandad get to grips with technology!!! and show Grandma how to publish comments!
Good to have the update - sounds like you are much more needed an many ways both supporting the local fashion industry and in teaching. Grand job.
Got to go or we will never find the ancestors bones! see you soon
Love Cathy
There is a lot of information on the Web about Hampi. I expect you have already searched. Lovely to hear from you again after silence for some time. Mrs Booker has just returned from her 3 week holiday near Cape Town. She is looking well rested. Love Anne & Ben C.
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