What a difference a day makes. Hampi, a backpackers, budget-travellers delight of over 500 monuments, temples and ruins. After spending the day across the river and seeing the ruins (overcrowded with hawkers) we needed a break. It was very hot as we were on a rock plateau with only shade coming from within a ruin. We were invited to a wedding, offered something to eat and not surprised at the friendliness of Indians. They give unsolicited help and advice and are generally concerned with your safety and comfort. I've seen them help tourists reluctant to cross the busy streets, 2 guys waded into the river to rescue 2 elderly ladies (meaning over 65 of course) struggling to cross against the current and if you need to find a place near by, they walk you to your destination. Motto here....."if you're happy, I'm happy".
But our best times in Hampi were walking the roads on our own, enjoying the majestic boulders, rice paddies and numerous birds and plant life. And yes, the peace and quite away from the tuk-tuks and motor cycles. We took a different route everyday. On the third walk we ventured thru a small village starting their day with dropping kids off at school on the front of their bikes, scooters or auto-rickshaws (tuk-tuk). Cows, goats, dogs wondering the street, women washing clothes by the creeks, slapping the garments on rocks, scrubbing soapy fabric using rock for the washboards.....can't imagine how the fabric can take the abuse! These are real rural villages, one house close beside another. 3 walled open shops selling water, pop, cookies and cigarettes. Open tables with oranges, bananas, grapes for sale and even a welding shop. Men were excavating around a home, dredging with hoes, carrying the mud in a large flat pan on their heads and dumping it to make a bank. No machinery, just man and animal. Private homes didn't have any form of plumbing but a large hand pump in centre of village supplied large jugs of water to carry on the head back to the house. But now we are in North Goa. Beautiful long beaches, beige sand, lots of restaurants to choose from, Italian, Portuguese, English (Sunday's menu was roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with roast potatoes and veggies), Thai and German Bakeries. Our accommodation couldn't be better. Penthouse (third floor), a/c, 1min walk to beach which we view from our balcony while standing beside the hot tub, large room with a 3 head shower in modern bathroom. Our hostess/owner, Tina, is great making sure our room has fresh flowers and advising us on sight seeing excursions, market days and best place to view the sunset and panoramic view of the beaches.
Our days are getting routine. Walk the beach, have coffee and fruit or bake goods, take a shower, read from and write our loved ones, do hand laundry, walk for lunch and pick up 3 bottles of water, come back to room, shower, watch sunset, decide on place for dinner, come back to room and watch TV, fall asleep and dream of another day of sand, surf and palm trees. What a life!
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