Early start at 5:30 AM, and went by van to Madgaon railway station. Breakfast was an Indian one, at the station. I could not eat as it was too early. Then we had the drama when the railways changed the order of the coaches, and we had to run to the other end of the platform, with our luggage, and nearly missed the train!! We left at 7:50 AM, for Hampi. This daytime train trip was interesting. The door the train was open, and I could watch the scenery. I was a herd of prancing deer. Also, the area is flat, and not a great height above sea level . Great for agriculture. I noticed crops of cotton, sugar cane, ( I noticed the spear like flowers of the sugar can ) lentils, banana plantations, palm trees, chillies, tomatoes, rice etc. Then we reached Hospet, which is a big rail junction town. There was a few minutes to get off the train, and it was a huge rush, we nearly didn't get off, as our party was split in different parts of the train, but all ended well. Then we went by van to a bakery, where we had ice creams etc. Then we drove in the van towards Hampi. Lots of pics of the rice fields everywhere, with the women planting the rice in the mud. The scenery was spectacular: looks like Zimbabwe...granitic domes ( volcanic ) split by weathering into boulders. A moonscape!! We came across an old aqueduct, and crossed the river to our new hotel: the Shanti ( Peace ) Guest house. I had a rondavel to myself ( a round thatched house ) Mosquito nets were over the beds, as we were so close to the rice fields that were just everywhere. I have a pic of the hammock outside the rondavel. We didn't wait long, as we wanted to see the sun set over the Hanuman Hindu Temple on top of a very high granite dome. There were 600 steps to the top!! Very tiring. Monkeys all along the way. At the top, we had a spectacular view of the surrounding scenery....broken granitic domes everywhere, rice field everywhere, music from below, some burning somewhere. One of the monkeys tried to steal the water bottle of one of our group. We went into the temple ( always shoes removed) and were allowed to watch the monks and the various idols inside. Monkeys walked around the walls. I have a pic with one of the monkeys. It was actually very spiritual up there: no wonder the Hindus built the temple there. We walked down, and got in the van to our hotel. Supper was unusual: on the floor right looking into the rice paddies all around, which I photographed of course. No chairs, just mattresses on the floor to sit on. Fresh juices served, and local food. It was a nice meal. Very very rural here, but there are lots of white hippies in Hampi.
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