January 29

Yesterday was kind of a laid day, but we did have 19000+ steps (before noon!) We awoke at six and set out walking by 0635. We walked to the Gopi Plantation for breakfast! The morning was so cool and part of the way was along a canal. This was great because we saw so many birds. We know we saw Kingfishers- with a white breast; three Indian Grey Hornbill; a few Parakeets, that seem to always be in pairs; and many Little Green Bee-eaters. There were so many more different ones, but we did not get a close enough view to identify them. Of course, there Egrets, smaller herons, and little sparrow-type birds. It was a great way to start the morning. We also saw people harvesting sugar cane by hand with machetes, even saw the truck come in the cut cane was loaded in. There were little cheeky monkeys that had grabbed some of the sugar cane and were devouring it. 

We arrived at the plantation around 08. Jeff had stuffed parotta (having potatoes and onion in it) with yogurt and lime chutney. I had a banana pancake. Both were great. Kiran's oldest brother, Gopi, was there. Kiran also showed up and greeted us. Kiran said he actually spent the night out here at the plantation, due to a party last night. Anyway, the  Gopi Plantation has places to stay, a restaurant, as well as the banana plantation. Finished we left, finding a road that we thought went into Hampi. But the road ended at a temple. We found a trail and followed it til it puttered out at another banana plantation. We decided to cut through the banana rows. Jeff thought to follow the electric lines as we went through, and like that we met the other road. We came out of the banana plants and I think we caught some locals by surprise. They were piling up fresh cut banana bunches, but stopped when they saw these foreigners emerging out of nowhere. Bet they are still talking about this to their friends! Anaway I asked if I could take a photo of their banana bunches, and they nodded. We found the gravel road turned into cement, then briefly back to gravel then finally to asphalt (we don't know why the changes… questions???) Finally, we arrived in Hampi town and decided to just head back to our place in New Hampi.

Now we took a siesta. Then did lunch at Hampi Cafe. We had Onion Pagoda (which like a forerunner of the blooming onion from Outback Steakhouse); probably the best french fries I've had in India: mushroom mutter (a curry of mushrooms, green peas, onions, and tomatoes) with two chapati. Jeff had a salty lemon juice, I had a sweet lemon juice. Back to our place and just hung out. We did meet a lady from Holland, Tricia, staying here. We talked with her a bit. She is a Hot Balloon Pilot! How cool is that!! She is here because she got a call for a job here in India, and is incorporating some vacation time. Anyway, Kiran, brought Jeff and Tricia a beer. I had some of our rum. We did catch up with my mother and our church family. Good day!

Today, we ate breakfast around 745 having an onion, tomato omelette. Quite tasty. We also watched the 15 minute highlights of our football team. (How about those Chiefs??) They won and are heading to the Superbowl!!! Yahoo! Then we caught up with the rest of our family, on WhatsApp.

Finally, we went out and hired a tuk-tuk to Hampi. We walked back on the Hampi Bazaar and up the stairs toward a different area. We arrived at Achyutaraya Temple. It is one of the last temples built here under this empire in 1534. This temple had a large outer wall, inner courtyard and the inner temple/shrine area. The sun light was dappling and making interesting picturesque photo spots. We just meandered around and had it mostly to ourselves! We exited out onto yet another bazaar area and trekked down it. Again, you could imagine hawkers yelling to passersby! About halfway down, we came across another tank, Pushkarani. But they think this one was more of an actual way for 'waders to go to a central pavillion that housed their processional deity'. This pool is larger, but empty, died-up with weeds growing through crevices.

Now we head back to Hampi and we go down to the Tungabhadra River. We have to cross it. There is mostly a “boulder bridge”. Easy-peasy, Well, no! We had one area you have to stretch step onto a stone in rushing water and then quickly stretch step to the other boulder. Jeff executed it perfectly. I hesitated, and a local tried to help me, but I slipped- well tried to stop and slipped, banging my knee and landed on my butt. Then got up and completed onto the other boulder. We walked to the other river bank. I looked at my knee – it was skinned up and will probably be sore later, but not bleeding or swelling at this point. I took some ibuprofen anyway.

Now on this side of river, we set out. But we did not get very far, because there was rental scooters!! Jeff haggled with the guy and then we were on a scooter! The guy did not even take Jeff's driver's licence, or any ID, for that matter. He just took the money. So we “mounted and scooted” on!! On the road, we finally saw some rice paddies. We head to Anjanadri Hill. Arriving, we do the climb up its 575 steps to the Balanjaneya Temple. We have been seeing this white, painted-outlined structure from a distance since we have been here, knowing that we would get up here! And, wow, it was worth it!! The sweeping views from up here were…, well, the some of the best here in Hampi. It may be the highest point here in Hampi – seems to be, I don't know. Vistas of the river; seeing some of the ruins; and of course, views of the ever-present Virupaksha Temple. Amazing!! We did not go into the temple up here – it is still a dedicated Hindu temple. It was impressive, nonetheless! Now, we hike down (my knee was doing well, but I was starting to feel it) and got back on our scooter. 

We head to Pampa Sarovar, a “newish” pool area. Not a ruins area!  🙁  (But, rather, it seemed to be a place to just eat lunch.) Some women were doing laundry in the pool with a sign 'Beware of the Crocodiles'…Really??? So Jeff had to dip his tootsies in it (BTY, he still has all his toes). Then we left and went back to the river. We returned our scooter. Finding a coracle, a round, paddled raft; we paid to go back across the river.

Now in Hampi, we went to Gopi Restaurant and ordered lunch. Tricia showed up and joined us. We compared our days ventures (sounds like hers was underwhelming, not what she had expected). We talked. our food came. We had Garlic Roasted Potatoes; Gobi Manchurian (dry); and Margarita Pizza. Me- Diet Coke and Jeff- sprite (we split a some water). We actually had to get takeaway for the last of the pizza – it was supper. 

We walked back and did some laundry (the bulk stuff we are having our homestay people do); showered and relaxed. Tricia returned and may be going with us tomorrow (??) She called Kiran and he arranged for Jeff and her to have a beer brought to them (Kiran was at the Gopi Plantation). I had some rum. We just sat and talked. It was lovely.

It has been another great day at Hampi.