Hampi. Hampi. Oh so hot Hampi…
A couple of days in the ruined temple city at 40 degrees. Up at 6am to see some sights before it becomes impossibly hot. Siesta’s. Many laughs with the postcard mafia (troupes of young boys eeking out a living from selling individual postcards and stickers), stunning ruins in a world heritage listed site that stretches over maybe 10 kilometres. It was a city that was sacked 16th C and eventually people moved back into the town. So strange to see peoples homes amid the ruins.
Our first postcard mafia friend took us back to his banana leaf and dirt hut that he shares with his brother and sister and parents. 2m x 3m. Heartbreaking to learn that his father works the banana plantations manual labour for 20 rupees a day (about 70c New Zealand). We were able to give him a little bit of extra money so that he could take his sick brother to the doctors and get some medicine. Such a small gesture but tears in all our eyes…
Monkeys roaming the rooftops and even looking in our barred window. Chased them away before they stole our peanut butter!
Sunset chillum session in a Ram temple with the sadu who made it his home. Shiva blessings bestowed on us.
Hindi movie filming with a hundred brilliantly dressed dancers and drummers was so surreal infront of the 500 year old ruins and made for some great photos.
Salty Lemon sodas at every possible moment.
Our first overnight train bring us to Hyderabad at 6am today. It’s even hotter here. We’re only here until our overnight train departs for Aurangabad and Ellora caves tomorrow in time for the full moon.