From Hospet we took a bus to Hampi, where we walked to the ghat and waited for the ferry across the river. While we were waiting Lakshmi, the temple elephant, awkwardly walked by for her bath. Amazingly docile and obedient, despite the painful-looking scrubbing.
Some really grimy, nasty accommodation options in the backpacker village of Vijayanagar, but cheaper and clean rooms also thankfully available at the rather boring Gouthami that had mostly closed down for the off season. We ate at the popular spots with views.
Hampi is a popular backpacker hangout. Every menu features a range of western and Israeli dishes, and every restaurant has cushions strewn across the floor, coloured fabrics draped from the roof, trance music playing and evening films on large TVs. Thankfully Hampi also has a lot to see, with ancient ruins and temples scattered around a really amazing landscape of giant boulders piled higgledy-piggledy like some giant's playground.
We spent a few days hanging out with other backpackers, eating food that wasn't curry and relaxing. We also rented a scooter and spent a day puttering about taking all these pictures. I bought a towel for my head, having lost my hat somewhere previously. That towel has served me well, and if it weren't for all the comments I've received wearing it I wouldn't bother with hats any more!
"Where did you buy it? It's good! True Indian!" - India
"Are you an Arab (sheik/prince)?" *laughter* - Egypt
"I thought it was Palestinian" - Israel
"Lawrence, I presume?" - England
The queen's bath
This fancy structure housed elephants!
The best bike shed I've ever seen
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