As I no longer have the motorbike I thought that I would walk over to the main Bazaar area and see if I could go into the main temple: The Virupaksha Temple. I walked down to the river crossing hoping that I wouldn’t have to get a coracle again, thankfully it was a proper motor boat this time, complete with bench seats and everything!
Any ideas about visiting the temple were pretty much squashed when I started to be hassled by a lot of different people as I was trying to go in. I made the executive decision that I would just not bother. I wasn’t too fussed by this choice, as there is plenty more to see and do in Hampi other than the temple. I was a bit sad that I wouldn’t get to see Lakshmi though, she is the temples resident Elephant and you can pay her bless you (this is called a ‘smooch’).
Following this non-encounter, I took a walk through the old main street and up towards the Vitalla Temple from the Hampi Bazaar end. It took me quite a long time. Next I took a proper walk around Hampi Bazaar and had a look in some of the shops. Eventually I wandered into one of the Travel Agencies to enquire about busses to Goa. As it turned out it was possible to get on the one that went later that evening, at 7.30pm, so I paid the deposit and quickly went back to the river crossing so that I could get to the hotel to pack. I thought that I’d just pay for that night in the hut, as I hadn’t told them I’d be leaving and I should have left at 10.00am to check out.
As I was about to get into the boat I spotted Lakshmi over by river, just about to get in with her trainers. Seeing this as a prime opportunity to get some photos with my fantastic new camera, I quickly stood up and begun snapping away. I was promptly told to sit back down and relax by the boat driver!!!
Eventually the boat docked at the other side of the river and I saw Lakshmi walking over towards me. The driver of the boat turns to me and says, ‘Look! Elephant coming, you follow.’ So I did! As they got to the top of the hill from the river, people began to follow them and Lakshmi started to smooch people as they gave her money…I got a smooch too! I gave her ₨10 and she took it in her trunk and gave it to her trainer and then placed her trunk over my head and held it there for a few seconds! It was the best ₨10 I have spent so far…she was so adorable : )
I finally got back to the hotel and had a quick chat to two other brits staying at the Guest House. They have been travelling for a lot longer and are on their final stint before going back home. Sad times : ( I gave them a few ideas about what to do with the last few weeks of their adventure!
Once in the bus I sat with some other travellers, Min from Korea, and Leonard from Israel. We all got chatting. I learnt that in both Israel and Korea national service is compulsory for males once they leave school, in Israel the women have to do it too, but they are exempt if they get married or have babies. In Korea they choose whether they do it at 20, 21, 23 etc. but in Israel they have to do it around 18 years old for three years (males) or two years (females).
I don’t really know how I feel about this, it is something that I have never had to consider and quite frankly the thought of young people the same age as the students that I teach having to go and complete national service scares me. Leonard did say that he thought it made them grow up and mature a lot quicker as you have to make life and death decisions on a daily basis.
In due course I all fell asleep and then was woken every time the bus stopped by the shouting of where I was and people banging around! Eventually I arrived at Palolem.
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