06/02/20 : Hampi -> Hospet -> Goa
06/02/20 : Hampi
Got up and started packing our bags. We were checking out in the afternoon. Went n had breakfast of masala dosa and masala chai. We walked up to Virupaksha Temple, we were staying just behind it. There we took a rickshaw to Kodandarama temple. He dropped us on the banks of Tungabhadra River. We then walked to the temple which has a dipa stambha (lighting pillar) under a Pipal tree, and inside is sanctum dedicated to Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, but we were not allowed to take picture of it. We walked back to the banks of the river, it was so beautiful where you had boats and bamboo boat (coracle) with boat man, was available for boating around.
At opposite end of the market, you got to see Nandi sitting, watching over the market. It was made of huge black granite rock and covered with roof, and luckily it is still intact. Seeing Nandi, we searched and climbed up the steps behind and there we got to see the big Shiva temple, which was in ruin, Shiva sitting in mudra, with arms and legs broken. Such a beautiful temple complex, in ruin. No worship taking place. It looked so forlorn and we felt so devastated seeing such beautiful temple complexes around, all in ruins and not cared for.
In the market place, there were many small stalls selling trinkets and we brought some.
Wherever you travel, you get to see bananas and tender coconut shops, and these are delicious cooler, and you’re hunger is satisfied with bananas and coconut to eat. We returned back to our base, had small lunch at a shop run by Nepalis who are selling baked puffs and cakes, which we carried for our journey. We went to our hotel, collected our luggage and took a rickshaw to Hospet, to catch our bus back to Goa.
Hampi -> Hospet : The drive back to Hospet was lovely, to watch the ruins as you went bye, and the fields of bananas around. It took nearly 45 minutes to reach Hospet, which is a small town. We went and confirmed our bus and parked our luggage there and there was 2 hours before it left. So we went to explore the town which was having siesta and all shops closed and as we walked around, slowly it was opening. Went around window shopping, not much to see, since we had little time to spent there. We returned back after having our dinner at a restaurant, which catered to different types of snacks like dosa/idlis, chola/ bature, pastas/noodles etc, self service, but vegetarian. We enjoyed our meals there. Returned back to our bus stop. Travelled to Goa by sleeper bus in the evening. Frankie wanted seat while I wanted sleeper berth and I was happy with the comfortable bed to sit as well as sleep overnight.
07/02/20 : Goa
It was a pleasant journey and reached Panjim in the morning. Here the Goa taxi/rickshaw was quoting fantastic price and so we walked to Panjim Bus stand and there we washed our self and had breakfast and took bus to Calangute, which dropped us right in front of our house. There Philo and Dieter, was waiting for us. We had lovely time talking away our experience in Hampi. Dieter is an experience traveller, who reads voraciously, before travelling. They have been to Hampi 3 – 4 times.
08/02/20 / 09/02/20 : Mangalore
10/02/20 : Mangalore -> Mumbai :
06/02/20 : Hampi
Got up and started packing our bags. We were checking out in the afternoon. Went n had breakfast of masala dosa and masala chai. We walked up to Virupaksha Temple, we were staying just behind it. There we took a rickshaw to Kodandarama temple. He dropped us on the banks of Tungabhadra River. We then walked to the temple which has a dipa stambha (lighting pillar) under a Pipal tree, and inside is sanctum dedicated to Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman, but we were not allowed to take picture of it. We walked back to the banks of the river, it was so beautiful where you had boats and bamboo boat (coracle) with boat man, was available for boating around.
We walked back to the old ruined market place which was in front of the Virupaksha Temple. Between the colonnaded stone shop ruins is a broad road in the olden times, that allowed chariots to transport goods to and from the market and hosted ceremonial functions and festive celebrations, which are now in ruins.
At opposite end of the market, you got to see Nandi sitting, watching over the market. It was made of huge black granite rock and covered with roof, and luckily it is still intact. Seeing Nandi, we searched and climbed up the steps behind and there we got to see the big Shiva temple, which was in ruin, Shiva sitting in mudra, with arms and legs broken. Such a beautiful temple complex, in ruin. No worship taking place. It looked so forlorn and we felt so devastated seeing such beautiful temple complexes around, all in ruins and not cared for.
In the market place, there were many small stalls selling trinkets and we brought some.
Wherever you travel, you get to see bananas and tender coconut shops, and these are delicious cooler, and you’re hunger is satisfied with bananas and coconut to eat. We returned back to our base, had small lunch at a shop run by Nepalis who are selling baked puffs and cakes, which we carried for our journey. We went to our hotel, collected our luggage and took a rickshaw to Hospet, to catch our bus back to Goa.
Hampi -> Hospet : The drive back to Hospet was lovely, to watch the ruins as you went bye, and the fields of bananas around. It took nearly 45 minutes to reach Hospet, which is a small town. We went and confirmed our bus and parked our luggage there and there was 2 hours before it left. So we went to explore the town which was having siesta and all shops closed and as we walked around, slowly it was opening. Went around window shopping, not much to see, since we had little time to spent there. We returned back after having our dinner at a restaurant, which catered to different types of snacks like dosa/idlis, chola/ bature, pastas/noodles etc, self service, but vegetarian. We enjoyed our meals there. Returned back to our bus stop. Travelled to Goa by sleeper bus in the evening. Frankie wanted seat while I wanted sleeper berth and I was happy with the comfortable bed to sit as well as sleep overnight.
07/02/20 : Goa
It was a pleasant journey and reached Panjim in the morning. Here the Goa taxi/rickshaw was quoting fantastic price and so we walked to Panjim Bus stand and there we washed our self and had breakfast and took bus to Calangute, which dropped us right in front of our house. There Philo and Dieter, was waiting for us. We had lovely time talking away our experience in Hampi. Dieter is an experience traveller, who reads voraciously, before travelling. They have been to Hampi 3 – 4 times.
As I had lost my Cousin sister’s husband, the day I was leaving for Hampi, I couldn’t go and so I planned instead of returning to Mumbai from Goa, I would go to Mangalore from Goa. So with Dieter’s help I could get and book train ticket from Margao to Mumbai, but not from Thivim, which we usually do.
We had short time in Goa. All plans for dinner outside was cancelled and we had a lovely lunch cooked by Philo with wine. Had short nap and had nice chai with cake, then took bus from Calungute via Panjim to Margao railway station. Here the train was delayed by two hours, and spent the night on the railway platform, but the platform was clean and bright. At last our train came, we got our sleepers to sleep, luckily our waitlisted ticket got confirmed, but far apart, which we exchanged and came near to each other.
08/02/20 / 09/02/20 : Mangalore
Train caught up and tried to make up for 2 hours delay but still we reached Kankanady station late. We took the train directly to the Kulshekar church but we were late and missed the 7 days mass but was in time for prayers service for my brother in law, Jerome Braggs. At the prayers, all his friends and neighbours gave homily and spoke about Jerry Bauji, being quiet simple and family man and always willing to help others. After the prayer service, there was small tea party and we got to meet all my cousins, relatives and friends and their children. I am meeting them nearly after 6-7 years.
From here, we shifted to my cousin, Benna’s place where immediate family were all gathered around. It was pleasant talking to all of them and exchanging notes and playing with Prasanth’s kids, Ethan & Nicole and Pramila’s sons, Sean and Sam.
We were two days in Mangalore, and spent the days with my niece Pramila and her family, i.e only at night, since we were going around visiting all relations and friends along with Willy my cousin, who took us around in his car. Previously, every time I met her only at her mother's place and promised her I would come to her place and this time I made it. Both Pramila and her husband Roystan took care of us.
10/02/20 : Mangalore -> Mumbai :
After heavy breakfast, we packed our baggage and ready to return. Pramila and her son left for School. While Royston took us to visit his mother first, who is staying nearby and then he took us to the Kankanady station to catch our train back to Mumbai. We had our reservation berth and so our journey back was pleasant. Early next morning we got down at Borivali station and there we took rickshaw directly to our home.
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