Operation Year of Freedom

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Oh, Hampi, you are such a special destination.
Hampi had been coming up on our radar before we'd even got to India, with Jarrod telling me about its fame for bouldering.
Then, meeting travelers along the way on our India adventure who shared about Hampi's specialness.

It was Greg and Emma from Budapest who sold it to us!
Following in their footsteps, our journey started in Chennai, where we boarded the MAS UBL Express (17314),
departing 3.50pm and arriving at 1.45am in Hospete, the closest train station to Hampi.
Traveling in Second Class AC, with our own immaculately clean bedding package, pillow and blanket, our seats folded down into a comfortable bunk bed with curtains for privacy.
Such a fantastic way to get a significant number of km's covered with a steady smorgasbord of fresh samosa, chai, and various fresh curries walked past us to keep the hunger pangs at bay during the trip.
A prebooked tuktuk on arrival in Hospete (thanks for that great tip Emma!) and we were off to our wonderful homestay - Little Banana Leaf 25 mins away in Hampi.

With a scooter secured and our first day a baptism of literal fire as Hampi was so HOT, we made the call to start exploring early to avoid the searing hot dry mid afternoon heat.

For 3 days, we beat the sun's arrival and clocked up several hundred kms exploring the incredible temples and ruins, landscapes of rice fields, banana trees as far as the eye can see and mindblowing rock formations around the Hampi area before the mercury hit 37- 38 degrees mid afternoon.
We shared the roads and lanes with sugar cane ladden trucks, buffalo, goats, crazy bus, and tuktuk drivers, with elegant women in stunning saree's carrying enormous loads on their head.
The photos really don't do Hampi justice.

Interesting for: Massey Fergusson tractors with large, high sided wooden trailers attached are used as local open air buses.

Interesting for : Palek corn.
OMG.. this is a gourmet memory 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Baca lagi