Hampi Island

We are slowly adjusting to our new temporary life in Hampi. The plan was to stay 2 weeks, but after being here a week already, I don't think two will be enough. The area is beautiful and there are more boulders than you could climb in a lifetime. The guest house chilled out with a great bunch of climbers from all across the globe. Why would we leave?

The Hampi Friendly Gecko!

Boulder View from Goan Corner

We are staying in Goan Corner, a large guest house with plenty of mud huts to house quite a large bunch of avid climbers. Shamilla, the owner, is a wonderfully eccentric lady who bakes the best deserts. Even though, I try to be good and not eat them, by the time the desert comes, beautiful smells wafting from the kitchen it is just too hard to say no.

The Temples in the Background

Palm verged Paddy fields

Sunset from Hanuman Temple (Monkey Temple)

But why are we here? To climb no less and what a climbers paradise it is. Acres upon acres of granite boulders to tear our little fingers apart. Having be safely tied to the end of a rope for the past 4 months, it took a few days to really start to feel comfortable bouldering again. Our daily routine has fallen easily into an early rise (0630-0700) breakfast, walking to the boulders for (0800-0830), back for lunch (1200), chillout for the afternoon and head back for a second session late afternoon (1600). We are in India and once the sun hits the rocks its too hot to climb – but in the shade, with a gentle breeze, all is good. Pictures will probably say more than words for here.

Andrew bouldering!

Rest days are spent either crossing the river and spending the morning in Hampi village or chilling out in Goan Corner. Crossing the river gives you a little reminder of what real India is like – it is a flurry of sellers and traders. We tend to forget this in the more isolated chilled out atmosphere on our side of the river. Today, however, a little more adventurously we rented bicycles and cycled to the Lake. The bikes themselves were part of the adventure as they were without brakes, appeared to be welded together in parts and generally creaked and cranked. The lake another adventure. A place where we could chill out and go for a swim? Well that was the plan. Andrew and I and some of our international friends set off and arrived at the lake along with a bunch of starring Indian men (leering might be more accurate!).  Most left briefly which allowed us jump in for a quick dip.  But the remains of the afternoon was overshadowed by seeing different groups just out right staring from different corners of the lake.  To me, it was quite unsettling and certainly not somewhere I would feel happy about going with only one or two girls.  Anyway, it was just another side of India to experience.