India - Through Chris's Eyes

Friday 26th March

Another relatively early start, ready to catch the 8 o'clock train to our next destination of Hampi.

All sorts of activity going on on the platform and people jumping across the track for fun, even dogs and goats.

Shortly we were on our way for the eight hour journey. A number of people selling all types of food and drinks are busy scurrying from one end of the train to the other and in no way could you call it quiet. Six hours later the temperature seemed to have got hotter, but it wasn't easy to tell onboard the train.

3 o'clock we arrived in Hospet ready to take our first rickshaw ride to Hampi, again a very strange experience, as there doesn't seem to be any road rules apart from possibly swerve the cows and toot your horn, extremely manic. We arrived in Hampi - temperature 40c - no wonder it felt very hot, IT WAS BLOODY HOT!!!

Booked into a nice cool room with all we need for 400 rupees, £6. Even hot water - typical when all you need is cold. After settling down we decided to go and see some of the ruins above the Temple, that sits at the end of Hampi Bazaar. Serena was off like a spring chicken with me steadily falling behind as we climbed the hill. Eventually we hit the top, where the view was stunning, doubtful if there's another place quite like this anywhere else. Rocks and giant boulders perched very precariously all around, as far as you could see as well as Banana Palms and many Temples. We were also greeted by a number of Monkeys that had made this place their home.

Sunset came at 6:30ish and the scorching heat had taken it's toll so we headed back towards our room for a cold shower and change of clothes. Later went out just to find a place for a quick snack. Found a rooftop restaurant, recommended in the Lonely Planet, food wasn't to bad but the service was terrible and the only sense of energy from the staff came when collecting the bill. Needless to say, it'll be somewhere different tomorrow evening.