So I drank lots of rum at tipi with a nice bonfire and nice people. There were a few drummers and ‘flute’ players playing music and had a really good time. I ‘practiced’ my drumming (banged it) and ‘played’ a Tibetan prayer bowl (very eerie sound), funny moment when we were talking to the flute player about how nice it sounded and then he let us have a go on the flute (I was rubbish) he then tried to sell us his flute, turns out he’s a flute seller (you had to be there;).
Its quiet funny not having lots on English people around when you drink as the other nation’s don’t drink nearly as much as me/us. There was 4 English people (out of 30) at this bonfire and we each singularly had more to drink then everyone else put together. We weren’t drunken idiots but just drank a ‘normal’ amount and we should have drank more really seen as the rum was only 60 roupes (1 pound) a bottle. As a nation maybe we do drink more than other nations – although I don’t see it as a problem, the ‘foreigners’ all talked about hooligans an English people fighting. I was of course a great ambassador for my country managing to fall over only once (while doing traditional Nepalese dancing)!
Not sure what I did the next day, had a hangover got some lunch, went to other side, walked about a bit with mara, did some poi, meet israely guy (who I will mention again soon), spoke to my guru (Baba g - who tells me that bung lassi’s are nice and makes me chillum). Its hard if I don’t write this for a few days as you can forget what you’ve done if you don’t do very much.
The evening time though was a different matter. Don[‘t think I’ll ever forget it. Went for a walk with the Israeli guy (han I think he was called – but pronounced haannnnn with lots of spiting sound). Tried to get mara out of shops, told the taxi driver that keeps asking her for dinner that she use to be a man (his face was one of the funniest things I think I’ve ever seen), mara wasn’t too happy I don’t think. Any way we’re walking along and han says there’s a jewish ‘hostel’ that he’s going to have a look. We decided to come with him and it turns out today is alike a fast day in the jewish calendar as Saturday is the holy day where your suppose to do nothing. The place had about 10 people in and they gestured us to stay. Some prayers/songs were being sung and we sat there and listened. I wore a skull cap and listened. The music was really magical and the setting was really picturesque (said a little prayer for all you heathens out there:- p). Then more and more people came until the place was full and we all ate a big meal together and sang songs. There is loads more to this place but I really can’t do it justice, this may not sound like the most amazing time but I can assure you that to me (and mara) it was really beautiful and one of the most random and rewarding experiences I’ve had in India.
Next day I hear a strange voice outside. Its enka (I met her in vagatour), her and Laura have arrived in Hampi. They’ve already arranged a room in my hotel but I try to discreetly tell them not to stay here and stay at the one next door with the tipi. Being Austrian they don’t fathom what I’m trying to say to them and get the room next to mine. Me and Mare go in search of the waterfall today on the bikes. Get pushbikes and ride them as close as we can to waterfalls before we have to enter jungle. As we enter jungle this old man tells us to follow him and because he told me to follow him I did. After about 5 minutes of walking I thought I better ask him where we’re going as the signs saying no entry are starting to worry me. He tells me ‘no worries water fall this way’, I can’t see a water fall and me and mara are making each other worry that we’re going to get murdered. As we cross a river and headed towards some reeds we decided to stop, have a cigarette and take stock of the situation. As we’re waiting we see a harassed man (English) crossing river with 4 indian teenagers. He walks up to us and is visibly grateful to see us (and we him) he asks to stay with us and we heartily agree. Now feeling confident that we can take the old man (its now 3 on 1 – the Indian boys were soed away by old man) we carry on to the waterfalls, turns out he was a guide earning money. Because we didn’t arrange price before hand we had to negotiate after the fact. I felt bad for not trusting him so to assuage my guilt i tipped him extra 50 as well. Funny though, at the Jewish hostel, the rabbi/person was explaining a prayer/song and it was about fear and somebody saying
This world is just a bridge between two worlds and that you shouldn’t be afraid to cross the bridge. Same sentiment as the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
I wasn’t afraid but I was very very nervous, shouldn’t have been.
This was the most exciting part of the trip. The waterfalls were nice but not really waterfalls.
After that we went to mango tree where we met a journalist called Reshma who works for www.marwar.com. She was lovely but even more amazingly she’d not only heard of black pool but was there for the 100 anniversary of blackpool tower being built. Made my day!! Went back to hotel were my guru Baba G was. He’d been to hospit (town near hampi) to get some stuff to make the lassi’s. A Bungo Lassi is also called a ‘special lassi’. We sat and had a chat and then went for dinner with Laura, Elka and Mara. Before I left I told Baba G not to make the lassi’s as we probably won’t do then tonight. After meal (which was good – although I didn’t order anything and just ate everyone else’s) we went back to hotel where Baba G had made the lassi’s, so we drank them. Went to the tipi place and chilled out there. Had a great night and spent lots of time with great Israeli girl!
This morning it’s raining. First rain I’ve seen in India. Everything is wet… couldn’t face a cold shower this morning so I had my first hot bucket!! This is a hot bucket of water that you pour over yourself. I haven’t had a hot shower in maybe 2 weeks and this was great!!!! Not doing much today as it’s raining and you’ll get very wet, I’ve got a big chess game with Reishy (great Indian guy who owns tipi) later so that should be fun.
Extra’s
I’ve had a goatee shaved in to my face
I don’t like rain that much
I’ve been offered a volunteer/work with an organization in northern India that wants me to be a project co-coordinator and go all over India. Sounds too good to be true though. They give me a local wage and pay food and accommodation.
I’ve got myself a guru, who is cool; he’s no trouble and just smokes a lot of pot. He was going to come with us to the temples today and tell stories (his English is good) but its raining.
It’s my brother’s birthday!! Happy birthday Elliot xxx
Sunday, 16 November 2008
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