KARNATAKA

Since the last post, we got an overnight bus to Karnataka-Gokarna(where we have been a week), which is an area of beaches south of Goa, yet very different to the beaches in Goa, somewhat less commercial, (no clubs and noisy bars, just shanti restaurants and cows) and beautiful. There are beautiful rocky beaches, long strip sand beaches, and a few Robinson Crusoe beaches, where there are very few people and like, one restaurant. You can get between all the beaches really easily by boat at 50 rupees, and you can also go to them by foot, though some are more like a hike (around rocks for the more adventurous) .The most reknown beach is the OM beach, which is in the shape of the word OM in Sanskrit(see 1st pic), so is considered to be a very special beach, and because of this is the most popular and busy.

When we arrived at about half 6 in the morning last week, we watched the sunrise, and enjoyed the orange light welcoming us on the sea, and walked to a beach very appropriately named Paradise Beach. We stayed there a couple of nights, and then as Peculiar Petulia felt a tad peculiar he and Margate headed to a nice clean comfort hotel to help him feel better.It was a really simple place we stayed in at only 50 rupees (no electricity or fan), up on the hill, with a beautiful view and it was away from anybody so we could be really really silly. Horatio Hornblower and Petal moved on at this point, and we were sad to lose them and King Arthur had left us in Hampi, so now we were 6, but without Winnie the Pooh. In the end we moved onto Om beach. And no I am not mentioning Gn'T and the chicken story to anybody, or the interviewing of all the hippies as to whether they knew why the old lady swallowed the fly. Its all Gerties fault-he has the evidence.

Now everyone has been heading in different directions (King Arthur is off to start a new life in NZ-Hail King Arthur!!!) and everyone else is off too the Backwaters on a boat in Kerela except me (as will be doing the trip with my Mum when she comes in Feb, plus is the opposite end of Kerela to where I am heading next). I must say it feels a bit strange (again I hear the Buddhist teachings of impermanance ringing in my ears) as we have all been this really well bonded group for just over a month now. ALL CHANGE! Just a note to you- group of mad chickens, I have loved our time together and will never forget it.

Please check out the beautiful baby I met in Gokarna, who was enjoying his biscuit and posing for the camera...

Am now on Kutly beach which is a lovely strip of sand with the view of palm trees behind and the red red earth on the hills behind, and will be here till Sunday, to have my next India experience-two weeks in an Ashram doing yoga and meditation. I don't think I will have email access during this time so there wont be any news or emails for a couple of weeks, but I will be back!

INCREDIBLE HAMPI

"The fascinating ruins of Vijayanagar, near the village of Hampi, are set in a strange sublime boulder-strewn landscape that resonates with a magical air. This was once capital of one of the largest Hindu empires in Indian History" (Lonely Planet)

I have never seen a landscape like this in my life. I watched the sunset yesterday on a hill surrounded by the most beautiful ruins and giant goliathic rocks around me.

In the day me, Peculiar Petulia and Margate went on an adventure 24k bikeride to Hospet(nearest town for ATM) and back (as suggested by PP-Well done-fab idea!), and I just cannot describe the lanscape -words don't do it (pics will help!). Green green green! Paddy fields, palm trees, beautiful locals with white teeth gleaming in the most welcoming ear to ear smiles!

Yesterday we had a great trip to the lake(as recommended by Tim-well done!) in a truck which you would normally expect to see sheep goats or chickens, so of course what did we do-we all imitated Goats sheep and chickens on the way to the lake and had some curious onlookers. I can't think why. On the return journey 2 local boys jumped and hung on the back-(see the pic of one of them)When we got there we all sucked in huge amounts of air in wonder. It was beauitful, incredible and huge. And you could swim in it!!!

I have been blessed by an elephant in the main temple in Hampi. You give him 2 rupees (in his trunk-no joke) and then he swings his trunk over the top of your head! I then went to the various shrines in the temple and was blessed again with saffron in the 'third eye' region.

Today (our last day) we went to visit some of the incredible temples which included the Vittala Temple upon which there are numerous pillars which are also instruments and play notes!! AMAZING.

We are getting a bus later this evening to Gokarna and we are going to visit a couple of the beaches on the way down to Kerela...

Goodbye Goa-I'm halfway through my trip!!

Well its another move, which after being here over a month hasn't been the easiest as its been so brilliant. Arambol turned out to be fantastic, and it was to do with the people more than anything. There is a great community here of muscians, and people of all ages from all places! Our huts were lovely and the Goan locals that ran them were such nice people. They invited us to there sons 1 year old Birthday Party which was really sweet(see pic of sal giving pressie)...

We have evolved from 6 people to 8, having met a lovely Thai couple. Its like United Nations, as we also have the Polish, Americans and English! Its so nice, we get on really well and spend the majority of the time in fits of laughter. We also have pseudo names. I am Hilly (short for Hilary), Sally is Margate, Pete is Peculiar Petulia, Edwin is Gertrude, Kaya is Edna, Tong is Horatio the Hornblower and Sue is Petal (the only one worthy of a sweet name) and most importantly of course, Tom is King Arthur, as it really does suit him(check pic where we all bow down)...

New Years Eve was fantastic, and we all hired a jeep and spent it dancing at the Famous Gagarin to Sergio (te Russian owner's) fab selection of dance music until the early hours... We also had a firework display on the beach and I brought my little Drum. To help me recover from a nights partying and overindulging, I had a treat the following day of a 3 hour massage, with a face mask thrown in. IT WAS THE BEST.

Well back to now and onto Hampi....