#1
I along with a few other friends were chilling our day out
thinking about going on a trip to Hampi. Chippy and Sherin were the only ones
among the group who had gone there earlier. As the conversation about the trip
started, Chippy drew a map on the chit of paper as she hurriedly sat near me
with excitement to describe the topography and geography of Hampi. Sherin, who
was cleaning the vessels narrated her memories as well. Saju, the only other
guy in the room other than me was making rounds around the corner of his house
looking for the charger. He paused to look around in wonder when i exclaimed, "Man, i am going
alone, and this is happening soon". The
other three of them screamed in a chorus "we will go together". I let out a smile and simply nodded yes, but i had already
zeroed on going alone.
April was the month and it was deadly hot this year. Thanks to
the rising global warming that added another 2 degree Celsius to the atmospheric
temperature. Ever since, I had started earning it was always at this
time of the year, my travel hormones rake up. I travelled alone to Mumbai, the
previous year, followed by a trek to Velliangiri Mountains in Coimbatore.
Goa had been on my cards since I graduated engineering, It never
took off after being let down by my group of friends, every time I came up with
the plan. I finally decided to take a break from work and go on a solo travel.
After learning about my unscheduled plan only Vikas dared to hop in, now it
was me and him alone, but for him he wanted to go back after spending his time
in Goa. He planned and booked his return tickets, while I had no idea about my
schedule.
4 days in Goa and almost everything that I did had a first
timer's excitement, for all the occurrence that happened from staying in a dorm
with completely random backpackers, parasailing, drunk night outs, overnight
party, everything about the trip was exciting as of then. Never late before we
realized, that we have to check out the next day.
Sheela wasn't at the bar, but a guy was so busy keeping everyone
around him happy, and as I walked to him, it was Rohit, the owner of the hostel
that we were staying. I had already heard a lot about his nomadic life and so I
looked up to his insight about staying in Hampi. He, being a guy with satire
said
"brother it is
simple, there is a Holy side and a Unholy side, choose to stay in the Unholy
side and things will happen" but
also warned me about the scorching heat, that might get me dehydrated and
advised, or rather put me in confusion to choose wisely between Hampi and
Kasol.
Last day at Goa began, by seeing off my travel partner and long time friend who had booked his return tickets
from Margo. I had no return tickets or any plans, but just thoughts. The Heat
was really a matter of concern, as two more bags added to my luggage. My digestive
acid functioned really well at the time and had already started eating up my
fat, I could feel my intestine burning. My eye balls started rolling foods as I
saw the name board of Kamath hotel on the other side of the road. My engine was
back to normal and the turbine had already started supplying energy.
I walked down to Panaji bus stand, confused about making the
decision after doing a research on bus schedules. Having no clue about what to
do, I ringed up Midhun, my cousin aka Chiku. He enquired me about the further
plans of the trip, to which I replied blank.
He being another solo traveller understood my confusion and said
"When
you had decided to go, Hampi has already decided to receive you, don't see the
place but feel the place so that you won’t feel the heat".
A little motivation was the need of the hour and he had it. I went
to the booking counter and booked my tickets, I choose to travel in Karnataka
SRTC to Hampi from Panaji.
5.30 am on 3-05-2017. "Hampi - last stop, Hampi - last stop" the conductor shouted from the front cabin. As I got down from
the bus, I visualized Chippy's hand drawn map and tried to match it with the description
narrated by her, all the time I was looking for the river that I had heard a
lot about, the river that divides the Holy and the Unholy side. A tea shop at
the corner of the Hampi bazar and few auto drivers becoming tour guides
explaining their packages, was the only thing that I saw. With no rooms
booked and just 175 INR in my wallet, I went to the shop before I go
desperately looking for a ATM. Tea shop conversations had always been an source
of information from my previous experiences being a sales guy. Within no time,
I befriended Subbiah, a Tamil resident settled in Hampi. He introduced me to Raghu
Anna, who would later become the important part of my journey.
Raghu Anna, was kind enough to know about me, before he
explained his guide package. I understood that we could either opt between an
auto guide charged at five hundred rupees for four hours or a rented
two-wheeler or bi-cycle charged somewhere between a hundred or two per day. I
felt stranded, as the closest ATM is in Kamalapura which is five kilometres
from Hampi. One hundred and fifty rupees was the deal to get me to Kamalapura
and back.
I like to believe that the things that followed are nothing but
an omen to understand the kindness and honesty of Hampi residents. I had already
decided on extending my days of stay in Hampi.
All the ATM counters
were closed, opened counters had no money as well, Raghu Anna confirmed with
his friend in Kadirampura to find out if there are any ATM counters opened. We
were unlucky. I started to feel concerned as I would be left with no money,
after I pay for the trip.
Every person who I met
there never failed to surprise me with their humility and attitude. Likewise,
did Raghu Anna.
Looking at my plight,
In his words, he said
"You can pay me after withdrawing money from the ATM
available in Hospet, I will be around near the auto stand, you can call me when
you come back"
Hospet was twelve kilometres from Hampi. Completely blown away
with the gesture I was subconsciously getting attached to the place and the
people. When I came back from Hospet around 7 am, the dawn break smiled
brightly on the scenic mountains of Hampi. Raghu Anna had gone home to refresh,
before his starting his morning schedule. I handed over the money to Subbiah, before
I started walking to the other side.
I had the best time of my life when I lived there. But, I feel
it is not my life in Hampi that you should know, but the life of Sahasra. A
young solo traveller who decides to go for a leisure drive to Hampi on a
weekend during the time of dusshera and gets stuck up there for 13 days which
became a career defining moment in her life.
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