Gokarna and Hampi

Again so much has happened.. I am famous. Let's start at the beginning;

Gokarna

The trainride to Gokarna was wonderfull, hanging our legs out of the train and seeing all the beautiful landscape rush past. We found an amazing beach where we stayed. Playing cricket with the locals, chilling on the beach, going into town (holy pelgrim town) and seeing lots of beautiful people, holy men, temples in which we weren't alowed in unfortunately, dirty toilets, but you get used to it..

One day we were chilling on the beach, we saw a filmcrew shooting a music video. The producer and the invester joined us on our rug, followed by 12 other men and gave us a few beers, then they brought fresh fish and salad, Duncan is, according to them, the most sexy man of London, we got invited to have a big lunch with the crew, so we met the 'hero' of the clip and had beautifull rice. So hospitable, unbelievable! Then they asked if I wanted to be in the videoclip, how could I refuse..?! 4 other westerners got picked of the beach and, well, it's a bit corny but so funny, the pictures tell the story.. Duncan got an offer to play in a hindi movie, that'll be in feb, he has to do a motorbike chase, he's contemplating a carreer change!

Hampi

Well, then, after our 15 minutes of fame we got the sleeperbus to Hampi. 10 hours on bumpy roads but very romantic in it's own funny way. Hampi is an old city which used to be very rich and succesful untill the muslims took over(no sign of muslim now, very Hindu). It is, again, a holy city. It has about 400 temples around and it is situated in a very weird landscape with lots of bolders, like a giant put them there very carefully. In the main bazaar where we're staying is a big temple with the holy elephant Laksmi. We got blessed by her. Every morning she has a bath in the river and then walkes back to her temple. We visited the temple and had a guide with us who told us a lot and blessed us. He gave an extra blessing for Duncan's heart what concered us a little, but hey, atleast it's blessed now!

We rented bicycles and cycled around all the temples, most of which are ruins, but amazing, especially in that landscape. They are everywhere you look, stunning, it's like stepping back in time!

Because Hampi is a holy town it is vegetarian and "dry", so no alcohol. But Duncan and Ellen wouldn't be duncan and Ellen if they wouldn't find one bar that sells chicken and rum. We have a nice group of Dutch people around us. Usually I hate meeting other Dutchies while, but these are all very cool! Definately going to stay in touch!

We'll be chilling out here for a few more days because there are much more temples to be seen and then we will be going to Kerala, the backwaters. Supposed to be stunning..

I'll try and fix this site so people can leave reactions, so feel free!

Lots of love from Incredible India,

Dunc and Ell