India
Kerala ~ Bangalore
Kerala ~ Bangalore
Arriving in Kochi airport in the afternoon of 14th March, the temperature is over 30c. As soon as I got out, took off my jacket and shoes off. Needed some Indian currency so went up to ATM just in front of the airport although because I haven't used the money card for four month, I pushed the wrong number... Again... and again... Ooops... The card is blocked... I got so nervous. The first day of my journey might be stuck in the airport. Luckily, I had 3000 Japanese yen. Thanks to the currency difference. With this much of money, I could not do anything in Japan but in India they become a fortune. Got on a bus to town, then I met Hanna from journey in there. She was really friendly and told me about Kochi according to the guide book she had. As I do not have guide book for anywhere, that was really helpful. We got quite get along then we decided to share a room. It was already dark when we arrived in a home stay in Fort Koshi. The room was quite clean and had very big rooftop. We went out to have some dinner and talked about what we do tomorrow. And the day has passed.
Next day, we just walked around the town. It is an amazing culture they have in India. People are wearing beautiful traditional Indian dress, streets are covered with rubbish and corpse of rats and birds, goats and cows are walking around the town everywhere. There are so many shits of them as well. The smell and dust of streets are giving me the atmosphere of the country. Frankly, it is horrible but people are nice. Way nicer than I expected. Everyone is smiling and saying hi. Town itself is dirty but the people are nice in Fort Kochi. We visited Dutch palace first. The art of India was nothing like I ever seen. Gods of elephants, expression of faces and colors of drawings and details of pictures were really impressive. It was really hot, I was reading about the history but could not bear well the heat. We went out to find a coast but then we got lost. We were walking around the small path and seen some local life style but my flip flop got broken. Here comes the another trouble. It was really hot day. The surface of the road was insanely hot and there are so many rubbish, shit and small rocks. Painful, and I needed new pair of flip flop but we were in middle of nowhere. After couple of hours of walking, I finally could not stand anymore. We got into the first restaurant we found and had some Indian breakfast. Some vege masala curry and chapatti. Quite spicy but taste was great. We just chilled out in there for a while and asked some directions. Got myself a pair of flip flop and kept on walking around. We found the fishing net place and the day was falling. People sleeps with sunset except tourist area in Kochi.
We booked the back water tour today and woke up in 7 in a morning. With the quite accurate pick up, we got on a bus. There were about 20 tourists but they were nice. Made more friends in there we talked them in the bus. About a hour of ride took us a place to got on a boat. The boat goes slowly up the little river in between the farm, or more like a jungle. There were some people taking bath and washing clothe. Quite relaxing trip took us to a village with lots of herb plantations. Cinnamon, all spices, nutmeg, pepper and on and on. Really fun to feel the fresh flavor of those spices. Then they took us to lunch place. Rice, some curries, chutney and curd on a banana leaf. It was great. On the way back was really long on the boat but nice and chilled. We got back to our home stay once and went out to catch up with the people from the tour for some dinner. We met up in the fishing net place and saw the beautiful sunset together before the dinner. Dinner was great but couldn't get any beers in the town due to religious reasons in Fort Kochi. We had nice chat at the dinner.
We met an american girl Kathleen in our home stay in the morning. We decided to hire a bike and go to beach near the Fort Kochi today and caught up with some people from the back water tour. Jess, Amy, Rich another Hanna and Kamila they all from Uk doing volunteer work in India and we caught up in the town and hired bikes. Took a boat to another coast. On the boat, we saw the dolphins swimming around the boat but in the very dirty water. We were quite amazed by that. Dolphins in India??? There some nice views of rice field on the way. We took a ride about 30 minutes to get to the beach. Not too much rubbish, just us and kids playing cricket and calm ocean. That was really refreshing from the noisy dirty town. We set up the camp fire and they brought some mash marrow and we made some BBQ mash marrows. We stayed out till the sunset. But the way back was quite a mission. Dark street with strong back light from buses and cars towards us. Besides the street is not well made. Many banks and holes were hiding in the dark road. I got Hanna at back so it was bit responsible mission. Then the boat has broken down. We had to go around the town and cross the bridge and through the main town. Made the journey for couple more of hours. We all made it without anybody injured. We got some fancy dinner together.
I went up to Bangalore and Hanna went to somewhere I cannot remember. Took a bus over night to get this massive town. The bus station was really massive and not well organized, they got me off in the middle of nowhere. As usual I didn't have and guide books or any info about the town. Started with looking for tourist info but I got nothing but booking center. Could not find anything... All the rickshaw drivers were following me around but then I met this nice Indian guy told me to go an area I can't remember but he was kind enough to showed me a bus to get there as well. Bus ride is always great that bus was running fast, jump on and hop off in the middle of the street in rush. Phew, time for puff, soon people gathering around me asking for money, killed my sense of humanity and ignored those poor locals and find some place to stay. Got myself a bit too nice hotel for me and got out to a town. There was a “happy ole” festival on that day and people were putting colored powders on their faces, screaming “happy ole”. That was interesting. Then a rickshaw guy came up and said free ride to market. But I have to visit some souvenir shops. Got the ride and saw the shops walked around the town. Had some local food. There were so many bars and club in that town but it was really expensive. Also there were not cheap restaurants around the area so that I skipped the dinner. Saw some movies and the day end.
As sun comes out, I went out from the room and look for some breakfast. Met some people travelers in front of the hotel. Juli, Matilda and Jaakko who looking for some food as well so I joined them but apparently, none of the restaurant is not opening till 10am. That was also culture shock. So we sat down in the corner of the street. Matilda has got friend living in Bangalore supposed to meet up in a Christian community. I joined the sunday meeting due to my curiosity and sang songs for jesus for an hour about and had some tea with them. They invited for some lunch and I got some hours till my bus so we went out to her house had some awesome lunch together. The meal was really great, all home made by the locals, so many chickens ahhhh yum! Then we took a cab to bus stop but their station was different. So I got myself solo travel again. Then I left from Bangalore to Hampi.
Hampi
1st of April, about 7pm... I'm on a sleeper bus to Gokarna from Hampi with this group that I had crazy fun time in Hampi together. 4 German guys and 2 swedish girls. Joel is makin a joke about having a joint on a bus right next me. Seb and Lisa taking about music, Dani is chilling out at upper bed. I don't know what a Janas is doing. Johanna is laughing at something. This is my crew, heading to have some happy beach life for more days. Hampi was to me really amazing experience. Beautiful scenery, bored less bordering rock are all around the hill and happy atmosphere from our guest house “the Goan corner” gave me aye great experiences that enough for me to stay for over two weeks.
The first impression of the day I arrived at Hampi, I thought “wow” another third world spot in South East Asia, GREAT :o As soon as I walked off the bus, there were some guys come around me said rickshaw? Room? And of course, “which country?” And the smell... baffalo's fresh shit was all around the dirt street. If you ever come to India, you know what I mean. Walked across the main street and then I saw that the massive hill with gigantic rocks piled up like kid's play ground then what comes next is that the sunrise from right behind the great Indian temple. Completely, I was just amazed. So found myself a cheap guest house called Karin guest house. Near a river but I can't get to close, have a roof top but there is nothing but concrete set and room is 100 rupee for a night but my room doesn't have a key to lock. It was made by bamboo and banana leaf and able to close the door by wire. Well, I knew that I will not stay there for long time so I took it. Then have a couple of hours nap. Around 9 o'clock, get up and jump into dark slimy small shower and get out. Walked around the main street, had some curry and found about the temples around the town, rent a bicycle then I hit the road. Went up the hill and again, ,moved by the scenery. It was just stunning town with nothing but rocks and temples. So I did the tourist thing like cycling around the temples. On the way, I met Millien from Germany and we cycled together. It took us about good 4,5 hours with slow riding and long break in between. It was a really good trip. She mentioned about the other side of the river and decided to go to the late lunch. That was great idea even though the restaurant was humid and took hours to make one meal, because the life of the area was great. I decided to move that side and moved next day.
Crossing the river is always a trouble, waiting for the boat, negotiate the price and carrying the massive luggage... And this one is also took long time. When I got the other side of the river I asked to a guy looks like he does climbing that where are the climbers? He told straight “Goan corner”. Again, lucky journey. This place was just awesome. Chickens, ducks, dogs and I don't know what the animals are walking around the huts. In the restaurant, there is a massive dog and many little puppies walking around the tables. The room was quite basic and price was good. And Goan corner's mama was really great person. When I was checking in, I heard my name, there was Stive and Amber that I met in Yang Shuo in China about half year ago. They are really good climbers and still traveling. Unbelievable encounter in such a place on same time. They were going to climbing in the afternoon so we went up to the hill in the evening. Stunning. Round rocks are spreading on the hill endlessly. An hour of climbing, after stayed in really lazy days in Japan, in the unbearable heat, I was dying with pain in the hand and arm. Sun set, shower, and a beer, completes the date nicely.
So the life in Hampi started since then. Wake up with the noise of chickens yelling. Climbing in the morning and afternoon. Chilling out during the hot and humid day time with cute puppies pissing on the seat. Juggling and volleyball. Or sometimes we went out to a lake to jump off from the cliff. And the night, too much smoking and drinking with awesome busking.
Then the diarrhea started as it's promised.
Everyday, waken up by feeling of rush its coming down through my stomach. Its just inevitable. I guess everyone has it at least couple of weeks in India.
But the life in Goan corner was great.
Especially the busking. Joel and Jannas are great in chilled out singers. Sebu is really good in impro solo-ing. And Dani plays that bongo drum. Then Jesus - John Pole with drum sticks kicks the rhysm so cool. Ole has great voice with impro Spanish sounded singing. Gon, Lisa and Yohana gives us the atmosphere nice. Chris is totally high, Luke is suffering from diarrhea.
We had a day of camp fire on the hill and played some tune. That was nice too.
After 12 days of living in such a paradise, we head to Gokarna together for more of paradise but this time with a beach.
Gokarna
So we arrived at Om beach in Gokarna at 4 in the morning after the fun ride of bus from Hampi. We got exhausted, but the all guest house or cafe shops were closed. It was completely dark on the beach. Then we slept on the beach till the morning, listening to music with sound of waves. It was bit too cold for swimming but nice to sleep. And with the sunrise, there were some dolphins swimming around the beach, just like they were welcoming us from the ocean.We got room by 8am then we had a nap. When we got up, the time was about mid day, the weather was clear blue sky and the ocean was waving nicely. What a perfect journey.
On the first night of Gokarna, we made some camp fire on the beach, then busking around the fire. Then we went out to swim in the dark water. Here comes the magic, the phorescence was glowing from the ocean like the lights I have never seen before. Running around complete naked and played smaking arses like a gay. Worming up with fire and the night was faded out as the camp fire.
The life in Gokarna is really chilled as its the white smoke without wind flowing in the air. The guest house is in between the coconut trees, right in front of the beach and quiet enough to hear the sound of the ocean. The second day, we did nothing but smoke and drink, then busking with fire. Jesus has arrived in Gokarna that day and joined up for awesome tunes.
We went to fish market in the town in the morning, and I bought four mid sized tuna and Sebu bought many prawns. We washed them and asked to the guest house for cook them. The dinner was awesome. And again, swimming and jamming. It is really hard to tell the moment of good times.
Here came the last days of Gokarna. Yohana and Lisa had to go back to Sweden that night, we kept on going talking and singing till the time has come. I guess the time was about 2 in the morning we said sad good byes but swear to catch up in Europe. Then Dani, Joel, Janes and I went up to Mumbai together and Jesus, Rohan and Gon stayed there for one more day and wemt to east.
Mumbai
Arrived in the city like Mumbai is chaos. We got there about 4 in the morning, had a chai in the train station and took a rickshaw to Colaba area. None of us has any guide book or any idea about the guest house. So we took this shityest place for the night. Dirty, stinky and horrible toilet with rats its worse than Chinese train cost us more than $10 each for a night plus the terrible service from the stuff and lovely greeting by the cockroaches on the bed. I guess the worst hostel ever. Oh Mumbai... Couple of hours of rest and we head out to town. Beggers, old buildings, and poor kids are filling the atmosphere of the town with contrast of shiny suits and modern life style. We went to the horrible beach for the sunset and drunk at a bar. Joel got really drunk and screaming “Disco Disco” in the street and I passed out once. We end up in a strange place with Indian Karaoke and people throwing money in hilarious suits gives me creeps for the night.
I went to buy a camera lens and Dani and Janas went to shopping for the day.
Joel got really sick but they had a flight to catch up. I found a better place and we spent the last hours in there. These last couple of weeks was a miracle.
