Part 3 : About Temples, Palaces and Beaches
My flight from Amritsar to
Bangalore had a short stopover in Delhi. On arrival in Bangalore I had
to wait quite a long time for my luggage but just when I was getting
nervous my suitcase arrived at the belt.
I took a taxi for the 45
minute drive into town. Immediately I saw how different and modern
Bangalore appeared compared to other Indian cities. The IT industry had
certainly brought wealth to the area and on the side of the highway
leading to the new airport I saw huge blocks of offices and apartments.
By now I was feeling
exhausted and as soon as I checked in at my hotel, a heritage cottage
from 1915 I went to sleep for a short and restless nap that was
disturbed by a loud and vivid thunderstorm. Later that evening I ordered
a vegetable rice but in the end I could not face it so I went to bed
before it arrived…
That night things went
wrong again with my stomach and I felt terrible in the morning. I knew I
had to eat something so I forced down two pieces of toast and two
bananas, together with a cup of coffee. After breakfast I went back to
bed for a nap, to be woken up shortly before two to hear that the
masseuse, that I had booked earlier, had arrived.
After having told her
about my neck and back pain she mainly focused on that area and although
I could not say the massage was very nice (but painful to say the
least) I felt she knew what she was doing as slowly my tense muscles
became looser. The massage was so good I asked her to return the next
day.
And just when I fell
asleep the phone ran again and I was told food was ready. A special dish
was made for me, overcooked rice with cumin seeds and other spices, all
easy to digest for my stomach. I ate one plate of it after which I
returned to my room.
By now I started to wonder
whether the trip had been a step too far for me, to strenuous in spite
of the low pace I had adapted too. Everything now seemed to take a lot
of effort and I got tired by even doing just the slightest thing, like
walking up the stairs. I have loved the trip tremendously so far but the
overload of impressions ensured my senses were on an almost constant
overload. Maybe I had underestimated the impact the journey would have
on me, but then, maybe my situation was just caused by a lunch that went
terribly wrong…
Anyway, time to go on a
full stop and sit this episode out. During the evening I just hung out
at the reception but I still I did not feel like eating. That night was
another early night, hoping for the better the day after…
The rest had done me well,
when I woke up my stomach and belly felt much calmer so I finished the
leftover rice from the day before. Instead of becoming over courageous
and start a sightseeing tour I opted for another day of rest and save my
energy for Hampi. Missing out on the sights in Bangalore really was a
shame but I did not want to ruin the remaining three weeks of my trip.
I slept for the most of
the morning and listened to some music. And then, for the first time
since days I ordered a proper lunch, boiled rice and a prawn curry. It
tasted wonderful and fortunately was not too spicy.
The afternoon was the same
as the morning, sleeping and music… By six the masseuse came back
again to work on my back once more. After that it was dinner time, as
well time to prepare my suitcase for the next day. Dinner was good (but
far to much) and the evening uneventful. A perfect way to finish of the
break of my adventure.
Continue to the Hampi Experience