The next morning the real journey started. Rachel, Mom and I loaded ourselves into an Indica keen to explore Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal. (It took me a better part of the day to learn how to pronounce and spell these places.) Beautiful temples, badly maintained awaited us. The historians in all of us kicked in as we started discussing the architecture, acoustics, job opportunities created by the construction of the temples during those days and the life of the people in the different societies.
A climb up a trail into small hills gave us a splendid view of Badami’s lake, cliff and cave temples.
For lunch we had to literally hunt to find local food! ‘Hotel Venus’ had Chinese, north Indian, and if I remember right even Thai but nothing that the locals would have for an everyday lunch. Next was a joint where there was only chicken and beer (did I mention Mom and I are veggies?). We finally found a restaurant where there was a proper Badami meal. I must mention the bathroom. Lock less and with a huge open window on the side, it inspired all 3 of us to make up a wonderful song, fondly nicknamed ‘The Bathroom Song’. It was supposed to keep people from opening the door and coming in, but friends now say that people must have been more curious and the chances of someone not walking in would have been better if we had not been singing!
A climb up a trail into small hills gave us a splendid view of Badami’s lake, cliff and cave temples.
For lunch we had to literally hunt to find local food! ‘Hotel Venus’ had Chinese, north Indian, and if I remember right even Thai but nothing that the locals would have for an everyday lunch. Next was a joint where there was only chicken and beer (did I mention Mom and I are veggies?). We finally found a restaurant where there was a proper Badami meal. I must mention the bathroom. Lock less and with a huge open window on the side, it inspired all 3 of us to make up a wonderful song, fondly nicknamed ‘The Bathroom Song’. It was supposed to keep people from opening the door and coming in, but friends now say that people must have been more curious and the chances of someone not walking in would have been better if we had not been singing!
Better than its first :)
ReplyDeleteloved it....
really good captures too..
ReplyDeleteBy next Destination ---> Karnataka..
Nice post. Waiting for more like this :-D
ReplyDeleteCan we know the lyrics for the bathrm song? Might come in handy:)
ReplyDelete