Hampi Trip.....

Last weekend, we took a train ride to Hampi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hampi). The train ride was eight hours long.....Luckily I had some "Happy Pills" (Ambien) so I could sleep through the train experience....Smart move on my part...You definitely didn't want to go to the bathroom on this train...They had two bathrooms, one named "Indian Style" and the other "Western Style"...Neither on was really that clean...I decided I would choose the toilet (Western Style) over the hole in the floor (India Style). Also, on the train there are different classes...First Class, Second Class, Third Class, etc...My trip to Hampi I was in Second Class...It wasn't too bad...The bed was long and wide enough and I had a curtain..Apparently in first class you have a door on your bed...Now coming back to Bangalore I was in Third Class...Big difference...I couldn't imagine what it would be like to sit in general seating...

We arrived at about 8-9 in the morning....Let me tell you this place made Bangalore look like the Emerald City....It was unreal...Word can't explain what I saw and witnessed during my stay....I think the pictures will explain it. The whole weekend (Train Ride, Hotel, Personal Drivers, Personal Guide, Lunches, etc.) cost only around $150 or so...

Highlights of the trip:

1. Being blessed by an elephant..Yes I had my Kentucky hat and t-shirt on that day...and Kentucky beat Auburn that day...Maybe I should get blessed by an elephant every game.
2. Mango Tree Restaurant....You have to walk through a Banana Grove to get to the restaurant...The entire restaurant is under a Mango Tree...Your view is of a flowing river...The entire group (nine of us) ate for $30...The view was to die for....Its right up there with Mama's Fish House in Maui, Hawaii... Make sure to check out this view...This is what it looked like from my table. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1226702
3. River Ride in Thatched Saucers...The pictures I will add will do this experience justice.
4. Bodyguard...Having to play bodyguard for Natalie...All of the locals (men and women) were following us because of her....They are fascinated by blonde's...Everyone wanted a picture with her...The women were fine but the men were a little creepy...